Georgette Heyer is one of my favorite novelists. If you can’t have any more books by Jane Austen, then you’d better start stocking your shelves with books by Georgette Heyer. I haven’t yet met a Heyer book I didn’t like, and Friday’s Child was no exception.

Lord Sheringham, turned down by the woman he supposedly loved, instead decides to marry a girl he’s known since childhood. It was a rather hasty decision, and since Hero has never been “out” in society, she’s hardly prepared for a life as Lady Sheringham. Soon known as Kitten to Lord Sheringham and his closest friends, Hero gets herself in scrape after scrape, although always with the best of intentions. How is she supposed to know any better? Lord Sheringham begins to regret his hastiness in marrying her, until he discovers he cares for his Kitten more than he ever expected.

As always, Heyer writes a plot full of delightful twists and amusing dialogue. But it’s the secondary characters that really set Friday’s Child apart from many of her other Regency romances. From George Wrotham, who is always looking for an excuse for a duel, to the Honourable Ferdinand Fakenham, who speaks before he thinks more often than not, to overly vain Isabella Milborne – every single character brings amusement and life to this story. Georgette Heyer’s books are always good, but it’s not often that every character is so fleshed out with a life of his or her own. Friday’s Child  is a delight to read, and I finished it with regret.

Find it on: Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books

I own a lot of books, at least a third of which I haven't read yet. But that never stops me from buying more books. I'm pretty good at resisting the shiny, brand new books. It's the cheap, used books that get me - especially when the local library has tables and tables of them. Everything I can fit into a brown paper bag for only five dollars.

Seriously, who can resist that? I usually end up with at least one bag stuffed full, although I've been known to come home with three bags full on occasion. Most of these books sit neglected on my shelves, waiting for me to get around to reading them. So this past Saturday, I decided I was going to limit myself at the library book sale. I would only pick up books I actually intended to read. And not just read someday, but in the near future.

I told myself I would get five books, tops.

Here's the stack I came home with:

Whoops. I tried, I really did! But too many books looked interesting, or were on my TBR list, or were by an author I really liked. I just couldn't say no. It still shows restraint on my part, but not as much as I was hoping for.

So I guess I'm still refining my library book sale philosophy. I haven't yet discovered the balance between a house that is already full of books and the all-too-tempting tables of books that want to come home with me. 

Reviewlets - Newbery Edition (I've read plenty of Newbery books this year, but these are the first ones I've reviewed!)
Reading Withdrawal (How long does it take you to feel reading deprived?)
Saturday Snapshot - Fall Colors

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (Bryson was amazing as always, but there was way too much evolutionary gobbledygook for this young earth creationist.)
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (I absolutely loved this book!)

Jesus by Walter Wangerin (I've recently discovered a love for Biblical fiction. A novel about Jesus makes me a little nervous, though. It'll be an interesting read, for sure.)

Bitter Chocolate: The Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet by Carol Off (I was planning to snack on some Halloween candy while reading this book, but that may not turn out to be the best choice, judging by the subtitle!)

It's hard to choose a favorite season, but I think fall may be mine. The air gets crisp and cool, there are cider and donuts to eat, and walking becomes noisy because of the crunchy leaves. The best part of fall, though, are all the beautiful colors on the trees. God's paintbrush is certainly busy during this season! Here are some of the pictures I've taken of the amazing fall colors this year.

I spent the beginning of this past week at a teacher's conference. I always enjoy these, because they provide a chance to see some old friends and to learn some new things. It's also a chance to get away and relax a bit. So I carefully considered what book to bring with me, hoping for some downtime. I settled on The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani. A fun escape book. I even considered bringing a second book, just in case I finished that one. Can't be caught without a book! Horrors!

We left Sunday mid-afternoon and returned Tuesday evening. My book came with me everywhere - for the keynote speakers, sectionals, meals. . .just in case I would have a spare minute to pick it up and read a few pages. 

But that chance never came. My book traveled with me everywhere, but I never once cracked the cover. Too many things to do, too many people to talk to. This is not bad. I really enjoyed my time at the conference. But by Tuesday night, I was in serious reading withdrawal!

Not reading a single page for two whole days had me itching to get my hands on a book. One day, I could probably have handled. But two days was way too long.

