Summer rush
Been busy as usual, although perhaps more busy than usual.
Some sad news: one of my mice, Yum Yum, died :( Rather unexpected, too. One week, she was fine, then for a couple days she looked poorly, and then she was gone. Poor mousie!
Other two seem to be doing OK, even with the mini heat wave we've had. July spoiled us (well, me anyway). High 70s, occassionally low 80s. Must have been rotten for those who like to swim, but I thought it was lovely. Then August hit with a bit of a heat wave. Had to break out the fans after all. Supposed to improve again by tomorrow. OK, it's supposed to rain all week, but it is supposed to cool down.
Best of luck to all who are starting school!
Saw Julie and Julia a couple weeks ago. It was cute, rather charming, but a movie I'd highly recommend getting the video for because it is long. Or at least it felt long. That way, you could stop it halfway through, take a break (maybe enjoy some Julia Child-inspired snacks) and then watch the second half. Foodies will probably enjoy this. Me, my motto is "canned, convenience and carryout." Although I did do a bit of experimenting tonight with some scallops, wheat pasta, basil pesto and dried tomatoes that turned out quite nice. And no, I haven't keeled over from food poisoning yet :P
Book reviews:
Shame on me, should have done these some time ago; just didn't feel ambitious.
65. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past, by James M. Deem. ALSC 2009 Notable Children's Books. Good for older grade schoolers and middle schoolers, especially those interested in history and forensics. Boys will probably like it for the "ick" factor: there are a lot of pictures of mummies in this graphics-heavy book. Two of the more fascinating stories included the finding of Otzi, a 5000+ year old mummy found in the Alps, completely by chance. The other was kind of sad, haunting. In the Andes, where there were ancient Incan settlements, they found children sacrifices preserved in caves. It's amazing what can be deduced from even the most mundane things with today's technology, such as using flower pollen samples to pinpoint the time of year the person may have died (sometimes even the month). NOT a book to read at the breakfast table, but a really neat look at another aspect of mummification many may not know about.
66. Waiting for Normal, by Leslie Connor. 2009 Schneider Family Book Award. There were many things to like about the book. The first is the heroine, 12-year-old Addie, a sweet, insecure girl who is living with her mother, hoping for a normal life despite the mother's personality. It's bittersweet in thiscoming-of-age tale when Addie realizes she has to more or less make her own sense of stability. She is dyslexic and feels that she doesn't have the love of learning. It takes a while for her to appreciate her own talents, especially in music. One thing that irritated me was the fact that the mother had custody of Addie in the first place -- not so much with the book, because this is, sadly, believable. In a sane world, it would have never happened. Addie manages to survive her life away from her stepdad, whom she loves, and her two half siblings with the help of a nearby store owner who gives her some semblance of stability. I do like the fact that the mother is not portrayed as a monster -- she has her good days and you can see why Addie loves and cares about her. But it's painfully obvious from the get-go that a "normal" life with Mommers is just not possible.
67. Jerk, California, by Jonathan Friesen. 2009 Schneider Family Book Award. When Sam, who has Tourette's Syndrome, graduates from high school, he also closes a painful chapter in his life, although he doesn't realize it at first. Same grew up, hating himself for his condition, hated by his stepfather and taunted in school. Sam is most bitter towards his desceased father, whom he inherited Tourette from, and died, according to his stepfather, as a worthless, no good bum. But after securing a job with an old man who turns out to be a good friend of his father's Sam slowly finds out the truth about his past. He winds up embarking on a road trip with Naomi, his crush, and finds out more about his father -- and himself. By the end, Sam -- or Jack -- comes to terms with who he is, and who his family is. I'm not familiar with Tourette, but the author describes in his bio as having it, so it's safe to assume that Jack's struggles and feelings with the condition are realistic.
68. A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce. 2009 Morris Award. I really loved this story, a mix of classic fairy tale and good old-fashioned mystery. Charlotte Miller struggles to save the town's wool processing mill -- and the town of Shearing itself -- after her father dies. But it seems like many things go against her -- from her conniving uncle, to sellers who want a monopoly and even from a supposed curse. When a mysterious man -- Jack Spinner -- comes along and offers to give her what she needs, the question becomes is he really so benevolant -- or is he the greatest danger of all? Charlotte is an interesting heroine who does not give up easily -- which is both a good thing and a bad thing at times. The story leaves readers guessing until the end as to what really is going on. While readers familiar with the Rumpelstiltskin story will know the general direction in which this story heads, there are still surprises. Bunce, who debuts with this book, steers away from stereotypes; even the uncle is occassionally sympathetic. Sort of. At any rate, some of the things about his past and motivations I guessed at -- but not everything. The town is full of tradition and easy to visualize. Charlotte's suitor is not the fairy-tale knight in shining armor, and their relationship has its realistic ups and downs. Fans of Orson Scott Card's "Enchanted" and other like books will enjoy this one.
