An Award!

I received a blog award from Christina T at Reading Extensively.

Back in May.

And she thought she was slow in passing it on! Ha ha. I've been terrible. But in all defense, I was in full swing of my new position with Summer Reading. That's a librarian term for "no other life possible."

Yet I am now able to gratefully accept this blog award.

Christina T gave me the

Kreativ(e?) Blogger Award.

The "rules"

List seven things about myself and then pass the award on to seven other bloggers.

So.

7 things.

Eek.

Well, here goes.

(Forgive me if I've mentioned these previously some where.)

1. The middle toe on my right foot is shorter than all other 9 toes.

2. I love all but 1 shade of blue, and a few shades of green. Yet I say that my favorite color is green. (Should I specify a shade when stating color preference, or ignore the shade factor and stick with the overall color that contains my favorite shade?)

3. I have naturally curly hair--and I like it. Adore it. This is a rare phenomenon in the curly-hair world.

4. I have the oddest food tastes. Many wonder if I will crave normal food when I'm pregnant.

5. One of my front teeth would not come in on its own, so the dentist had to cut the gum for it to come through. Never drooled so much in my life.

6. I can wriggle my lower eyelid.

7. I get paid to sing and dance to songs with lyrics like this:

Bananas unite!

Bananas split!

Peel bananas! Peel, peel bananas!

Go bananas! Go, go bananas!

There were no specifications as to how to award the blog, unless it is obviously stated--a blog I think is creative. But I only read so many blogs. And I've awarded some multiple awards--ddo you think they'd get tired of this?! And then some that I love to give awards to don't do awards. So, um, here goes. (I don't think I'll get all 7.)

1. The Brambler - for the showcasing of the love of the muses, and for not being a whining blogger! (From one who can be, I appreciate this a lot.)

2. Beware of Kids - because the blogger is one of the most creative people I know--her blog only shows one millionth of that creativity!

3. The Path Less Followed - if I'm right, I believe she created the background herself. She does other pretty creative things, too.

4. The Thursday Chronicles - yeah, I may be a co-writer. But the concept of the owner is pretty awesome and I think it was creative.

5. Mona's Musings - a blog about making marriage (and other relationships) better and stronger? Fabulous!!!

6. Recommend one to me!

7. Recommend another one to me!

The AKB Blog is...

on the road!!

I am taking a much-needed and well-deserved (I only say that because everyone at work said it....does that mean something?) vacation!

And who better to visit than my most, uh, loyal (is that the word I want?) AKB blog reader and AKB Book Club participator.

It's becoming a Thanksgiving tradition.

And one I love!!!

Where better to go than the home that feels like a second family, and a friend whom I love so much!?

And while we're on vacation and "have time" (ha ha ha ha!), maybe we should get better at writing on this here blog o' mine.

So much I could say. But I'm gonna cop out and announce the next destination of the AKB Book Club. Woohoo! We are moving on to the land of Panem.

Watch your step in this world as we get ready to read and discuss

The Hunger Games Trilogy!

Finish that Series Challenge 2010

This is a new challenge on Royal Reviews.
There are four levels:

-- Curious – Finish 2 series.

-- Fascinated – Finish 3 series.

-- Addicted – Finish 5 series.

-- Obsessed – Finish 10 series.

My original goal: 10
I'm not setting a new goal. This one was quite lofty, considering all of the books required to read in order to finish the series. I am going to list the series that I finished, along with which books from the series I read this year in order to finish the series.

1. Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke
#3 - Inkdeath

2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (all re-reads) in chronological order
#2 - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
#3 - The Horse and His Boy
#4 - Prince Caspian
#5 - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
#6 - The Silver Chair
#7 - The Last Battle

3. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
#2 - The Subtle Knife
#3 - The Amber Spyglass

4. The Best Ever Trilogy (my name for it) by Barbara Robinson
#2 - The Best School Year Ever
#3 - The Best Halloween Ever

5. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede
#2 - Searching for Dragons
#3 - Calling on Dragons
#4 - Talking to Dragons

6. The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
#2 - Betsy-Tacy and Tib
#3 - Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
#4 - Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown
#5 - Heaven to Betsy
#6 - Betsy in Spite of Herself
#7 - Betsy Was a Junior
#8 - Betsy and Joe
#9 - Betsy and the Great World
#10 - Betsy's Wedding

7. The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter
#2 - Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
#3 - Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover
#4 - our library finally obtained the most recent book--published a couple of months ago. I'm first in line for it and it will be read by the end of the year!!

