Well another week has went by without me finishing a book! Bummer! I was sick with a fever all week and just didn't feel like anything but surfing the internet and watching tv. Part of the problem is I'm reading The Monuments Men, which I am really enjoying, but I read non-fiction very slowly. I need to pick up a Georgette Heyer or Joan Smith, I think, to just get through a book. And as an aside, I love you guys! I was doing some searching out on the regular forum this week. :eek: I was reminded why I stay in this safe little section of the board where we can't discuss things that are disturbing to me! *Shiver*

Jane, I'm jealous that you've walked the Cobb. I picture Persuasion, and Remarkable Creatures. And we, too, owned that book! Still do! In fact we still quote it today, much to dd19's dismay...

Hi gals! We are back from our youth group's annual history trip. What a blast! Dh and I took 11 kids aged 12-19 on a tour of some Baptist history sites that then tied in seamlessly with our American History sites. We ended the trip in Williamsburg and saw the fireworks with about 10,000 other people who all converged on our nice little spot :eek: We were at Montpelier the day it was 96 degrees with a heat index of 108!! That was also the day that the rental van's AC broke down at 10 in the morning. :001_rolleyes: It was a hot drive back to Williamsburg. We got a small slice of Arthur Thursday night with some winds Friday morning while at Yorktown. I enjoyed our trip and spending time with the kids. It's great to see them learning things that schools have conveniently forgotten to teach them. It was also great to see the tour guide at Montpelier and the actors at Williamsburg confirm the role of the Baptist ministers in the Revolutionary War. A bit unexpected that but exciting to see the kids make the connections. I didn't want to come home! Dh and one of the other girls caught a cold at the tail end of the trip and have now passed it on to myself and my older dd, so I'm a little miserable with a fever but glad to get caught up on the threads here! I obviously didn't do any reading over the past week! Dh runs us pretty hard and I just fall into bed at the end of the day ;) Have always wanted to read Utopia only because it was Danielle's favorite book from her father in Ever After. Dystopian is really one of my least favorite genre's (I've kind of mentioned that before :o ) so I will gladly skip that challenge. I loved this book! I, unlike many, loved the Twilight books, but was skeptical of The Host because sci-fi is less my thing than fantasy. I was pleasantly surprised and couldn't put it down. And for the record, I like my rhubarb raw and sour! And I received another postcard. I'm so jealous, Jane, that you actually LIVE there!!

:eek: LOL! on the worst mom ever! There have been times mine had to find their own dinner while I finished a book. Yes, I enjoyed The Wee Free Men. As much as I enjoyed it, I would like to actually read it. My auditory skills are lacking and I know I missed some things along the way. Your poor dd! That would have been me! I knew I liked England for a reason! On the book front, I'm reading Monuments Men. It will take me a while, for while I'm enjoying it, it is non-fiction which is never a quick read for me.

Are you enjoying The Wee Free Men ? :D And thanks for a new Georgette Heyer to look up!

:thumbup1: Doesn't matter! Run away :willy_nilly: Can you tell I have a phobia of snakes? :leaving:

:iagree: me too! Run away!!!!!!!!! :willy_nilly: Say no to tubing in snake infested waters! :willy_nilly:

