Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- J.K. Rowling (#1- Harry Potter series)

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Published:  1997
Pages:  223
ISBN:  155192398X
Genre:  Fantasy/Children's

Start Date:  Mar. 18, 2011
Finished Date:  Mar. 20, 2011 (3 days)

Where Found:  Birthday present from several years ago (part of a 3-book set)
Why Read:  Re-read for a challenge; I'm also planning on reading the entire series as I've only read the first 3 books before (I need to refresh my memory by starting from the beginning).

Read For:  Back to the Classics challenge (3/8), 1st in a Series challenge (4/6)
Previously Read:  Around 2000-2001, I read the first 3 books of the series, and started Goblet of Fire (#4) but never finished it.

Summary:  A young boy is recruited by a magical wizard school called Hogwarts, already a legend in their community for surviving an attack that killed his wizard parents, and must protect a mystical stone from being usurped by an evil presence at the school.

Review:

What is not to love about this book?  It brings back fun childhood times of imagining far-off places and fantastical things.  J.K. Rowling reinvigorates the spirit of children's authors before her, such as C.S. Lewis, E.B. White, and L. Frank Baum (and isn't it fortuitous that they all use first and sometimes second initials?)  Like Lewis Carroll before her, Rowling uses inventive terms, such as "muggles," that are playful and allow children to experiment with language.  She encourages children to read, explore, play, make new friends, not give in to bullies, and be brave.  As a child, you relate to its themes, and as an adult, you admire them for being truthful and inspiring.  The characters are multidimensional and each have their own importance to the story with roles dating back to classic literature:  Harry is the hero discovering himself; Ron is not only a sidekick but a loyal friend; Hermione is sharply intelligent, stubborn yet caring; Dumbledore is their sage guardian; McGonegal is the firm mother figure; Snape is the conflicted challenger; and Voldemort is the bane of all evil, a classic "bad guy."

Even adults can enjoy Rowling's sense of adventure through the rip-roaring plot that soon goes off in incredible directions from a rather simple beginning about a disadvantaged boy, but intrigues us with his miraculous survival and magical destiny.  The story simply sweeps you away from the beginning and doesn't let go.  So many subplots are introduced in this book that sequels were inevitable, and I can't wait to continue re-reading Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban, and continuing right to the last (*sniffle*) book.  I've heard many wonderful things about the final books (and yes, I'm aware of its sad elements, too).

Rank:  (A+)- Spellbinding, A Must-Read!

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe- C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Published:  1950
Pages:  206
ISBN:  0060234814
Genre:  Fantasy/Children's

Start Date:  Mar. 7, 2011
Finished Date:  Mar. 12, 2011 (6 days)

Where Found:  Campus bookstore (I bought this as part of a display for a teacher's college project & it was in one of my boxes of children's books)
Why:  General interest, TBR list

Summary:  When 4 siblings stumble through a clothes closet into a secret world inhabited by talking animals and being overrun by a wicked Queen, they become destined to protect it.

Review:

First of all, I must quote the book's dedication, which is the most beautiful one I've ever read:

To Lucy Barfield

My dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books.  As a result you are already too old for fairy tales and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still.  But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.  You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it.  I shall probably be too deaf to hear and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

I am not sure if I am too old for fairy tales, however I definitely understand Lewis's point: they are best read by a child and a child at heart.  I felt myself escape into the story, which was very well paced, fast enough for children to be engaged in, yet not so fast that detail is fleeting.  Chapter 16 (What Happened About the Statues) was amazing and had best prose in the entire book, in my opinion.  The Narnia creatures are charming, the children are adventurous and can still be related to youngsters today, and the tale has many morals, borrowing from recognizable Greek myths and Biblical stories.

