This is Book Two of The Mortal Instruments series.
I wasn't going to keep reading this series (even though I really enjoyed the first book) because I was sad Clary and Jace are...well, you'll know if you read it. Julie Bynum talked me into continuing, and I'm glad she did. I'm already on Book Three!
This series is about Shadowhunters (Nephilim...children of gods and men) who hunt Downworlders (Werewolves, Vampires, and Demons). Clary is adjusting to life as a Shadowhunter while Simon adjusts to life as a Downworlder.
My favorite quote has nothing really to do with the storyline, but it just spoke to me. It says: "A man doesn't have to agree with his government to be a patriot, does he? It takes a true patriot to dissent, to say he loves his country more than he cares for his own place in the social order" (261).
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Cloaked by Alex Flinn
I read Beastly by Alex Flinn last year for the VSBA Book Club. It was fine. I can say the same for Cloaked. I think Flinn is a bit teen-y for my tastes. I had a third book by her waiting in my car to listen to next, but I returned it to the SPL without ever listening to it.
When I read a book, I always find myself imagining that I am one of the characters and thinking about how I would act in the situations. I don't do that with Flinn. She doesn't suck me in.
There was one tale in the book, though, that got me thinking. It was about a man who wished for one thing, the wish was granted, but he kept wishing for more; he wished for too much. My mom has just been told that her cancer is back. I am going to keep wishing that it will be healed, but I am also going to remember to be thankful for the last three-and-a-half years we have had with her.
When I read a book, I always find myself imagining that I am one of the characters and thinking about how I would act in the situations. I don't do that with Flinn. She doesn't suck me in.
There was one tale in the book, though, that got me thinking. It was about a man who wished for one thing, the wish was granted, but he kept wishing for more; he wished for too much. My mom has just been told that her cancer is back. I am going to keep wishing that it will be healed, but I am also going to remember to be thankful for the last three-and-a-half years we have had with her.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Another 1439 pages of listening to be summed up in one little entry. As always, Gabaldon does not diappoint! I may need to get some of the Lord John books to listen to while I wait on SUsan to finish before I start the next one.
Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef
I believe that I now know all existing information on Jane Austen. I enjoyed this biography, but I learned nothing new. I must now decide on new biography topics since the royals and JA are complete...something American?...or current? I think not!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
William & Catherine: Their Story by Andrew Morton
200 pages of royal information! Sounds great to me...except that I think I have reached the point at which I am getting no new information. It may be time to schedule a personal interview with a member of the family so I can gather something fresh! I'm too much of a follower of all things royal!
This book is laid out such that one chapter follows William's development at a certain age and the next follows Kate's...I mean Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
The pictures in this are great!
One piece of info that I did enjoy finding...I have heard rumored of a visit by William to Nashville years back, but I have never heard it really confirmed. (Way to be Nashville! We protect our celebrities!) This book confirmed that in the summer of 2004, William did come to Nashville, Tennessee to visit the heiress Anna Sloan (no clue who she is!). In Googling her name, I have now found all sorts of fun articles; it seems I just wasn't up on things!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-351145/But-Southern-belle-Williams-real-love.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1331545/Kate-Middleton-The-making-middle-class-Princess-PART-1.html "A Boozy Swim round the Moat"
This book is laid out such that one chapter follows William's development at a certain age and the next follows Kate's...I mean Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
The pictures in this are great!
One piece of info that I did enjoy finding...I have heard rumored of a visit by William to Nashville years back, but I have never heard it really confirmed. (Way to be Nashville! We protect our celebrities!) This book confirmed that in the summer of 2004, William did come to Nashville, Tennessee to visit the heiress Anna Sloan (no clue who she is!). In Googling her name, I have now found all sorts of fun articles; it seems I just wasn't up on things!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-351145/But-Southern-belle-Williams-real-love.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1331545/Kate-Middleton-The-making-middle-class-Princess-PART-1.html "A Boozy Swim round the Moat"
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Catching Up
I haven't commented on my reading all summer. I've taken a break from blogging but not from reading. I read the following books over the summer:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (YA to keep up with the kids. I did not finish the series, though I think students will enjoy it.)
Through my Eyes by Tim Tebow (Enjoyable, but the amount of time and dedication to be a professional athlete amazes me...in a shocking way.)
The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers (She is one of Gwen's favorite authors. I had a copy of this book that we had withdrawn from the JOHS library. I kept seeing her name on the lists of admirable authors on my list of admirable authors! As to this particular book...once I got past all of the bell-ringing mumbo-jumbo, I really enjoyed the mystery-writing.)
I have been listening to Diana Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes all summer while I work out at the YMCA. I love it! One more book and Susan and I will be caught up to the series!
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (YA to keep up with the kids. I did not finish the series, though I think students will enjoy it.)
Through my Eyes by Tim Tebow (Enjoyable, but the amount of time and dedication to be a professional athlete amazes me...in a shocking way.)
The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers (She is one of Gwen's favorite authors. I had a copy of this book that we had withdrawn from the JOHS library. I kept seeing her name on the lists of admirable authors on my list of admirable authors! As to this particular book...once I got past all of the bell-ringing mumbo-jumbo, I really enjoyed the mystery-writing.)
I have been listening to Diana Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes all summer while I work out at the YMCA. I love it! One more book and Susan and I will be caught up to the series!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Ana Batts loaned me this book on CD during my May visit to Arkansas. I'm not sure how much the boys got out of it, but I know I enjoyed it!
I listened to this book in the car on the way to and from Indiana for vacation. On the way there, I relistened to CD1 on the way up since Dad and I had already tried to listen to it before. We finished the book on the way back home.
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen the TV series, but it was nice to hear these characters described again. It was fun to hear Mary described as the perfect one, since I had always viewed her in that way. I found the use of third person a bit odd since I already knew Laura was the author and main character.
I plan to listen to the rest of these books this summer with Dad and the boys.
I listened to this book in the car on the way to and from Indiana for vacation. On the way there, I relistened to CD1 on the way up since Dad and I had already tried to listen to it before. We finished the book on the way back home.
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen the TV series, but it was nice to hear these characters described again. It was fun to hear Mary described as the perfect one, since I had always viewed her in that way. I found the use of third person a bit odd since I already knew Laura was the author and main character.
I plan to listen to the rest of these books this summer with Dad and the boys.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
