Prodigy (No, I'm Not Talking About Myself)

The first book of the Legend series is behind me. I am now a fourth of the way through the second book of the trilogy, Prodigy. I must say that when I compare the writing style of Marie Lu with other dystopia writers like Veronica Roth and Suzanne Collins, I find her ability to create complex characters a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the books! The plot is engaging and the moving through such an imaginative setting is intriguing. Still, while I am reading, I am acutely aware of the fact that this is fiction and I am reading a book. When I read both the Hunger Games series and the Divergent series, I became so invested in the characters that I forgot they were the manifestation of an author's imagination. Instead, they became real to me. I would ponder on their dilemmas. I would dream about their plight. I have not encountered this same connection with Day or June. It is the writer from which these characters were birthed that makes the difference.

Still, all of these books have changed me. Really, it has been reading on such a daily basis that has metamorphosed me the most. It has changed how I spend my free time. I watch less television (not that I've had much time for TV, but I haven't missed it either). I play a lot less Candy Crush while waiting at the pharmacy.

It has changed how I interact with people. I find myself craning my head to look at book covers in the hands of strangers. I stop students in the halls at school to ask what they are reading. I catch myself telling people, "Ooh, you're going to love that book!" I have a growing list of book recommendations from fellow avid readers, both young and old.

It has changed how I mother my children. I have been coaxing my six-year-old to read more and more books. He has fallen in love with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and The Giving Tree and Teach My Dog 100 Words. He has even impressed his grandparents with his oral reading of Where the Wild Things Are. I have been encouraging my fourth-grade daughter to "steal" time to read. She has already read 15 chapter books this school year and has exceeded her Accelerated Reader goal.

Most than anything, however, my love for reading has been renewed. For that, I will be forever thankful.

Legend by Marie Lu

Legend has been my first experience reading a text by an Asian author and I am enjoying Lu's writing style immensely! She has presented her readers with two main characters: Day and June. Both characters are on opposite sides of an issue. I have not yet been able to determine what the circumstances were that lead to their varrious positions and viewpoints. All I have found is that the United States is now divided between the Western coast, now known as the Republic, and its Eastern neighbors known as the Colonies. June has been born into a financial advantage, while Day was born into the slums. It is the perfect story about the timeless contrast between the haves and the have-nots.

Already, I can see that there are a great deal of secrets left to be unfolded in this book and its following sequels. I am looking forward to uncovering what is unknown and getting to know my main characters better.

This week I have been able to increase my reading. I have read thirty minutes every night and I have been able to sneak in a couple lunch hours as well! There is something thrilling about getting caught up in a new plot! 

Feeling Accomplished

I survived Thanksgiving!

I survived my niece's wedding! (...her cake was beautiful, by the way.)

And, I finished Allegiant!!!

I completed the novel in one uninterrupted 90 minute session. After the rest of my family was tucked in bed and sawing logs, I curled up in the reclyner and set out to finish the series. Once I set my mind to it, it was not a difficult task. The pages turned easily, one after the other, as I made my way to the conclusion. When I finally reached the climax, I was completely shocked! I did not see it coming. I confess that tears began to fall and then my breath caught in my throat. I had to close the book for a moment and regain composure before finishing the book. At first, I was mad at the author for taking me on this painful journey! Then, I found myself amazed by her talent and bravery in writing. Divergent was a series worth reading! In fact, I have already loaned out the first book and I am wondering how long it will take the new reader to come asking for the second book.

In the midst of the family craziness, I have managed to invest another 30 minutes in my newest yarn: Legend. I am hoping that I will fall in love with these characters as well.

I Pledge to Finish Allegiant!

I feel like I am dragging this book out! I am honestly not meaning to. I am reading my required minutes per week but, for some reason, I am moving through this text slowly. I read for 15 minutes on Tuesday, 45 minutes on Wednesday, and 10 minutes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and today. Did I mention my niece is getting married on Black Friday. Yeah, they just thought they'd make the holidays even more hectic! ...by the way, I am baking and decorating the wedding cake. (Maybe I'll hold an icing tip in one hand and my book in the other).

I am taking so long reading this book that my daughter said, "You're still on that book?" Obviously, she is used to me being a much faster page turner. My student who has graciously loaned me the next series I plan to read is biting at the bit for me to finish so that we can discuss her books. I am getting there! I promise!

On the bright side, my main characters - Tris and Tobias - are working together as a team again and I am not nearly as frustrated with them. I finally feel like they are both on the same page and working toward a common goal. They have worked on forgiving one another and loving each other for who they truly are. Some real life couples never get to this stage!  Earlier in the week (eight chapters ago -- see, I am making progress), I was blown away by an insightful and beautifully written passage. I wanted to share the words with you:

"I used to think that when people fell in love, they just landed where they landed, and they had no choice in the matter afterward. And maybe that's true of beginnings, but its not true of this, now. I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me."