8. The Brian Saga by Gary Paulsen
#3 - Brian's Winter
#4 - Brian's Return
#5 - Brian's Hunt

9. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray
#2 - Rebel Angels
#3 - The Sweet Far Thing

10. The Emma manga series by Kaoru Mori
#1 - Emma, Volume 1
#2 - Emma, Volume 2
#3 - Emma, Volume 3
#4 - Emma, Volume 4
#5 - Emma, Volume 5
#6 - Emma, Volume 6
#7 - Emma, Volume 7
#8 - Emma, Volume 8
#9 - Emma, Volume 9
#10 - Emma, Volume 10

11. The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
#2 - Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
#3 - Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
#4 - Gregor and the Marks of Secret
#5 - Gregor and the Code of Claw

12. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
#1 - The Hunger Games
#2 - Catching Fire
#3 - Mockingjay

13. Return to Labyrinth series by Jake Forbes
#4 - Return to Labyrinth, Vol. 4

Met Goal?

Yes!!!! +

The 2nd Challenge 2010

This challenge was originally on J. Kaye's Book Reviews and will now be hosted on Royal Reviews. (This is 2nd in a series or 2nd read of an author)
There are four levels:

-- Curious– Read 3 novels that are first in a series.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 novels that are first in a series.

-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are first in a series.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels that are first in a series.

My original goal: Addicted
My new goal: Obsessed

1. Thwonk by Joan Bauer (author)
2. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls series) by Ally Carter (series & author)
3. Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (Underland Chronicles) by Suzanne Collins (series & author)
4. Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements (author)
5. Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" by Cameron Dokey (author)
6. Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix (author)
7. The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg (author)
8. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis (series; re-read)
9. The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick (author)
10. The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials trilogy) by Philip Pullman (series & author)
11. The Best School Year Ever by ("Best Ever" trilogy--my name for it) Barbara Robinson (series & author)
12. Searching for Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles) by Patricia Wrede (series)
13. Catching Fire (Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (series)
14. The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier (author)
15. The Princess Diaries (Princess Diaries series) by Meg Cabot (author)
16. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (author)
17. Jane and the Man of the Cloth (Jane Austen Mysteries) by Stephanie Barron
18. Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle trilogy) by Libba Bray (series & author)
19. Emma, Volume 2 (Emma, manga series) by Kaoru Mori (series & author)
    
20. Betsy-Tacy and Tib (Betsy-Tacy series) by Maud Hart Lovelace (series & author)
    
21. The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin (author)

And this isn't counting the 2 or 3 that I've started but have not finished, yet.
Goal Met?

Yes!!!! +

1st in a Series Challenge 2010

This challenge was originally on J. Kaye's Book Reviews and will now be hosted on Royal Reviews.

There are four levels:

-- Curious– Read 3 novels that are first in a series.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 novels that are first in a series.

-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are first in a series.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels that are first in a series.

My original goal: Fascinated
My new goal: Addicted

Books Read:

1. The Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander
2. Redwallby (Redwall Adventures) Brian Jacques
3. Skulduggery Pleasant(Skulduggery Pleasant) by Derek Landy
4. The Scream Museum (P.C. Hawke Mysteries) by Paul Zindel
5. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (Daniel X series) by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
6. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collins
7. The Princess Diaries (Princess Diaries) by Meg Cabot
8. Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (Jane Austen Mysteries) by Stephanie Barron
9. Emma, Volume 1 (Emma, manga series) by Kaoru Mori
10. Stormbreaker (Alex Rider series) by Anthony Horowitz
11. Leviathan (Leviathan series) by Scott Westerfeld
12. The Borrowers (Borrowers series) by Mary Norton - 1/3 of the way read

Goal met?

Almost!!!

I've been a reading maniac

Really.

And I have way too many sitting on my "Checked Out from the Library" shelf which I know I will never finish before the end of the year. I mean--we're halfway through November on Monday!!! Where did my year go!?!?

I still haven't any clue how I've managed to read as many books I have, especially considering my extreme busyness in and out of work AND my problem with print books.

(Problem = falling asleep before 1 page is read.)

45 print books. 45! (Obviously not counting the 300+ children's picture books.) Including the 63 audio, this places me at 108 books (of 100+ pages) read so far this year. That's 2 shy of last year's total. And you know I'm not done reading for the year.

So much for my goal to read less. I suppose that goal had to go out the window when I moved over to the Children's department. And with my YA Book Challenge, all those poor Juvenile Fiction titles which I should have been reading were not being read. I'm not sure if I'll do that many challenges next year. Probably just the S'n'H one. We'll see....

Anywho. The next few posts are the various challenges I have embarked on, with some updates. The updates are the levels. Since I surpassed all of my levels already, I thought I would up a few and then report. Then I'll focus the last 6 weeks of the year trying to complete the S'n'H Challenge.

AKB Book Club Friend Post

The Brambler's Answers

EC

1. Who were your favorite characters?
Favorite characters are Uncle Alec, Phebe and Mac.

2. What morals did you agree with? Disagree with?
I don't have the book in front of me, but I mostly really liked what Uncle Alec tried to teach Rose. Good health is eating well and exercising and not being self-indulgent. Serve others. Having advantages means responsibility. Etc...

3. If you were Rose, how would you have reacted to the cousins?
I think I would have responded similarly to Rose when confronted with the cousins. At first, shyness, but when getting to know them, such fun to be had!

