Monday, June 2, 2014

It's Monday!






                 







Reviews I (Finally!) Posted

     I knew I was behind in my reviews, but I had no idea how far behind. I am shocked that I haven't posted     reviews since March. Eek. I've diligently written reviews for each book I've read but somehow I haven't added these at my usual spots (Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, and here). I am sad that I have gotten so far behind, but I am also vowing to catch up here and now.










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Getting Schooled: The Reeducation of an American Teacher



isbn

0805096434

isbn13

9780805096439

asin

num pages

320 pp

avg rating

5.00

num ratings

2

date pub

Aug 05, 2014

date pub edition

Aug 05, 2014


shelves



Keizer is my brother in education. He, like me, started teaching long, long ago. He, like me, is a hearty proponent of a rigorous education. He, like...more
Keizer is my brother in education. He, like me, started teaching long, long ago. He, like me, is a hearty proponent of a rigorous education. He, like me, left education for many years to pursue other things. He, like me, returned to education after a long hiatus to find things had both changed and remained the same.


I loved this little memoir of the year he spent back in the classroom. It was lovely and painful to see his clear look at students today. The images and quotes he put up on the walls of his classroom that were never commented on by the students. Disturbing and yet something that I, too, have observed, something that I, too, don’t quite understand. The strength of students in light of the troubles they face at home. The disappointments of a teacher who hopes for more from his students and the occasional unexpected triumphs of a teacher with a lesson that resonates with the classes.


(I have only one criticism; had I been his editor, I’d have asked Keizer to soften his diatribes against American capitalism as I found these to be a little annoying in light of his subject.)


Recommended.

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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry



isbn

1616203218

isbn13

9781616203214

asin

num pages

260 pp

avg rating

4.06

num ratings

6,750

date pub

Jan 01, 2014

date pub edition

Apr 01, 2014


shelves




Zevin must have written this book with readers in mind. Big readers. People that tromp to bookstores like they are on a pilgrimage. Folks that zing wi...more
Zevin must have written this book with readers in mind. Big readers. People that tromp to bookstores like they are on a pilgrimage. Folks that zing with the mention of anything book-ish.


This book is for them. It is for me. It is probably for you.


Here’s a little of the plot: A curmudgeonish widowed bookstore owner finds a baby in his shop and the baby changes his life.


It’s a gentle story, a happy story, a perfect summer read for the book-ish.

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The Call of the Wild



isbn

0439227143

isbn13

9780439227148

asin

num pages

172 pp

avg rating

3.76

num ratings

156,142

date pub

1903

date pub edition

Jan 01, 2001


shelves



Buck is a dog, jerked from a life of comfort and easy living, sold to a messenger who makes deliveries by dog sled across the cold wilds of Alaska. Bu...more
Buck is a dog, jerked from a life of comfort and easy living, sold to a messenger who makes deliveries by dog sled across the cold wilds of Alaska. Buck changes, becomes stronger, fiercer, braver, bolder.

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Creativity: The Perfect Crime




isbn

1594631689

isbn13

9781594631689

asin

num pages

224 pp

avg rating

3.67

num ratings

18

date pub

May 15, 2014

date pub edition

May 15, 2014


shelves




It is probably just me, but it took everything I had to force myself to keep reading this book to the end. Petit writes in his foreword to the book, "...more
It is probably just me, but it took everything I had to force myself to keep reading this book to the end. Petit writes in his foreword to the book, "Make no mistake. I frown upon books about creativity."


Perhaps he should have listened to his instincts here. Some things just can't be written about, perhaps.

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Named By God: Overcoming Your Past, Transforming Your Present, Embracing Your Future



isbn

1414364741

isbn13

9781414364742

asin

num pages

239 pp

avg rating

4.04

num ratings

120

date pub

Jan 01, 2009

date pub edition

Apr 20, 2012


shelves



Van Norman reminds us once again that, despite all our troubles in this life, despite all we suffer through, we are loved by an amazing God.