My one and only criticism is that LWW seems too tightly wound up, as if Lewis wanted to keep the book deliberately short, perhaps as a long bedtime story.  Assuming that the Narnia series was in mind at the time of writing this book, it makes sense to leave many unanswered questions wide open for further books to explore, but as a stand-alone book, it may have been even better if scenes, such as the battles and journies, were extended, instead of merely lasting 1-2 pages.  I sometimes felt that something had just started, and *poof* it was resolved and something else comes about.

I would be interested in continuing with the series, however not for quite a while as I have so many other books prioritized.  Have you read this or other books in the Narnia series?  If so, which book is your favourite?  Please recommend or comment on them below as I'm curious to know if further books in the series are as good or better than LWW.

Rank:  (A)- Extraordinary, Fantastical & Magical

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

Happy Labour Day!

Total books read this week: 1 (up to p. 210)
Titles: My Life- Bill Clinton

I am enjoying this book (I really am), despite being only 1/5 of the way through it, but I think reading this much about just one person & generally one topic (politics) is bogging me down.  I think the page count of nearly 1000 is limiting my scope.  I'm considering a new approach...see what you think of this.

It's not unusual for book bloggers to be reading several books at once.  I'd like some input on how this works for those of you who do this.  Feel free to weigh in on any/all of these questions:

Is it more satisfying to read more than 1 title around the same time?
Do you tend to be more motivated? 
Do you forget where you left off if you leave a book too long? 
Do you need to reread a bit to refresh your memory of the book? 

I haven't tried this tactic since I had to (multiple novels to read for English university courses) but now I am tempted to give it a try.  My ability to recall where I left off in a book is well intact, so if I should take a short break from Clinton & try a shorter, breezy read like, say, Alan Alda's Never Have Your Dog Stuffed (next on my nightstand), I'm not going to accidentally mix it up when I return to Clinton's memoir and think the Prez starred in M*A*S*H...I mean, really :oD

What am I afraid of, really?  It's silly, but I tend to think of reading a single book at once to be a deeper experience instead of a race to finish as much as I can.  That really isn't true...Everyone experiences books at different paces & comes off with an equally valid (though not always the same) outcome.  *Oof, brain cramp*.  I think I'm deliberately trying to weigh this dilemma (boy, if this were the dilemma on earth right now, we must all be doing well for ourselves :oD)

So...moving on...(I love ellipses & brackets & ampersands & smilies by the way :oD).  I want to share a fun find with you...ack, here I go again with these...

Cleaning up my bookshelf recently, I dug out a box from my closet & wouldn't you know there are a few unread books in there!?!  What a find!

I, Robot- Isaac Asimov

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe- J.R.R. Tolkien

Oliver Twist- Charles Dickens

The first 3 are from a sci-fi/YA kick I was on in teachers' college when I raided my univ bookstore with a $50 gift card from my long-since-underused book club account.  The Dickens is a beat-up copy, likely my mom or dad's from their childhood.

I also searched through my 5 or so boxes of children's books to find:

Love, Stargirl- Jerry Spinelli

I absolutely adored the first book in this small series, Stargirl. It is a lovely, magical tale about acceptance in adolescence and how being different is perceived, judged, changed, and ultimately (hopefully) accepted by those who truly care about a person. It is categorized as YA, but everyone should read this...it is so heartwarming!

Speaking of that...I also have a beautifully old edition of Alice in Wonderland that my grandma received in 1930 & gave to my mom, which she coloured in (naughty girl). 

 
It is barely hanging on with the spine's fabric label torn off (but saved).  I found a great site that has an overview of the book's edition.  It sounds somewhat rare, but I think it's value of immeasurable, considering that it was in my family...and also that it's illustrated by my mom, too :oD

Illustrated by Mom!

I'm going to sneak in some reading today if I can.  There's a football game this afternoon that I'm not going to miss!  Have a great day everyone :o)

Top 10 Meme- Book Covers

This meme is hosted by Jillian at Random Ramblings, where a weekly topic is chosen from which you are invited to construct a top 10 list.  This week's topic is Book Covers.

