Hey Mrs. Drance, Hope you're feeling better. As far as books that i definitely reccommend, WHITE OLEANDER, by Janet Fitch, is by far the best book I've ever read. She just uses such detail and has a way of keeping the reader interested in what's yet to come. Also, it is my favorite genre which is realistic fiction. There is a movie based on the novel, but in my opinion the movie does not even compare to the book. The messed up life of the main character Astrid, draws the reader even further into the plot. Since she is constantly moving from place to place, the vivid details make you wonder where she will go next. As for books that I did not enjoy at all, HARRY POTTER, by JK Rowling was one of the worst reading challenges of my life. I know almost everyone liked those books, but I guess it is just not my style. For some reason it just did not click. I think it has too many aspects of fantasy and magic that just did not sit well with me. That is one of the only series that you will every hear me say that the movies surpassed the novels. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY Jenn
My all time favorite book...for now...would have to be THE BEACH HOUSE, by James Patterson. As you know, I am quite fond of James Patterson's work. He is so descriptive and he incorporates so many twists and turns in his writing that it almost forces you to keep reading. I also love the fact that his chapters are short. I think the short chapters create more suspense.
As for the worst goes...I wasn't the most fond of RUNNING LOOSE, by Chris Crutcher. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but it just wasn't my favorite. I liked the beginning, but I felt that the story was so dragged out. It was about a kid who played football and about his life and I wasn't that interested. However, I did enjoy the humorous ending. I think that it would appeal more to people who are more interested in football. Feel Better! ~Linda
Wow, what is my favorite book? I don't even know where I would begin. However, I will say that I have recently found a new fantasy series by Jim Butcher. When I say new, I mean new to me; the series is several years old now. This series is called The Dresden Files, and it is about a wizard named Harry Dresden who basically solves mysteries. The books are very enjoyable, the author's wit is sharp, and there is plenty of action as well as humor. I would recommend it to those who like the idea of fantasy crossed with mystery: not for everyone, I understand. To see more books that I loved, click on my name, and you'll go to my page: I posted plenty of novels there.
On the other hand, My least favorite book of all time is a no-brainer and requires no thinking at all. Moby Dick. It was an absolutely awful read and I would not wish the torture upon any other. Well, maybe I'm being melodramatic, but half of the chapters were this theoretical junk where the whiteness of the whale was given in-depth study. Yup, Melville apparently thought the reader cared why the dumb whale was the color it was born with. Equally boring was the chapter on the history of the crow's nest and its predecessors, and many other similar topics. Perhaps my judgment was harsh simply because I was on vacation during the time I read the book, and I will say in poor Herman's defense that the sailing and whaling (I'm a poet) parts were enthralling. However, never was I more glad to close a cover than when I laid Moby Dick to rest.
That's enough for one in the morning, I guess. Feel better, Mrs. Drance, and everybody have a great vacation. :)
Hey everyone. Sorry it took me really long to finally go on my computer, but here we go. My favorite book would have to be MAXIMUM RIDE, by James Patterson. I litterally just finished reading it, but it was great. The thing I loved most about it was all of the action and suspense. The main charaters are mutant children and runaways from a science lab, and they are constantly being chased down by another type of genetically altered humans. It is an extremely fast paced book. I'm by no means an avid reader, but I could not put this book down. I finished it in two days. I would highly recommend it, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Hmm... I think the book I've least enjoyed this year so far was THE GAMES DO COUNT, by Brian Kilmeade. It is a collection of interviews of famous people about how playing sports as a child influenced their lives. At first, I really liked it, and I thought it was really interesting what some of these people had to say, but after a while, I hated the book. All of the stories are basically the exact thing. I just couldn't take it anymore. I wouldn't recommend this novel.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your break. Hope you're feeling better, Mrs. Drance.
I recomend GO ASK ALICE as one book that everyone our age should read. Its so real because it was a journal and the descriptive language put out by the teenage author is astonishing. Not only that but its a quick read and the chapters goes by fast, so it keeps you interested. So if your like me and need help staying interested in any book this is the perfect book for you. -sean
I'm not finished with this book yet, but I can already tell that it is going to be my favorite book. It is NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult, and it is a tragic, breath-taking fictional story about a school shooting. It is so surreal and the descriptions and actions of the characters are so detailed and in depth that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath several times. This book teaches many life lessons, one important one being, be thankful for what you have because you'll miss it when it's gone. Once you start reading you become sucked into the plot and feel as if you are standing over the scenes, and you find yourself yelling at the book at times telling the characters what or what not to do. This book is very descriptive in parts that some may not be able to fathom so if you have weak stomach or are very sensitive it might not be the best choice for you. It is extremely real and as intense as possible. It will most definitely leave you with eyes wide open and your jaw dropped wide. I can't wait to finish it and see what comes about of the ending!
I am sorry it took me so long to respond, but as for my favorite book, I think it would be THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom. I am not really sue why I liked it so much, but I would have to say it is one of my favorites. It went very quickly and it was very easy to follow, so this is not such a great challenge book for me, because I think it was an easy book. Although, I really did enjoy it, I don't remember it very well, but I remember it was pretty descriptive and at some points were sad; it felt like you could connect with the character, I guess making it easy.
I guess my least favorite book would have to be TWILIGHT, although I am still not done with it. The book is easy to follow, and not difficult, so I guess I'm just not intrested. When I began reading it, I thought it was okay, but between everyone obsessing about it and the fact that it isn't that intesting got me tired of it. I am going to finish the book, but will most likely not read the sequals.