I am not getting much reading done this week but wanted to jump in with my mid-year report. I've read 34 books so far, 3 of which were audio books which is a new to me thing. I have time traveled to the 9th, 11th, 12th, and 14th centuries, as well as the 19th century (Flufferton Abbey :D ). I have visited Israel, USA, Peru, England (abundantly), Wales,Turkey, Denmark, Italy, Scotland, Costa Rica, Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Crete, and Finland, as well as Narnia ;) Five Stars - 6 Dusty Books - 9 BaW recs - 7 Chunksters - only 1 Re-reads - only 4 (that's a new record for me!) and 2 of those were second time around read alouds with dd13. *1 – The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs (Isarel) *2 – Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans (USA) *3 – The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (Dusty, Narnia,) *4 – Michael Vey: The Rise of the Elgen by Richard Paul Evans (USA/Peru) *5 – Soulless by Gail Carriger (England, BaW rec) *6 – Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley (England) *7 – A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters (12th Century, England/Wales,BaW rec) *8 – Michael Vey: Battle of the Ampere by Richard Paul Evans (Peru) *9 - Divergent by Veronica Roth (USA) *10 - Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett (Turkey, 11th/12th Century, Dusty Book, re-read) *11 – Austenland by Shannon Hale (England, Dusty Book) *12 – The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (Narnia) *13 – Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger (England, BaW rec) *14 – The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis (Narnia) *15 – Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury (England) *16 – Imprudent Lady by Joan Smith (England, BaW rec) *17 – Beorn the Proud by Madeleine Polland (Denmark, 9th Century, re-read) *18 – The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (audiobook) (USA/Italy) *19 – The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley (England) *20 – The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (Narnia) *21 – The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (USA, dusty book) *22 – The Mysterious Marquis by Eileen Ainsworth Ramsay (England/Scotland, dusty book) *23 – Agenda 21 by Harriet Parke and Glen Beck (USA) *24 – Persuasion by Jane Austen (audiobook, England, re-read) *25 – The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (England, dusty book) *26 – The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer (England) *27 – Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange (England, dusty book) *28 - Classics Illustrated Macbeth (Graphic Novel) by Shakespeare (Scotland) *29 - Inferno by Dante (14th Century, classic, BaW read along) *30 - Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter by Nancy Atherton (England, dusty book, BaW rec) *31 - The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd (England) *32 - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (Costa Rica, dusty book, re-read) *33 - The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Scotland, audiobook, BaW rec) *34 - The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier (Algeria/Greece/Turkey/England/Crete/Finland)

I know all too well about VBS week! This year I do not have to be involved, however, because we our taking our youth group on their annual History trip and will only be home a day before VBS begins. Not to mention my kids are too old now *sniff*

Is that a confession :lol:

I finished The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier late Thursday night! She did not disappoint with her second book. Using the same writing style as her first book, Fortier seamlessly wove the story of Diana, a modern day Oxford professor, with the history of Myrina, Queen of the Amazons. Their tales unfold as we follow Diana and Myrina around the Mediterranean coasts of Africa, Crete, Greece, and Turkey revealing the "history" of the Amazons while solving the mystery of Diana's beloved grandmother. Taking bits of history, bits of myth, and then filling in the gaps, we see a new telling of Paris, King Priam, and the Trojan War. One, I have to say, that I thoroughly enjoyed imagining. I find it fascinating that the author can take a story like Romeo and Juliet or the Trojan War and keep me turning pages voraciously even though I know what is ultimately going to happen. It's her way of getting us there, never knowing just what might change and always hoping for the happily ever after instead of the tragedy, that makes it a 5 star book for me. I don't always recommend books but I highly recommend this book and her first, Juliet.

Happy Birthday, Stacia!!! :party: Mumto2 so glad to hear about the car and the thieves! Shukiryya, loved the postcard! Thanks! My 19yo is loving them too!

This morning I finished listening to The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett while editing pictures. What a fun book! I will have to read it at some point because I'm still training my audio book skills and I'm sure that I missed a few things. Overall, though, it was full of good chuckles and belly laughs! I want to walk around all day talking like the Nac Mac Feegle's! :D There was a small part in the middle that got a little bogged down for me. I'm always a little annoyed with books when the same plot line goes on for a bit too long (like Inkheart...I don't get the love for that book! How many times can one escape and get recaptured?? move on with a different plot point already, not to mention the swearing...but I digress) and I felt that way a bit with Tiffany and the Queen. But those Nac Mac Feegle's certainly made up for the slow parts. I will be encouraging dd's to listen to this one! The guy who did the audio was terrific at the voices! I can't remember what number that puts me at as my list is on my other computer! Maybe #29? I'm more than halfway through The Lost Sisterhood and am having trouble putting it down now.

I've been hearing this mentioned but never really took interest until you posted this little blurb! The current book I'm reading, The Lost Sisterhood, is about the Amazons. I'm currently engrossed in their journey from North Africa to Troy. And loving every minute of it. I also somehow missed that The Firebrand was by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I loved The Mists of Avalon in high school but haven't read it in years. I may have to delve into this book when I'm done with The Lost Sisterhood. Of course, maybe I should wait a bit. I don't know how the stories will "go together." When she is done with your house, please send her my way! And I got my first postcard! Thanks, Monica! I have yet to send any out as the girls and I are stuck home without a car these days.

I usually skip any intro's and prefaces as well! I don't want to know what someone else thought about it. I want to make my own conclusions. I don't usually read summaries or opinions after reading a book. I don't want anyone to spoil my vision of the book. I sometimes have a hard time with that here 'cause I'm like don't mess with my favorite books. :rofl: Hope you are feeling better soon! I took time off today to sit outside and read ALL day. Finally getting into my book, The Lost Sisterhood. I think it's going to be good. Juliet will be hard to top, though.