Now, how amazing is that? The Divergent series has been scattered with an underlying romance, but it hasn't been the main focus of the text. For this reason, I was emotionally stunned when I read through these paragraphs. The lesson contained therein is one that so few people learn. Giving up comes easy. Seeing another's flaws becomes the only view. It was refreshing to see wisdom displayed through a novel -- fact in the midst of fiction. Our author, Veronica Roth, has learned what it means to love through dedication and has shared her secrets with us in the mind of Tris Prior. Powerful!

Allegiant - One Choice Will Define You

Tris and Tobias are no longer within the walls of the city. Instead, they are now at the "Bureau" with new revelations and new enemies. At the moment, it is difficult to decipher who the true enemy and even what the truth is. As a reader, I am a little frustrated with Tris and Tobias' inability to trust one another and work together.  Throughout these three books, there has been the same battle between the two of them. I am ready for them to mature a bit and work together as a team toward a common goal! Grow up already!

Perhaps Veronica Roth intended for me to become irritated with the ups and downs of their relationship. It is keeping me reading toward the end of the book and the end of the series. Honestly, I am ready for the culmination!

This last book has caused me to think more about how the books were written than the plot itself. I wonder if Ms. Roth knew how the books would end when she started writing them or if she made her way through the story along with the characters. There are times when I think there might be a novel or two within me, but I am not sure where to start. There is a book called Four that goes into the detail about Ms. Roth's favorite character and goes into more depth about how she wrote the storyline. I am considering reading this final book for no reason other than satisfying my curiosities regarding her creative process.

I am two-thirds of the way through the book (yes, I am moving slowly). As I mentioned before, the dual perspective has slowed me down. I also just having been reading as much. I've moved down to about 15 minutes a night. I am still meeting my time-spent-reading goals but I am finding it more difficult to stay interested in the book with less time spent reading. I quit taking my book with me and instead started toting around textbooks when I was going through finals last week! I am going to get back in the habit of bringing my book with me every where I go. There are always opportunities to sneak in a few extra minutes of reading.  

No Time to Decipher Who is Narating Allegiant

In the past week, I have finished the second book of the Divergent series and I have started the third. The second book was suspenseful and kept me turning pages. The third book, however, is throwing me a curve ball. Throughout the first and second novels, the reader was allowed only into the mind of Tris Prior. We saw the entire story through her eyes. In this third book, the author is also allowing us to see through the eyes of Tobias (a/k/a Four) – switching back and forth between the two characters. At first, I had a difficult time remembering who was narrating! I would find myself thinking it was Tris only to have a detail from the story remind me that I was in the mind of Tobias. I have had to slow down my reading in order to keep the perspective right in my mind. Therefore, I am moving through this third novel at a slower pace.

Additionally, I have finals in three of my classes this week (and midterms in the remaining two). My substituting job has turned into a full-time paraprofessional position and we are laying new flooring in our kitchen. Couple these stressors with the fact that my 1^st grade son has been getting into trouble every day at school and we have a recipe for one overwhelmed chick who has limited time for reading! Still, I have managed to read 30 minutes every day (except for yesterday when I was only able to sneak in 15 minutes). This has given me a total reading time of 2 hours and 15 minutes in the past five days.  

Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  In three or four more days, three of my classes will be completed and I will only have two left to bide for my time. Then I should be able to dive into my reading again with full force.  I am looking forward to it!

From Divergent to Insurgent and beyond...

I am so excited about the Divergent series! Now that I am in the second book, Insurgent, I am even more engrossed in the story line because all of the twists and turns are new and unknown to me. I am on Chapter 33 of the second book and I steal glances at the book cover whenever I am unable to read (like right now). At the top of the cover is the phrase: "One choice can destroy you." Every time I read it, I wonder - Have I already read about this destructive choice? If so, which choice was it? I feel like the main character, Tris, has made so many bad decisions in this second book. With each fault in judgment, I mentally call out to her: "No! Don't do it!" My pleas make little difference as author Veronica Roth takes us both down the cascade of falling dominoes, with each poor decision resulting in another terrible dilemma.

Even now, I am resisting the urge to read. Please understand why. Tris is currently being held captive by the Erudite. Her own remorse and responsibility led her to this prison and I am wondering how she will emerge from this dire situation! I feel as if turning the pages of this text will expidite her freedom and that I am somehow responsible for the length of her captivity because I am not able to devote every waking moment to reading. I am sorry, Tris.