Hey Mrs Drance! Two of my favorite books would have to be HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS and BREAKING DAWN. Both of these books are the last installments of two of my favorite series, HARRY POTTER AND TWILIGHT. I think that the reason why I loved both of these books so much is because I already knew the characters so well and was highly anticipating reading the story. I did not feel the same with the first books in the series because I find a book most interesting when you already know the characters and can make connections with them. BREAKING DAWN had a fabulous plot, it was unlike all of the other books in the series and always kept me interested. It was also the perfect balance between a love story and an adventure story. I don't really remember much about HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOW, however I do remember it being impossible to put down. After I finished the books I had dreams about it like I was in the story. I never had an experience like this with another book. I think that I will read it again since it was so great but I can't really recall the plot. One of my least favorite books was WHITE OLEANDER by Janet Finch. I picked up the book because it was highly recommended by my friend, however I found it to be dull and long. The first 150 pages were alright, but after that it got dull, repetitive, and long. It was extremely painful to get through. I found that there was not that much action in the story. However, people rave about the book. I think a reader that likes stories about how people react in different situations would love this book.
Happy Belated Valentine's Day to you all! And, thank you so very much for the well wishes. Pretty sick was I...seemed to have caught that nasty virus whipping itself around the school infecting the masses. Still have the darn cough....
Anyway, I so appreciate your "thinking on the thread," so to speak. Would it be all right for me to use our work on the blog in my future classes? Other students would benefit from your postings, particularly when deciding what they want to read in the future.
Now, how cool was it to read Jenn's and Ellen's divergent opinions on the very same books? Varying points of view make our lives much more interesting. Well supported responses, girls. And, for the rest of you, your enthusiasm leeked out on the page, so to speak. In fact, your love of particular books or authors has influenced my independent reading life this year. Thanks for sharing!
As for the TWILIGHT series...I got bored, too, but felt, like Ellen, that the last book of the series was the best.
Jenn, I couldn't get into H. Potter at first, but then got hooked once Harry left the dreary Dursleys.
And, as for WHITE OLEANDER (my copy has gone amissing)...I won't see the movie until I read the book because the books are so much better. Books are most usually much better. However, I must give a nod to all of the fabulous special effects in the LORD OF THE RINGS, H. POTTER, and NARNIA series.
Chris, I understand what you mean about losing intereste once you feel that everyone is telling the same story. Too bad that the editor didn't include different interviews. Just a side note, the collection of interviews is a work of non-fiction, so avoid referring to it as a novel.
Charlie, I sympathesize with your traumatic experience reading MOBY DICK. For the reasons you mentioned, I have cowered when approaching that tomb. So glad to hear of the new series, and I am so thrilled with how you have laborated your thinking on the "page." FABULOUS job, Charlie. Keep it up.
Sean, glad to know that you found such a winner. Why not checking in with Mrs. Herbst and asking her for a book that "sounds" like GO ASK ALICE; you know, a narrarator with similar diction? Let me know what you find. I think of some titles, too.
Jillie, I know what you mean about Ablom's book. Generally, I have that "feel good" connection to it, but in hindsight, I don't remember specifics. Hmmm...is that good or not good?
Lin, good for you for finding an author that you love. You and Catherine should compare notes. And, Cat, when you're done with the book I lent you, could you pass it to Linda? Thanks.
Lauren, I think that your description of how reading 19 MINUTES makes you feel...that you had to put the book down to catch your breath...is probably one of the biggest compliments any reader could give a writer. Great job crystallizing in words your feelings.
O.k., all. Looking forward to the next thread and to hearing from your classmates.
Some of my all-time favorite books are actually a part of a series, HARRY POTTER. I know most are familiar with this series, but i feel who ever has not read this series is really missing out. I love the dynamic characters and i feel things are constantly changing. I have not read any books lately that i have hated. However, something that makes me shy away from a book is when there is TOO much descriptive language. I feel when it gets to the point that a minutes worth of action is described by several pages it has gone too far. I believe that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
Sorry this post is late but I have had some problems with the blog as well as other people did. Now that it's working, I'd like to tell you about 2 of my favorite books: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky and CUT by Patricia McCormick.
I really loved both of these books because both show the challenges of the teenage years. Both Chbosky and McCormick describe real life situations that could happen to anybody and anytime. When I was reading both of these books, I put myself each of the characters shoes and pictured what would happen if I were them. To me, it's a little weird to think about because there is no way I would do drugs,drink, or cut myself (those are some of the problems in these books).
Also, both authors use descriptive language. Here's one quote from CUT where after reading it, I got a weird, tingly feeling, "A tingle arced across my scalp. The floor tipped up at me and my body spiraled away. Then I was on the ceiling looking down, waiting to see what would happen next" (McCormick 3).
