"And to this purpose"

"If people like to read their books, it is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on purpose to do it." (In other words: rambling analyses, opinions, ideas, views, and comments from an English major, Essay/paper-writing enthusiastic, Austen-loving Master Librarian on, well, Jane Austen...and a whole lot of other things, too.)

"Celebrated Passages are Quoted"

Heidi's favorite quotes


"What is it really like to be engaged?" asked Anne curiously. "Well, that all depends on who you're engaged to," answered Diana, with that maddening air of superior wisdom always assumed by those who are engaged over those who are not."— L.M. Montgomery

Saturday, January 29, 2011

2011 Book Challenge

This is the only Book Challenge that I am doing this year. At least, that is the plan. Sometimes I get too excited about challenges and go for them. And I really shouldn't this year. I already have plenty to do. Indeed, I've been so busy in the last few weeks and months, that wonderful Brambler knew this and came up with this year's challenge on her own. I think this is much more do-able without exhausting me. The nonfiction part will be the big challenge for me, but I really should read more of it. 


So, anywho. Here we go!






Two non-fiction books (of any length) a month plus one challenge a month. (10 pts per book)

Here are the challenges:

January – January is the month of resolutions. Read a book you’ve been meaning to read for a long time.

February – Groundhog’s Day happens in February. Read a book about an animal.

March – Beware the Ides of March. Read a mystery.

April – A very important person was born in April… Read a book on marriage.

May – Emerald is the birthstone for May. Read a book with a green cover.

June – I got this idea from a group on Goodreads, but I love it. It’s a longer challenge, but once again, I love it. :) June is the month of weddings. There’s the saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Read an old favorite, a book you’ve never read before, a book you borrowed either from the library or a friend, and a book that has “blue” either in the title or the cover is blue.

July – July is vacation month. Read a book about a place that you want to visit, but have not yet visited.

August – Back to school in August. Read a book from either a summer reading list (high school, of course), or this link: http://www.neh.gov/projects/summertimefavorites.html.

September – The first comic strip published in an American newspaper was published on September 11, 1975. Read either a comic book or a manga book. (Is that a correct way to use that word? I have no idea. But you know what I mean.)

October – Columbus landed in America in October. Read a book concerning America. (I realize that is pretty wide open. I wanted some options.)

November - November is the best month of the year. Read a fun book.

December – Both Jane Austen and Walt Disney were born in December. Read a book that is somehow related to either of them. (Spin-offs, about the park, biographies, relating to the movies, etc….)

Bonus: Any other books you read this year over 75 pages. (5 pts per book)

2010 Book Challenge Wrap-Up Part 3

The Grand Totals!

Audio Challenge
Goal - 60
Read - 71
Met? - 118%

Kids personal goal (including the picture books worth .1 point each)
Goal - 350
Read - 378
Met? - 108%

YA Challenge
Goal - 75
Read - 85
Met? - 113%

Nonfiction personal goal
Goal - 5
Read - 6
Met? - 120%

1st in Series Challenge
Goal - 12
Read - 13
Met? - 108%

2nd in Series Challenge
Goal - 20
Read - 23
Met? - 115%

Finish that Series Challenge
Goal - 10
Read - 14
Met? - 140%

SnH Book Challenge
Goal - 49 categories
Completed - 44
Met? - 90%

Books Read
Total - 479
Re-reads - 7
Goal - read less than 2009
Non-children's from 2009 - 110
Non-children's from 2010 - 122
Met? no


Points
1076.1!!!

Conclusion:
Go me for more than meeting all but one of the challenges.

Resolve to never do that many challenges again...unless I have twice as much time on my hands!

2010 Book Challenge Wrap-Up Part 2


15 Points Categories:
Title
Author
1) A book from the London Times' Best Books of the Decade list. (Can look at either http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/262697-london-times-best-books-of-the-decade
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Azar Nafisi
or
2) A book about science
The Universe-didn't get to finish
Time-Life Books
3) A book about American History
1776
David McCullough
Monkey Town
Ronald Kidd
4) A book about language/writing
Cutting a Dash: Eats, Shoots & Leaves (radio series)
Lynne Truss
6) A book by a Goodreads author
The Killer's Cousin
Nancy Werlin
The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z
Kate Messner
Wintergirls
Laurie Halse Anderson
Return to Labyrinth, vol. 4
Jake T. Forbes
7) A book written in 2010.
Apple Turnover Murder
Joanne Fluke
Heist Society
Ally Carter
Calamity Jack
Shannon Hale
Extraordinary
Nancy Werlin
Missing in Action
Dean Hughes
Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
Twilight: Graphic Novel, vol. 1
Stephenie Meyer
Wishing for Tomorrow
Hilary McKay
Only the Good Spy Young
Ally Carter