So I'm curious - has anyone else experienced reading withdrawal if you haven't picked up a book in a while? How long does it take for withdrawal "symptoms" to kick in? What do you do to deal with this? I'm sure I'm not the only bibliophile who has been in this situation. What is your experience with reading withdrawal?

The Underneath is the story of one dog, two kittens, a giant alligator, and a vengeful snake. It’s not a cute book, like I expected a book about kittens to be. Instead, it’s very serious, tackling some big issues like love and forgiveness. It’s a story that matters, one not to be taken lightly.

I can’t say as I really enjoyed the writing style. The author tended to repeat the same phrases over and over, and it often made it feel like the plot wasn’t really going anywhere. However, this writing style is really what creates the atmosphere of the book, drawing you into the bayous of Texas.

This is a good, literary book. I can see plenty of merit in it. The story is well-written and well-told. But I didn’t find it especially gripping, and I honestly don’t think many kids would either. It’s almost as if the author is trying too hard to be profound. 

Why would kids enjoy this book? Good question. The kittens are cute and all, but I honestly would have been bored reading this book as a child.

Why would adults enjoy this book?  The writing. Appelt’s writing is musical and really paints a picture of the world she is trying to create.

Find it on: Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books

Ivan is a gorilla. His best friends are an elephant and a stray dog. People come to visit him and watch him every day. But he’s not in a zoo. Instead, he lives at a mall, where he’s known as the One and Only Ivan, Mighty Silverback. He draws pictures which are sold in the gift shop. And he tries to forget his former life in the jungles of Africa. When Ruby, a baby elephant arrives at the mall, Ivan decides that, for her sake, he must find a better life for both of them.

Ivan narrates his own story, and that’s what makes this book so powerful. We see the world through his eyes; we see humans through his eyes – the good and the bad. We see the moment when he takes charge of his own future. We see the love he has for his friends. Ivan reminds us of the glimpses of humanity that every animal has.

Why would kids enjoy this book?  The characters: Bob the stray dog’s commentary on the happenings in the zoo is always amusing. Ruby is adorable and relatable, elephant though she may be.

Why would adults enjoy this book?  Adults will get more out of the treatment of animals message, as well as Ivan’s backstory. There is a lot of wisdom in Ivan’s view of the world and humans that can be found in this book.

Find it on: Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books

The Graveyard Book tells the story of Nobody Owens, a young boy adopted by the inhabitants of a graveyard. The rest of his family was murdered when he was a baby, and the murderer is still after him. Staying in the graveyard keeps him safe. But once he’s explored and learned all about the graveyard, staying inside is not enough for him anymore. If you liked Gaiman’s Coraline, then you will like this book. The two have much in common – the slightly creepy atmosphere, real characters and unreal characters, heroic deeds that save the day. The Graveyard Book felt a little less focused to me, covering a wide range of Bod’s experiences instead of just telling the main thread of the story. But it turns out that it all comes together in the end, as one would expect from a master of storytelling like Neil Gaiman.

Why would kids enjoy this book?  It’s creepy! It takes place in a graveyard, for goodness’ sake. No zombies, but plenty of ghosts to enjoy and get to know.

Why would adults enjoy this book?  The atmosphere that Gaiman creates really draws you in, and actually makes this book less scary than it could have been. Being friends with ghosts that lived hundreds of years ago means that there are snippets of history dropped in here and there. And Bod is a wonderful kid, always trying to do right for himself and those around him. 

Find it on: Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books

What a fun weekend! Friday night, my husband and I went out for dinner and did some shopping. Saturday was Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon, which was awesome! Sunday included a drive to see some fall colors and the making of purple mashed potatoes (no food coloring used - the potatoes are purple!). It's been a wonderful weekend, but now we're back to Monday morning. Here we go for another week!

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - Review
Dewey's Read-a-thon Updates (Complete with cameo appearances by my cat, Pevensie)

The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani (I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I've enjoyed her Big Stone Gap series)
Zoobreak by Gordan Korman (Fun middle grade novel)
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (A Newbery winner I enjoyed very much!)
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood (Random selection off my shelves for the read-a-thon. Can never tell with books you randomly pick up at library book sales, but this one was quite good!)

I was alternating between chapters of two books (one fiction; one nonfiction) to keep me on my toes during the read-a-thon. But I only got halfway through each of these books, and I'm really a one-book-at-a-time kind of girl. Now I don't know what to do! Do I keep alternating? Ignore one, and finish the other first? Decisions, decisions!