Hello Mrs. Drance! Some of my alltime favorite books include TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer, THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Alboum (recommended by the one and only, Mrs. Drance!)and WHITE OLEANDER by Janet Finch (Ellen...I have a feeling I was that friend, Haha). I recently just read THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN and recommend it to anyone! It was a REALLY quick read and really intresting. I really like the way Mitch Alboum writes,I usually find flashbacks annoying, but this book was really good. It moves really fast breaking up each chapter with a specific event. I finished it in 4 hours, so anyone who is looking to pick up a intresting quick read, I think that this book is great choice. I really liked WHITE OLEANDAR as well. I read it over the summer in 3 days. It's a long book but I disagree with Ellen, I think it moves rather quickly. The story is great, it keeps you on the edge of your seat and you experience many different emotions while reading it. There were bits of humor, but it was actually heartbreaking and you feel alot of sympathy for the main character. I made the mistake of watching the movie and wasted 2 hours of my life. I wouldn't recommend anyone see that, the portrayal of the story was just awful. Every TWILIGHT novel is such a great read to me. I recommend them to everyone who doesn't read them already! Plus, now that they are so popular, new TWILIGHT readers will experience culture shock! The book I hate the most is, WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE. I believe I already spoke to you about that Mrs. Drance, and don't intend on reliving it! Haha See you tomorrow! Kaylee
I am so very much enjoying reading your comments because we are having a book club online, because your thoughts are insightful, and because you really have improved in stretching out your writing. I can better see inside your heads.
John, great point about descriptive language. Mr. Drance and I read MIDDLESEX, by Jeffrey Eugenides, which BTW, one the Pulitzer. Anyway, he got two-thirds of the way through the book and hit a wall. Too much descriptive language. Can we get to the point, please? That's how he felt. I felt that, overall, the book could be trimmed down a touch, but didn't mind the section he wasn't enjoying reading. Also, I think my dad doesn't enjoy fiction as much for the very same reason you mentioned. Come to think of it, he mostly reads non-fiction. Perhaps that's because he loves science so much; I don't know - I have to ask him.
Becs, I loved PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER. I could also identify with the chracters although, like you, do not and did not do drugs and "carry o" like they did in the book. It was more of the teen angst that I experienced.
I haven't read CUT, but many people love this book for the reasons that you mentioned. Thanks for sharing, Becca.
Kaylee! Wow, you go, girl! Loved reading your comments. And, thank you...I will NOT see the movie! Good job promoting Mitch Ablom's book as a quick read, a catcher-upper. I appreciated reading all your comments. BTW, did you see the actor who plays Edward in the TWILIGHT movie at the Oscars? Adorable.
O.k., everyone, keep on reading and looking forward to hearing from everyone else.
I just started reading Generation of Swine by Hunter S. Thompson and it's slowly becoming one of my favorite books just because of how he writes. I've never seen a style like it before. It's mostly old political and social commentary from the 80's, old articles and such, but the way he presents it is fascinating. I haven't read many books I dislike, however I did read and excerpt from and the way Stephanie Myers writes makes me want to run into oncoming traffic.
Sorry that I took so long to finally post! As you know I absolutely love all of James Patterson's novels. Each one I'm connected with and can never put down. Right now, I'm still reading MY SISTER'S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult. I love it! I feel like I know the characters better than I know some of my friends. Those are my two favorite authors for now, and I'm planning on keeping up with all of their books.
I can't really think of any books I have picked up on my own and did not enjoy. Normally, every book that I pick up I connect with. Although, I did not like ETHAN FROME. That could go down on my dislikes easily.
I don't have many favorite books, but I do have favorite groups of books. I love the Inheritance Cycle, because I have a soft spot for fantasy.It's very exhilarating,and I'm dying for the last book to come out. Along with Harry Potter, I also love The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Douglas Adams' humor is very witty and entertaining.
I have to agree with Charlie on this one. Moby Dick was absolutely the worst book I have ever read. I hate the way it was written, the plot,and everything about it. I had to tie myself to a chair to read this. Sparknotes saved me on this one.
Dear Mrs. Drance and English Class, One of my favorite books is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. The book is extremely interesting and creeps me out as well. It is about diagnosed mentally insane people all living in a physcological center. The friendship,dignity and power as a group amazes me. I watched the movie after I read the book and it was almost as thrilling as the book. One of the worst books I've read was The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. The desciptions were boring, the stories were all the same and he wasn't creative about anything he wrote. I read it while on a bus to camp and I would search for excuses to stop reading that book. See you tommorow!
hello im sorry that this post is coming so late, i tried to do it yesterday but the varification thing wouldnt load so i copied it but now i cant paste it so i have to start again. A book that i would recommend is the Maltese Falcon. It is a mystery that is one of the best books that i have read in a long time. It is filled with twist and turns and enough action to keep me occupied. I would suggest this book to anyone. As for a book that i didnt like i would have to agree with Charlie in saying Moby Dick. Now theres really nothing that i could add to what he has already said and it would be impossible for me to follow that, so im just going to say that there was not enough action and i found it pointless and boring reading when the author would just ramble on about things that truth be told i dont care about. I would rather see some major fight scene and possibly a twist where Moby Dick turns out to be an undersea gameshow host and everyone on the ship goes down and competes and then one of them gets mad and there is a epic fight scene. Thats just me.
Stephen, perhaps you could tie SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE to an undersea gameshow hosted by Capt. Ahab? The whole "cross-cultural" aspect and the "fighting for your life" theme would definitely attract readers.
There's a used book shop in Sag Harbor called Canio's. They used to have a tradition...I don't know if it's still in practice...where local authors (there's a lot of them out there) and book lovers would gather once a week, I believe, and read the novel out loud. I wonder how many pages they got through a night? It would be interesting to talk to those individuals who enjoyed this. I gather dramatic readings of the text might be more palatable. How much eye rolling do you think went on there?
