The End

This assignment has certainly surprised me. At first, I really grumbled about having to read 90 minutes a day because somedays I feel like I barely have time to breathe much less sit down and read. However, somehow, I did find the time to read and it actually proved to be a wonderful way to "ground" me and make me give back to myself just a bit. I do love to read and over the summer I had read at least two or three novels a week but once school started up I returned all of my fun reading books to the library assuming I wouldn't get to read recreationally until Christmas break. This assignment made it possible for me to read for pure enjoyment sooner than expected and for that, I am grateful. So in the end, I regret my grumbling and have had an attitude adjustment and I have some new titles to recommend to others.

Change of Plans-Known and Unknown by Donald Rumsfeld

So, my daughter grabbed the Captain Underpants book I was reading and returned it to the library not realizing I was still reading it. This left me with the opportunity to find something else to read and so I picked up the book Known and Unknown  by Donald Rumsfeld. This book actually belongs to my husband as reading non-fiction is typically not on my list of books to read but he said it was really interesting so I thought I'd listen to him-for once =) and read the book. This book is the memoirs of Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld defends his choices concerning the war on terror but he also entertains his readers with a history of America dating back to the 1940's. He talks about the little things that helped make Nixon and Ford president. In the 60's Dick Chaney was an assistant toDonald Rumsfeld! He also talks about the times when he held his ground as a Congressman against various presidents. He talks about his wife, Joyce and how much he loves her. He writes about various travels and how his good friend Sammy Davis Jr. introduced him to Elvis and how he got to know Elvis. This book is so much more than being a book of politics or the life story of one man. It's a book about America's history from a variety of standpoints seen by a man who wanted nothing more than to serve his country with zeal. My husband was right =)

Reading log: Monday November 28, 2011 8-8:30pm
Saturday December 3, 2011 8-8:30pm
Sunday December 4, 2011 8-9pm

The Indian in the Cupboard (finale)

I have FINALLY finished this book. It did turn out to be a very good book, one that I am actually thinking about giving out as a Christmas gift. Anyway, Omri and Patrick really matured by the end of the book. The near death of Boone is what brought Patrick around. He finally came to understand how real these people were. That same experience also made Omri realize that he really couldn't handle the situation and that the people needed to be returned to their own time. However, Little Bear and his new wife did hold on to each other so that they would return to Little Bear's world together. Omri put the plastic figures in a place of honor and asked his mom to keep the key safe. He did keep the cupboard but I think that was more for the sake of sentimentality rather than to try and bring them or any other plastic toys to life.

I guess there is a sequel but at the beseaching request of my youngest daughter, I have started reading, Captain Underpants and the Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 1: The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets  truthfully, if the grossness of the title is any indication of how this book will be, then I am guessing that I may lose some weight while reading this book because I'll be too grossed out to eat. Hey! Maybe this could be the next diet fad-read gross books.

Well, either way, Erin is thrilled that I am reading a book she recommended and really enjoyed and I now understand why she was asking for ketchup packets the other day. Don't ask me why, you'll have to read to find out.

Reading Log: Monday November 21, 2011 9:00-10:00 pm (Finished Cupboard book)
Tuesday November 22, 2011 10:00-10:30pm (Started Underpants book)

The Indian In the Cupboard (cont. still)

Well a lot has certainly happened in this book since my last posting. Peter has really tried his friendship with Omri by doing pretty much everything Omri has asked him not to do concerning the cupboard, the key and one plastic cowboy on a horse.

Omri showed Peter his live Indian, Little Bear so Peter decided he wanted one too and put the plastic cowboy he had gotten for Omri in the cupboard. Well since cowboys and Indians were often enemies I'm sure you can guess what happened when the two discovered each other. (It makes for a very funny mental image when you read this part in the book)

That was the first of several bad choices made by Peter. He also took his cowboy to school which caused a ruckus and then Little Bear wanted to be taken to school too which caused even more trouble and then when the boys were sent to the Headmaster's office (they're in England) for talking in class, Peter showed the Headmaster the miniature people which again, made Omri really upset. However, Omri has matured a lot since the beginning of the book and he realizes that despite Peter's frustrating choices he is still Omri's best friend and has been since they were really little and that their friendship has too strong of a bond to allow Peter's reaction to the situation to ruin their friendship. So, when I left off, they seemed to have come to an unspoken understanding that Boone and Little Bear were better off with Omri and that Omei and Peter would remain friends.

