:lol: Like Stacia said, it was my pick ;) I had read it my senior year in high school. Obviously, I don't remember it :D It's actually my 3rd banned book this month (To Kill a Mockingbird and Fahrenheit 451 being the other two). I have been trying to do a banned book a year since we did the 8/8/8 challenge (hmm, at least I think that was the one...Wow! i can't believe that has been that long!). After this one I'm done "being stretched" for a while :rofl: I'm going to get down to some fluff!! I knew the bolded. And once I started reading it, I checked to see when it was written right away. I was shocked that it was written in the 1930's! I fell asleep while reading today. And it got definitely more :eek:.

I picked it up and started it yesterday. :eek: is my first impression. How in the heck do I not remember this book? I remember other books from high school vividly. I was more of an ostrich in my younger days than I am now. (I know, I know, is that even possible? Um, yes!) Could I have simply blocked it out? And I think that is all only from chapter 1 :D I'll keep you posted!

I'll try and run out and pick it up tonight then!

Brave, New World is waiting to be picked up at the library, so I'll have to pass on The Man in the Brown Suit. Aly is listening to 4:50 From Paddington while running. She's never read an Agatha Christie. She wanted And Then There were None but it wasn't available. She has played the 4:50 from Paddington computer game so it was a good choice.

I finished Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie today. I had wanted to join in on the Agatha Christie read and had this one sitting in the house. I had not read it before. What a ride! It was thoroughly enjoyable! Trying to figure out the “who dunnit†was so much fun, and I was totally off. It was such a surprising ending. I love clever endings! Totally see why it is a classic mystery. GREAT READ!

Yes, The Tempest fell flat. When I mentioned to Skye that I couldn't remember how I felt about it the first time around she said I shouldn't be surprised. It didn't leave much impression. Brave, New World is waiting at the library for me. I'll pick it up tomorrow or Tuesday. I, too, am looking forward to reading it. I truly don't remember anything about it. I am glad, however, that I am not rereading Slaughterhouse-Five :laugh:

Back in the day I loved Julie Garwood! Also Judith McNaught. :lol: The dh and the girls and I use this in stores when we separate :laugh: Nothing like yelling MARCO in Wally World!

It is a promising topic! Oh well! :lol: No Pot-stirring!! :svengo: This is the Book a Week thread! Get your priorities right! :lol:

Thank you so much!! Exactly what I was looking for!! The book is not for me. I don't do the F word unless it comes as a major surprise. It makes my skin crawl. I also had to stop reading the comments. Shiver. Appalled. :eek: Heading back to my ostrich hole :leaving:

Skye suggested that I read mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine since I just read To Kill a Mockingbird. The main character identifies with Scout and so there are references to TKaM. She has actually wanted me to read this for a while but I shy away from super emotional books. I want to escape in my reading from all the real life emotions around me and just be happy. The story (and it is fiction…I thought it was a true story) is about a young girl with Asperger’s who loses her brother in a school shooting. And I finished it in one day. It is a truly interesting look into how she thinks and feels, therefore providing a glimpse into the life of an Asperger’s child. Skye is my Aspie. I know things are difficult for her. Some days I remember this and some days I forget. It made me remember that it is a struggle for her every day whether I can see the struggle or not. She loved the way that this book put some things into words for her. Especially, she liked how the young girl explained her anxiety by “that recess feeling in my stomach.†I found myself remembering when Skye was 10 (like Caitlin) and couldn’t articulate her feelings well, and seeing just how far she has come now at almost 21. I found it INSPIRATIONAL!

:lol: I figured it would be pretty PG-13. The Cranks were creepy enough in the book and Hollywood loves to sensationalize those kinds of things even more. Aly already knew that the movie didn't follow the book. I guess her and dh are wondering if they meshed in some of the third book. We plan to see it in the next week or two. Dh and Aly spent the Dave Ramsey entertainment budget going to see a special Doctor Who showing at the theater. He "forgot" to inform me that the tickets were $17 a seat. :glare: So did you find The Martian to be a PG-13 book? I've been back and forth on whether or not to read it because we don't do R movies or R books, lol, and I can't get a definitive answer. I'm totally intrigued by the book and the movie, though. I certainly never considered that, but it does make sense. The Tempest doesn't seem to fit neatly in the major categories of Shakespeare (History, Comedy, Tragedy). I like your take on it, though, and do remember Ariel's line jumping out at me too.