Also, Stephen, precious, and everyone else: YOU MUST CAPITALIZE THE WORD "I". Your blog posts are not emails. Observe GUMS (grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling). This is part of your IR grade. Y'all are killing me, as you're HONOR students and it's Q3.
O.k....Cat, loved the line about "knowing the characters" in Jodi P.'s book "more than your own friends." Wow. I want to be a writer like her someday! Also, let me know why you hated E. FROME so much.
Mark, the book you're reading sounds cool. Would love to read an excerpt. Also, I agree with you: S. Meyer's prose is not the best because it's predictable and not challenging enough, to me, at least. However, I think that's appealing to reluctant readers or readers who like to read to escape, and there's nothing wrong in that. This doesn't mean that there aren't jewels in her writing, but, overall, I preferred the H. Potter series. Something just inherently more clever about it. Maybe because I love the cadence of British English, I don't know. However, if I read the TWILIGHT series when I was your age, I would have preferred that because I was a hopeless romantic. Now, just a romantic. Thank goodness I got the hopeless out of my system.
Kate, your line, "the friendship, dignity, and power of the group amazed me" really crystallizes your response to the book. I agree wholeheartedly. I saw the movie, the play on broadway, but I have yet to read it...hmmm...I better get on that!
Ethan, thanks for sharing the titles of the series that you love so well. What specifically makes THE INHERITANCE CYCLE exhilirating? Many students find Doug Adams witty...Mark, you read that series and enjoyed them, right? Anyway, thanks for commiserating with Charlie re: MOBY DICK. The more I read about what y'all have to say about it makes me want to read this classic less and less....
Also, can EVERYONE capitalize their book titles? Thanks so much.
Books that i have absolutely fell in love with are the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I'm not sure what it is about them but they keep me wanting more. I was hooked by the first couple of chapters of Twilight. However, i would not recommend these books to many boys because of their romantic context which tends to make them "girl books". Another favorite of mine is Double Cross by James Patterson. It's short chapters and intense story lines make it a quick and easy read. Patterson has a excellent use of imagery and suspense.
One book that i could not stand was Dune by Frank Herbert. I'm not sure what it was about it but i just couldn't get through it. Right from the begging i was very confused and wasn't sure what was going on in the book. The book also had it's own vocabulary, which made it very hard to understand.
Ashley, I just spoke with Mrs. Fama. She started reading TWILIGHT not too long ago and can't put it down! What a series; it captures all kinds of audiences. Perhaps that's what's making it a best-seller. And, regarding, DUNE, well, I see its value, but I had a hard time with all the made up vocabulary, too. Anyway, I don't know why that didn't bother me in HARRY POTTER because J. K. Rowling makes up quite a few of her own words....
Interestingly, though, DUNE's plot has inspired many other writers to create their own stories. STAR WARS, an American cult classic, is based on the DUNE series, for one. Their was something heroic and magical about it in retrospect, but I had to work pretty hard to get through it. A good challenge read for me since I'm not crazy about sci-fi.
Thanks for contributing. It's good to see your voice online.
Sorry this is late. Thankfully, I started saving my posts to text files after a previous one I posted didn't go through.
My favorite book would be one I recently finished by John Grisham, _The_Firm_. The reason I like this book the most is that, he uses suspenseful language to keep me, and other readers, into the book and not want to put it down. For example, early on in the book, it is established that the main character, Mitch McDeere and his wife are under surveillance by the law firm. Which would case most people to ask "For what reason?" or "How will they escape this?"
I suppose _Robinson_Crusoe_ was the worst book I ever read. It is nothing more than the diary of a man's life when he stuck on an island. He would talk about anything (to himself), especially on the savages on the island, and he would go on and on, for the 30 (?) years he was stranded on the island.
* (the underscore surrounding a book title is an attempt to emulate underlining)
Lloyd, hi! To help let the reader know that you're writing a book title, put the entire title in caps.
Yes, THE FIRM had many suspenseful moments...a great story that ultimately was made into the movie with Tom Cruise. Did you see it? Which one was better? I liked the book better...I have forgotten why - it was such a long time ago - but I think that there were important parts of the plot cut out of the movie....
ROBINSON CARUSO sounds like the movie (I fogot the title) with Tom Hanks, a Fed Ex man, stranded on an island, but a little less exciting. Perhaps I should read it to see. But, after your description, I'm honestly not that motivated.
I hope that you're enjoying what you're reading now.
Hey everyone! So sorry this one took so long, but better late than never! Ultimately, my favorite books to read are action books, with a few exceptions. LONDON BRIDGES, LOVES MUSIC, LOVES TO DANCE, ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE, the TWILIGHT series, and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME have been my all time favorites. Unlike most readers, I was not fond of the book LOVE STORY. I found it unrealistic, and dare I say slightly offensive? I'm not sure why, just an overall thumbs down from me. I like history, and learning about the past, but I cannot say I enjoy the memoirs on topics like the Holocaust, or things like that. Memoirs in general, actually (with the exception of THE GLASS CASTLE) are probably my least favorite topic.
Kelsey, much better! Good job with capitalizing! I'm proud of you! Thanks for posting. Try next time to add more examples to support your opinions. Other than that, I'm glad that you ultimately did post.
Hey Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better.
As far as books that i definitely reccommend, WHITE OLEANDER, by Janet Fitch, is by far the best book I've ever read. She just uses such detail and has a way of keeping the reader interested in what's yet to come. Also, it is my favorite genre which is realistic fiction. There is a movie based on the novel, but in my opinion the movie does not even compare to the book. The messed up life of the main character Astrid, draws the reader even further into the plot. Since she is constantly moving from place to place, the vivid details make you wonder where she will go next.
