The Book Chronicles

Spiderwick Chronicles (Ironwood Tree) - Book # 8

2006-02-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

After reading this book, I realized that I only have one more book in this series until it is done. I am certain that they will continue to write more books but it is hard when you have to wait for the next book to come out. Of course, since they are so small it will be fairly easy to reread this series, if need be, before reading the newest one in the series. Well on to my review. The

Ironwood Tree by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Something strange is going on in the Grace family's life. It would appear that everything is simmering down and then at a fencing match, there appears to be someone that looks just like Mallory going through her own stuff while she is fencing. Yes it is complicated. The fairies are not letting them slow down. The twins have to find their sister because she has been kidnapped and it is no pretty. They try to outwit the man who is holding their sister and it works fairly well. Or does it? They are able to get their sister, but at what cost?

I think that this is my favorite book in the series that I have read so far. I really enjoyed it and didn't want to see it end. It was a more complex storyline and really showed what could happen if these kids don't get things figured out quickly.

Pages in this book/to date: 128/1968

Spiderwick Chronicles (Lucinda's Secret) - Book # 7

2006-02-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

I had to read this series out of order due to the fact that our library did not have the 2nd book in the series in. As soon as it gets in I will read it and review it. Until then, on to my review.

Lucinda's Secret by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

This book opens up with the children and their mother going to a retirement home. They are going to visit their aunt. Their mom wants them to remember their family and the kids are hoping to find out some more information about the house from her. They are not disappointed. She quickly tells them that they need to get out because those that live in the house will not leave them alone until they receive what they want. She shows them that she has two fairies that are currently with her and that they feed her something that they do not understand is horrible for her.

I don't want to give anymore of the book away because it is a great book. All of the books in this series, so far, have been wonderful and hard to put down. They are so small that I am able to read them in about 20 minutes and then take the Accelerated Reader test on them afterwards. You really should pick up this series, it is well worth it.

Pages in this book/to date: 128/1840

Spiderwick Chronicles(The Field Guide) - Book # 6

2006-02-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Once again I chose to read a young adult book because they are easily accessible to me and also they are fun and easy reading. I think I might have to change the number of books that I am going to read this year if I continue to read books that my students will read. Well on to my review.

The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

This is the first book in the Spiderwick Chronicles. This introduces you to the main characters and what their roles are going to be in the stories. The three siblings are all very adventurous and always looking for something new to discover. They find a guide on fairies and they start to realize that nothing is going to be the same now that they know that there are fairies and the like living in their house.

A very good book and it will be interesting to see where the series goes from here.

Pages in this book/to date: 128/1712

No Just A Witch - Book # 5

2006-02-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Now this is a book I read because one of my students asked me to read it. It is a book written for young adults, but I did read it and so I am including it in the books that I have read this year. On to my review.

Not Just A Witch by Eva Ibbotson

This book is about two witches who have to go to school in order to become good witches. They both decide that they are only going to do good deeds. Heckie can change people into animals and Dora can change anything into stone.

It is quite humorous and I don't want to give away the entire story. Very appropriate for ages 8 and above.

Pages in this book/to date: 176/1584

Roses Are Red - Book # 4

2006-01-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

I just finished my third book of the year. I am trying to read two other books at the same time and they have fallen by the wayside because this book took my attention and would not let it go. I choose to read Roses are Red by James Patterson. I always enjoy this author and he did not let me down with this book. Well on to my review.

Roses are Red by James Patterson

As the book opens up there is a bank robbery that is happening. It would appear that everything is going as planned so no one will be hurt, yet that is not how the Mastermind wants it to go. The family must die so that everyone is punished and there is no expectations. Alex Cross is once again on the case and he is hoping that this case will be solved quickly. Not only is he dealing with this in his life but he personal life is in flux as well. His daughter is not doing well and his relationship with a woman is not going the way that he expects it to go. Finally it would appear that Alex and the FBI have found their man. The only bad thing is that there might be a twist that is not something that they expect. Have they found the right man or is he still out there.? If he is still out there, how is it that he has gotten away?

