Since we are switching over to new school Google accounts, I decided to switch my blog over to that account as well. So, I will leave this blog live until the end of the school year and then delete it. For the time being, if you want to check out what I'm reading, you can see it at the new blog.
Mrs. Palmer's new book blog
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
YA Book Suggestions
This may be a surprise to you, my students, but I don't read any books at home, other than picture books to my three children. I do, however, read quite a bit on my Kindle. It's the perfect device for me at home, as the majority of my reading is done right before I fall asleep. I'm still rereading the Harry Potter series. I'm currently on book 4 and loving it. My older two have been watching the movies with me as I read the books, so it's a win-win all around.
For today's post, I decided to go back to two of the YA books I read earlier this school year that I think would be of interest to my students. So, drumroll please.....
#1: If I Stay: I blogged about this book here, so I'm not going to rehash the whole thing, but I did find one other quote from this book in my clippings on my Kindle (this is where you can highlight lines for whatever reason and it saves them for you, including the page number, nice and neat, to revisit whenever you want). I chose this line because it reminded me so, so much of Fahrenheit 451 and Clarisse. Forman writes, "But seventeen is an inconvenient time to be in love" (Forman 175). Even though she's not saying the same thing, I immediately thought of Clarisse when she says, "I'm seventeen and crazy."
#2: Tell the Wolves I'm Home: I never blogged about this book when I read it last semester, but I LOVED it. Great characterization, interesting plot. It kept me guessing the whole time and I loved the uniqueness of the story. You can check out a synopsis of the book here. I have so, so, so many lines from this book that I highlighted. One of the main characters dies, and so a lot of the reflection is about the importance of how we use our time here on Earth. Here are some of the golden lines I found:
For today's post, I decided to go back to two of the YA books I read earlier this school year that I think would be of interest to my students. So, drumroll please.....
#1: If I Stay: I blogged about this book here, so I'm not going to rehash the whole thing, but I did find one other quote from this book in my clippings on my Kindle (this is where you can highlight lines for whatever reason and it saves them for you, including the page number, nice and neat, to revisit whenever you want). I chose this line because it reminded me so, so much of Fahrenheit 451 and Clarisse. Forman writes, "But seventeen is an inconvenient time to be in love" (Forman 175). Even though she's not saying the same thing, I immediately thought of Clarisse when she says, "I'm seventeen and crazy."
#2: Tell the Wolves I'm Home: I never blogged about this book when I read it last semester, but I LOVED it. Great characterization, interesting plot. It kept me guessing the whole time and I loved the uniqueness of the story. You can check out a synopsis of the book here. I have so, so, so many lines from this book that I highlighted. One of the main characters dies, and so a lot of the reflection is about the importance of how we use our time here on Earth. Here are some of the golden lines I found:
- "It had been such a long, long day. Probably the hardest in my life. I felt like I had proof that not all days are the same length, not all time has the same weight" (Brunt 101).
- "Don't you know? That's the secret. If you always make sure you're exactly the person you hoped to be, if you always make sure you know only the very best people, then you won't care if you die tomorrow" (Brunt 203).
- "It's the most unhappy people who want to stay alive, because they think they haven't done everything they want to do. They think they haven't had enough time. They feel like they've been shortchanged" (Brunt 203).
- "I really wondered why people were always doing what they didn't like doing. It seemed like life was sort of a narrowing tunnel. Right when you were born, the tunnel was huge. You could be anything. Then, like, the absolute second after you were born, the tunnel narrowed down to about half that size" (Brunt 254).
- "Home is home is home" (Brunt 351).
Lots of quotes, right? I just loved this book and these quotes are a lot of the reasons why. The main character was extremely wise for her age, just fourteen. She made me ponder life in general, as well as the way I approach it. I think either of these books would be great reads for a young adult. Happy reading!