As for books that I did not enjoy at all, HARRY POTTER, by JK Rowling was one of the worst reading challenges of my life. I know almost everyone liked those books, but I guess it is just not my style. For some reason it just did not click. I think it has too many aspects of fantasy and magic that just did not sit well with me. That is one of the only series that you will every hear me say that the movies surpassed the novels.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
Jenn
Hey Mrs. Drance!
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite book...for now...would have to be THE BEACH HOUSE, by James Patterson. As you know, I am quite fond of James Patterson's work. He is so descriptive and he incorporates so many twists and turns in his writing that it almost forces you to keep reading. I also love the fact that his chapters are short. I think the short chapters create more suspense.
As for the worst goes...I wasn't the most fond of RUNNING LOOSE, by Chris Crutcher. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but it just wasn't my favorite. I liked the beginning, but I felt that the story was so dragged out. It was about a kid who played football and about his life and I wasn't that interested. However, I did enjoy the humorous ending. I think that it would appeal more to people who are more interested in football.
Feel Better!
~Linda
Wow, what is my favorite book? I don't even know where I would begin. However, I will say that I have recently found a new fantasy series by Jim Butcher. When I say new, I mean new to me; the series is several years old now. This series is called The Dresden Files, and it is about a wizard named Harry Dresden who basically solves mysteries. The books are very enjoyable, the author's wit is sharp, and there is plenty of action as well as humor. I would recommend it to those who like the idea of fantasy crossed with mystery: not for everyone, I understand. To see more books that I loved, click on my name, and you'll go to my page: I posted plenty of novels there.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, My least favorite book of all time is a no-brainer and requires no thinking at all. Moby Dick. It was an absolutely awful read and I would not wish the torture upon any other. Well, maybe I'm being melodramatic, but half of the chapters were this theoretical junk where the whiteness of the whale was given in-depth study. Yup, Melville apparently thought the reader cared why the dumb whale was the color it was born with. Equally boring was the chapter on the history of the crow's nest and its predecessors, and many other similar topics. Perhaps my judgment was harsh simply because I was on vacation during the time I read the book, and I will say in poor Herman's defense that the sailing and whaling (I'm a poet) parts were enthralling. However, never was I more glad to close a cover than when I laid Moby Dick to rest.
That's enough for one in the morning, I guess. Feel better, Mrs. Drance, and everybody have a great vacation. :)
Hey everyone. Sorry it took me really long to finally go on my computer, but here we go. My favorite book would have to be MAXIMUM RIDE, by James Patterson. I litterally just finished reading it, but it was great. The thing I loved most about it was all of the action and suspense. The main charaters are mutant children and runaways from a science lab, and they are constantly being chased down by another type of genetically altered humans. It is an extremely fast paced book. I'm by no means an avid reader, but I could not put this book down. I finished it in two days. I would highly recommend it, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
ReplyDeleteHmm... I think the book I've least enjoyed this year so far was THE GAMES DO COUNT, by Brian Kilmeade. It is a collection of interviews of famous people about how playing sports as a child influenced their lives. At first, I really liked it, and I thought it was really interesting what some of these people had to say, but after a while, I hated the book. All of the stories are basically the exact thing. I just couldn't take it anymore. I wouldn't recommend this novel.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your break. Hope you're feeling better, Mrs. Drance.
I recomend GO ASK ALICE as one book that everyone our age should read. Its so real because it was a journal and the descriptive language put out by the teenage author is astonishing. Not only that but its a quick read and the chapters goes by fast, so it keeps you interested. So if your like me and need help staying interested in any book this is the perfect book for you. -sean
ReplyDeleteI'm not finished with this book yet, but I can already tell that it is going to be my favorite book. It is NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult, and it is a tragic, breath-taking fictional story about a school shooting. It is so surreal and the descriptions and actions of the characters are so detailed and in depth that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath several times. This book teaches many life lessons, one important one being, be thankful for what you have because you'll miss it when it's gone. Once you start reading you become sucked into the plot and feel as if you are standing over the scenes, and you find yourself yelling at the book at times telling the characters what or what not to do. This book is very descriptive in parts that some may not be able to fathom so if you have weak stomach or are very sensitive it might not be the best choice for you. It is extremely real and as intense as possible. It will most definitely leave you with eyes wide open and your jaw dropped wide. I can't wait to finish it and see what comes about of the ending!
ReplyDeleteHi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry it took me so long to respond, but as for my favorite book, I think it would be THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom. I am not really sue why I liked it so much, but I would have to say it is one of my favorites. It went very quickly and it was very easy to follow, so this is not such a great challenge book for me, because I think it was an easy book. Although, I really did enjoy it, I don't remember it very well, but I remember it was pretty descriptive and at some points were sad; it felt like you could connect with the character, I guess making it easy.
I guess my least favorite book would have to be TWILIGHT, although I am still not done with it. The book is easy to follow, and not difficult, so I guess I'm just not intrested. When I began reading it, I thought it was okay, but between everyone obsessing about it and the fact that it isn't that intesting got me tired of it. I am going to finish the book, but will most likely not read the sequals.
