Lady Florida. Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Not a book post but a post on "The Boy", i.e. the archaeologist whom homeschooling did not completely warp!  He is returning to projects in the Midwest where he worked through December. Things were then suspended because of weather--no surprise. My role in this was to deliver him to offices in Chapel Hill from where the company crew trucks were leaving his morning. He had gone to check in, then came back to my car to pick up his luggage. The grin on his face was priceless.  I'll miss him of course, but I revel in his happiness.  It's hard, but I hope that grin made it a bit easier on you. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Â Â My posts all seem to be doubling themselves tonight. Since code still doesn't work for me, I can't remove your entire quote Jane. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 ... I need audio books.   The adults as well as child in the family enjoyed the Hank the Cowdog books; I can say honestly that I enjoyed hearing my husband read aloud the first thirty-five in the series (and I'm sorry we never taped him!). I've heard good things about the audio versions which are read by the author.  Here's a link to volume one ~ The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog  by John R. Erickson http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Adventures-Hank-Cowdog/dp/1591886015/ref=tmm_abk_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1428374743&sr=1-1  Regards, Kareni 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Just finished reading Brooke Shields' There Was a Little Girl about her life and relationship with her mom.  I'm a sucker for a good auto/biography.  At times I felt Ms. Shields rehashed her mom's alcoholism beyond what was needed for the story and her editor could have done a better job at cutting out some redundancies.  But, overall I enjoyed the read.  Maybe 3 1/2 stars.  There is some strong language, not a lot, and many pictures.  Next up, Unbroken and, for the month of poetry and a book club, The Hounds of Heaven at My Heels by Francis Thompson.  Gotta be quick about it, though, because Anna Karenina is soon to follow.  8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was browsing at the library today and managed to not get anything for myself. My TBR pile is already too big! Â DH is a big fan of the Patrick O'Brian novels but not a fan of historical fiction in general. Still I came across a section of books by Bernard Cornwell and they looked really good. Some are in series and the library didn't have the first books of the series on the shelf so I checked out The Fort, which seemed standalone. Anyone familiar with these? In skimming them they looked pretty good. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The adults as well as child in the family enjoyed the Hank the Cowdog books; I can say honestly that I enjoyed hearing my husband read aloud the first thirty-five in the series (and I'm sorry we never taped him!). I've heard good things about the audio versions which are read by the author.  Here's a link to volume one ~ The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog  by John R. Erickson http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Adventures-Hank-Cowdog/dp/1591886015/ref=tmm_abk_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1428374743&sr=1-1  Regards, Kareni  Oh, we love these books!  There's a great sense of humor that our family really appreciates.  We listened to the audio version read by the author, and he is fabulous.  Sound effects and music accompany the audio version.  7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Oh! I almost forgot. I need you all to come through for me. We are leaving (in one day!) for a camping trip. We will be driving 15 hours (add extra for all those unexpected stops when traveling with children) each way. So I need audio books. I figure I can get some that are for the whole family and then for individual listening.  So recs for 6, 11, and 14 yr old and then for all of us.....   Youngest loved Farmer Boy and Paddington, 11 yr old loves the Menagerie series, Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter, 14 yr old also loves Percy Jackson (and other books by author), Harry Potter, and Cornelia Funke. We all just finished Christopher Healy's trilogy and enjoyed it.   How about The Mysterious Benedict Society?  Or, if you're looking for quirky and funny, Sideways Stories from Wayside School?  ETA:  Here's another, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I am so not ready for my boys to leave home. Will I be ready when the time comes? Cause right now the thought makes me hyperventilate and feel a bit queasy.  I've been reading my notes and textbook. Also reading about different schools (college level), majors, requirements, tests, etc. Not that I am obsessively researching college options for my oldest or anything.   My son went from being a little boy digging in the dirt to a teen who continued to dig in the dirt. He knew what he wanted to do and so I tried my best as his high school counselor to help him figure out how to follow his passion.  