Just offering up another view. Dd13 was in TT7 this year. After a difficult year life wise we just needed to be done with math. I took the book to my friend who is an Algebra I teacher in the middle school and asked her this very question. Can I skip the end of the book and be ok next year. After checking the concepts at the end of TT7, she said I could. She said to make sure going into pre-algebra that dd had her fractions, percents, and decimals down solid but that the pre-alg in the back of the TT7 book she would catch next year in TT Pre Alg book. We stopped after Chapter 14, though dd did a couple lessons out of Chapt 15 and 16 in prep for standardized testing. She is going to review fractions over the summer just to solidify the concepts before pre-alg. YMMV but I for one am ok with this every once in a while. We as homeschoolers sometimes get so caught up in doing it all and finishing it all that we sometimes need to let go and relax. Dd and I will be more fresh come the beginning of next year just knowing that we took a break and have nothing hanging over our heads for the beginning of the year.

I'm not a puzzle person myself. Dh and dd19 enjoy it but rarely take the time to do them because our kitties just get into the middle of it :rolleyes: Same dd usually does a puzzle with her aunt at Thanksgiving. They are relentless. If I ever do a puzzle, I begin with the border and then I go with any combination of the above as I find the pieces. Dd19 is a book smeller! Has been since she was a wee girl. The funny thing is that the 8yo she is a nanny to also loves to smell the books. They crack me up! I only notice if it smells bad. Then I can't read it. Intriguing! You'll have to let us know how it goes. I was so excited about summer vacation beginning and ordered the book I've been waiting to read only to be swamped with planning for our youth group's annual history trip as well as envelopes for my cousin's wedding invitations. I'm doing the calligraphy. I have only picked up my book once :( And no books finished last week and I doubt this week either unless I can fit in some time to listen to the end of The Wee Free Men. Sigh.

:iagree: with both!! I have been listening to Wee Free Men for a month (not great at audio books LOL). You really should see if you can find it somewhere on audio! The voices are amazing! I have laughed out loud numerous times! I'm getting close to the end now. It's been fun. Dd13 just read this last week. She couldn't put it down! I enjoyed it also! Actually, Dd, ok I'm tired of calling them dd, geesh. Dd13 is Aly. Aly actually wanted me to include this book for Little Librarian to read. Yes to both! I was able to see the picture right away. She's simply lovely! Here's hoping that you are already at your dd's and cuddling the sweet thing as we speak.

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede, start with Dealing with Dragons (4 books in the series) - this is excellent in audio Dragons in Our Midst ( has some Christian content), start with Raising Dragons (I think there are 12 books currently) -- ALL of older dd's friends have read and loved these books and now younger dd and her friends have read and loved these. Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans, start with The Prisoner of Cell 25 (only 3 books so far, will be 7) The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale, begin with The Goose Girl (4 books) - one of older dd's favorite series ever, as well as The Princess Academy and the sequel Dd13 says The Mysterious Benedict Society books (currently 4 maybe) they are chunksters. Dd19 says definitely the Shannon Hale books and Dragons in our Midst books because it is really long :D I assume she has read/listened to The Chronicles of Narnia.

My older dd is 19 and has Asperger's. She does read books from time to time with some language (the latest that comes to mind is The Fault in our Stars) but she always comments on it. I never know just what is going to stick in her brain and once it's there it is hard to turn off. Whiting out was messy and difficult and sometimes I just took out a whole sentence, usually one that wasn't necessary anyway, but I think it is totally worth it. And it was her idea!

I finished Jurassic Park yesterday. It has been ages since I've read Michael Crichton! I thoroughly enjoyed it yet again (this is probably the 3rd or 4th time I've read it). It is now edited for dd, and since I was at it, I edited it even for dd13. There wasn't as much language in this one that I thought, though plenty of the Lord's name in vain! I must have been thinking about The Lost World. I had white out all over me! That stuff is a gloppy mess. I don't usually enjoy getting too technical in my stories but Crichton manages to make you curious, give you an explanation, and take you to the edge of what is too much information with a great balance. I'm always left wondering what is truly real and what is truly fiction when I read his books. I found a new appreciation of Ian Malcolm's character that I think has come with a little maturity and a greater awareness of what is going on in the world. All my favorite quotes were by him: "Isn't it amazing? In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought." "Scientists are actually preoccupied with accomplishment. So they are focused on whether they can do something. They never stop to ask if they should do something." - I actually like the way they worded this quote in the movie better but still it applies to so many areas of life, not just science. "Science has always said that it may not know everything now but it will know, eventually. But now we see that isn't true. It is an idle boast. As foolish, and as misguided, as the child who jumps off a building because he believes he can fly." And no I'm not anti-science :lol: But his quotes really have got me thinking about our modern age of science/technology and the impact of both. Now I'm ready to dive into his The Lost World, but that will have to wait ;) Surprisingly, I think this is only my 3rd re-read for the year. I usually spend about half of my year re-reading my favorite books, my "friends." I guess you all are a bad influence bringing new books into my path!