I really enjoyed this book. It is funny, I was able to read this book in just under 3 days. Like I said, this author grabs my attention and he won't let it go. It is definatly not a bad thing but it is interesting. Well now I have to figure out what to read next. I will try to finish the other two books that I am reading right now, we will just have to wait and see if another book flys off the shelf before that.

Number of Pages for this book/to date: 400/1408

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Book # 3

2006-01-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

I just got finished reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. This is a book that I got for a Christmas present two years ago and I decided to tackle it. I did not know if I was going to like it or not. I have always had a 30 page rules. This means that if I don't like the book by 30 pages then I probably am not going to like it. I got to the 30th page and I decided that I didn't like it. For some reason I decided to read some more and decided that I did like it and was going to finish it. Well on to my review.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

This book starts out giving information on the main character's life story. She has not had an easy life at all. It is hard to see that until you understand where she has come from and when you see that you understand. Once her father has passed away, she decides to open up her own detective agency. It is not easy seeing that she is doing this in Africa where the women are seen as ones that normally do not own their own businesses. Once she gets her business up and running she finds that it is not as easy as she had thought it was going to be. She does get one case that haunts her and causes her to lose some sleep over until she solves it.

Overall this was a wonderful book. Much different type than I would normally read, but I loved it. Plus I get to say that this is the 3rd book that I have finished this year so far. Not too bad with only 11 days in the year so far. Well my next book is actually a children's book and I will let you in on the title tomorrow. Good night all.

Number of Pages for this book/to date: 256/1008

Double Homicide - Book # 2

2006-01-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

Last night I finished the latest book that I was reading. I am still trying to finish up the book that one of my kids asked me to read while I was on vacation. I should finish that book later on today. Well on to my review of the book.

Double Homicide by Faye and Jonathan Kellerman

This book is two books contained within one. It does not matter which one you decide to read first because they are both independent of each other. It is really interesting to see a husband and wife bring their great writing ablilities together and put out a book that they both wrote. The first book, Santa Fe, deals with a basketball star being killed and trying to find out if it is the bullets that obviously entered into is body that killed him or another preexisting condition. The detectives do their research and are able to find out who is responsible for the death of this young man. The second book, Boston, is about an art dealer who has shown up dead. He is not very well liked and so there is no lack of suspects. It is hard for them to narrow down who the different suspects are and what would cause them to want to kill the art dealer. In the end both murders are solved and it is fun to have these two great authors come together and work on a book together.

Now after I finish the other book that I have, I get to choose another book to read. This should be fun. I am going to find out how many pages I have read over these three weeks and I will let you all know.

Number of Pages for this book/to date: 304/752

A Million Little Pieces - Book # 1

2006-01-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

Well today I finished A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. This is a wonderful book but I am not really sure who to recommend it to. It is a hard book, at times, to get through because of the graphic details that he goes in to. I really enjoyed the book and I truly believe that everyone should read it, but will they is another question. Well on to my review.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

We are introduced to the author of the book as he is on a plane to the final place where it will be decided if he will live or die. He has been high for some any years of his life that it is no longer something he wants to do, it is something that he has to do. He is always trying to find something that will make the high just that much better. Rehab is not an easy place to be at, especially if you are not sure if you want to be there or not. He has been told by doctors that if he gets drunk one more time or gets high one more time, that his body will shut down and he will die. It is the way that it is going to be and he has to come to terms with it. Everything in the treatment center is telling him that the only way to overcome the addiction is through a Higher Power and the 12 step program. He does not believe in that and so he is bound and determined to make it without that. Everyone tells him that he will not be able to do it but that is something that he wants to do to prove them all wrong.

This is a very good book but there are times that it was hard to read. It was not hard to read because of the style in which it was written but rather because of the descriptions that he gave about the things that had to be done to him. Also the language that he uses in the book is very graphic. If you can not handle cussing like it is going out of style then this is not the book for you. I really enjoyed it and think that everyone should read it. Well I am off to bed.

Number of Pages for this book/to date: 448/448