Friday, January 2, 2015
Harry Potter Revisited
I was having trouble deciding what to read a few weeks ago and watched one of the Harry Potter movies at my parents' house and chose to revisit one of my favorite series of all time. I first heard of Harry Potter my freshmen year in college. It was the fall of 1999 and I was taking a YA children's literature course at Miami University. Harry Potter was on the reading list. I remember asking my mom, who is also a teacher, who Harry Potter was. I'd never heard of the book. She was shocked and proceeded to inform me that it was one of the highest grossing books and extremely popular with her students.
Needless to say, I loved it and was one of those crazy people who went to book store release parties at midnight and read the subsequent books in the days following their respective releases. I still vividly remember the fifth book coming out in the summer while I was working as a swim instructor at Camp Wildbrook. I had the book on it's release and spent every spare moment those first few days reading in the sun at Camp, trying to finish the book. All the other lifeguards/swim instructors did this too - just picture six college students sitting at a table reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix poolside on their summer vacation.
J.K. Rowling is just as brilliant an author as I remember. I've finished the first two books over Christmas break and just started Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Normally I don't like to reread books, especially series, but it's been long enough since I've read these that I don't remember everything. It's kind of like looking back through photograph albums from my childhood - it's nostalgic and enjoyable all in one. I'm hoping to finish the third book next week and work my way through the last four. I can't wait until my own children are old enough to enjoy these. Have you read the Harry Potter series? Any fans out there?
Needless to say, I loved it and was one of those crazy people who went to book store release parties at midnight and read the subsequent books in the days following their respective releases. I still vividly remember the fifth book coming out in the summer while I was working as a swim instructor at Camp Wildbrook. I had the book on it's release and spent every spare moment those first few days reading in the sun at Camp, trying to finish the book. All the other lifeguards/swim instructors did this too - just picture six college students sitting at a table reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix poolside on their summer vacation.
J.K. Rowling is just as brilliant an author as I remember. I've finished the first two books over Christmas break and just started Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
I Promise I've Been Reading
Somehow, almost an entire month has gone by since my last post, though it's not for lack of reading. I've had a pretty busy month. Sick kids. A crazy puppy. School. A fallen tree in my backyard (due to Polar Vortex 2.0). I guess the time just got away from me.
Regardless, I've read several books. I briefly thought I might want to see the movie "The Best of Me" which is modeled after the book of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks. Since I am a book lover, I wanted to read the book before the movie. It was a decent book, not my favorite Nicholas Sparks novel though. But decent. I think the idea of two characters who've both moved on with their lives reuniting is a common plot that's been done before. I liked how they way in which they were brought back together, through the will of a mutual friend who died. But it was entirely too predictable and mushy. And I like predictable and mushy.
After watching the trailer, the guy who plays Dawson is almost exactly how I imagined him. Amanda, not so much. For being middle-aged, I think she looks too young. Will I see the movie? Meh...probably not in theatres. But I will tune in once it hits Amazon Prime.
Currently, I am reading a book called leaving time (purposefully lowercase) by Jodi Picoult, my all-time favorite author. Pretty much every book she writes deals with some sort of controversial situation or scenario and is told from multiple perspectives. She usually switches the first person point-of-view every chapter so we are aware of multiple character's thoughts and actions. Though it can be hard to follow at times if you lose track of the speaker, I admire (and envy) her ability to create so many round characters.
That being said, I am not very far into this book yet. I am on page 114 out of 398. The main premise is a young girl named Jenna whose mother, an elephant researcher, disappeared when she was three. The main characters we hear from include: Jenna Metcalf, Alice Metcalf (her mother), Virgil Stanhope (a detective), and Serenity (a psychic). Expect an update soon...I promise it will be quicker than a month!
Regardless, I've read several books. I briefly thought I might want to see the movie "The Best of Me" which is modeled after the book of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks. Since I am a book lover, I wanted to read the book before the movie. It was a decent book, not my favorite Nicholas Sparks novel though. But decent. I think the idea of two characters who've both moved on with their lives reuniting is a common plot that's been done before. I liked how they way in which they were brought back together, through the will of a mutual friend who died. But it was entirely too predictable and mushy. And I like predictable and mushy.