Behemoth
Scott Westerfeld
Eye of the Red Tsar
Sam Eastland


Totals:
Audio - 8
Kids (100pgs+) - 2
YA - 12
Nonfiction - 3
Reread - 0
1st in a Series Challenge - 1
2nd in Series Challenge - 2
Finishes a series challenge - 3
Categories completed: 5 out of 6
Books read - 18
Points earned - 270

25 Points Categories:
1) A book with over 550 pages
Little Dorrit-got half way done!
Charles Dickens
2) A book you’ve been meaning to read for years   (maybe have even started), but haven’t gotten around to finishing yet.
Rapunzel's Revenge
Shannon Hale
3) A book about a political figure/politics
Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Glenn Beck
4) A book written before 1776.
The Epic of Gilgamesh

Totals:
Audio - 0
Kids (100pgs+) - 0
YA - 1
Nonfiction - 1
Reread - 0
1st in a Series Challenge - 0
2nd in Series Challenge - 0
Finishes a series challenge - 0
Categories completed: 3 out of 4
Books read - 3
Points earned - 75

2010 Book Challenge Wrap-Up Part 1

I figured it's about time I update how I did on the 2010 SnH Book Challenge. And because I found the flash drive I saved it on. And I feel I can't fully move on to the 2011 Challenge until this one is wrapped up. So, I'm just putting down which books (and authors) I read for each point category. Then give some totals.

5 Points Categories:
Title
Author
1) Author to match every
letter of the
alphabet
(Last names, that is.)
a.
The Book of Three
Lloyd Alexander
b.
Thwonk
Joan Bauer
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Judy Blume
c.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Ally Carter
Bloomability
Sharon Creech
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Suzanne Collins
Things Not Seen
Andrew Clements
d.
Beauty Sleep
Cameron Dokey
e.
Undiscovered Country
Lin Enger
f.
Inkdeath
Cornelia Funke
g.
The NextGen Librarian's Survival Guide
Rachel Singer Gordon
h.
Palace of Mirrors
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Farewell, my Lunchbag
Bruce Hale
The Big Nap
Bruce Hale
i.
The Original Freddie Ackerman
Hadley Irwin
j.
Redwall
Brian Jacques
k.
Kimchi & Calamari
Rose Kent
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
E.L. Konigsburg
Gideon's Gift
Karen Kingsbury
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place
E.L. Konigsburg
The View from Saturday
E.L. Konigsburg
l.
Skulduggery Pleasant
Derek Landy
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
C.S. Lewis
The Silver Chair
C.S. Lewis
The Last Battle
C.S. Lewis
m.
Pushcart War
Jean Merrill
n.
The Borrowers
Mary Norton
o.
Carnival at Candlelight
Mary Pope Osborne
p.
The Last Book in the Universe
Rodman Philbrick
All Alone in the Universe
Lynne Rae Perkins
The Subtle Knife
Phillip Pullman
The Amber Spyglass
Phillip Pullman
q.
A Golden Web
Barbara Quick
r.
The Westing Game
Ellen Raskin
The Best School Year Ever
Barbara Robinson
The Best Halloween Ever
Barbara Robinson
s.
The Dark Side of Nowhere
Neal Shusterman
t.
Mimus
Lilli Thal
u.
Journey to Topaz
Yoshiko Uchida
v.
Cloaked in Red
Vivian Van Velde
w.
Searching for Dragons
Patricia Wrede
Calling on Dragons
Patricia Wrede
Talking to Dragons
Patricia Wrede
Each Little Bird That Sings
Deborah Wiles
x. you get a free five points for x. 15 points if you actually find an author whose last name starts with x. :)
y
Fell asleep before completing!

z.
The Scream Museum
Paul Zindel
2) Retold fairy tale
Just Ella
Margaret Peterson Haddix
3) A book written between 1951 and 2009
Betsy and the Great World
Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy's Wedding
Maud Hart Lovelace
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover
Ally Carter
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
James Patterson
Nightjohn
Gary Paulsen
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Suzanne Collins
Brian's Winter
Gary Paulsen
Brian's Return
Gary Paulsen
Brian's Hunt
Gary Paulsen
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
The Rag and Bone Shop
Robert Cormier
4) Throwaway category – Any book that doesn’t fit in any other category.
One Whole and Perfect Day
Judith Clarke


Totals: 
Audio - 44
Kids (100pgs+) - 16
YA - 44
Nonfiction - 1
Reread - 5
1st in a Series Challenge - 7
2nd in Series Challenge - 15
Finishes a series challenge - 8
Categories completed: 27 out of 29
Books read - 63
Points earned - 315