Reality calls me away from the book through piles of laundry, classrooms of disadvantaged students, moments with my family, and stacks upon stacks of college assignments. Still, I have stollen time to read this intriguing novel. While my husband's sausage fries in the morning, I sneak in ten minutes. While the hot water builds for my shower, I sneak in few more pages. Although I have had to devote my lunch period now toward the preparation of finals in three of my classes, I have pulled myself away from my studies every evening for at least thirty minutes of reading before I collapse on my pillow. I am tired, but not too tired to read! I have been able to read for 45 minutes everyday despite my bulging schedule.

I have even taken the advice of The Book Whisper's author, Donalyn Miller, and have become a reader who plans ahead. One of my middle school students has loaned me the Legend series by Marie Lu to read next. First, however, I must rescue Tris!

Giving up on King - Embracing Roth

"Readers choose what to read and when to stop reading a book that doesn't live up to its potential." ~ Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer

I claimed my right as a reader and put Cell back on the shelf where it belonged! While I am prone to keep most of my books, I will be taking this one back to The Book Bug for a store credit. My experience with this book was not wasted, however. I learned that in order for me to really enjoy a book, I must be able to relate to the characters in some way. Now, that does not mean that the main character and I must have numerous personality traits in common. Instead, it simply means that I need to be able to connect in some way to the character's life, struggle or thought patterns. I found such a character in Veronica Roth's book, Divergent.

The Divergent series was another recommendation from one of my students. When the book fair rolled into our school's library and the entire trilogy was displayed proudly on one of the shelves, the hand of fate reached into my purse and pulled out $40.00 to pay for the three beckoning books. I dove into the first book immediately and experienced so much joy at the contrast between it and my previous book. I may have even sighed as I releshed in the inner thoughts of Beatrice Prior. Now this is a book worth reading!

With my love for reading reignited, finding the time to read came once again with ease. I read an hour every day this week during my lunch and free period. I read another 30-45 minutes every evening before bed and I stole a few moments of reading this morning while the oven pre-heated to 375 degrees in anticipation for the hot, gooey cinnamon rolls that would emerge from it 18 minutes later.

Again, this is a book that has been turned into a major motion picture and, yes, I have already seen the movie. Don't worry. This fact has served only to drive me to finish this first book quickly so that I can lose myself in the unknown of the next two sequels!      

Cell: I do not like this book...

I read for 60 minutes last night, for 30 minutes this morning (school had a fog delay), and for 60 minutes this afternoon. During this time, I decided that I do not like Stephen King's book, Cell.

Initially, my mind had to adjust to the differences in writing styles. The last three books I read were futuristic but were written from the present tense, solely within the mind of the main character. The narrator was not omniscient and allowed me only to hear the inward contemplations of Katniss Evergreen. Typically, I am not a fan of being told the story as it happens. However, Collins quickly taught me how to walk through the Hunger Games with Katniss and I soon forgot my adversion to this narative choice. You would think that I would be more comfortable with the current writer's style. After all, King's novel is is being told using past tense from third-person with a limited knowledge into the inner-workings of only the main character, Clayton Riddell.

However, I cannot say that the use of my preferencial writing point-of-view has helped me fall in love with this book. In fact, I think I might actually despise the main character. Unlike the kindred spirit I felt with Katniss, I feel no sense of connection with this Mr. Riddell. He is not someone I would want to be friends with. He seems to be self-absorbed, negative thinking, and a despiser of Christianity and perhaps mankind in general. I really don't care to get to know him further.

On the other hand, the story line to this book seems intriuging, which is why I chose it in the first place. It is about an unfortunate side-effect of cell phone usage that essentially leaves mankind in shambles and chaos. But, the tone of the text is so dark and theophobic that enjoying the read is an unattainable endeavor.

I may continue reading it, but only until I find a better book! 

Caught up in Catching Fire - Mesmerized by Mockingjay

Now I remember why I like books so much more than movies. I remember watching the first Hunger Games' movie and thinking, "I wonder what all the fuss was about?" Now that I have read the book, I completely understand. Reading clarified all of my questions about the time line. Reading helped me better understand the personal motivations behind the actions of Katniss. Reading helped me see how very much in love with her Peeta truly was. It was so much better than the movie!

In fact, I enjoyed reading about the struggles of Katniss Evergreen so much that I finished the first book, started and ended the second book, and started and ended the third book -- all since my last post! I began to increase my reading time by indulging in an additional 30 minutes during my lunch on days that I was subbing (which has been every day lately). Then, I began sneaking in some reading time when I was pumping fuel at the gas station and again when I was in line at the bank. Before I knew it, I was reading during the Cardinal games and only looking up to check the score when I heard the crowd go crazy. I also started reading every time my husband was driving the car, essentially becoming an inattentive shotgun passenger as his attempts at conversation were answered an unenthusiastic with "Mmm, hmm" or "Uh, huh."

