books | 100 books in a year

Books read 2011
15
Books started but not completed for various reasons are not counted, naturally!

Kids:
Ramona and her Mother
Ramona the Brave
Beverley Clearly
I read these with the intention of using them (and the rest of the series) for the beginning of the year stuff at school - as kind of inspiration for the kids for their "Book of me" that they will be writing in the first few weeks. Also, I just love Ramona, she is such a sweetie and thinks so ingeniously!

Andrew Lost - In the garden & In the garbage
Again, I read these as an interest thing to see how they will work for school. I don't think that I will reuse them, but will try them out during this year and when I quit teaching, will donate them to the school library. They are alright, have a lot of cool science facts in them, but in general, aren't terribly good literature, and I am unlikely to want to read them to any kids I come across, or to myself again. Boys of about 7 would probably enjoy them (and that is probably who they were targeted at).

Teen:
Leven Thumps and the gateway to Foo - Obert Skye
Some cool ideas about the human need for dreams, some neat creatures - I particularly liked Geth and the Avalands. It started well, was easy to read, but had fairly typical heros. Believing in yourself was a fairly strong theme.

Down the Rabbit Hole - Peter Abrahams
A rather enjoyable Nancy Drew-ish story. A mystery, broken hearts, soccer and drama. Explores ideas of identity and belief in others. Cute and very readable.

Starseeker - Tim Bowler
I really liked this story. A boy dealing with loss, bullying and secrets. A really, good book - would be useful as a secondary school English novel and also just as an enjoyable read looking at ways of dealing with the world and other people. Highly recommended.

Adult:
Sleeping Beauty Indeed - Edited by JoSelle Vanderhooft
A set of short stories, rewritten fairy tales and traditional stories with lesbian themes. Some really adorable wee tales. I particularly liked Voce by Kimberly DeCina, Bones like Black Sugar by Catherine M. Valente and Bird's Eye by Erzebet YellowBoy. Very enjoyable, and available for lending if you are interested - I had to get it from the UK. I am considering whether to keep it or to donate/sell it to the women's centre library so that other people can enjoy it - but will probably keep it because I am selfish like that.

Cause of Death - Patricia Cornwell
I haven't read any of her stuff since I was 16 (when I gave myself nightmares after reading Potter's Field - the bad guy was just too scary). I was surprised at the preciseness of the language that was used and how unemotive the writing actually was - there was no gushing descriptions or terrified rambling. Everything was written carefully and precisely - almost stilted, but still strangely readable. I really enjoyed it. Maybe because there wasn't an excess of emotion (which I frequently find very annoying in adult books). A good wee read.

I have a large collection of books in my to read pile and desperately want to get on and read Monster Blood Tattoo, as I just got the 3rd book in the trilogy. But I do need to read some of these library books before they a due back. I wonder if I can go into the library to return these ones without getting a greater number out - last time I took 3 back and came out with 9!