Currently, I am reading a book called leaving time (purposefully lowercase) by Jodi Picoult, my all-time favorite author. Pretty much every book she writes deals with some sort of controversial situation or scenario and is told from multiple perspectives. She usually switches the first person point-of-view every chapter so we are aware of multiple character's thoughts and actions. Though it can be hard to follow at times if you lose track of the speaker, I admire (and envy) her ability to create so many round characters.
That being said, I am not very far into this book yet. I am on page 114 out of 398. The main premise is a young girl named Jenna whose mother, an elephant researcher, disappeared when she was three. The main characters we hear from include: Jenna Metcalf, Alice Metcalf (her mother), Virgil Stanhope (a detective), and Serenity (a psychic). Expect an update soon...I promise it will be quicker than a month!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Countless student readers + being made into a motion picture = why I chose to pick up If I Stay by Gayle Forman.
The equation was simple really. And the book did not disappoint. I thought it was a sweet story, beautifully written, and full of emotion. I think every high school girl would appreciate this novel.
So here is the premise: Mia is a teenager who is in a car accident with her family. Both of her parents die on impact and her younger brother passes later at the hospital. The book is told from her perspective while she is in limbo. She watches the doctors and nurses working on her body; she watches her extended family, friends, and boyfriend gather around her; she decides whether to keep fighting to live or whether to join her family on the other side. Don't worry - I won't spoil the ending.
I have not seen the movie yet (shocking considering I have three small children at home), but did find the book trailer online:
If you have any interest in this book, you should most definitely watch the trailer. I will say that the girl who plays Mia is exactly how I imagined her, from the looks all the way to her voice. The character who plays Adam, however, was just not what I envisioned while I read. Not that this is a bad thing. It's just not what I was expecting.
I enjoyed this book so much that I already visited the MHS learning commons this morning to check out the sequel, Where She Went. I'm not very far yet, but the most obvious difference is that this book is told from Adam's perspective and not Mia's. I'm interested to hear his perspective on the situation.
I'll leave you with a line that showed the young love between Mia and Adam. One of the lines that I thought was just the sweetest: “If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it'd be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I'd do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.” This was Adam talking to Mia while she was comatose. I know in my last post I wrote about the love between Eleanor and Park was not believable. This love though...it just was.
The equation was simple really. And the book did not disappoint. I thought it was a sweet story, beautifully written, and full of emotion. I think every high school girl would appreciate this novel.
So here is the premise: Mia is a teenager who is in a car accident with her family. Both of her parents die on impact and her younger brother passes later at the hospital. The book is told from her perspective while she is in limbo. She watches the doctors and nurses working on her body; she watches her extended family, friends, and boyfriend gather around her; she decides whether to keep fighting to live or whether to join her family on the other side. Don't worry - I won't spoil the ending.
I have not seen the movie yet (shocking considering I have three small children at home), but did find the book trailer online:
I enjoyed this book so much that I already visited the MHS learning commons this morning to check out the sequel, Where She Went. I'm not very far yet, but the most obvious difference is that this book is told from Adam's perspective and not Mia's. I'm interested to hear his perspective on the situation.
I'll leave you with a line that showed the young love between Mia and Adam. One of the lines that I thought was just the sweetest: “If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it'd be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I'd do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.” This was Adam talking to Mia while she was comatose. I know in my last post I wrote about the love between Eleanor and Park was not believable. This love though...it just was.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Eleanor and Park
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell was a book that many of my students read last year. I won a free copy from Goodreads. Did you know they have giveaways? And as soon as my copy arrived it went from one student to the next to the next. I even had a girl ask me if she could borrow it over the summer to use it for her summer reading project. So needless to say, once it was finally back in my possession, I had pretty high expectations.
To be honest, I'm not sure they were met. I did finish the book, however there were several elements about the book that just bothered me a bit.
#1: I almost put it down within the first few pages due to the overuse of foul language. The overuse of foul language in YA books drives me nuts. Totally unnecessary and really just annoying to read.