We watch Warehouse 13 but haven't seen the latest (final) season yet so no spoilers ;) Both dd's loved the depiction of H.G. Wells. In fact, dd13 (Warehouse 13 is her current favorite show) spent time researching H.G. to see just who he really was and is now on her second Wells book. She read The Time Machine and is now reading The War of the Worlds. I really enjoyed the one I read! I'm glad to hear the others were fun, too! I prefer to read series in order but I started in the middle of Aunt Dimity because I found it at a book sale. I am guessing that I now know the outcome of at least one or two other books. And it was a little difficult at the start getting to know the characters because the author assumed you were already well acquainted. Other than that, though, I had no problem keeping up once the story got going. I read Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter. It was totally appropriate for your dd and was quite a hoot! Kept me guessing till the reveal. Even funnier if you have some knowledge of Dracula :D Dd13 is reading Etiquette and Espionage right now and enjoying it! I think I will try and get the 2nd in that series for Steampunk month ;) I thoroughly enjoyed Soulless, though it was a bit racy for my tastes :eek: I would still like to read the 2nd in that series as well.

:iagree: to the bolded. I spent one year with Sonlight, and it was my last. I found so many of their listed books sad or just downright depressing. While I know that everything is not happily ever after and that history is ugly sometimes, well, that kind of reading is just not for me. I have read Jurassic Park numerous times before as well as The Lost World, Congo, Sphere, and The Andromeda Strain. I usually love Michael Crichton's stories. It has been a while, however, because I no longer read stuff with all that profanity. I just don't want that in my head. I think I liked The Lost World better than Jurassic Park as a story goes. He spends a lot of time getting into the technical in Jurassic Park. I will be curious to see what dd thinks. ;)

In my excitement to post about my book coming in at the library, I forgot to post the book I finished this week. I finished The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd Wednesday. A friend loaned it to me knowing that I enjoy Regency Romance. It was a Christian Regency Romance and a nice fluffy read. Though I had mostly figured out what was going to happen early on in the book, for some reason I was still eagerly reading and had trouble putting it down. I think it is because the author did a very good job of describing the urgency of the situation so though I anticipated the outcome I was drawn into the book and the characters. I was a little disappointed in the Christian aspect, though. If you are going to put it into a book, I feel it needs to be done correctly. I felt that she threw it in here and there and no resolution in that area. I couldn't tell if she meant for the reader to just assume that the characters had grown in their faith or if they really hadn't. I find that if you are inserting faith into the book, it needs to be real and show growth and a certain resolution, much like the end of the story. Really, that should happen as part of the story. Lori Wick is an excellent example of how to do both and make it readable. *Shrug* It just fell short there for me. Right now I'm still listening to the Wee Free Men, not much opportunity of late for the audio. I started my collection of Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales because of you all. It's a collection given to me by my grandmother when I was 5. I am also reading/editing Jurassic Park. Dd19 has loved the movie since she was 2 and has always wanted to read the book but she doesn't do books with that much language. Her solution, for me to read it with white out! :lol: So I'm finally getting around to doing so. She asked me how it was going and I told her fine since I was still near the beginning of the book. There is not much swearing until people start getting eaten :lol:

I'm working from two different computers and just realized that I was multi-quoting on the other and I can't remember all of them. Oops! Heather, so glad you are starting to feel better. Missionaries that our church supports wrote in detail about their struggle with this fever two years ago. :grouphug: I'm so excited. Sunday ends pretty much all my school/co-op responsibilities and summer break will be here for reals :hurray: I have The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier waiting for me to pick it up at the library :hurray: Anne Fortier wrote Juliet, one of my all time favorite books and I'm so excited to see what she has in store for me next. I can't wait to lose myself for a couple days in her new book!