Here are my choices in no particular order of preference:

1)  A Room of One's Own- Virginia Woolf
I immediately sought out this cover as I find its simplicity breathtaking.  The symbolism of using a key as a bookmark suggests what every reader hopes to find when opening a book.

2)  Balzac & the Little Chinese Seamstress- Dai Sijie
I don't know of any little girl who didn't at least once wear a pair of little strap-up shoes like these.  The stark red with the scuffs caught my attention as being a coming-of-age story, which it is, and the shade of red is distinctly Asian.

3)  Are You My Mother?- P.D. Eastman
Okay...you're probably thinking "huh?!?"  Two things:  I wanted to include a children's book in the mix as they often have sweet, beautiful covers.  Secondly, I've always loved this cover with the lazy dog and the bright, energetic little bird.  The story is a classic that my mom often read to her 1st graders.

4)  To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
This is the 50th anniversary edition cover, which strikes me with the black letter branches and the shadowy figure of Scout against the moon as a backdrop.  I think this is (perhaps unintentionally) trying to appeal to the graphic novel crowd.

5)  The Green Mile- Stephen King
I kind of cheated with the first one as its actually a movie poster.  Compared with the book cover, which only has a tiny piece of the other on it (at the bottom), I think the gorgeous bright clouds are more striking than the shiny portrait of Tom Hanks.

6)  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest- Ken Kesey
For this one, I have no excuse...I needed to post two covers.  The first is the edition I own and I think the solitary Chief on the roof against the hazy sky speaks to his character.  The second is geared more towards the psychedlic nature of the novel's language with its neon rainbow colours.

7)  The Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingsolver
People generally have mixed feelings about the book, but you can't help but be mesmerized by its bright orange cover that can instantly outshine any book held against it.

8)  The Stone Angel- Margaret Laurence
I'm not fond of the generic print on this edition, but it has the best resolution of the painted matriarchal portrait in its middle.  It's a testament to grace & wisdom with age.

9)  The Devil Wears Prada- Lauren Weisberger
Clever imagery with the devil's pitchfork stiletto, which sends a clear message about the backstabbing fashionistas depicted.

10)  The Accidental Tourist- Anne Tyler
Not a striking cover in comparison to the others here, but the armchair with wings is an original logo used by travelogue writer Macon Leary in the story that gives him a sense of homey but restrained comfort wherever he goes.

Looking forward to seeing more cover ideas on this week's meme!

Reading Questionnaire

I came across this on my book blog surfing (a new hobby I’m really enjoying & hoping to attract more traffic here, of course, LOL!):

1. Favorite childhood book?
I was into series: Babysitters Club, Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins; and read favourite authors, such as Ann M. Martin, Monica Hughes, Paula Popowich. As for individual titles, too many to name or remember!  Check out my blog post on books read in school.

2. What are you reading right now?
On Writing- Stephen King
The Bear Came Over the Mountain- Alice Munro (short story, adapted into the movie Away From Her)

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None. Haven’t used the library since my local one downsized considerably :o(

4. Bad book habit?
Reading parts of the ending ahead of time! And spending too much money on them.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
None. See #3.

6. Do you have an e-reader?
No, and I don’t plan to until they stop printing books on paper. I’m an old-fashioned words-on-the-page reader!

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
Usually one at a time, though I’ve started books, put them down, and tried to start another while I let a more challenging one sink in, then decide which one to continue with. Only in university English courses did I have to read more than 1 book at a time :o)

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I just started my blog this month, so it’s too soon to tell. I haven’t taken any recommendations yet, since I have a huge list to work off of, but time will tell!

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
About 1/3 of the time. I try to take risks and it pays off about that much of the time. For example, I read Oliver Sacks out of interest and it was such a fascinating read (The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat).

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Anything from the 19th century on.

