Heidijane's list

OK, nearly August, so I suppose I'd better tell you all what I'll be reading for this challenge. This is based primarily on the books I can get my hands on at the moment, but also on books I'm keen to read anyway, so it may change, but here goes:

• In the Shadow of the Wind (Christina's list)
• Johnny got his gun (Kookiejar's list)
• Wuthering Heights (Suey & Trish's lists)
• Like Water for Chocolate (Maryanne's lsit)
• Fall on your Knees (Christina's list)

Might also read The Grapes of Wrath (Kookiejar's list) as I happen to have it on my shelf anyway...

Heatherbird's List!

Hello and thanks to Little Willow for pointing her readers over to this community. I'm an elementary education and English graduate student and here are my choices:

1. Christy by Catherine Marshall (Fiction) - the television series based on this book was one of my favorites as a child, and Christy is a wonderful book for future teachers. Additionally, my family is originally from the Appalachain mountains so I enjoy reading about the area's rich culture.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Juvenile Fiction) - the Harry Potter series has truly changed my life. I have met many of my friends through a mutual love of Harry Potter, and now that the series is complete it's a perfect time to start or start over.
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (Fiction) - currently my favorite book, and I've recommended it to many friends. I love books that are slightly Science Fiction, but still realistic-- this one is amazing. Henry, the time traveler of the title, is a librarian (and my fictional dream man), and Clare is an artist who has loved Henry since her childhood (his adulthood- it'll all make sense when you read!). Plus, there are field trips and Violent Femmes lyrics. Wonderful.
4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA FIC) -- the high school in this book is so much like my high school it's ridiculous, and Laurie manages to be hilarious and sarcastic while telling the story of a dark event in the life of a young artist. Since it's one of my dreams to write YA fiction, reading books like this is essential for me.
5. Dancing on the Edge by Han Nolan (YA FIC) -- I used to be soooo seriously into dance it was rediculous. This is also a good portrait of mental illness and I have been dealing with depression since high school.

I will be reading the following books:
1. Persuasion by Jane Austen (F) -- Gracie's List and Becky's List
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (F) -- Karlene's List and Becky's List -- so many people have recommended this book to me as I love Science Fiction and YA books!
3. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (F) -- Trish's List -- my father had kidney failure so I should be able to relate to the story
4. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (NF) -- Historia's List -- sounds delightful!
5. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostava (F) -- Heidijane's List, A Book in the Life's List, and Maryanne's List


Other books I think sound interesting... and might be my alternates if I can't find the above:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (F) -- Becky's List
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard (NF) -- Megan's List -- Dillard attended Hollins, which is where I want to get my MFA!
Fresh Brewed Life by Nichole Johnson (Chr.NF) -- Pattie's List
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (NF) -- Raidergirl3's List
Evensong by Gail Godwin (F) -- Bonnie's List

To Kill a Mockingbird - Review

Rating : 4.5/5
Reason for reading : Something About Me Challenge, Book Awards Reading Challenge

Tells the story of the Finch family (father Atticus, son Jem and daughter Scout) living in Maycombe in America. It is set back when black people were seen as inferior citizens and were mostly employed by white people in the kitchen or picking cotton. The story starts with the children telling ghost stories about the reclusive neightbour next door who they nickname "Boo" Radley. This keeps them and their friend Dill entertained for most of the summer.

The small town is rocked when negro Tom Robinson (a family man with a wife and children) is accused of raping white Mayella Ewell. The Ewell's are not the most respected of families, being poor with an alcholic father and too many children to feed on their benefit money, and are deemed "trash" by some of the other white folks. Despite this, at the time the book is set (around the 1930/40's), white people do not loose court cases if the defendent is black. Atticus is given the case to defend Tom, which he does to the best of his ability despite knowing his loss is nearly inevitable and the town folk call his all kinds of names.

It was a really touching book that covers a range of topics. Foremost if the racial discrimination that went on at the time and how people were starting to change their attitudes and realise that all people are equal and that the colour of their skin is of no importance. It also discusses the class system at the time, with Atticus telling his children that no matter how rich the person, if they mistreat someone on grounds of race they are trash. The hypocrasy of the townsfolk was interesting as well. There is one incidence of a Jewish teacher who teaches Scout's class about discrimination as Hitler is starting to round up the Jews in Germany. She was however overheard at the trial of Tom making derogetary remarks about black people.

The parts covering childhood and family values stopped the book from being too serious. The children are very intelligent and really grow up in the few short years the book covers. I really liked all the central characters, especially Atticus. I grew to like their neighbour Miss Maudie and their overbearing Aunt Alexandra. It also had a lovely sense of humour running through the novel. I can see why people love it so much.

