I’m thinking I’m really cool about now since I was asked to contribute to the March MamaVoices column over at Today’s Mama. The subject was “3 Books You Could Read Over and Over”. I had a lot of fun doing it and I was surprised at how many of the other choices I was not familiar with! Tell me, what are your favorite books to read again?
Starting with I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You
Happy New Year! Here are a few things running through my head.
Santa brought the best thing ever, flip-top markers
The other night we went to see “A Year with Frog & Toad” with one of our local theatre companies. What a great time we had! I love hearing my daughter’s joyful laugh! You can read about it over on Sun Valley Mama.
And last, but perhaps most importantly, I got LOTS of books for Christmas! Some I have read but liked so much I needed to own (The Hunger Games
So, thanks for reading and Happy 2010!
What a nice “quiet” book for bedtime. In 3 chapters for early readers, but perfect for reading to a pre-schooler. Houndsley and Catina are practicing for the concert but it looks like they might get snowed in. Catina starts to worry about all the things she can’t do when they are stuck in the house, like go home to curl her whiskers and put on a dress for the concert, but Houndsley reminds her to focus on the fun things they can do when it is snowing and quiet. Like bake cookies and write poems and read them to each other, which my daughter said she wanted to do today! She is the product of her parents and therefore dictated that she would write a princess poem and I must write a pirate poem. Which I am including here for your laugh of the day:
Once there was a pirate
As salty as could be.
He lived upon the ocean
And sailed upon the sea.
But when he met a mermaid
He sailed the seas no more.
“I do not want her father
Knocking at my door.”
Since my daughter is just learning to write, we don’t have a princess poem for you but look for one in the future! Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time
definitely makes the list of mama favorites!
I’ve discovered something fun over at Booking Mama – The Shelf Discovery Challenge. 
Grap a copy of Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading
Then, head over to Booking Mama where: “The Shelf Discovery Challenge will run for six months (November 1, 2009 – April 30, 2010). To join me in this challenge, all you need to do is grab a copy of SHELF DISCOVERY and pick out what six books you want to read (of course, you can read more than six!) Then, after you read a book, just write a “book report” to share your thoughts with others! ”
I am so excited! As soon as I get my copy I will pick my 6 books and post them here. What are your choices?
Just finished reading Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
for book club. A quick, easy read that like the first one, leaves you wanting more! Katniss, our heroine from the first book, is just as compelling and like all teenagers, just as confused. As a winning “tribute” she should have been set for life, but finds herself sucked into a political movement and, as punishment, into the next Hunger Games. Unlike a lot of middle books in a trilogy, this one is not just a placeholder to move the story along but compelling in it’s own right. 5 stars!
I love the post-apocalyptic genre so here are some other recommendations!
Dies the Fire: A Novel of the Change
A flash, and the world no longer has electronics or explosives, throwing us back to an era of swords and heroes.
The Postman (Bantam Classics)
Classic collapse of civilization. Forget the movie. Great for book club discussions.
The Stand: Expanded Edition: For the First Time Complete and Uncut (Signet)
I know, I know, but again, forget the TV movie. While I think the last 1/4 of the book falls short, the first part is fabulous. People forget that King is actually a good writer most of the time and dismiss him because of the subject matter.
The Road (Movie Tie-in Edition 2008 of the 2006 publication)
Now to preface, I hate the way McCarthy writes. He just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve tried to read All the Pretty Horses 3 times and just can’t do it. I can however, recognize that while not my style, this is a good read. Very dark though…
Parable of the Sower
Vastly underappreciated author! Isn’t it strange how in so many post-apocalyptic stories all the survivors are in Oregon?
That’s probably enough for now but I will leave you with one last thing… I Am Legend (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
I have not read the book but this movie was so good I actually forgot it was Will Smith. (weak ending but you can’t have everything!
“In a big city high rise
On the very top floor
Lived a pink, fluffy poodle,–
Poodlena Pompadour.”
Thus begins a delightful look into the world of a pampered poodle in the city. The rhymes are fun but what little girls really love are the illustrations. Poodlena with her mountain of pink fluffy hair gets prettied up everyday for her walk. She goes to the dog park to be seen but never plays with the other dogs. Fortunately, one muddy day she gets knocked down and discovers the joy of getting a little dirty. From then on she primps less so she has more time to play. More time to play, a good lesson for all of us!
Terrier (The Legend of Beka Cooper, Book 1)
I like Tamora Pierce. She writes wonderfully strong-willed female characters. That being said, the Beka Cooper series is my favorite of all. Pierce has really come into her own, adding strong writing to her already strong plots and characters. Terrier takes place in her familiar kingdom of Tortall but preceding the other series set in the same locale. Beka is actually the great-great-great-grandmother of Aliane of the Trickster series. Beka lives in the lower city and is training with the provost’s guard, essentially she is a cop. This book covers her first year of traning and is told as Beka’s diary. A must read for fantasy lovers and suitable for age 13 and up.
I’ve told you once and I’ve told you twice
reminded her mother in a voice not so nice
Do not go to bed with a wringing wet head
A current favorite in our house due to the fact that hair combing/brushing is a BIG issue. Who knew that not drying your hair would result in mushrooms growing out of your head? As the growth gets more exotic, Ruthie’s mother calls in the experts. Excellent rhyming and visuals make this a treat to read.