The best part of homeschooling was flexibility. Thus he was able to meet and work under an archaeologist who is known regionally within both academic circles and industry. This fellow not only wrote a letter of recommendation for colleges, he is also the contact that probably sealed the deal on my son's job in Cultural Resource Management, what he wants to be doing right now.  It all just sort of gelled and you celebrate it.  Jane and Nan, I am so glad your boys are able to work in the field they love. Watching them go off must be hard but at the same time really fulfilling. Sort of the ultimate mom graduation. I have to admit I am dreading it myself and it is getting closer every day. Preparing for all the entrance exams this spring. I am far more worried than she is.   I can attest to the worry! I had many sleepless nights over it, yet when it was all said and done I don't know how much we would have done differently other than a few minor things.  Kareni held my hand through the process. I will forever be in her debt.  Jane 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The adults as well as child in the family enjoyed the Hank the Cowdog books; I can say honestly that I enjoyed hearing my husband read aloud the first thirty-five in the series (and I'm sorry we never taped him!). I've heard good things about the audio versions which are read by the author.  Here's a link to volume one ~ The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog  by John R. Erickson http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Adventures-Hank-Cowdog/dp/1591886015/ref=tmm_abk_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1428374743&sr=1-1  Regards, Kareni  None of these are available in my library systems. Darn.   How about The Mysterious Benedict Society?  Or, if you're looking for quirky and funny, Sideways Stories from Wayside School?  ETA:  Here's another, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  We've listened to all of the Dahl books and the Benedict Society. I did find Wayside School on audio at the library so I downloaded that one.  I also found Fortunately, the Milk by Gaiman.   My son went from being a little boy digging in the dirt to a teen who continued to dig in the dirt. He knew what he wanted to do and so I tried my best as his high school counselor to help him figure out how to follow his passion.  The best part of homeschooling was flexibility. Thus he was able to meet and work under an archaeologist who is known regionally within both academic circles and industry. This fellow not only wrote a letter of recommendation for colleges, he is also the contact that probably sealed the deal on my son's job in Cultural Resource Management, what he wants to be doing right now.  It all just sort of gelled and you celebrate it.   I can attest to the worry! I had many sleepless nights over it, yet when it was all said and done I don't know how much we would have done differently other than a few minor things.  Kareni held my hand through the process. I will forever be in her debt.  Jane I am just starting the high school journey. That is very inspiring that you found an archaeologist to shadow. Any tips for doing so? My eldest has been interested in plants for as long as he can remember. He also loves chemistry. He wants to combine the two and work in research using plants to develop/discover/improve meds. So far I have contacted a private chemistry testing lab, and an acquaintance's husband who is a pharmacist. I never got a response from either.  I've been looking at the various majors that could get him into the work he's interested in, checking out the requirements, and looking at out local college for classes he could take as dual enrollment or CLEP.  My youngest (6) digs in the dirt looking for rocks and fossils all. the. time. All day, every day. Fossils and rocks and more fossils and rocks. He says when he grows up he wants to be a paleontologist and a ninja. He's already got quite the rock/fossil collection (all over my house....even under my bed) and is taking karate so he's on his path for achieving both career goals. ;) 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I am just starting the high school journey. That is very inspiring that you found an archaeologist to shadow. Any tips for doing so? My eldest has been interested in plants for as long as he can remember. He also loves chemistry. He wants to combine the two and work in research using plants to develop/discover/improve meds. So far I have contacted a private chemistry testing lab, and an acquaintance's husband who is a pharmacist. I never got a response from either.  I've been looking at the various majors that could get him into the work he's interested in, checking out the requirements, and looking at out local college for classes he could take as dual enrollment or CLEP.  