#2: I had a hard time believing the love between these two characters. They seemed so unlike each other that I had a hard time seeing the connection and really believing two characters like Eleanor and Park would fall for each other.
#3: (This one is totally my own fault) I just took too long to read it. I only read this while at school and so it was very disconnected for me because I usually would only read it for ten minutes at a time and never gave myself the chance to get lost in the story and the characters.
Despite these observations, I do still think the book has many redeeming qualities and would appeal to a lot of YA readers, so I'll also discuss the pros.
#1: It was told from two different perspectives and switched chapters between Eleanor and Park. I love when authors do this, as it allows the readers to truly understand multiple characters since you see their inner thoughts.
#2: The characterization in general. We've been discussing how authors create round characters by utilizing all five methods of characterization and this author has a good grasp on this. I loved both characters. I just didn't see their love for each other.
#3: Figurative language, similes, and metaphors. Rainbow Rowell can write. Here is one example of the kind of writing you might see:
"Or maybe, he thought now, he just didn't recognize all those other girls. The way a computer drive will spit out a disk if it doesn't recognize the formatting. When he touched Eleanor's hand, he recognized her. He knew."
So there you have it. The pros and cons of Eleanor and Park. On to my next book...
To be honest, I'm not sure they were met. I did finish the book, however there were several elements about the book that just bothered me a bit.
#1: I almost put it down within the first few pages due to the overuse of foul language. The overuse of foul language in YA books drives me nuts. Totally unnecessary and really just annoying to read.
#2: I had a hard time believing the love between these two characters. They seemed so unlike each other that I had a hard time seeing the connection and really believing two characters like Eleanor and Park would fall for each other.
#3: (This one is totally my own fault) I just took too long to read it. I only read this while at school and so it was very disconnected for me because I usually would only read it for ten minutes at a time and never gave myself the chance to get lost in the story and the characters.
Despite these observations, I do still think the book has many redeeming qualities and would appeal to a lot of YA readers, so I'll also discuss the pros.
#1: It was told from two different perspectives and switched chapters between Eleanor and Park. I love when authors do this, as it allows the readers to truly understand multiple characters since you see their inner thoughts.
#2: The characterization in general. We've been discussing how authors create round characters by utilizing all five methods of characterization and this author has a good grasp on this. I loved both characters. I just didn't see their love for each other.
#3: Figurative language, similes, and metaphors. Rainbow Rowell can write. Here is one example of the kind of writing you might see:
"Or maybe, he thought now, he just didn't recognize all those other girls. The way a computer drive will spit out a disk if it doesn't recognize the formatting. When he touched Eleanor's hand, he recognized her. He knew."
So there you have it. The pros and cons of Eleanor and Park. On to my next book...
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
The Goldfinch
Are any of you on Facebook? I know, I know…it's not so cool anymore with the younger generation. I, however, am on Facebook and there's been a post going around asking people who are tagged to make a post of the ten books that have changed their life. Mrs. Kinross, MHS 10th grade teacher, tagged me in this post. And to be honest, I replied to her with some book suggestions but wasn't quite ready to make my list. I still am not sure I am ready. Only ten books? The pressure is too much.
But I recently finished a novel that I feel confident I would place on that list of top ten. It is called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. The only reason I requested it from the library was because I had seen so many of my Goodreads friends suggesting it, as well as bestseller lists. I thought it was amazing. I will also tell you that it was LONG. 771 pages long.
Okay, so here's the abbreviated version of those 771 pages. It begins when Theo is a thirteen year old. He and his mom stop at a museum in New York City briefly to examine some paintings. While they are there, a bomb goes off (well, two actually) and his mother dies. Theo meets a man named Welty after the bombing but before he escapes. Welty gives him a ring and tells him to save this famous painting of a goldfinch. Theo obliges and runs home with the painting and ring, never telling authorities about it. The painting follows him from place to place….to Vegas to live with his father and his girlfriend, back to New York City to live with a friend and confidante, Hobie, who later becomes his business partner.