13. Can you read on the bus?
Yes, thank goodness. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to get any reading done in university on my hour-long commute each day (2 ways, 2 hours, lots of reading!) :oD

14. Favorite place to read?
In bed.  So comfy, and I rarely fall asleep while reading.

15. What is your policy on book lending?
Never done it, but I’ve lent DVDs and it often takes some nudging from me to get them back after several months!

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
No, I hate that. I’d rather use sticky tabs for passages or bookmarks to mark my place.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Rarely, unless I’m planning to teach the material.

18. Not even with text books?
Oh yes…highlighting & notes in the margin was my study guide for 4 years!

19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English…that’s the only language I've learned.

20. What makes you love a book?
Unique writing style, favourite author, atypical characters, and fascinating setting & tone of the book.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If it changed my perspective on something, profoundly affected me, or was simply a fantastic read.

22. Favorite genre?
Fiction! Ha ha…Coming-of-age is beautiful.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Historical fiction and science fiction. Most of these tend to be either too dull, too weird, or classics that I simply love.

24. Favorite biography?
Ghosts of Mississippi by Maryanne Vollers.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Sure, but not lately. They usually tell you what you already know.

26. Favorite cookbook?
A homemade book of dessert recipes from my mom’s school they sold as a fundraiser.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. An amazing eye-opener to the world of a young boy with Asperger’s.

28. Favorite reading snack?
I usually read before bed, so I tend not to eat then, but when I do, I love cheese (with or without wine)!

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I’ve tried a couple of Oprah's book club choices and not liked them: She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb and The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I usually read reviews long before reading the book, so by then I’ve forgotten the critics!

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I’m comfortable with speaking my mind and remain fair to weigh the good & bad sides of a book, then rank my overall judgment of it. It’s just an opinion, so why be afraid to not voice it?

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
French. There are so many classic French works—Balzac, Baudelaire, de Laclos…ooh la la!

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Positively or negatively? I would say, positively, Times Square Red, Times Square Blue by Samuel R. Delany, which I read for a course called Gender & Sexuality.  Fascinating read, despite catching you totally off-guard at first! Negatively, it’s hard to think of one.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I’m stalling on starting it after hearing so many mixed reviews about it.  I bought it, so I'm determined to read it...eventually :oD

35. Favorite Poet?
Percy Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, John Keats, Robert Frost

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I used to check out 4-5 because I was so indecisive about what to take home :oD

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Only once or twice. I renew books to the maximum borrowing time first.

38. Favorite fictional character?
Wow…probably Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables because she was so carefree, feisty, and wonderfully imaginative. Morag Gunn in The Diviners by Margaret Laurence was also a keen storyteller, able to weave words, stay passionate about writing but also remain highly self-critical.

39. Favorite fictional villain?
The Big Nurse in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Anything new I want to read!

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Probably 2 days.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
I’ve had a few I discuss in my blog.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
TV or phone

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Green Mile by Stephen King

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Well, this isn't exactly a dissapointment since I knew it would not be as good as the novel from the beginning (that isn't exactly fair), but The Time Traveler's Wife.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
$100-200.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Rarely.  Only if it has pictures :oD

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Boring characters or plot, jarring or confusing style of writing, uninteresting subject matter, or if it simply wasn’t what I thought it would be.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Sort of. I shelve books by the same author or of a similar subject matter or genre together. If I gather a large collection over the years, I might organize them differently.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep any book I really liked. Any I don’t like get donated to charity or someone interested in them.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Early literature, such as Plato, Aristotle, Aeschylus…I want to read them, but I haven’t mustered the courage to attempt it yet.

52. Name a book that made you angry.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker. The book was an amazing read, but the hardships and the abuse Celie endured under Albert/Mr. riled me.  Danny Glover adapted him brilliantly in the film version.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton, because I heard the ending was shocking, and it was, but the character of Ruth was so captivating that it surprised me how much I liked it.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I heard so many positive reviews about it, that I figured I would ease into it, but I could not stay with it before giving up.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
People magazine :oD And John Grisham.