My youngest (6) digs in the dirt looking for rocks and fossils all. the. time. All day, every day. Fossils and rocks and more fossils and rocks. He says when he grows up he wants to be a paleontologist and a ninja. He's already got quite the rock/fossil collection (all over my house....even under my bed) and is taking karate so he's on his path for achieving both career goals. ;)  Jenn's son is the geologist. He can probably address a suggested path for ninja paleontologists. ;)  Finding volunteer gigs for teens can be tricky. For example, the bird shelter where I volunteer regularly has calls from parents who are looking for volunteer opportunities for their kids. We almost always say no unless it is an Eagle Scout project. The reason is that calls initiating from parents usually produce interested parents--not interested teens. So the first thing I would suggest is have your son make the contacts.  Secondly let serendipity will guide you. Back when my son was in high school, there was a notice in our weekly small town newspaper that volunteers were needed at a historical site to assist in a one week dig that state archaeologists were organizing. My son contacted the name in the article and signed up.  At the dig, one of the state guys took my son under wing--turns out he was a homeschool parent himself. So when a private foundation solicited for volunteers to help at a college field school being held in our area, the state archaeologist served as a reference for my son. It was at the college field school my son's life was forever changed. He was supposed to assist during their second week. At the end of the week, the field director (the man who became my son's mentor) approached me and asked if my son could continue to participate for the duration of the field school. He told me that my son was working harder than many of the college students.  And the rest is history...  Do any of the colleges near you have summer programs in which the students do some lab work? Some schools offer interesting classes for teens--not just glorified babysitting. This might open a door.  Remember that there are a whole lot of people around here that will hold your hand in the years to come.   8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Oh! I almost forgot. I need you all to come through for me. We are leaving (in one day!) for a camping trip. We will be driving 15 hours (add extra for all those unexpected stops when traveling with children) each way. So I need audio books. I figure I can get some that are for the whole family and then for individual listening.  So recs for 6, 11, and 14 yr old and then for all of us.....   Youngest loved Farmer Boy and Paddington, 11 yr old loves the Menagerie series, Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter, 14 yr old also loves Percy Jackson (and other books by author), Harry Potter, and Cornelia Funke. We all just finished Christopher Healy's trilogy and enjoyed it.   The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett was excellent on audio.  Laugh out loud hilarious.  The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, beginning with Dealing with Dragons is, I believe, a full cast production and also great on audio (per my good friend and my older dd).  Aly (14) and Skye have both enjoyed the Dragons is our Midst series on audio, It begins with Raising Dragons.  There is some Christian content in these.  9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett was excellent on audio.  Laugh out loud hilarious.  The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, beginning with Dealing with Dragons is, I believe, a full cast production and also great on audio (per my good friend and my older dd).  Aly (14) and Skye have both enjoyed the Dragons is our Midst series on audio, It begins with Raising Dragons.  There is some Christian content in these.   My son chose the sequel to The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, for us to listen to in our recent travels. We would have gone with The Wee Free Men but it was unavailable on audio.  7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett was excellent on audio.  Laugh out loud hilarious.  The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, beginning with Dealing with Dragons is, I believe, a full cast production and also great on audio (per my good friend and my older dd).  Aly (14) and Skye have both enjoyed the Dragons is our Midst series on audio, It begins with Raising Dragons.  There is some Christian content in these.   My middle ds tried reading The Wee Free Men and didn't like it. Maybe audio would be better.  Thanks for the suggestions 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 My middle ds tried reading The Wee Free Men and didn't like it. Maybe audio would be better.  Thanks for the suggestions  I'm not a great auditory learner so listening to books takes all my concentration.  The Nac Mac Feegles in The Wee Free Men kept me listening.  The reader does the accent and keeps you entertained.  It might be worth another go.  7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Mom ninja -- One important bit of advice that I have learned in the past month as your ds completes a subject have him sit for the SAT subject exams. It won't hurt and my make your life far easier in a few years. These are relatively inexpensive and widely available in the US. Note the in the US, long drives for us. Easy to book online. Dd has several planned but currently trying to decide if she should bother with the revision necessary to do a couple she doesn't remember quite well enough. She needs 3 with a good score which she should have but wants more. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Well, if you already have Fortunately the milk, and someone else has suggested "Dealing with Dragons" then I will suggest The Penderwicks. My boys adore those books and listening to the audio books has become a tradition when going on long trips.  What about The Hobbit?  This is our personal favorite version. It is free and has been kept up by the actor's son. It has been online for years and years for free and no one has stepped in to make him take it down, so I guess it is fine.  http://www.nicolwilliamson.com/?p=125  We downloaded it into Itunes and then burned it to CD for long drives. Later on, as we moved up in technology, I loaded it onto an ipod and we listen to it that way.  We also have bought the BBC Lord of the Rings trilogy for road trips...and Harry Potter.  If you are looking for something not necessarily an audio book, but entertaining check out Bill Harley. He's a storyteller, not an audio book reader. We love him so much! His CDs like "Battle of the Mad Scientists, or "Weezy and the Moonpies" or (my fave) "Teacher's Lounge" are good enough that I would listen to him even if the kids aren't in the car.  Another storyteller is Odds Bodkin. He has a trilogy about a dinosaur "Little Proto" that my kids loved, and I bet my 15 year old could still tolerate. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 For Mom-ninja... Â If you like Jim Dale, have you checked to see what other audiobooks by him would be available through your library? I know that in addition to Harry Potter, he has done a great version of Around the World in 80 Days. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I used up my final Audible.com credit and canceled my membership before the next billing cycle. When I signed up it was to see if it was worth it for me because I do listen to a lot of audio books. I just don't buy them. :)  I get most of my audio books from the library. Although I have bought some, they've been inexpensive ones that didn't offset the cost of even the lowest membership. With my last two credits I got Wolf Hall (currently listening to) and Bring up the Bodies, but I could have just bought them outright and still wouldn't have equaled what I've paid for a membership. Oh well, at least now I know. I often wondered if a membership was the way to go. If you like to own your audio books, then it is a good deal. I don't mind borrowing them so it was a waste of money for me. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 still making the mysterious double posts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 DH is a big fan of the Patrick O'Brian novels but not a fan of historical fiction in general.  The Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin books are probably my husband's favorite series. He generally does not have the time to read much for pleasure, but he's read this series through three times over the course of some twenty odd years. I'll list a few of his other favorites in case something else sounds appealing.   -- the Arthur Upfield mysteries featuring Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte (who is half Australian aborigine) which are set primarily in the Australian outback; the twenty-nine book series was published between the late twenties and mid nineteen sixties. The first book is The Barrakee Mystery: An Inspector Bonaparte Mystery #1  -- Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco mysteries set in Ancient Rome. The first book is The Silver Pigs (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries) -- Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire series as well as her book The Mummy or Ramses the Damned   -- a recent favorite, to which he listened, is Andy Weir's The Martian which he likes to describe as 'porn for engineers'! I'm no engineer, but I liked it, too.   Regards, Kareni 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 My dh is also not a big reader - no time - but has really been enjoying the Patrick O'Brian series. Â I recently recommended Pompeii by Robert Harris to him, and he really enjoyed it. Â Kind of historical fiction for water/engineering/geology geeks. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015  For our artistically inclined BAWer's check out Johanna Basfords coloring books for adults and peruse out the book on amazon.   A piece in Busness Insider mentioned this same book and author, Robin. How prescient of you!   The 2 best-selling books on Amazon right now are 'adult coloring books'  Regards, Kareni 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I have the postcard version of her book and it is so relaxing but I would love some recommendations for pens to use for coloring. The ones I have bleed a bit.  No personal experience, but I saw a recommendation for Pilot Frixion erasable felt tip pens.  An Amazon link to one set: Pilot FriXion Colors Erasable Marker, 6 Color Set, 6C (SFC-60M-6C)   and here's a tome: Pilot FriXion Erasable Pens: A Comprehensive Guide  Regards, Kareni 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 Woohoo! New book in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series released today - Dark Heir   9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I had not really paid attention to this thread until now.  