4. How would you have felt if you were Phebe and Rose asked to adopt you?
I'm not sure. With Phebe's pride (which is what got her through what she went through), I was a little surprised she didn't feel patronized at Rose's offer. But I suppose she was starved for love, so she was able to take Rose's offer as it was given.

5. What did you think of Uncle Alec?
I LOVE Uncle Alec. A wise and wonderful man who sacrificed a lot for his nieces and nephews.

6. What is your favorite part of the book?
Too hard to choose without the book in front of me. Loved so much about it. Especially when all the cousins are together.

RiB

1. Who were your favorite characters?
Mac and Aunt Jessie and Archie and Uncle Alec.

2. After your first taste of "society," would you have been able to easily give it up?
I'm not sure how I would have reacted to "society." It sounds so fun and romantic, yet exhausting. And I don't know that I would like the reality. Doesn't sound like one would really feel good with that lifestyle.

3. Did the characters grow up like you expected them to?
I read this book when I was pretty young, so they just are who they are in my mind.

4. What is your favorite part of the book?
When Mac drops by to visit Rose "among the haycocks." Delightful visit. So friendly and fun.

5. Did anything make you swoon? :)
Mac makes me swoon. I rooted for him from the first book.

6. Would Charlie have shaped up if Rose had given in to him?
I think he would have remained weak. I agree with I think it was Uncle Alec that years of indulgence might have spoiled him. Which was too bad. He was working on it and I think making progress, but I think if Rose had done what he wanted, he would have lost his momentum.

Rose, Rose, Rose

This blog’s most loyal reader—who happened to supply the questions for our current AKB book choice(s) has beaten me to the punch. She answered the questions before I was able to get around to me. Which told me I needed to get my back side in gear and answer the questions! Her answers are posted in a comment to the post with the questions. But I am going to post them as a guest post as well.

As I embark on answering the questions for myself, I have not as yet read her answers. I’m saving that to comment on later.

Eight Cousins

1. Who were your favorite characters?
Uncle Alec and Cousin Archie. I didn’t click with Rose as much, but I figured most of that was because she was growing up under good care and supervision at last. I did like Mac a lot overall, but there were times that I was disappointed in him.

2. What morals did you agree with? Disagree with?
Goodness. I’m forgetting already which were set out as morals. Most of the morals seemed to correspond with my own. I don’t remember being affronted by anything differing from my own, though there may have been.

3. If you were Rose, how would you have reacted to the cousins?
Probably the same way at the beginning—surprised and shocked. I think I, too, would have enjoyed their company. I’m not sure if I would have aimed at being the good influence on them. I certainly didn’t try that with my own horde of brothers!

4. How would you have felt if you were Phebe and Rose asked to adopt you?
I would have felt honored while also feeling a bit silly—or feeling the silliness of it all. How much is the age difference? Even in a humble position, I don’t think I would be able to help looking down on such an offer. Not a flattering portrayal of me, no. But it’s honest. Phebe is much better than me—I know that.

5. What did you think of Uncle Alec?
I love Uncle Alec and think it the most tragic thing that he is a bachelor! I know why (though the hints were a bit too subtle in the book). But I would love to meet a (clean-shaven) Uncle Alec, close to my age. I would be happy indeed.

6. What is your favorite part of the book?
I did enjoy when Rose took Mac “away” for recovery. That place and time seemed very fun and idyllic. Maybe that’s because I am badly in need of a vacation right now. But I liked how it all was there.

Rose in Bloom

1. Who were your favorite characters?
I definitely liked Rose better, even if I didn’t love her to pieces. But I think my favorite characters of all would be Uncle Alec and Mac. Absolute least favorite: Charlie.

2. After your first taste of "society," would you have been able to easily give it up?
Considering how I am about “society” now, I think I would have been able to. Plus, I love my sleep. :-)

3. Did the characters grow up like you expected them to?
Most of them did. Not Charlie. I did not expect that and I was not happy with it in the least.

4. What is your favorite part of the book?
I think my favorite part was all the little hints of Mac’s affection—even when he didn’t realize them himself.

5. Did anything make you swoon? :)
Unfortunately, no. The writing went into “detail” where I didn’t want it to, and either dragged or rushed through the parts that I most wanted to imagine. There was potential, but the writing didn’t do it justice. If I ignored the writing and just imagined the story myself, then it would probably be when Mac and Rose finally end up together at the end.

6. Would Charlie have shaped up if Rose had given in to him?
I don’t think so. Any person trying to overcome vices should do so to please the Lord and make themselves a better person, not to please someone else. I’m not sure if I’m saying what I mean, but it’s something along the lines of his purpose and cause were not true, righteous, and good enough to have been a sincere and complete change. You can see it wasn’t enough even when Rose WAS a reason for him. Plus, I think Alcott was determined to not let him shape up. Unfortunate, too. For I believe he could have shaped up without Rose. But Alcott didn’t let him. Still not happy with that way of conveniently getting him out of the picture.