We need th...more
Van Norman reminds us once again that, despite all our troubles in this life, despite all we suffer through, we are loved by an amazing God.

We need that reminder.
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Save the Date: The Occasional Mortifications of a Serial Wedding Guest



isbn

1594631980

isbn13

9781594631986

asin

num pages

336 pp

avg rating

3.12

num ratings

104

date pub

May 01, 2014

date pub edition

May 2014


shelves



Doll has attended weddings. Lots of them. Tens of them. Lost friends over weddings. Got sick at weddings. Met up with old boyfriends at weddings. Lots...more
Doll has attended weddings. Lots of them. Tens of them. Lost friends over weddings. Got sick at weddings. Met up with old boyfriends at weddings. Lots of stories from all these weddings. And that's this book. Quite entertaining, really.


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Serious Men



isbn

0393338592

isbn13

9780393338591

asin

num pages

310 pp

avg rating

3.63

num ratings

1,037

date pub

2010

date pub edition

Aug 02, 2010


shelves



When I read a wonderful book like Serious Men that actually debuted in 2010, I wonder how many amazing books slip through the cracks. This one certain...more
When I read a wonderful book like Serious Men that actually debuted in 2010, I wonder how many amazing books slip through the cracks. This one certainly did.


Our main character, Ayyan, is poor and low-caste in India. His boss teeters on the edge of ruining the reputation of the entire institute where he works by pursuing a wacky attempt to prove the existence of aliens. His wife is nervous and his son is anonymous. Ayyan decides to embark on a crazy scheme to change his life.

Beautifully written.
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The Word Snoop



isbn

0803734069

isbn13

9780803734067

asin

num pages

272 pp

avg rating

4.13

num ratings

269

date pub

2007

date pub edition

Jul 09, 2009


shelves



Dubosatsky loves word play. And that's what she takes on in this little book for children. It's a fun romp.



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The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly



isbn

0143123203

isbn13

9780143123200

asin

num pages

144 pp

avg rating

4.02

num ratings

916

date pub

Nov 26, 2013

date pub edition

Nov 26, 2013


shelves



The hen is in a cage. Every day she lays an egg. The egg is collected each day. She wants so much more from life. She longs to raise a chick.


When the...more
The hen is in a cage. Every day she lays an egg. The egg is collected each day. She wants so much more from life. She longs to raise a chick.


When the owner of the hen's farm learns the hen can no longer lay eggs, the hen is put out. And that is when her real life begins.


I liked this little story very, very much.

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By the River




isbn

1932425721

isbn13

9781932425727

asin

num pages

238 pp

avg rating

3.62

num ratings

191

date pub

2004

date pub edition

May 01, 2006


shelves



Life is hard here. Periodically the river rises and floods this little Australian town.

A beautiful poem of a book.


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The Harm in Asking: My Clumsy Encounters with the Human Race



isbn

0307720705

isbn13

9780307720702

asin

num pages

320 pp

avg rating

3.42

num ratings

131

date pub

Jul 09, 2013

date pub edition

Mar 25, 2014


shelves



I was asking for trouble when I decided to read this book. Sara is not my generation. I knew that going in. I am not her anticipated audience. I knew...more
I was asking for trouble when I decided to read this book. Sara is not my generation. I knew that going in. I am not her anticipated audience. I knew that. She makes a living by writing to startle people a little. I knew that.


What was I thinking?


It was a painful read. Barron is blunt and it’s hard for people of my generation to listen people of hers, who appear to have slid through life without facing of the real issues of, say, people who don’t have clean water in Africa, and yet who whine endlessly about the little disappointments of the universe. I had to keep reminding myself that little disappointments can feel like lack of clean water, perhaps.