What a neat idea.  I may join in...poetry is my true love and I'm a Lewis fan, too (and interestingly I decided this year I would read the trilogy, but haven't begun it yet. I did read Abolition of Man earlier this year.  Dense.)  FWIW I am going to recommend Natasha Tretheway's Native Guard for anyone looking for beautifully-crafted, moving contemporary poetry.  She won the Pulitzer for it a few years ago.  I may try to join in.  Interestingly, too, yesterday I began riding My Hiding Place (Ten Boom)--a book I've had for YEARS (my mother loved it) and plucked off the shelf yesterday just because.  I just saw that it was mentioned in the previous month's thread! 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 I had not really paid attention to this thread until now.  What a neat idea.  I may join in...poetry is my true love and I'm a Lewis fan, too (and interestingly I decided this year I would read the trilogy, but haven't begun it yet. I did read Abolition of Man earlier this year.  Dense.)  FWIW I am going to recommend Natasha Tretheway's Native Guard for anyone looking for beautifully-crafted, moving contemporary poetry.  She won the Pulitzer for it a few years ago.  I may try to join in.  Interestingly, too, yesterday I began riding My Hiding Place (Ten Boom)--a book I've had for YEARS (my mother loved it) and plucked off the shelf yesterday just because.  I just saw that it was mentioned in the previous month's thread!  Hi Polly and welcome! Please do join in. Always happy to hear about your reads. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Woohoo! New book in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series released today - Dark Heir  And I finally was current on this series, apparently for one week! :lol:  Welcome Polly, you are welcome anytime.  Totally sleep deprived but I am home!!!! Now to unpack..... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Ah, I found something that might help me as a companion to reading Lewis: The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia.  As I am annoyedly but determinidely reading my way through Perelandra.  http://www.amazon.com/The-Magicians-Book-Skeptics-Adventures/dp/0316017655  I needed a break from it, so I started I, Tituba last night. It's very well written, an engrossing read so far.  Then I realized that 3 of my current reads were suggestions from Stacia - Rue du Retour, I, Tituba, and The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.  I guess I know who my go-to girl for book recs is, don't I? ;) :D 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Welcome Angela and Polly! Â Jane, I love your posts about The Boy; they give me encouragement in thinking Great Girl will someday graduate to doing what she loves. Â Posting & liking is difficult as I am in the Chihuahuan Desert with no wifi anywhere ... Not so much as a Starbucks in view so far ... And pages take minutes to load. And I am typing on my phone. Finished Greene, still reading de Sales. Stacia, sympathies on your reading drought; myself stuck in a re-reading rut right now. But Our Man in Havana, the story of a British expatriate vacuum salesman and his teen daughter caught up in an espionage scenario that he just can't take seriously, was again a fun read. An excerpt: Â ---------- Â They can print statistics and count the populations in hundreds of thousands, but to each man a city consists of no more than a few streets, a few houses, a few people. Remove those few and a city exists no longer except as a pain in the memory, like the pain of an amputated leg no longer there. It was time, Wormold thought, to pack up and go and leave the ruins of Havana. Â -------- Â ETA: Thought that would never post! Starting (more) James: The Europeans. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Having a child who knows exactly what he wants to do, and never wavers from it, is a blessing. My oldest son was born to be an accountant. When I tell people that, they look at me like I've got three heads. He practically homeschooled himself. The others have been a little more challenging. Â On the book side, yesterday I finished Anthem by Ayn Rand. I had no idea going in that it was a dystopian story. I found it engaging but unrealistic in many of the details.(cue my kids saying, "Mom,you do realize it is Fiction.") Anyway, I liked it enough to consider reading something else by the same author. Â Today, I finished up a quick little book called Jung : A Beginner's Guide, by Ruth Berry. It should be called "how a man decided other people's minds work by examining his own idiosyncrasies." He sure did have a lot of them, too. :-P 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I finished the Portland Storm series. Now I have a book hangover and the next book in the series is due out next week. Today I dealt with the book hangover by deep cleaning the apartment. Not sure what I will do tomorrow. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Welcome, pehp (Polly?)!   