In the next  chapter they are going to put an Indian woman in the cupboard so that Little Bear can have a wife (per his request). I'm curious to see how this will go over and if Boone will decide that he needs a wife too. I'm also beginning to wonder if this is going to become too much for Omri.

Reading Log: Monday November 14, 2011 9-9:30 pm
Wedneday November 16, 2011 12:30-1:00 pm
Thursday November 17, 2011 12:30-1:00 pm (I got so into the book on this day that I was late getting back to work from my lunch break!)
Sunday November 20, 2011 3:30-4:00pm

The Indian in the Cupboard (cont.)

Well, I am only half way through, which is kind of a surprise since I normally finish this kind of book in two weeks, but the text is just so dense in this book that it's taking a while. Anyway, Omri and Little Bear seem to be coming to a bit of an understanding. I have to laugh at the image of Omri entering his bedroom to find little bits of grass and bark laying on his bedroom floor, and then Little Bear working away at his long house. I am beginning to find the story a bit more interesting so I'll stick with it to the end, if for no other reason than curiosity.

I read these types of books for two reasons, one, because I enjoy them and two because if a student ever needs a book recommendation, I can suggest several books and be able to explain them a bit so the student can decide if they're interested or not. Although, if I'm really excited about a book, it's hard for me to accept the rejection of the recommendation (like my daughter constantly turning down my suggestions that she read Chasing Vermeer-one of my favorite books) But I have diverted from the intent of this blog.

So, Omri has come to the conlusion that Little Bear is more than just plastic that's come to life-he's real and therefore has needs that must be met. Omri has helped Little Bear with shelter and the necessary tools for hunting but the need for fire may not be such a great idea to fulfill. I'm curious to see what else Omri will find for Little Bear. Now that Little Bear has declared himself Chief I wonder how he'll behave. I really like Omri's friend (real human friend) Patrick. Patrick is trying so hard to not only understand but support Omri's new found interest in a type of toy they had sworn off because they were growing up. Patrick seems to be a really great friend. I wonder how he'll handle the news of the Indian...

Reading Log:
Wednesday November 9, 2011: 9-10:30pm

The Indian In the Cupboard

Last week I decided to start reading the book, The Indian in the Cupboard. I saw the trailer for this movie several years ago and thought it might be an interesting read. I haven't gotten very far into the book at this point. The boy has discovered a real-live Indian in his cupboard and even created a TeePee and horse for the Indian but at this point they are still in the "getting to know you" stage. Also, the boy has figured out there's magic involved but he doesn't know yet if it's the key, the cupboard, or the combination of the two, that make things become real when you put them in the cupboard and turn the key.

Truthfully, I'm having a hard time at this point staying interested in the book. However, I have had several people, adults and children both, who have said the book is really good so I'm going to hang in there and see what happens. Maybe when I'm done reading the book my family and I will rent the movie!

Reading Log: Tuesday November 1, 2011 8:00-9:00pm
                     Wednesday November 2, 2011 10-10:15am
                     Thursday November 3, 2011 10-10:15am

The rest of Bridge to Terabitha

Well, Terabitha stayed in the imaginations of Jess and Leslie although as the book progressed a person could begin to picture Terabitha and better understand the magic it held for these two friends. Now...I sigh, *sigh*, there is a turn in the book that completely surprised me although it reminded me of the movie My Girl, but opposite (In the movie the boy dies and the girls lives). Why oh why did Leslie have to die?

Actually I handled that part of the book well until Jess started to realize all the beauty that Leslie had opened his eyes to see and how he passes that beauty on to another in her honor-that's when the dam broke and the tears just poured down my face. Of course it doesn't help that I had gotten some troubling news about my brother's health about an hour earlier. However, this is still a beautiful story and after I dryed my tears and blew my nose, I handed it to my ten year old daughter and told her she ought to read it-sadness and all. She was a little surprised that I would hand her a book that had made me cry-but then after I explained why the book was beautiful she understood. The book is not about Leslie's death, it's about the power of friendship and the beauty and new experiences friends bring into one another's lives and the encouragement we receive to take chances when we have amazing friends at our backs.

Reading Log Monday October 24, 2011 9-11pm
Wednesday October 26, 2011 6-7pm