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Reasons My Kid Is Crying



isbn

0804139830

isbn13

9780804139830

asin

num pages

208 pp

avg rating

4.29

num ratings

89

date pub

Apr 02, 2013

date pub edition

Apr 01, 2014


shelves



Heaven knows those of us who have dealt with crying children for years and years and years (and if you are a parent and haven't done so, please email...more
Heaven knows those of us who have dealt with crying children for years and years and years (and if you are a parent and haven't done so, please email me your secrets) desperately need some comic relief. Pembroke has thankfully given us some, first with his blog, and now with this collection of photos. Fabulous book. Share it. Share it with all the other moms and dads who are suffering. They will thank you.

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I Just Graduated ... Now What?: Honest Answers from Those Who Have Been There



isbn

0385347200

isbn13

9780385347204

asin

num pages

288 pp

avg rating

3.04

num ratings

26

date pub

Jan 01, 2014

date pub edition

Apr 01, 2014


shelves



Did you say you need to find a good gift for that high school or college student who just finished? Look no further. Here's a book of lovely ideas fro...more Did you say you need to find a good gift for that high school or college student who just finished? Look no further. Here's a book of lovely ideas from people in all walks of life. Perfect.
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The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead: Dos and Don'ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life



isbn

0804141444

isbn13

9780804141444

asin

num pages

144 pp

avg rating

3.73

num ratings

80

date pub

Apr 08, 2014

date pub edition

Apr 08, 2014


shelves



So that's what it has come to, has it? The common sense my parents taught me has now been repackaged for a different generation and relabeled as advic...more
So that's what it has come to, has it? The common sense my parents taught me has now been repackaged for a different generation and relabeled as advice from a grump.


Okay, I'll accept that. I'll accept that, if you, my young generation friends, will please take the time to read and put into practice the precepts of this book. Okay? Please?

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Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less



isbn

0804137382

isbn13

9780804137386

asin

num pages

272 pp

avg rating

4.00

num ratings

172

date pub

Jan 01, 2014

date pub edition

Apr 15, 2014


shelves



It is a simple idea: focus your attention on the most important things, eliminate the nonessential, and you will achieve great success. It is a book w...more
It is a simple idea: focus your attention on the most important things, eliminate the nonessential, and you will achieve great success. It is a book we need, don't we? Our parents never had the choices for using our time that we have; their problems were a lack of options. We suffer today from the opposite problem. We have too many choices. We can't do everything and when we try to do everything, we end up not doing much of anything.


Focus. On. The. Important. Thing.


Great wisdom here.

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Off the Beaten Page: The Best Trips for Lit Lovers, Book Clubs, and Girls on Getaways



isbn

1613744269

isbn13

9781613744260

asin

num pages

304 pp

avg rating

3.36

num ratings

53

date pub

Jan 01, 2013

date pub edition

May 01, 2013


shelves



Love books? Love authors? Love to travel?


This book shares the most book-ish spots in America. Enjoy!


The title tells all; this is truly a good book fo...more
Love books? Love authors? Love to travel?


This book shares the most book-ish spots in America. Enjoy!


The title tells all; this is truly a good book for exploring our literary landscape. With a qualifier...it's the US only. I plan to try out the cities listed (a great selection) on my upcoming travels. Thank you, Terri Peterson Smith.

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Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #1)



isbn

0439856264

isbn13

9780439856263

asin

num pages

384 pp

avg rating

3.76

num ratings

20,445

date pub

Jan 01, 2003

date pub edition

May 01, 2006


shelves



A 1001 Children's book. Audio. Arthur sets out on a quest to unite the two hands of a clock in an attempt to stop a plague from destroying the people...more
A 1001 Children's book. Audio. Arthur sets out on a quest to unite the two hands of a clock in an attempt to stop a plague from destroying the people of Earth.