So many books, so little time

Wow, can't say it better than that! I had a hard time choosing 5 books that represent me and an even harder time choosing ones I want to read from all the great lists. The books that represent me:

1. The earth, my butt and other big round things (YA) by Carolyn Mackler .I completely relate to this girl and how she feels!
2. The dogs who found me (NF) by Ken Foster. I am a huge dog lover and especially love that this author does not discriminate against certain breeds because of their reputation.
3. The Penderwicks, a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits and a very interesting boy (F) I was an only child and wished I had a fun family like this to grow up around.
4. The sisterhood of the traveling pants (YA) by Ann Brashares. My friends are everything to me, just like these great girls are to each other.
5. The house of the scorpion (JuvF) by Nancy Farmer. I admire the sense of hope this story brings despite it's horrible events .

On the other side of the fence, I am afraid it is just as difficult for me to choose just five books to put on my list to read. Especially
since I've been reading all the reviews. I will just have to add on to my list I guess :)

1.So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson (So many had it on their list and I can already relate to the title)
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (I love children's lit. so...)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (It has been sitting on my shelf for a while)
4. Nothing But the Truth by Avi (I have never read one of Avi's books before and I am not sure how that happened)
5. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (This one I have also had on my shelf waiting to be read)

and I have already added on

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block (Sounds like a fun read)
Place Last Seen by Charlotte McGuinn Freeman (Cause I live so close to desolation and love dogs too!)

My first review: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

My first review! It's July 28th so it's almost August, I think I can start:)
originally posted in my blog: here

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block



We've had the Dangerous Angels series in the shop, unsold, for more than 3 years! How could that happen? I never even considered reading them, but I'm happy I gave it a go, thanks to Soleil, who picked Weetzie Bat for her "Something about me challenge". This book was a short but charming read, a urban fairy tale about love, strange names and magic wishes. Honestly I was a bit put off at the beginning with all those names of places and shops in L.A. that I don't have a clue what they look like, but after a while I just gave up and enjoyed the story. It's about Weetzie Bat, the (real) name of a quirky young woman, who wears "old fifties' taffeta dresses covered with poetry written in glitter or dresses made of kids' sheets printed with pink piglets or Disney characters", has a dog called Slinkster Dog, and has a father who reminds her of a cigarette . Weetzie's best friend is Dirk, who is handsome, cool, and gay. Together they're determined to find the "Duck" of their dreams. I assume Weetzie and her friends are over 18 because they drink, smoke and have casual one night stands while still going to high school. But despite the daring themes that the story touches (including a threesome, Aids and pregnancies) all is told with such delicacy and tact, almost with ingenuity, that I wouldn't be afraid to give it to any teenager, and of course adults, if anything for the ease it shows in dealing with homosexuality and love.
Franscesca Lia Block writing is quick but poetic and musical. She managed to create a world and a way of being in barely 100 pages. Here's one of my favourite quotes:

"In Jamaica there is a night life like nowhere else - your body feels radiant, like orange lights, like Bob Marley's voice, when you dance in the clubs there. In Jamaica we climb the falls holding hands and the water rushes down bluer than your eyes. In Jamaica. In Jamaica it is hot and wet, and the people are hot and wet, and the shells look like flowers and the flowers look like shells, and when you drive down some roads men come out of the bushes wearing parrots on their shoulders and flowering bird cages on top of their heads"
Weetzie said, "Maybe in Jamaica I could find My Secret Agent Lover Man. I can't seem to find it here".

Now I'm in trouble though: I promised I won't be buying/reading anymore books beside those from my "Books I have to read before buying anymore!" list. But I'm afraid I won't be able to resist the next three books in the series for too long!

ps: I've seen another book by F.L. Block on Amazon. It's called "Ruby". I've ordered it for the shop. Has Anyone read it?

pps: I'm proud to say that the book has been finally translated in Italian. look at the cover,isn't it beautiful?

Michele's This and That List

I have picked the following books:

Turn Lefty at Sanity - always looking for more sanity
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
We Need to Talk about Kevin
The Thirtheen Tale


Can't wait to get started :)

Sally906's final list of 5

Now I was (OK so I still am) a bit confused about this - I posted the titles of 5 books that I felt represented me back in April - See it here.

BUT - my understanding is that I don't read these 5 books they are only a list for other people to peruse. In turn I look at everyone else's lists of 5 and select 5 books from their lists instead of mine?

Is this right?

So in that case my list for the something about me challenge is:

The list of books I will read for the challenge:
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (from Juli's list)
The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis (from booklogged's list)
So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson (from vasilly's list)
Heidi by Johanna Spyri (from Heidijane's list)
The Naughtiest Girl in School by Enid Blyton (from my list)