So. Hard. To. Focus.

                         

Don't worry!  We are still here and still reading up a storm!  We just have been kind of sunk with starting a new charter school for Parker (not easy on us) and teaching preschool to Kendall and attempting to keep Scarlet clothed and in bed (sometimes at the same time), and of course the flooding.  Let's see.  What have we been reading lately...


Parker:
 Anything Magic Tree House related.  Love those adventures.

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World by Faith McNulty.
We revisited this gem as Parker has been studying earth science.  Great for little boys that love science.

 Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  We just started this.  We will watch both movies when we finish for our movie nights.

















Here is what Kendall has been up to:

Henry and Mudge, Henry and Mudge, Henry and Mudge.  By Cynthia Rylant.

She has a problem.
I have been letting them look at books in their beds with their book lights for 5 or 10 minutes every night and Kendall has been loving it.  She has her big pile of books that she pages through every night, studying the pictures.  It makes my heart happy.  (Parker loves it too of course but he always has).



And Scarlet...
We only read two at story time
          ...and...



over and over and over.  This book..

.we bring everywhere.  It is dirty and gross and she screams "Wreck it Ralph" at the top of her lungs if you try to take it away. Lovely.



Here is what I have been up to...

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
A great book for all ages.  It is hard for me not to rush into the second book but I want to see the movie first so I can have a good visual of the special effects.  Sometimes SF is difficult for me to imagine.










The Last Word (Spellman #6) by Lisa Lutz
I'm a big fan of this book and all of Lisa Lutz's.  She is fantastic.  A lot of "tying up loose ends" and things happen at the end that I would have liked to watch Izzy deal with but overall a great book.








Sold by Patricia McCormick
Amazing book about a girl sold into slavery.  The author did her homework.  I will be reading more of her books.  I listened to this one.  Great reader.











Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
In my mind, Steinbeck can do no wrong.  fantastic book and incredible to listen to.  I may or may not have stayed in my car in the driveway to finish it.  

The Graceling, Fire and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

I liked this series BUT the names of the people and places are silly and it makes the books kind of ridiculous.   They are a series a great stories and adventure with engaging (if not a bit weepy) characters.  



The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
I know when I read the words "I lived in books more that I lived anywhere else," in the first chapter that I was going to love this book.  I'm not sure that any review that I write could do it justice.  Neil Gaiman is a master story teller and never fails to mesmerize.  If you have not read any of his books, GO AND DO IT (Start with the Graveyard Book!!!).

Never Let Me Go by Kazou Ishiguro
Well, I thought I was going to like it.  But, well, I don't.  Nothing happens.  It is written in first person and I don't like the narrator.  Kathy H is boring and spineless.  She cannot connect to other people and leaches on to parasites.   And nothing happens.  The writing is rambling and seemingly pointless at times AND NOTHING HAPPENS!  One of those things could have been forgivable but all together?  No thanks.  I know that is an acclaimed book but I struggled through it and could not bring myself to be interested until the last 20 pages or so.

That is what we have been up to!!