Thankfully, The Tempest was a quick read. I picked it up to read before beginning Brave, New World (which I’m still waiting on from the library). It’s been 3.5 years since I last read The Tempest. It is a good story but there isn’t as much depth to it when compared to other Shakespeare’s. I don’t really remember my thoughts on it the first time, which is a little embarrassing. I had strong reactions to all the other Shakespeare’s I read when I did a class for Skye and her friends. I’m kind of a hopeless romantic but it’s no surprise that Miranda would fall for Ferdinand. He’s the first boy she’s seen lol. There’s not much to their “romance†either. Trinculo and Stephano are supposed to be funny but not really, so the humor is lacking. I do like Prospero’s long speeches! I would like to see a well done movie of this. For class we watched the one with Helen Mirren, but I wasn’t for a woman Prospero or a naked Ariel. AN OKAY SHAKESPEARE. (Kind of obvious) Quote: “O, brave new world that has such people in ‘t!†also “The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.â€

Aly had told me the same thing! And she was right! I watched the movie after reading the book and things made more sense but they obviously strayed. We haven't had the opportunity to see The Scorch Trials movie yet, so we'll see what they do with that. 4th grade! :eek: I can't imagine! But still a lovely connection to have. Definitely could be a homeschool manifesto :001_smile: But it wasn't only the tv's, it was also the earbuds. I was shocked when I finally realized basically what his wife had in her ears. I have found people don't get as freaked out about their tv viewing as much as their music. :laugh: I'm appalled when I go to a restaurant and see a family eating and one or more of the kids with earbuds. Eek! This sounds intriguing!

I finished Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Saturday. I originally picked this up for my banned book, since I decided to do TKAM as my Pulitzer Prize book, however, I’m going to do Brave, New World with Stacia so, F. 451 will go under my book with a number in the title. It was a quick read but a little strange. Montag was manic and fevered. His actions were so erratic. I wanted to keep whispering in his ear like Faber to tell him what to do. Once more I found a very disturbing model of education, and though this one is based on an imaginary future, again there is a scary feeling of present day happenings. Quote: “The home environment can undo a lot you try to do at school. That’s why we’ve lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we’re almost snatching them from the cradle.†:eek: There is actually a whole page and a half I’d like to quote but I’ll refrain. ;) I enjoyed the ending as regards to the preservation of the books. Clever. GLAD I READ IT, GOOD ENOUGH. That's book #34 for me, so still behind. :glare: I was looking over my list for the year, though, and I've read seven "classics" so far this year. Northanger Abbey The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Treasure Island Pygmalion The Red Badge of Courage To Kill a Mockingbird Fahrenheit 451 I had hoped to read more classics this year. Funny enough, I'm not sure that any of these were on my list.

I'll be interested in how you find them. I read them in August. Well, I didn't read the prequel. I wanted to get on to other things ;) What a special time! And love the bolded! What a great picture!

It has been about 3 or 4 years since the Tempest. I'll probably pull it off the shelf and read it again. Thanks for the heads up.

Interesting! I think dh is going to buy it today or tomorrow. He heard Richard Paul Evans on Glen Beck and someone contacted him about making it a tv show instead of a movie. I wonder if any of that will pan out. :grouphug: I will be keeping you all in my prayers. Then let's go with Brave, New World. I truly don't remember it and am curious to read it with not only older eyes but a different worldview than I had at 17. I just ordered it from my library. I don't know how long it'll take to get into my hands. ;) We had our book club last night. I was definitely low man on the totem pole since I had only read one measly book since our last meeting. :o My friend read 84 Charing Cross Rd. and absolutely raved about it! I told her I thought I had heard of it, and sure enough it was on my Amazon wish list which means I heard about it here lol!

Hey Karen - do you happen to know if this is tame. Don't know if you just found it or have actually read it. I'm careful about what I put on Aly's Kindle even if it is for me. ETA: Found my answer! Nevermind!

