Jazz

by Geoffrey C. Ward
Dakota County Library audioCDs
read by LeVar Burton
genre: non-fiction, music history

This was fascinating, but I didn't finish it. I've been feeling overwhelmed and needing to pare down the "stuff" in my life. As an audiobook, I was somehow expecting more samples of the music being described in the text. There were so many names I didn't recognize. It's interesting to learn how many different people claimed to have created jazz as an art form! I'd like to read the full book sometime. I can borrow it from Scott Prescott, I'm sure.

Holy Bible: the book of Acts

Contemporary English Version
Dakota County Library audioCDs, 2.75 hours
Narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez

One of my favorite books of the Bible! I love the way God moves so powerfully through the Holy Spirit. Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus is an incredible example of how lives can be changed by the Lord. Fernandez has a very easy voice to listen to.

Her Daughter's Dream

by Francine Rivers
Andrea's hardcover 574 pages

Marta & Niklas, Hildemara & Trip, Carolyn & Mitch, May Flower Dawn & Jason, Faith . . . The story begun in Her Mother's Hope is finished here. The generational love and conflict left me frustrated at first (why don't these people just talk to one another honestly?!?!?!) and then turned to contemplation. Why do families function the way they do? Why is it so hard to have honest, direct communication? May Flower Dawn's story (and Carolyn's) were my favorite part. Marta ended up being my favorite character - weird considering how much I disliked her in the previous book. Rivers writes a good story about relationships and life.

City of Light, City of Dark

by Avi, drawings by Brian Floca
PRMS paperback 192 pages
genre: YA / graphic novel / fantasy

This was yet another re-read for me, in preparation for the sixth grade book club tomorrow. Enjoyable, clean, action-packed, with some interesting observations to be made. I'm looking forward to discussing it.

Who the Man

by Chris Lynch
PRMS hardcover 186 pages

Hmmm. This took me a long time to read because I had trouble getting into it. Not sure what kind of middle school reader would be drawn to it, but it's definitely less violent and offensive than other Lynch books I've read. Earl is a large 13-year-old who can pass for an adult. His thoughts and feelings, though, are still developing between childhood and maturity. His proclivity for resolving problems with fighting gets him a week out of school.

His relationship with wimpy Bobby reminded me of Freak the Mighty. The tension between his parents was too ill-defined until the end of the book. And his obsession for Louisa was also difficult to follow. This book just didn't connect for me . . .

Harry Potter (1-7) and updates

by J.K. Rowling
home copies
genre: YA fantasy

I re-read all the HP books over the last month or so. I think it was my version of vegging out in front of the TV. Enjoyable, relatively mindless relaxation. Louie teased me about re-reading these when I didn't get a book club title read in time . . . but it was enjoyable. And I think I *finally* understood the whole "elder wand master" thing at the end of #7. Call me slow. I thought the wand itself had physically transferred from Dumbledore to Draco to Harry. But the whole point was that the wand recognized them as its master, regardless of who physically held it. (I think this was my third reading of #7.) Ah well. On to the stack of books I've been putting off.

 

<Above written 11.14.10. Below added 6.5.24.>

 

I see that I also blogged all seven of the books in 2015.  I'm re-listening to the audiobooks while I work at Mackin this summer. I actually started last summer, then decided to "save" the rest for this summer. I've just finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (#4) and I noticed a few things I've not noticed before!

Jim Dale is an amazing narrator. His voice absolutely defines the Harry Potter audiobooks. However, it most definitely sounded as though he pronounced "leprechaun" as "lepreCORN." Over and over (at the Quiddich World Cup), he was saying "lepreCORN." It made me laugh. But also - how have I never noticed this before?

I also remembered one thing about this book that bugs me as an educator. No Quiddich for an entire school year because of the Triwizard Tournament? Even though only one student from the school is supposed to be a participant? And the tournament which was started 700 years previously had not been done in over a century? That doesn't make sense! To remove a very popular activity that has 24+ participants, regular matches, and a huge fan base . . . for an activity for four people (two of whom are not from Hogwarts) and have three events (late November, late February, and late June)? That's just silly! I understand why Rowling chose to do this for her author purposes, but it doesn't make sense from a school standpoint!

<below added 6.24.24>

Libby offered me HP and the Order of the Phoenix as a "skip the line" title . . . which I accepted. But that meant I only had a week to "read" it. I listened to some of it while working at Mackin, but realized that it would be returned before my next work date. So I've been listening to it at the lake while doing a jigsaw. Last night, I finally grabbed a print version to finish the last few chapters. 

So now I need to learn more about this "skip the line" thing in Libby . . . and order the next audiobook. It seems weird that none of the adults thought to communicate more clearly with Harry, though Dumbledore chalks this up to his advanced age forgetting what it is like to be young. I like when Harry is able to talk with Sirius and Lupin about his dad as a fifteen year old and make the connection that he is fifteen and not a jerk like his dad was.

<Below added 1.4.2025 from Reading Log dated 7.11.2007.>

"Harry hits adolescent angst and suffers from anger, self-pity, and hormones. When he dreams, he experiences Voldemort's mind. Sirius is killed in a fight with the Death Eaters. Harry teaches a secret Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

"Time-killer. The movie released today, but I'm sure it will be as disappointing as the others. So many things have to be skipped to make it not-too-long, and the director will need to put their personal spin on it. My favorite part is when Fred & George defy Delores Umbridge."

<Below added 7.15.24>

I got Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince quicker than anticipated. I started it while working, but finished it at the lake! I haven't read this one as often as the others . . . there were some details I forgot. (RAB and the decoy locket, death eaters fighting in Hogwarts, Harry sharing the Felix potion, . . . ) I was sad about the ending, even though I knew it was coming.

 

<Below added 1.4.25 from my Reading Log! entry 7.13.2007>

Harry's sixth year at Hogwart's. Slughorn is Professor for DADA. Dumbledore offers to teach Harry himself and reveals Lord Voldemort's history. Together, they try to get and destroy the six horcruxes holding pieces of Voldemort's soul. Book #7 will be released next week. Storyline is fresh in my mind now.

<Below added 8.19.24>

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Libby audiobook. I think I'm a bit too OCD . . . I finished listening to this at our family reunion in Michigan last week. The culmination of the series is so satisfying. This was another "skip the line" title and I remembered most of the plot twists (about the elder wand, Snape's true self, etc.). I was still sad and just a bit weepy when Dobby died.

How Angel Peterson Got His Name

by Gary Paulsen
PRMS paperback 111 pages
genre: YA, biography / memoir, humor

Gary Paulsen is a master storyteller. It would be interesting to interview the other guys in this slim book of stories about his adolescence. This book is cleaner than some of Paulsen's other stories of his youth. This was a re-read for me, to get ready for our 8th grade book club this week. Archie is a memorable character - older and somewhat dangerous.