The One and Only Ivan

Beautifully crafted story that regardless of your circumstances, you can use your talents and perseverance to prevail. And, that is exactly what the main character does. Ivan is a Silverback Gorilla who has been "caged" up in a mall zoo for years and years. He lost his entire family and was resigned to live out his existence in a small cage. But then he met Ruby, a baby elephant who did not deserve to live the life he has led. He makes a promise to save Ruby and that is exactly what he does.

Two things really stood out for me while reading this novel. First, regardless of your current situation, anyone can begin to move forward and produce change. Will it be easy? No! But as the old saying goes, "where there is a will there is a way." Second, the entire book was based on a true story.

This is the novel that has been chosen for World Read Aloud which begins on October 1, 2012.

Enjoy!

It's Monday... What Are You Reading?

As always, I am reading too many titles at the same time. Always have to match the book to my mood. The title I am going to finish (hopefully tomorrow) is THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN. This is the book chosen for World Read Aloud on October 1. A lovely story, but geared for younger students (certainly not my 10th graders).

Beautiful Disaster

Strategy is necessary to win a game and to write a novel. For the first half of this book, I believed there was a strategy and then it vanished. POOF!  The relationship between Abby and Travis was unconventional from the very beginning and yet still contained valid conversations and believable interactions. Predictability became apparent upon their arrival in Benny's office in Vegas and then it was all downhill for the last 40% of the novel.

My biggest concerns with the novel were 1. the disregard for safe sex (even after that had been discussed by the characters because of its importance to their future) 2. the BRUTAL FIGHTING! The fights that Travis engaged in were unrealistic and I wonder how he remained free to walk around in society. I am not referring to the "paid fights" but to the brutal and unnecessary beating he gave to others in the cafeteria, the parking lot, wherever he felt necessary to assert his manhood and defend Abby's honor. Abby should have honored herself and gotten out of the relationship (and stayed out) when it began to spiral.

There was a point near the end of the novel where the suspense grew and I was engaged in the novel in a new way. This was when Travis believed that his brother was trapped and killed in the campus fire. What was most disappointing was that the suspense happened so late in the novel.

With the fact that Benny and Mick never reappeared in the novel makes me wonder if the author is gearing up for a follow-up novel. I have to say, I sure hope not. [book:Beautiful Disaster|11505797]

Monday Reading

It's Monday again. I am not sure where my weekend went and I wish I could spend the whole day reading, but the grading of research papers can wait no longer.
When I get a break today from grading I am going to continue reading DESTINED, the last book in the HOUSE OF NIGHT series. I still cannot understand my fascination with teenager vampires fighting evil along with their raging hormones. At least this is the last one for a while and I can move on to other reading.
Happy Monday!

Thank you to http://bookjourney.wordpress.com for helping me to focus on my reading and becoming a more reflective reader.

Top Ten Tuesday (on Wednesday... oops)

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the 10 books I am excited to read in 2012. These books have all been on my www.goodreads.com to be read list for quite some time. So, I figured it is time to get them read this year.
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Divergent by: Veronica Roth
Crank by: Ellen Hopkins
Dracula by: Dram Stoker
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Future of Us by: Jay Asher
Hush Hush by: Becca Fitzpatrick
The Paris Wife by: Paula McLain
Millionaire Teacher by: Andrew Hallam
Carrier of the Mark by: Leigh Fallon

Quite an eclectic list, but still a good one. Happy reading.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
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It's Monday... What am I reading?

It is Monday again. The first Monday of 2012. (I know in the coming weeks I will still be writing 2011 until mid-January, but got it right the first time today!)

Today I am reading two books. One I hope to get through and the other that I need to savor.

The first one, the one I am hoping to read quite a bit of, is book #8 from the House of Night series. I cannot get enough of the teenage paranormal romance in these books, much to the chagrin of my teenage son. He keeps telling me to read Ann Rice, and someday I will. But for today, I plan on being lost in the world of fledgling teenage vampires and the evil that wants to destroy them.

The second book I started reading yesterday was The Right Questions by Debbie Ford. I have decided this my year to focus on myself and how I am holding myself back.  This book I need to savor. Reading it too fast will not help me move in the direction I must go...
Happy reading!

Thank you to http://bookjourney.wordpress.com for helping me to focus on my reading and becoming a more reflective reader.

Burned - House of Night - Book 8

Burned by P.C. Cast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantastic continuation of the story of Zoey and the vampire fledlings at the House of Night. I wish I could articulate why these books are so engaging for me, but I can't.

The characters, although representing a fantasy world are written to be relateable and engaging. You want them to succeed in their choices, even as you witness their wrong choices and know they will have to pay the price for their actions.

The books are also about friendship, a lesson that many, teens and adults alike, could learn from. Being friends does not mean there is no conflict or strife. It does mean that somehow you are able to see past that and to still believe in the person you call a friend.

Looking forward to reading the remaining two books in the series.


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