If only.... :laugh: I would love to but I'm in a reading drought because I've been too busy with life :glare: Therefore, I can't. It's so annoying. Stacia - Twilight is on the Banned Books list in 2010 and 2009 :lol: Just kidding :lol: I actually like it but read it more than once already :leaving: Let's see what else I can find... Does Captain Underpants count? That might be about my level right now :lol: Seriously now - stop messing around ... Brave, New World Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry Read in 12th grade and 5th or 6th grade respectively but don't remember much. Brave, New World was controversial even in 1990. The Christian parents chose a different book for the kids to read (I became a Christian after high school so don't know what the controversy was about). Either of those sound good?

My pick! Hmm. Let me think about it. ;)

This is me! :lol: I'm seeing visions of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies here.

Yep! Yep! :eek: Maybe I need that app! How in the world did I miss this! Dh and Aly are HUGE fans. I'm surprised dh didn't have this pre-ordered. Skye and I enjoy it too but maybe not as much as the other two! Off to check it out and text dh...

Thanks for sharing this! As someone who took eight young girls and two young gentlemen to a Regency Ball and had an amazing time, I'm jealous! Skye just said "why are we not there?" :laugh:

The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is downtown Cincy, but the traffic is not horrible during the day. They run Educational Matinee's of their performances and they are amazing! The price is reasonable. I can't remember how old your kids are but depending on the play I've taken as young as a 7 or 8 year old. http://cincyshakes.com/ Up in Dayton is the Air Force Museum. It is probably at the farthest end of your driving distance but it is free and there is lots to see. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/ Entertrainment Junction is just up I-75 at Tylersville Rd. We were there in February. Train history plus the coolest set ups of model trains. Our group was 3 years old to 15 (as far as the kids went) and we ALL enjoyed it! http://www.entertrainmentjunction.com/ We all enjoy going to Kleather's Pumpkin Patch in Springboro in the fall. It may be too small for the drive you have to make (don't know where you are at in Cincy) but they have the BEST apple cider and fun Wizard of Oz decorations plus a Pumpkin Carriage. We go every year usually on the way home from the Ren Fest. I don't know what your museum pass reciprocates with but if you want something different there is the Boonshoft Museum in Dayton. Smaller than the Cincinnati Children's Museum but it has a small zoo section with a great river otter exhibit. They are a blast to watch. http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/ Ignore this if it doesn't but if it fits with your worldview, The Creation Museum is SW (not the right direction-I know) of Cincy. They are pricey but have a two for one ticket special going on I think. The grounds are beautiful and they have a petting zoo. Caesar Creek State Park has a fossil hunting section. I can't find the link but you have to sign in at the Nature Center (I think, it's been a year since we've been) but then you go fossil hunting in the spillway. It is free. http://www.lasr.net/travel/city.php?Caesar+Creek+Lake+Fossil+Hunting&&TravelTo=OH07lk001&VA=Y&Attraction_ID=OH07lk001a006 ETA: I think our girls are pretty close in age! Aly just turned 15. Was it your dd who had the Tiffany Aching birthday cake?

I finished To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee today. What an amazing book! I remember liking it in 8th grade Honor’s English, but there is no way I could have truly understood the depths and intricacies of this book at that age! I had not reread the book since, nor had I seen the movie, so I vaguely knew parts of the story while other parts were totally new or refreshed. At the beginning I was wondering why I was so engaged in a story about small town Alabama in the 1930’s. Towards the middle I was feeling the tension and the anxiety of the case. And at the end, it was endearing. I started this as my Banned Books read but I may decide to put it in my Pulitzer Prize winning category if I can get another banned book in this week. I wonder if the people who have tried to ban this book have actually read it, because to me the underlying theme is clear. And though I read it in 8th grade, I do feel it is a high school book, however, even in a later high school grade I do not think I would have “understood†the book as I do today. On a side note, the parts about the schools in the midst of changing their system of education gave me a wry chuckle as it was bad enough the first time around and we are going through it again now. Quote: “Now you tell your father not to teach you any more. It’s best to begin reading with a fresh mind. You tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage—“ “Your father does not know how to teach.†I won’t get on my soapbox about that! ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR! So glad I read it again!