Harking Back...Part I: Grade School

To respond to my last comment about format & appearance of this blog, I am much happier with how it looks now.  After fiddling with the layout and changing some template colours, I am liking it.  Formatting posts with pictures on the other hand isn't always WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) :oP

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

All right...time for some nostalgia.  I have been reading since age 2 or 3, engrossed in books such as Follow That Bird and Disney picture books.  I was not the generation raised on the Dick & Jane series, and in some ways that is a relief as the repetition would have driven me absolutely batty.  The earliest book I remember reading in school was Curious George Goes to the Hospital in kindergarten, which I reread to near memorization.


Grade 1-
I was taken aside to read from a grade 8 science test as either an informal test or bragging rights (not sure which).  Other than that, I can’t remember anything I read that year.

Grade 2-

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin. I collected the whole series and read every book from about age 7 to 13. Yup…obsessed.  Also read others by Martin:  Slam Book, P.S. Longer Letter Later, Ten Kids, No Pets, Ma & Pa Dracula, Bummer Summer, and probably more.  As for the rest of Grade 2, I think there was a poem about apples in there somewhere :oP

Grade 3 & 4-

Fuzzy recall...

Grade 5-

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by E.L. Konigsburg

We learned about ancient Egypt, particularly the mummies, and lots about New York. The museum-set story is a wonderful adventure for many ages!

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Before Google (before the Internet, even), I could not for the life of me remember this book’s name, but all I could remember is the Kleenex-worthy ending.  My language arts teacher's college instructor admitted to crying while reading it aloud to students years ago.  It’s likely well-known what I'm referring to, but I can’t bring myself to retell it. The book is a childhood Mecca- for imagination, for pre-puberty boy-girl friendships, for true love before you even know what love means.

Grade 6-

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall by Gordon Korman (the cover was different than this one, same artist as Go Jump in the Pool cover below)

Korman is a hilarious Canadian author now involved in the popular 39 Keys series. This is the 1st book in a series. My teacher read this aloud to us during the first week of school and I still remember how it hooked us with its honest humour and insights on school. Bruno & Boots are the main (male) characters, which appeals to young boys reluctant to read, a bonus for any teacher.

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Go Jump in the Pool!

by Gordon Korman

(This cover is the old one I remember!)

Sequel to above book.  I remember now that the school’s headmaster was named Mr. Sturgeon, which made me picture the “fish-face.”

 

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Every Gr. 6 class in North America likely read this book and many still do.  Vague memory of it, but I bought it for my (future) classroom library and hope to reread it...eventually.






Grade 7-

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

The Pigman by Paul Zindel
(Actual cover from the time I read it; kind of dull, no?)

My dad had taught Gr. 7s this book for several years, along with The Pearl and Sounder.  I think it was another trend.  I adored this book.  It's a testament to humanity, especially during the teenage years when taking advantage becomes second nature to gaining popularity.  Like teaching Hamlet to teens, I think this is an "older book" (to quote students who think anything before today is old) that stands up.  I remember writing to Paul Zindel a few years later but received no reply :o(  I also read the sequel, The Pigman's Legacy, which didn't quite measure up to the first book.  Then again, sequels rarely do...

 Grade 8-

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker
(The cover was different but I like this one, especially the grainy appearance like aged wood)

We read this as part of a civil rights unit, another typical amenity in Gr. 8, but a worthwhile one to teach & learn.  We had finished a poetry unit, then read this novel, and wrote poetry to accompany the story, which was a great idea and something I'd like to try with my class.

Wow!  I'm surprised at how much I remember, but then again it wasn't more than 20 years ago that I was there, so the memory bank is still fresh.  Hope it stays that way right to the end!

Please, if you're out there reading this, post a comment, even if it's just to say hi.  While I write this blog mainly for myself, I'd like to know that it is reaching others out there as well.

Coming soon:  Part II- High School

Teacher/Learner (P.S.  My real name is Megan).