Early (very EARLY) this morning, I finished Laura Kinsale's historical romance Flowers from the Storm. This was a re-read for me, as I'd read the book some four, five, six years ago. It's a book that frequently lands on Best Romance lists such as this one from All About Romance: Top 100 Romances Poll, 2013 where it placed at number six. I recommend it.  Here's a traditional review and here's a rather amusing non-traditional review (with adult content).  Regards, Kareni 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Hello, dear reading friends! I have been MIA again, just seems we have had a crazy schedule and not been home much. I'm hoping that subsides and things relax a bit again soon. (She says, currently snuggled on the couch with the big floppy dog. Bliss!)  I skimmed through all your posts in hopes of getting caught up before the thread got too long. Will go back and take some notes. I have had CS Lewis on my list for years and actually have 2-3 books on my shelves. Perhaps I'll finally pull one out! :)  Currently reading "First Frost" by Sarah Addison Allen, her newest. And then, only about three million books left on my TBR shelf, LOL!!  In the meantime, enjoying spring... trees and shrubs are budding, flowers are trying to peek up through the mulch, and my forsythia has popped open its bright yellow blossoms... to me it's the first sign that it's truly spring. Even enjoying the mild thunderstorms today... April showers, May flowers and all that.  I will try very, very hard to keep up this week!!  10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maela Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I'm still here!  Just moving along verrry slowly.  :rolleyes:  Last night I finished Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke.  It was the book that I had put on hold at my library but then couldn't remember why.  Science fiction from the 1950s.  Apparently, Mr. Clarke is well-known.  Anyway, I really liked it - very interesting.  Easy read.  Oh, and there supposedly a mini-series being made and premiering this year.  I've started Books Can Be Deceiving, the first book in A Library Lover's Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay.  I read #3 Book, Line, and Sinker a couple of books ago without knowing it was a series.  Now I'm starting from the beginning.  Still working on La Casa de los EspĂƒÂritus!  Almost fifty percent of the way through...  How about The Mysterious Benedict Society?  Or, if you're looking for quirky and funny, Sideways Stories from Wayside School?  ETA:  Here's another, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  We love Wayside School!  There are two or three aren't there?  I liked them as a kid, and now my kids love them too.  They're super silly.   Ah, I found something that might help me as a companion to reading Lewis: The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia.  As I am annoyedly but determinidely reading my way through Perelandra.  http://www.amazon.com/The-Magicians-Book-Skeptics-Adventures/dp/0316017655   This looks great!  9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bit  Stephen King or Neil Gaiman?  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami?  Beer or Wine?  ghostbusters or three musketeers?  Shallow Hal or The Elf  Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence?  Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bit  Stephen King or Neil Gaiman?  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami?  Beer or Wine?  ghostbusters or three musketeers?  Shallow Hal or The Elf  Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence?  Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? *Neil Gaiman*Do I have to choose? * I don't like the taste of alcohol. * both * I don't know these people *I'm not sure who Jennifer Lawrence is. I've seen Gwyneth in Emma and enjoyed her in that. *The first thing that came to my mind is Poirot's sidekick Hastings.  I know, my life is boring. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bit  Stephen King or Neil Gaiman?  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami?  Beer or Wine?  ghostbusters or three musketeers?  Shallow Hal or The Elf  Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence?  Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie?  Neil Gaiman  Haven't read either  Whiskey  Three Musketeers  No. Just No.  Jennifer Lawrence  I hate choosing favourites.  10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bitStephen King or Neil Gaiman? Neither, though I went through a Stephen King phase years agoItalo Calvino or Haruki Murakami? Neither - tried bothBeer or Wine? Wineghostbusters or three musketeers? Neither - Ghostbusters was fun back in the day but I have no desire to relive it. Three Musketeers was okay to read once. Once.Shallow Hal or The Elf  Neither - Don't know any thing about Shallow Hal but it sounds like something I wouldn't like. I can't stand Will Ferrell so Elf is a definite no. Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence? Jennifer LawrenceBest Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? Donkey from Shrek - Really, there are way too many to pick one, so I picked the first one that came to mind. Not sure what that says about me. LOL 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bit  Stephen King or Neil Gaiman?  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami?  