10 Points Categories:
1) A book you own you haven’t read yet
2) A book with a body of water in the title (river, ocean, lake…)
Mistik Lake
Martha Brooks
3) A book with a Title in the title (The Count of Monte Cristo)
The Princess Diaries
Meg Cabot
Prince Caspian
C.S. Lewis
A Little Princess
Frances Hodgson Burnett
4) A book with a plant in the title (A Tree Grows in Brookl1n)
Rose in Bloom
Louisa May Alcott
5) A book set in a place you’ve wanted to visit/have visited
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
Stephanie Barron
Jane and the Man of the Cloth
Stephanie Barron
The Last Siege
Jonathan Stroud
Jason's Gold
Will Hobbs
Rebel Angels
Libba Bray
The Sweet Far Thing
Libba Bray
Emma, vol. 1
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 2
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 3
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 4
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 5
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 6
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 7
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 8
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 9
Kaoru Mori
Emma, vol. 10
Kaoru Mori
The London Eye Mystery
Siobhan Dowd
6) A book with a movie adaptation. Then watch the movie.
Hoot
Carl Hiaasen
Stormbreaker
Anthony Horowitz
7) A book written between 1776 and 1850.
Common Sense
Thomas Paine
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
8) A book written between 1851 and 1900.
The Moonstone
Wilkie Collins
Eight Cousins
Louisa May Alcott
9) A book written between 1901 and 1950.
Betsy-Tacy and Tib
Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown
Maud Hart Lovelace
Heaven to Betsy
Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy in Spite of Herself
Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy was a Junior
Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Joe
Maud Hart Lovelace
10) A book about war.
On the Wings of Heroes
Richard Peck
Gregor and the Code of Claw
Suzanne Collins
Leviathan
Scott Westerfeld
Totals:

Audio - 19
Kids (100pgs+) - 5
YA - 28
Nonfiction - 1
Reread - 2
1st in a Series Challenge - 5
2nd in Series Challenge - 6
Finishes a series challenge - 3
Categories completed: 9 out of 10
Books read - 38
Points earned - 380

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Excuse the Mess

Currently learning (aka playing around) about different blog designs and futures. Bear with me!!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Hunger Games Trilogy Answers - Part 2

Catching Fire

1. What did you think about Gale and Katniss’ relationship after the games?

In all honesty, I never liked Gale. I didn’t feel I knew him well enough from the first book, so I was rather irked that Katniss was upset with how he was acting at the beginning of Book 2. It’s probably just me, but I felt that if he’d had feelings before, he should have told her before she left for the Games. Since he didn’t, he really did not have much of a right to act all mad and stinky about what occurred during the Games because she didn’t know that it was upsetting him. I was glad Gale did most of his annoyance and anger in silence, though.

2. As you read, what did you think Katniss’ feelings were toward Peeta? Gale?

I think Katniss felt obligated to Peeta. That she felt she would forever owe him for many things. While that may be true, it’s no foundation for love. And I felt that what she felt for Gale was confusion overall with what was going on and guilt that things weren’t how they used to be. Also a bit of owing him for how he took care of her family. Again—none of that is a foundation for love either. Yes. I know I’m harsh on Katniss. But that’s because I knew what I wanted and was so angry that I just couldn’t step in and treat Peeta as he deserved. (And if there are any Gale supporters out there, don’t you wish you could have pushed Katniss aside and treated Gale as he deserved?)

3. What were you thinking/feeling when President Snow was in her house?

My main thought was “How dare he come into her home!” The underlying thought from that was “This man is creepy.” My overall feeling was “uh oh.”

4. What did you think about the Victory Tour?

It was interesting to get a glimpse of the other districts. I was saddened about the engagement farce, for Peeta’s sake. I was a bit torn on the whole nightmare-Peeta-holding-Katniss part. I mean, it was sweet and showed just how much Katniss needed Peeta after this life-altering experience. But I struggled with the close proximity of this unmarried couple and couldn’t get beyond how I felt something about it was wrong. Yep—I’m that strict in my personal standards. Why else do you think I hate the 3rd Twilight book?

5. Did you figure out Plutarch’s part?

I had my guesses as soon as he showed the ring that he was on Katniss’ side. But I wasn’t sure just what the part was that he was playing.

6. What were your thoughts about the ending?

“Oh. My. Gosh.” I couldn’t believe it about District 12. It was such a twist and a shock to me. The end of the Games was sudden and fast, and I had to listen to it twice to fully comprehend what happened.