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The House of Mirth



isbn

1844082938

isbn13

9781844082933

asin

num pages

351 pp

avg rating

3.93

num ratings

47,329

date pub

1905

date pub edition

Sep 01, 2006


shelves



No mirth in this sad story of the decline of a beautiful woman in 1890's New York. No grins at all. Not one smile. Edith Wharton, I surmise, would hav...more
No mirth in this sad story of the decline of a beautiful woman in 1890's New York. No grins at all. Not one smile. Edith Wharton, I surmise, would have easily made the cut as an Oprah selection. Lily Bart is stunningly beautiful but poor, and ladies of her day had few choices about changing their life situation. Marriage, a good marriage to a rich and interesting man, eludes Lily, and the years are hard on her. Gossip begins to follow her, though none of it is warranted, and every day brings more and more misery. It won't surprise you to learn that the story ends in Lily's death.

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The Silent Wife



isbn

0143123238

isbn13

9780143123231

asin

num pages

326 pp

avg rating

3.30

num ratings

26,003

date pub

Jun 25, 2013

date pub edition

Jun 25, 2013


shelves



I casually picked this book up at TLA, never really planning to read it. But last night I casually picked it up again and decided to read it. And I di...more
I casually picked this book up at TLA, never really planning to read it. But last night I casually picked it up again and decided to read it. And I did. Cover to cover. All in a single evening.

That's all I'll say about it. I think I should be silent about Silent Wife. Except to say you should pick up a copy yourself. And see what happens.
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World War I for Kids: A History with 21 Activities



isbn

1613745567

isbn13

9781613745564

asin

num pages

192 pp

avg rating

4.67

num ratings

6

date pub

Jan 01, 2014

date pub edition

Apr 01, 2014


shelves



Kids these days hunger for books like this. When I place a book on the shelf about war or fighting or hunting, that book is grabbed and checked out so...more Kids these days hunger for books like this. When I place a book on the shelf about war or fighting or hunting, that book is grabbed and checked out so quick that I often can’t see who managed to wrest it out of whom’s hands. The text is too difficult for my primary children, of course, and probably too tricky for even the elementary kids to maneuver through, but they won’t be checking it out as a read-through book. No, it’s a browsable book, with photos that tell the story well enough that one can make it to the end with a good-enough understanding of this war by just reading captions. And for this generation of readers that’s perfect.
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Expecting



isbn

1402295057

isbn13

9781402295058

asin

num pages

352 pp

avg rating

3.67

num ratings

9

date pub

Jul 01, 2014

date pub edition

Jul 01, 2014


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The author has managed to find a way to throw three perfectly nice people into an impossible situation and that makes for a good story.


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What are you reading today?!




It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between.  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from. I love being a part of this and I hope you do too. As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. 

13 comments:

  1. 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry' looks like a really good book! I sometimes get so behind in posting the reviews that sometimes I feel the need to reread the book, just in case I changed my mind about it! I've got 'The Call of the Wild' on my 100 Classics list, planning on getting to that soon! Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a great week!
    Juli @ Universe in Words

    ReplyDelete
  2. Call of the Wild was a book with excellent writing. I see why it has been required reading for so many.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like you are working hard to catch up! I loved the Storied Life of AJ Firky, definitely a book for readers!

    Have a great reading work!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great variety of books! Good luck in catching up the posting of all those reviews. Came see my week here. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Several of those look very good, but I'm particularly interested in Getting Schooled and I Just graduated- those both sound great. Good luck catching up, for me it's the reading time I'm falling behind on. Maybe this week will be better- I hope...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Always want to read The House of Mirth again and again and..... By The River looks like a good one along with Named By God: Thanks for all the new titles.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! Impressive catching up....and I am eager to read The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. Hope you enjoy your new month...and thanks for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think any reader would love Storied Life.

    ReplyDelete
  9. still in the need to review stage after completing a successful Clean Sweep Arc month of May =)
    enjoyed catching up on yours, Deb ! Congrats ;)
    already into Audibook month for June - a pleasure!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm impressed with your catch up ... well done!! Storied Life is on my groaning TBR pile ... hope to get to it soon. Have a great week and happy reading :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. A sizeable amount of reviews. I hope to read Storied Life too one day, just need to make the time!

    ReplyDelete

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