Beer or Wine?  ghostbusters or three musketeers?  Shallow Hal or The Elf  Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence?  Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie?  I've actually never read any Neil Gaiman.  Should I? Which?  Hm, that's a tough one.  Can I say neither? ;)  Both.  Well, if we're talking about movies, I've never seen the 3 Musketeers movie, but  I have to confess that I have been using the line "I'm a genius, not an engineer" from The Man in the Iron Mask since 1998! :lol:  No idea.  Gwyneth  Hermione Granger 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beckster Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Getting back into a groove this week with spring break over. Â Not thrilled that hubby was laid off, but we have been enjoying him being home these three weeks!!! Â finished in the last 2 weeks 42. Â Institutes of the Christian Religion 43. Â A Dream Unfolding 44. Â A Passion Redeemed 45. Â A Passion Denied 46. Â Deep in the Heart 47. Â Why Read Moby Dick? Â currently reading History of the Ancient World History of the Medieval World East of Eden Mere Christianity 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Indifference or ignorance on several of Robin's questions!Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami? Calvino.Beer or Wine? Wine although I do like an occasional ale.ghostbusters or three musketeers? d'ArtagnanBest Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? Melrose Plant in the Martha Grimes mysteries.    7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Indifference or ignorance on several of Robin's questions!Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami? Calvino.Beer or Wine? Wine although I do like an occasional ale.ghostbusters or three musketeers? d'ArtagnanBest Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? Melrose Plant in the Martha Grimes mysteries.    4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bit  Stephen King or Neil Gaiman?  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami?  Beer or Wine?  ghostbusters or three musketeers?  Shallow Hal or The Elf  Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence?  Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie?  I would have to choose Gaiman.  King makes me :scared:  I don't know Calvino.  But I doubt I would choose Murakami either.  Can't stand the taste of either.  How 'bout a nice big fountain Coke from McDonald's :D  Three Musketeers  Elf, though it took me multiple times to appreciate it.  Jennifer Lawrence, hands down!  I can't pick!  The first thing that popped into my head, though, was Chris O'Donnell's portrayal of Robin.  "Chick's dig the car!" 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I've actually never read any Neil Gaiman.  Should I? Which?  I haven't either. I think his most well-known book is American Gods but I recently purchased The Ocean At the End of the Lane to read next month. Want to join me? We could read Inferno together too. I'm a slow reader, so for me it would be like going hiking with my super-fit friend. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I haven't either. I think his most well-known book is American Gods nut I recently purchased The Ocean At the End of the Lane to read next month. Want to join me? We could read Inferno together too. I'm a slow reader, so for me it would be like going hiking with my super-fit friend. Â That sounds awesome - Inferno and The Ocean at the End of the Lane next month! I'm in! Â I'm going to bail on Till We Have Faces, I think. Â I don't know that I'm the correct demographic for CS Lewis. Â I will finish the Space Trilogy, and then move on. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Beer or Wine?  Chocolate milkshake.   Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie?  (Delia) Peabody in J D Robb's ... in Death series.   Last night I finished The Last Hour (Thompson Sisters Book 3) by Charles Sheehan-Miles; I enjoyed it even while crying. I was comfortably certain that I knew how the story would end; I was wrong. I'd previously enjoyed the author's second book in this series which tells the romance of one of the heroine's five sisters; I have yet to read book one (though I will).  This book is about love, honesty, war, sacrifice, and friendship.  "Twenty-seven year old Carrie Thompson-Sherman has the life she always wanted: her PhD, a prestigious fellowship, and an amazing husband.  Her charmed life begins to unravel as a jealous colleague puts her fellowship in jeopardy and a hideous secret Ray carried home from Afghanistan comes to light. Hanging on by a single thread, a disastrous accident puts both her husband and her sister's lives at risk. Heartbroken, Carrie will be faced with the most devastating choice of her life.  A choice that will change everything.  The Last Hour is part of a series of novels centering around the Thompson sisters. Though the books center on the same family, they are standalone novels and can be read in any order."  Regards, Kareni 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Stephen King or Neil Gaiman? King. He's hit or miss but I haven't read Gaiman.  