Jillian
Hey Mrs Drance! Two of my favorite books would have to be HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS and BREAKING DAWN. Both of these books are the last installments of two of my favorite series, HARRY POTTER AND TWILIGHT. I think that the reason why I loved both of these books so much is because I already knew the characters so well and was highly anticipating reading the story. I did not feel the same with the first books in the series because I find a book most interesting when you already know the characters and can make connections with them. BREAKING DAWN had a fabulous plot, it was unlike all of the other books in the series and always kept me interested. It was also the perfect balance between a love story and an adventure story. I don't really remember much about HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOW, however I do remember it being impossible to put down. After I finished the books I had dreams about it like I was in the story. I never had an experience like this with another book. I think that I will read it again since it was so great but I can't really recall the plot.
ReplyDeleteOne of my least favorite books was WHITE OLEANDER by Janet Finch. I picked up the book because it was highly recommended by my friend, however I found it to be dull and long. The first 150 pages were alright, but after that it got dull, repetitive, and long. It was extremely painful to get through. I found that there was not that much action in the story. However, people rave about the book. I think a reader that likes stories about how people react in different situations would love this book.
Happy Belated Valentine's Day to you all! And, thank you so very much for the well wishes. Pretty sick was I...seemed to have caught that nasty virus whipping itself around the school infecting the masses. Still have the darn cough....
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I so appreciate your "thinking on the thread," so to speak. Would it be all right for me to use our work on the blog in my future classes? Other students would benefit from your postings, particularly when deciding what they want to read in the future.
Now, how cool was it to read Jenn's and Ellen's divergent opinions on the very same books? Varying points of view make our lives much more interesting. Well supported responses, girls. And, for the rest of you, your enthusiasm leeked out on the page, so to speak. In fact, your love of particular books or authors has influenced my independent reading life this year.
Thanks for sharing!
As for the TWILIGHT series...I got bored, too, but felt, like Ellen, that the last book of the series was the best.
Jenn, I couldn't get into H. Potter at first, but then got hooked once Harry left the dreary Dursleys.
And, as for WHITE OLEANDER (my copy has gone amissing)...I won't see the movie until I read the book because the books are so much better. Books are most usually much better. However, I must give a nod to all of the fabulous special effects in the LORD OF THE RINGS, H. POTTER, and NARNIA series.
Chris, I understand what you mean about losing intereste once you feel that everyone is telling the same story. Too bad that the editor didn't include different interviews. Just a side note, the collection of interviews is a work of non-fiction, so avoid referring to it as a novel.
Charlie, I sympathesize with your traumatic experience reading MOBY DICK. For the reasons you mentioned, I have cowered when approaching that tomb. So glad to hear of the new series, and I am so thrilled with how you have laborated your thinking on the "page." FABULOUS job, Charlie. Keep it up.
Sean, glad to know that you found such a winner. Why not checking in with Mrs. Herbst and asking her for a book that "sounds" like GO ASK ALICE; you know, a narrarator with similar diction? Let me know what you find. I think of some titles, too.
Jillie, I know what you mean about Ablom's book. Generally, I have that "feel good" connection to it, but in hindsight, I don't remember specifics.
Hmmm...is that good or not good?
Lin, good for you for finding an author that you love. You and Catherine should compare notes. And, Cat, when you're done with the book I lent you, could you pass it to Linda? Thanks.
Lauren, I think that your description of how reading 19 MINUTES makes you feel...that you had to put the book down to catch your breath...is probably one of the biggest compliments any reader could give a writer. Great job crystallizing in words your feelings.
O.k., all. Looking forward to the next thread and to hearing from your classmates.
xo,
Mrs. Drance
Some of my all-time favorite books are actually a part of a series, HARRY POTTER. I know most are familiar with this series, but i feel who ever has not read this series is really missing out. I love the dynamic characters and i feel things are constantly changing. I have not read any books lately that i have hated. However, something that makes me shy away from a book is when there is TOO much descriptive language. I feel when it gets to the point that a minutes worth of action is described by several pages it has gone too far. I believe that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteSorry this post is late but I have had some problems with the blog as well as other people did. Now that it's working, I'd like to tell you about 2 of my favorite books: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky and CUT by Patricia McCormick.
I really loved both of these books because both show the challenges of the teenage years. Both Chbosky and McCormick describe real life situations that could happen to anybody and anytime. When I was reading both of these books, I put myself each of the characters shoes and pictured what would happen if I were them. To me, it's a little weird to think about because there is no way I would do drugs,drink, or cut myself (those are some of the problems in these books).
Also, both authors use descriptive language. Here's one quote from CUT where after reading it, I got a weird, tingly feeling, "A tingle arced across my scalp. The floor tipped up at me and my body spiraled away. Then I was on the ceiling looking down, waiting to see what would happen next" (McCormick 3).
- Rebecca.
Hello Mrs. Drance!
ReplyDeleteSome of my alltime favorite books include TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer, THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Alboum (recommended by the one and only, Mrs. Drance!)and WHITE OLEANDER by Janet Finch (Ellen...I have a feeling I was that friend, Haha).
I recently just read THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN and recommend it to anyone! It was a REALLY quick read and really intresting. I really like the way Mitch Alboum writes,I usually find flashbacks annoying, but this book was really good. It moves really fast breaking up each chapter with a specific event. I finished it in 4 hours, so anyone who is looking to pick up a intresting quick read, I think that this book is great choice.
