The Stranger
, Albert Camus I picked this up at the book store without knowing anything about it (except that it was a lovely cloth bound book, a classic of some sort, and a very slim volume) and read it quickly. It is more modern in style than I usually read, but it was very interesting and thought provoking. Takes place in Algiers, written post WWII.
The Magician's Nephew
C.S. LewisThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis I think I actually enjoyed The Magician's Nephew more, but that may be because I was less familiar with it. It's been so long since I've read these that it doesn't even really count.How to Read Novels Like a Professor
Thomas C. Foster. I wish I hadn't spent money on this book, but even more than that I am glad I didn't have this guy as a literature professor. Severe bias and arrogance in a teacher is one of my pet peeves, and as this book went on I felt that more and more. Ugh.Riddle of the Rosetta Stone
James Cross Giblin. A great insight to hieroglyphics, easy to read.
A Separate Peace
John Knowles. I actually had a hard time getting through this book, simply because I was completely uninterested in the characters. Perhaps I just wasn't ready for a coming-of-age story, I don't know. Well written though.Adara
Beatrice Gormley. I preread this for our history, but won't be using it. The writing was okay, the theme a little confused/confusing.Earthquake at Dawn
Kristiana Gregory. I bought this from Sonlight, and wasn't disappointed. It's a great little book to learn about the SF earthquake and fires. It's fact mixed with fiction, based on true characters even. Good reading.
So Long, See You Tomorrow
William Maxwell. This seemed to be a continuation of the family's story in They Came Like Swallows, and since much of Maxwell's work is autobiographical, it shouldn't be so surprising. I loved both books. Simple yet deep and real.Peter Pan
J.M. Barrie. Weird and dark. Much like all the movies out there about it, yet at the same time stranger and darker. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, so I'm sure my score is reflective of that.On Fortune's Wheel
Cynthia Voigt. YA fiction, somewhat coming-of-age/historical/fantasy. I really enjoyed it, thought it was well written and engaging.
by Willa Cather. This book didn't touch me quite as deeply as did Song of the Lark, but then I had to read it in such a hurry to finish it by my book club meeting that I probably didn't spend as much time on it as I should have. I love Willa Cather's writing, and My Antonia only served to solidify my resolve to read all of her works.
by Cathy Buchanan. I read this as a 
by Arthur Conan Doyle. A great read.
by William Shakespeare. Who am I to review Shakespeare? Classic.
by Stu Campbell. Great introduction and reference about composting.
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. I read this aloud this time as a school book. It was exciting enough that I was coerced into reading for 1.5 hours in order to finish the book. A great intro to Ancient Egypt.
, Eloise Jarvis McGraw Action, romance, intrigue...not to mention history and culture...this book is fast paced without being shallow. The story is balanced enough to be enjoyable for both boys and girls, I think. The romance isn't mushy, the action isn't contrived, and the suspense holds steady throughout the book. I liked seeing the difference between slave life and noble life, between Egyptian life and Syrian life...it's a great way to have fun learning some history.
, Elizabeth Payne This book gives a good overview of the Pharaohs and historical highlights of Ancient Egypt. It includes some good b&w photos of architectural finds. There were occasions when the text was a little too opinionated, relying on conjecture, ("They seemed scarcely more human than the wild animals they so feared.") but for the most part seems to do a good job of teaching about Egypt.
, Lee Reich Rarely have I seen a gardening book that combines a great layout, many great photos, as well as easy to read, entertaining, and informative writing. I enjoyed reading this book and still pick it up for reference.
, L. Frank Baum Maybe it was because I never read the book when I was young, or maybe I simply don't have an innate appreciation for fantasy literature, but this book--like the movie--is just weird to me. My girls (whom I read the book aloud to) thought that it was pretty good; they have yet to see the movie. All that said, I'm glad to have read it--simply because it makes me feel more culturally literate. : )
, Joanne Williamson This book provides an interesting look at ancient history from a viewpoint other than the Egyptians. It was written fairly simply, but full of adventure and action. I liked how you get a sense of how the varying cultures interacted, as well as how much people's religions played a part in their lives.
, Mary Ann Shaffer This was a sweet lighthearted look at a heartbreaking point in history. The characters weren't very deeply drawn, but were touching and enjoyable to read about nonetheless. It was a look at the world through rose-colored glasses, a way to sympathize with those that lost without feeling swamped in the mire. I wish that I knew people like those in the book. It was a bit of a fantasy, but a nice little foray.
, Joanne Williamson My initial impression wasn't entirely favorable, because the story took a little while for me to get into. The action quickly picked up however, and I sped through the rest of the book. Written simply enough for younger readers, I liked the balance of ancient and biblical history. There was enough interest and adventure to hold interest, while still being fully historical. A fun way to learn about history, and to get a more personal interpretation of biblical cultures and stories.
, Richard and Florence Atwater This is the story of a housepainter in a small American town. He's always wanted to travel, but has never been able to...he loves books and movies of the Arctic and Antarctic. He is married to a lovely lady whose main concern is how tidy the house is; therefore she dreads winter--Mr. Popper's off-season--when he'll be lying around the house reading books. Too hard to keep a house tidy! Of course, the addition of a penguin to the family changes everything. This story is quick to read and funny. The fact that it was written in 1938 lends to much of it's charm. It's quite funny that nobody knows what a penguin is, and that the penguins ride on buses, in taxis, and stay in hotels mostly because no one has had any experience with them to say otherwise. My 5 year-old and 8 year-old daughters both enjoyed listening to this book.
, Willa Cather This is the second work of Willa Cather's that I've read (previously read 
) but it convinced me to read all of 
(
, Leo Tolstoy. This was fabulous. Really wonderful. I wrote out my 
, Kathryn Magendie. This was a 
, E.B. White. E.B. White has a way of writing that makes you laugh. He's great to read aloud; my girls and I enjoyed this very much.
, Lee Smith. This story affected me more than I thought it would. It is a seemingly simple story of an Appalachian lady told through the letters she writes throughout her life. In skipping over the mundane details, I felt them all the more. The fact that the author encompassed the majority of the main character's life really brought to attention the realization that life rarely turns out exactly as you've imagined it at 12 years old, but that doesn't make it all bad.
, Gary Chapman. Hard to believe, but I hadn't read this book yet! It was easy to read (could've been summed up in a much shorter space, though). I like the disctinction made between feeling in love, and feeling loved. The information was organized in a clear, simple way, and is a good basis for relationship building.
, Kelly Corrigan. This is a memoir of a journey through breast cancer. It is funny and touching, and made me burst out in tears quite often.
, William Maxwell is a story set in the middle of the Spanish Influenza of WWI. The storyline is fairly simple, the length rather short, and the characters weren't extremely easy to identify with. But in spite of those things, this is an amazing book. William Maxwell somehow manages to expose the very inner part of his characters...the parts that we often don't ourselves acknowledge. We are familiar with the parts of ourselves that we show others, and we are very familiar with the voice in which we think, but beneath those things is our core--those fears and needs that dictate how we act and react without our even knowing it. Great writing.