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami? Haven't read Calvino so I'm going with Murakami.Beer or Wine? I don't drink so I don't know.ghostbusters or three musketeers? Ghostbusters, absolutely. I wish my homeschooling car was the Ghostbusters ambulance. Plus I love Sigourney Weaver. And Dan Akroyd. And Bill Murray.  Shallow Hal or The Elf? Don't know who these are?Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence? Jennifer Lawrence by a long shot.Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? Samwise Gamgee. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015   Mid week blues? everyone is so quiet. Let's mix it is a bit  Stephen King or Neil Gaiman? Neither  Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami? Murakami, but I like Calvino too.  Beer or Wine? White wine  ghostbusters or three musketeers? Ds and I just watched Ghostbusters. It was fun.  Shallow Hal or The Elf. Not a clue to this one.  Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence? I know who Gwyneth Paltrow is but she is not a favourite.  Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? I like Donkey better but the first one I thought of was Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes from the Laurie King books. But I am not sure who the sidekick really is..... 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mumto2, Hilarious! That's EXACTLY how I felt about them too. I get 50 pages in and I'm like, "Eh, I'm bored." If I push through, I enjoy the ending. My husband took back Hammered though so I think I'll shelve them for now. I'll look for the Mercy Thompson ones.  Mom-ninja, right there with you on not being ready for children to leave the home yet. It's a good thing we have a while to go because the whole idea sends chills down my spine right now.  Welcome, Polly!  Rose, any Gaiman you can get your hands on. *swoon* Hehe! Ocean At The End Of The Lane stuck with me a lot. I also enjoyed American Gods quite a bit. Hah, I just scrolled down to see that idnib posted the same ones.  Kareni, I love Peabody!!   Stephen King or Neil Gaiman? Gaiman. :001_wub: Italo Calvino or Haruki Murakami? I've only read Murakami so I'd have to read Calvino to compare.Beer or Wine? Wine lately. I love beer but had a gluten sensitivity pop up. There are so many amazing craft beers in my area.ghostbusters or three musketeers? Who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!Shallow Hal or The Elf. Elf.Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lawrence? Jennifer Lawrence. She's a cutie.Best Sidekick in a Novel or Movie? Well, now all I can think is Peabody.  Dropped Hammered and picked up Maria Alexander's Mr. Wicker. My husband was reading it out loud to me last night and I was belly laughing. Some of it is pretty cheesy but I do want to see how it ends so I'll continue with it. I need to make a new list of library books now because I've reached the bottom of the stack! I'm definitely going to get more from Alpha/Omega series and the Soulless series.     10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Chocolate milkshake.    (Delia) Peabody in J D Robb's ... in Death series.   Last night I finished The Last Hour (Thompson Sisters Book 3) by Charles Sheehan-Miles; I enjoyed it even while crying. I was comfortably certain that I knew how the story would end; I was wrong. I'd previously enjoyed the author's second book in this series which tells the romance of one of the heroine's five sisters; I have yet to read book one (though I will).  This book is about love, honesty, war, sacrifice, and friendship.  "Twenty-seven year old Carrie Thompson-Sherman has the life she always wanted: her PhD, a prestigious fellowship, and an amazing husband.  Her charmed life begins to unravel as a jealous colleague puts her fellowship in jeopardy and a hideous secret Ray carried home from Afghanistan comes to light. Hanging on by a single thread, a disastrous accident puts both her husband and her sister's lives at risk. Heartbroken, Carrie will be faced with the most devastating choice of her life.  A choice that will change everything.  The Last Hour is part of a series of novels centering around the Thompson sisters. Though the books center on the same family, they are standalone novels and can be read in any order."  Regards, Kareni  Peabody was actually the first that came to mind for me.  I've actually never read any Neil Gaiman.  Should I? Which?  Hm, that's a tough one.  Can I say neither? ;)  Both.  Well, if we're talking about movies, I've never seen the 3 Musketeers movie, but  I have to confess that I have been using the line "I'm a genius, not an engineer" from The Man in the Iron Mask since 1998! :lol:  No idea.  Gwyneth  Hermione Granger  I've only read one King (Carrie) and one Gaiman (The Graveyard Book) and considering I loved the Gaiman book but didn't finish King the pic was easy for me. The Graveyard Book is beautiful and funny and well worth a read.  I realized that I didn't need to get Mere Christianity to do some C.S. Lewis this month, I've got The C.S. Lewis Bible so I'll be reading parts of that. I thought I would start with Matthew and then see where my fancy takes me. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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