I read when I went to the bathroom. I read before I went to bed at night. I read before I got in the shower in the mornings.  The only time I wasn't reading was when I was working on my required college studies, substitute teaching, caring for my children, or sleeping. I did the math and in eight days, I read a total of 13 hours! Thirteen hours made 90 minutes look like child's play! And, this was the woman who thought she didn't have time to read!!!

In those 13 hours, I finished the series and found myself wishing there was another book left to read. The Hunger Games series honestly captivated me. However, there was also a part of me that was glad I was able to finish the final book so that I could see for myself whether the Cardinals will seize the NLCS and so that I might once again have an engaging conversation with my husband. Who knows? Maybe he enjoyed the silence...

In an effort to continue reading 90 minutes a week, I made my trek back to The Book Bug to see if they might have the Divergent series. I was out of luck. So, I left my number for her to call me should the books turn up and I settled for Stephen King's Cell. I skimmed the protective covering of the book and found the following written on the inside of the back flap: "Stephen King lives in Maine with his wife, the novelist Tabitha King. He does not own a cell phone."

I am about to find out why!

Diving In to the Works of Suzanne Collins

Tucked away in our little town, sits a tiny book store called The Book Bug. Every book on the shelves is used. Some have been donated and some have been traded in for other books. When I received my assignment to read, I knew that this was where I would seek to find my books. But what should I be reading? I went through a Nora Roberts phase for a while, but I just was not in the mood for a sweet romance novel. I wanted something more engaging - a cliff hanger perhaps!

Then, I thought about the sixth-grade avid reader I recently met. This boy has a tough home life and struggles with behavior issues at the local school where I substitute. During the past couple of weeks, the aide that follows him from class to class has been very ill and I have had the joy of getting to know him (along with several other amazing kids who need just a little extra help). The following morning, I grabbed his attention and told him about the requirements of my most recent class. When I informed him that I needed a book recommendation, his face lit up. He spit out a list of authors and books so quickly that I my pen could barely keep up as I attempted to record them all. At the top of his list were the Divergent and Hunger Games series.

That afternoon, with list in hand, I headed to The Book Bug. The helpful clerk proudly showed me to a spiffy set of almost-new Hunger Games books. She had the complete trilogy. While I was thrilled to find that she had all three books, I was a little hesitant in my choice. After all, I typically like to read the book before I watch the movie and I have already seen both of the released Hunger Games movies. Then, I thought about how happy my sixth-grade friend would be to see that I had followed his recommendation. Therein emerged all the motivation I needed. I paid my fee and left with three books in tow.

Immediately, I became plagued with the stress of finding the time to read my "pleasure" books. Being a wife, mother, college student, and substitute had already taken its toll on my schedule. Still, after dinner was eaten, a great deal of school work chipped away, and the kids tucked sweetly in bed that Thursday evening, I began turning the pages of book number one: The Hunger Games. Thirty minutes flew by as Suzanne Collins pulled me in with her illustrative language and welcomed me into the mind of Katniss Everdeen. The following Friday evening, I repeated the routine and was able to mark another thirty minutes down toward my goal.

By Saturday, I was hooked. I found myself carrying the text with me the entire day, stealing time to read in 15-20 minute intervals. I had been so drawn into the plot that I couldn't separate myself from the book. By the time my calculations were made, I had spent an hour and a half reading the enthralling Hunger Games. Sunday brought even more opportunities to devour the book and, before I knew what happened, I had already made it to Part III. Could I really be two-thirds of the way through the book in such a short time? I had been able to spend a great deal of the day reading - so much so that I had not been able to come to an exact calculation (my husband claimed it had been hours). The epiphany that I truly do have time to read was invigorating!

It is evident that I am going to fly through this series. I better start thinking about which yarn to enjoy next...  

Pleasure Reading for EDUC336

For the college class introducing me to the teaching of reading, I have been given a "delicious" assignment. My job will be to prepare myself to be an example for my students through my literate behavior. I will do so by reading a book of my choosing for at least 90 minutes a week and then recording how my chosen text impacts me. Here on this blog, I will share what I have taken away from my reading time

 

I am both excited and anxious about this assignment. I am excited because I love to read! Couple this fact with my love for writing and we have successfully married two of my favorite activities into one assignment. Lucky me! However, I am anxious because I have taken on a bit too much this semester! I have five college classes through Southwestern. I am subbing for a teacher's aide four days a week. My fifth day is spent observing lessons in an effort to satisfy my course requirements. And, for some reason, my family still thinks they need dinner and clean laundry!

 

Never fear. I will drag out my superman cape and get the job done... right after I go find a good book.