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

I'm not 100% certain, but I'm thinking probably this:

Jesus by Walter Wangerin

The read-a-thon is finally here! I'm so excited! And to begin, here are my answers to the opening meme:

Time spent reading: One hour and five minutes
Number of pages read so far: 136
Book I'm reading from: Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

Time spent reading: Two hours and 28 minutes
Number of pages read so far: 337
Books finished: One (Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins)
Mini-challenges completed: One (Quotable Quotes)

Hosted by On the Wings of Books

The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley (The main character is a concert pianist.)

Time spent reading: Three hours and 2 minutes
Number of pages read so far: 364
Books finished today: One
Books I'm reading from now: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson; The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood
Mini-challenges completed: Two
Music I'm listening to: Wonders (the new Piano Guys album)

Time spent reading: Four hours and 41 minutes
Number of pages read so far: 486
Number of mugs of hot chocolate I've drunk: One
Nothing else has changed since my Hour Seven Update. I'm still cuddled in my comfy chair upstairs in my library. It's been interesting to switch back and forth between two books. I enjoy non-fiction, but it's not ideal for a read-a-thon. But reading a chapter of The Short History of Nearly Everything, and then two chapters of The Man Who Ate the 747. . .that seems to be working for me today! What's not working so well is my commenting on other blogs, mainly because of this:

Pevensie is being a little demanding of my attention today. :) Ah, well. What goes together better than cats and books?

Time spent reading: Six hours and 8 minutes
Number of pages read so far: 595
Books finished today: Still just one - but I'm making progress!
Books I'm reading from now: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson; The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood
Loads of laundry done: Four
I think it's time for a supper break. And I should probably spend a little time with my husband. :) Reading will resume after food!

Time spent reading: Seven hours and 10 minutes
Number of pages read so far: 660
Books I'm reading from now: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson; The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood
Caramel chocolate oat squares eaten: One (so far. . .)

Time spent reading: Eight hours and 43 minutes
Number of pages read so far: 766
Books finished today: Two (finally!)
Books I'm reading from now: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson; Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Mini-challenges completed: Three

Time spent reading: Ten hours and 4 minutes
Number of pages read: 844
Books finished today: Two (Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins and The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood)
Books I'm still working on: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson; Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Mini-challenges completed: Four (Quotable Quotes; Book Staging; Book Covers and Leaves; The Pet Parade)
Amount of fun had: Immeasurable! I had an amazing time, as always!
However, I do think I will be heading to bed at this point. Sunday morning means church, and there's a full week of teaching ahead. Maybe one of these years I'll pull off the full 24 hours, but this year is not the one. And Pevensie agrees with me. :)

Memoirs of a Geisha enters a world that I had no idea about. It takes place in the early 20th century in Japan. Geishas are entertainers, musicians, dancers, partners, and so much more. The “much more” isn’t always virtuous or pleasant, but it is part of who they are. Sayuri is sold as a child to an okiya (a boarding/training house for geisha). The book follows her struggles as she grows up – first to become a geisha, and then to learn how to navigate that entirely new world. Her story is compelling. There is no question that you will be cheering for Sayuri to succeed, even though some of the decisions she has to make would not be ones that you would make. This is a world I loved reading about, but certainly not one I would want to actually live in.

And while the characters rile up your emotions, and the plot keeps you guessing until the end, it’s really the atmosphere that hooked me. I was reluctant to pick up this book if I only had a few minutes to read. I knew I had to wait for a time and place when I could enter Sayuri’s world completely and leave my own behind. Because of Arthur Golden’s ability to create a living world, I would gladly pick up anything else he’s written, no matter the topic. Sometimes the world of a book sticks with you, long after the plot has faded from your mind. This is one of those books.

Find it on: Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books

This past week, I had the opportunity to take my students to our state capital. It's always fun to see how excited they get, and how impressed they are by the beautiful building. This is one of my favorite field trips all year, and we all had a great time!

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Whew! I made it through! My thoughts are still formulating, but I will definitely post a review at some point.)

The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani

Dewey's 24 Read-a-thon is this Saturday (yay!), so I picked up a couple short books from the library today.
Zoobreak by Gordon Korman (It's hard to find titles that start with a Z. Has anybody else noticed that?)
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins