excuses!

i am sorry that i have neglected this blog. i do have excuses and i will let you be the judge on whether they are acceptable. the biggest reason is that i have devoted my time to another blog i created. i have four in total and chose to simplify. (just in case you wish to check it out, it is passionista place @ passionistaplace.blogspot.com). my knowledge of blogging has come so far. seeing this blog almost makes me laugh at loud at how inexperienced i was at the time. anyway, on to my next excuse...

i have not been reading consistently. well, i haven't been reading whole novels. sometimes i reread parts of books or short stories. sometimes, i full myself on interesting blogs. i gave up on the book clubs for now. i guess im not so interested in someone else making the choices. plus, by the time i would get the books, it would be too late to catch up. other times when i got the books in time, the rsvps were closed. too damn complicated!

ok...so those are my reasons, take it or leave it! (yes, i am being defensive, lol) i have been doing some reading lately so i guess i'll fill you in on what left an impression.

(my future plans include writing novels for young adults so i have been doing plenty of research. of course, i read the idiot's guide to writing for ya. but i have also been reading ya novels to get a feel for it.).

the BEST book was "the perks of being a wallflower"

incredible novel for all age groups. the characters were so human and relatable. the format was original and perfect for telling this story. look forward to more from this author.

another choice was the sisterhood of the traveling pants- i liked it for the most part. ann breshares (sp?) has a great knack for multiple main characters and narrator changes.

then there was "this lullaby" by sarah dessen

she is one of the top authors in the ya genre. i wanted to know why. dessen had feisty characters that i enjoyed (not those typical female mc that seem to be from the 50's). she also succeeded with the plot. i do feel, however, that she was hitting me over the head with the characterization. i wanted to yell out "she's troubled, I GET IT!" but besides that, i don't recall any other issues.

then by whim (i needed something to read while grabbing breakfast alone at a diner) i purchased twilight from a nearby rite aid. i had heard the buzz but never dreamed that i would be interested in that vampire hoopla. and for the first couple of chapters, i was not impressed. but all of a sudden, i was swept away by the edward/bella saga. i thoroughly enjoyed it. it was not horror, it was love. the characters and their conflicts were compelling. the setting was so vivid. i practically shivered while reading about the damp, cloudy town where the cullens camp out. fantastic book. i even saw the movie and plan on reading and watching "new moon."

rite now, i am reading "the thing around my neck" by adiche. you may recall me mentioning her and this book before. the library finally got it in and so far, i am enjoying it. hope you accept my apologies and i hope i am able to post more frequently.

ciao

favorite childhood books

Our earliest experiences with literacy are probably the ones that shape our long term relationships with books. Therefore, I thought I'd share some of the ones that were the most memorable in my childhood.

As a kid, a book series is VERY important. Finally, you find a book that you like and you know that there will be another and hopefully another to follow. So lets start with some of the ones I enjoyed and therefore recommend:



1. There was, of course, the famous "Babysitter's Club Series" by Ann M. Martin. A series that told the stories of 5-8 girls who work at their own babysitting agency. Each book would have a different narrator (except for the bonus books where it switched from chapter to chapter). I grew up with the girls as they experienced genius older sisters, step families, diabetes, death, shyness and diabetes to name a few.Ilearned how an organization/business is run (president, vice president, treasurer). I am sure that many a kids businesses sprung from the BSC example. (1st one I read was "The Phantom" book #2)



2. Can't forget the Sweet Valley Twins/High Series by Francine Pascal. Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefied were twins that couldn't be more different. Each book had them managing their differences while managing popularity or academics. It seemed like the perfect family in the perfect location with the perfect looks (the only thing not so perfect was whatever the conflict was for that book).



3. I also read plenty of "Nancy Drew Mysteries." It was a great introduction into the mystery genre. Although Nancy seemed to be a little too goody-goody for me, the plots were still interesting and well...mysterious. I must have read a thousand of these and even one or two Hardy Boys. (another great gateway into mystery is The Mystery of Snowshoe Mountain).



One of my favorite authors as a child and even as an adult is the fantastic and well known Judy Blume.

For pre-teen girls I recommend:

Blubber, Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great (could so relate), Just As Long As We're Together, and the famous Are You There God, Its Me Margaret



pre teens boys/girls alike

Freckle Juice and all Fudge books including Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing



Beverly Clearly is another no brainer:



Beezus and Ramona, all Ramona books, The Mouse and the Motorcycle and well...all things Beverly Clearly (fifteen was good, Jean and Johnny...all)



Other books I enjoyed



Sixth Grade Secrets by Lois Sachar

I Know What You Did Last Summer

The Gift of Magic by Lois Duncan

Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones

Daphne's Book

Anastasia Krupnik (and the rest of the A.K books)



Of course, these are just a few. If I think of more, I'll post comments. You should do the same.