I really liked WHITE OLEANDAR as well. I read it over the summer in 3 days. It's a long book but I disagree with Ellen, I think it moves rather quickly. The story is great, it keeps you on the edge of your seat and you experience many different emotions while reading it. There were bits of humor, but it was actually heartbreaking and you feel alot of sympathy for the main character. I made the mistake of watching the movie and wasted 2 hours of my life. I wouldn't recommend anyone see that, the portrayal of the story was just awful.
Every TWILIGHT novel is such a great read to me. I recommend them to everyone who doesn't read them already! Plus, now that they are so popular, new TWILIGHT readers will experience culture shock!
The book I hate the most is, WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE. I believe I already spoke to you about that Mrs. Drance, and don't intend on reliving it! Haha See you tomorrow!
Kaylee
My Dear, Observant Students,
ReplyDeleteI am so very much enjoying reading your comments because we are having a book club online, because your thoughts are insightful, and because you really have improved in stretching out your writing. I can better see inside your heads.
John, great point about descriptive language. Mr. Drance and I read MIDDLESEX, by Jeffrey Eugenides, which BTW, one the Pulitzer. Anyway, he got two-thirds of the way through the book and hit a wall. Too much descriptive language. Can we get to the point, please? That's how he felt. I felt that, overall, the book could be trimmed down a touch, but didn't mind the section he wasn't enjoying reading. Also, I think my dad doesn't enjoy fiction as much for the very same reason you mentioned. Come to think of it, he mostly reads non-fiction. Perhaps that's because he loves science so much; I don't know - I have to ask him.
Becs, I loved PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER. I could also identify with the chracters although, like you, do not and did not do drugs and "carry o" like they did in the book. It was more of the teen angst that I experienced.
I haven't read CUT, but many people love this book for the reasons that you mentioned. Thanks for sharing, Becca.
Kaylee! Wow, you go, girl! Loved reading your comments. And, thank you...I will NOT see the movie! Good job promoting Mitch Ablom's book as a quick read, a catcher-upper. I appreciated reading all your comments. BTW, did you see the actor who plays Edward in the TWILIGHT movie at the Oscars? Adorable.
O.k., everyone, keep on reading and looking forward to hearing from everyone else.
Mrs. D
I just started reading Generation of Swine by Hunter S. Thompson and it's slowly becoming one of my favorite books just because of how he writes. I've never seen a style like it before. It's mostly old political and social commentary from the 80's, old articles and such, but the way he presents it is fascinating. I haven't read many books I dislike, however I did read and excerpt from and the way Stephanie Myers writes makes me want to run into oncoming traffic.
ReplyDelete-Mark
Hey Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteSorry that I took so long to finally post!
As you know I absolutely love all of James Patterson's novels. Each one I'm connected with and can never put down. Right now, I'm still reading MY SISTER'S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult. I love it! I feel like I know the characters better than I know some of my friends. Those are my two favorite authors for now, and I'm planning on keeping up with all of their books.
I can't really think of any books I have picked up on my own and did not enjoy. Normally, every book that I pick up I connect with. Although, I did not like ETHAN FROME. That could go down on my dislikes easily.
-Catherine
I don't have many favorite books, but I do have favorite groups of books. I love the Inheritance Cycle, because I have a soft spot for fantasy.It's very exhilarating,and I'm dying for the last book to come out. Along with Harry Potter, I also love The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Douglas Adams' humor is very witty and entertaining.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Charlie on this one. Moby Dick was absolutely the worst book I have ever read. I hate the way it was written, the plot,and everything about it. I had to tie myself to a chair to read this. Sparknotes saved me on this one.
Dear Mrs. Drance and English Class,
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite books is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. The book is extremely interesting and creeps me out as well. It is about diagnosed mentally insane people all living in a physcological center. The friendship,dignity and power as a group amazes me. I watched the movie after I read the book and it was almost as thrilling as the book. One of the worst books I've read was The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. The desciptions were boring, the stories were all the same and he wasn't creative about anything he wrote. I read it while on a bus to camp and I would search for excuses to stop reading that book. See you tommorow!
-Kate
hello
ReplyDeleteim sorry that this post is coming so late, i tried to do it yesterday but the varification thing wouldnt load so i copied it but now i cant paste it so i have to start again.
A book that i would recommend is the Maltese Falcon. It is a mystery that is one of the best books that i have read in a long time. It is filled with twist and turns and enough action to keep me occupied. I would suggest this book to anyone.
As for a book that i didnt like i would have to agree with Charlie in saying Moby Dick. Now theres really nothing that i could add to what he has already said and it would be impossible for me to follow that, so im just going to say that there was not enough action and i found it pointless and boring reading when the author would just ramble on about things that truth be told i dont care about. I would rather see some major fight scene and possibly a twist where Moby Dick turns out to be an undersea gameshow host and everyone on the ship goes down and competes and then one of them gets mad and there is a epic fight scene. Thats just me.
Much Love,
Stephen
Stephen, perhaps you could tie SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE to an undersea gameshow hosted by Capt. Ahab? The whole "cross-cultural" aspect and the "fighting for your life" theme would definitely attract readers.
ReplyDeleteThere's a used book shop in Sag Harbor called Canio's. They used to have a tradition...I don't know if it's still in practice...where local authors (there's a lot of them out there) and book lovers would gather once a week, I believe, and read the novel out loud. I wonder how many pages they got through a night? It would be interesting to talk to those individuals who enjoyed this. I gather dramatic readings of the text might be more palatable. How much eye rolling do you think went on there?