Currently reading: City of Thieves: A Novel by David Benioff
Some sad news: one of my mice, Yum Yum, died :( Rather unexpected, too. One week, she was fine, then for a couple days she looked poorly, and then she was gone. Poor mousie!
Other two seem to be doing OK, even with the mini heat wave we've had. July spoiled us (well, me anyway). High 70s, occassionally low 80s. Must have been rotten for those who like to swim, but I thought it was lovely. Then August hit with a bit of a heat wave. Had to break out the fans after all. Supposed to improve again by tomorrow. OK, it's supposed to rain all week, but it is supposed to cool down.
Best of luck to all who are starting school!
Saw Julie and Julia a couple weeks ago. It was cute, rather charming, but a movie I'd highly recommend getting the video for because it is long. Or at least it felt long. That way, you could stop it halfway through, take a break (maybe enjoy some Julia Child-inspired snacks) and then watch the second half. Foodies will probably enjoy this. Me, my motto is "canned, convenience and carryout." Although I did do a bit of experimenting tonight with some scallops, wheat pasta, basil pesto and dried tomatoes that turned out quite nice. And no, I haven't keeled over from food poisoning yet :P
Book reviews:
Shame on me, should have done these some time ago; just didn't feel ambitious.
65. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past, by James M. Deem. ALSC 2009 Notable Children's Books. Good for older grade schoolers and middle schoolers, especially those interested in history and forensics. Boys will probably like it for the "ick" factor: there are a lot of pictures of mummies in this graphics-heavy book. Two of the more fascinating stories included the finding of Otzi, a 5000+ year old mummy found in the Alps, completely by chance. The other was kind of sad, haunting. In the Andes, where there were ancient Incan settlements, they found children sacrifices preserved in caves. It's amazing what can be deduced from even the most mundane things with today's technology, such as using flower pollen samples to pinpoint the time of year the person may have died (sometimes even the month). NOT a book to read at the breakfast table, but a really neat look at another aspect of mummification many may not know about.
66. Waiting for Normal, by Leslie Connor. 2009 Schneider Family Book Award. There were many things to like about the book. The first is the heroine, 12-year-old Addie, a sweet, insecure girl who is living with her mother, hoping for a normal life despite the mother's personality. It's bittersweet in thiscoming-of-age tale when Addie realizes she has to more or less make her own sense of stability. She is dyslexic and feels that she doesn't have the love of learning. It takes a while for her to appreciate her own talents, especially in music. One thing that irritated me was the fact that the mother had custody of Addie in the first place -- not so much with the book, because this is, sadly, believable. In a sane world, it would have never happened. Addie manages to survive her life away from her stepdad, whom she loves, and her two half siblings with the help of a nearby store owner who gives her some semblance of stability. I do like the fact that the mother is not portrayed as a monster -- she has her good days and you can see why Addie loves and cares about her. But it's painfully obvious from the get-go that a "normal" life with Mommers is just not possible.
67. Jerk, California, by Jonathan Friesen. 2009 Schneider Family Book Award. When Sam, who has Tourette's Syndrome, graduates from high school, he also closes a painful chapter in his life, although he doesn't realize it at first. Same grew up, hating himself for his condition, hated by his stepfather and taunted in school. Sam is most bitter towards his desceased father, whom he inherited Tourette from, and died, according to his stepfather, as a worthless, no good bum. But after securing a job with an old man who turns out to be a good friend of his father's Sam slowly finds out the truth about his past. He winds up embarking on a road trip with Naomi, his crush, and finds out more about his father -- and himself. By the end, Sam -- or Jack -- comes to terms with who he is, and who his family is. I'm not familiar with Tourette, but the author describes in his bio as having it, so it's safe to assume that Jack's struggles and feelings with the condition are realistic.
68. A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce. 2009 Morris Award. I really loved this story, a mix of classic fairy tale and good old-fashioned mystery. Charlotte Miller struggles to save the town's wool processing mill -- and the town of Shearing itself -- after her father dies. But it seems like many things go against her -- from her conniving uncle, to sellers who want a monopoly and even from a supposed curse. When a mysterious man -- Jack Spinner -- comes along and offers to give her what she needs, the question becomes is he really so benevolant -- or is he the greatest danger of all? Charlotte is an interesting heroine who does not give up easily -- which is both a good thing and a bad thing at times. The story leaves readers guessing until the end as to what really is going on. While readers familiar with the Rumpelstiltskin story will know the general direction in which this story heads, there are still surprises. Bunce, who debuts with this book, steers away from stereotypes; even the uncle is occassionally sympathetic. Sort of. At any rate, some of the things about his past and motivations I guessed at -- but not everything. The town is full of tradition and easy to visualize. Charlotte's suitor is not the fairy-tale knight in shining armor, and their relationship has its realistic ups and downs. Fans of Orson Scott Card's "Enchanted" and other like books will enjoy this one.
Currently reading: City of Thieves: A Novel by David Benioff