There are so many things I loved about this book. It is hard to keep my attention for 771 pages, but Donna Tartt was able to do just that. Her characterization was well developed, and not just for the main character, Theo. I felt like his good friend Boris could just walk off the page and introduce himself to me. My heart tugged for Mrs. Barbour towards the end of the book when two people very close to her died. When you feel like you know a character, like you could meet them in real life, like you see a person on the street and think, "That's Boris!" then that is plain 'ol good writing.
I also loved the imagination the author must have to spin such a creative, imaginative plot. Every twist in Theo's life was unexpected to me and I loved that. I also appreciated that Theo's character was not perfect. Far from it actually. Theo did a lot of bad, bad things over the course of the book, but was still able to learn things from his experiences.
And since a post would not be complete without some quotes from the text, I'll leave you with a few of my favorites. "Isn't everything worthwhile a gamble? Can't good come around sometimes through some strange back doors?" (Tartt 758). This line addresses that earlier notion of Theo not always making the best choices or causing the best actions, but sometimes things still ended up okay. Sometimes even better than okay and he was able to grow from his experiences.
The other line that really spoke to me reads, "A great sorrow, and one that I am only beginning to understand: we don't get to choose our own hearts. We can't make ourselves want what's good for us or what's good for other people. We don't get to choose the people we are" (Tartt 761). This line comes near the end of the book when Theo is reflecting on his experiences through his journey. So universal and it spoke to me as both a parent and a teacher. My children are not exactly like me. Neither are my students. And that's okay. They are who they are. Something for me to embrace and appreciate.
But I recently finished a novel that I feel confident I would place on that list of top ten. It is called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. The only reason I requested it from the library was because I had seen so many of my Goodreads friends suggesting it, as well as bestseller lists. I thought it was amazing. I will also tell you that it was LONG. 771 pages long.
Okay, so here's the abbreviated version of those 771 pages. It begins when Theo is a thirteen year old. He and his mom stop at a museum in New York City briefly to examine some paintings. While they are there, a bomb goes off (well, two actually) and his mother dies. Theo meets a man named Welty after the bombing but before he escapes. Welty gives him a ring and tells him to save this famous painting of a goldfinch. Theo obliges and runs home with the painting and ring, never telling authorities about it. The painting follows him from place to place….to Vegas to live with his father and his girlfriend, back to New York City to live with a friend and confidante, Hobie, who later becomes his business partner.
There are so many things I loved about this book. It is hard to keep my attention for 771 pages, but Donna Tartt was able to do just that. Her characterization was well developed, and not just for the main character, Theo. I felt like his good friend Boris could just walk off the page and introduce himself to me. My heart tugged for Mrs. Barbour towards the end of the book when two people very close to her died. When you feel like you know a character, like you could meet them in real life, like you see a person on the street and think, "That's Boris!" then that is plain 'ol good writing.
I also loved the imagination the author must have to spin such a creative, imaginative plot. Every twist in Theo's life was unexpected to me and I loved that. I also appreciated that Theo's character was not perfect. Far from it actually. Theo did a lot of bad, bad things over the course of the book, but was still able to learn things from his experiences.
And since a post would not be complete without some quotes from the text, I'll leave you with a few of my favorites. "Isn't everything worthwhile a gamble? Can't good come around sometimes through some strange back doors?" (Tartt 758). This line addresses that earlier notion of Theo not always making the best choices or causing the best actions, but sometimes things still ended up okay. Sometimes even better than okay and he was able to grow from his experiences.
The other line that really spoke to me reads, "A great sorrow, and one that I am only beginning to understand: we don't get to choose our own hearts. We can't make ourselves want what's good for us or what's good for other people. We don't get to choose the people we are" (Tartt 761). This line comes near the end of the book when Theo is reflecting on his experiences through his journey. So universal and it spoke to me as both a parent and a teacher. My children are not exactly like me. Neither are my students. And that's okay. They are who they are. Something for me to embrace and appreciate.
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