Also, Stephen, precious, and everyone else: YOU MUST CAPITALIZE THE WORD "I". Your blog posts are not emails. Observe GUMS (grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling). This is part of your IR grade. Y'all are killing me, as you're HONOR students and it's Q3.
O.k....Cat, loved the line about "knowing the characters" in Jodi P.'s book "more than your own friends." Wow. I want to be a writer like her someday! Also, let me know why you hated E. FROME so much.
Mark, the book you're reading sounds cool. Would love to read an excerpt. Also, I agree with you: S. Meyer's prose is not the best because it's predictable and not challenging enough, to me, at least. However, I think that's appealing to reluctant readers or readers who like to read to escape, and there's nothing wrong in that. This doesn't mean that there aren't jewels in her writing, but, overall, I preferred the H. Potter series. Something just inherently more clever about it. Maybe because I love the cadence of British English, I don't know. However, if I read the TWILIGHT series when I was your age, I would have preferred that because I was a hopeless romantic. Now, just a romantic. Thank goodness I got the hopeless out of my system.
Kate, your line, "the friendship, dignity, and power of the group amazed me" really crystallizes your response to the book. I agree wholeheartedly. I saw the movie, the play on broadway, but I have yet to read it...hmmm...I better get on that!
Ethan, thanks for sharing the titles of the series that you love so well. What specifically makes THE INHERITANCE CYCLE exhilirating? Many students find Doug Adams witty...Mark, you read that series and enjoyed them, right? Anyway, thanks for commiserating with Charlie re: MOBY DICK. The more I read about what y'all have to say about it makes me want to read this classic less and less....
Also, can EVERYONE capitalize their book titles?
Thanks so much.
Waiting to hear from a few of you.
Take care,
Mrs. Drance
Books that i have absolutely fell in love with are the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I'm not sure what it is about them but they keep me wanting more. I was hooked by the first couple of chapters of Twilight. However, i would not recommend these books to many boys because of their romantic context which tends to make them "girl books". Another favorite of mine is Double Cross by James Patterson. It's short chapters and intense story lines make it a quick and easy read. Patterson has a excellent use of imagery and suspense.
ReplyDeleteOne book that i could not stand was Dune by Frank Herbert. I'm not sure what it was about it but i just couldn't get through it. Right from the begging i was very confused and wasn't sure what was going on in the book. The book also had it's own vocabulary, which made it very hard to understand.
Ashley, I just spoke with Mrs. Fama. She started reading TWILIGHT not too long ago and can't put it down! What a series; it captures all kinds of audiences. Perhaps that's what's making it a best-seller. And, regarding, DUNE, well, I see its value, but I had a hard time with all the made up vocabulary, too. Anyway, I don't know why that didn't bother me in HARRY POTTER because J. K. Rowling makes up quite a few of her own words....
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, though, DUNE's plot has inspired many other writers to create their own stories. STAR WARS, an American cult classic, is based on the DUNE series, for one. Their was something heroic and magical about it in retrospect, but I had to work pretty hard to get through it. A good challenge read for me since I'm not crazy about sci-fi.
Thanks for contributing. It's good to see your voice online.
Mrs. Drance
Sorry this is late. Thankfully, I started saving my posts to text files after a previous one I posted didn't go through.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book would be one I recently finished by John Grisham, _The_Firm_. The reason I like this book the most is that, he uses suspenseful language to keep me, and other readers, into the book and not want to put it down. For example, early on in the book, it is established that the main character, Mitch McDeere and his wife are under surveillance by the law firm. Which would case most people to ask "For what reason?" or "How will they escape this?"
I suppose _Robinson_Crusoe_ was the worst book I ever read. It is nothing more than the diary of a man's life when he stuck on an island. He would talk about anything (to himself), especially on the savages on the island, and he would go on and on, for the 30 (?) years he was stranded on the island.
* (the underscore surrounding a book title is an attempt to emulate underlining)
Lloyd, hi! To help let the reader know that you're writing a book title, put the entire title in caps.
ReplyDeleteYes, THE FIRM had many suspenseful moments...a great story that ultimately was made into the movie with Tom Cruise. Did you see it? Which one was better? I liked the book better...I have forgotten why - it was such a long time ago - but I think that there were important parts of the plot cut out of the movie....
ROBINSON CARUSO sounds like the movie (I fogot the title) with Tom Hanks, a Fed Ex man, stranded on an island, but a little less exciting. Perhaps I should read it to see. But, after your description, I'm honestly not that motivated.
I hope that you're enjoying what you're reading now.
Thanks for posting, Lloyd.
Mrs. Drance
Hey everyone! So sorry this one took so long, but better late than never!
ReplyDeleteUltimately, my favorite books to read are action books, with a few exceptions. LONDON BRIDGES, LOVES MUSIC, LOVES TO DANCE, ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE, the TWILIGHT series, and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME have been my all time favorites. Unlike most readers, I was not fond of the book LOVE STORY. I found it unrealistic, and dare I say slightly offensive? I'm not sure why, just an overall thumbs down from me. I like history, and learning about the past, but I cannot say I enjoy the memoirs on topics like the Holocaust, or things like that. Memoirs in general, actually (with the exception of THE GLASS CASTLE) are probably my least favorite topic.
-kelsey
p.s. Mz.D-how's the grammar looking?
Kelsey, much better! Good job with capitalizing! I'm proud of you! Thanks for posting. Try next time to add more examples to support your opinions. Other than that, I'm glad that you ultimately did post.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Drance