Between the Pages

More information on "The Secret"

2008-11-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

Beverly Lewis' website now has a synopsis of her new book, The Secret (due out in March):

In the seemingly ordinary Amish home of Grace Byler, secrets abound. Why does her mother weep in the night? Why does her father refuse to admit something is dreadfully wrong? Then, in one startling moment, everything Grace assumed she knew is shattered. Her mother's disappearance leaves Grace reeling and unable to keep her betrothal promise to her long-time beau. Left to pick up the pieces of her life, Grace questions all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment.

Heather Nelson is an English grad student, stunned by a doctor's diagnosis. Surely fate would not allow her father to lose his only daughter after the death of his wife a few years before. In denial and telling no one she is terminally ill, Heather travels to Lancaster County--the last place she and her mother had visited together. Will Heather find healing for body and spirit?
As the lives of four wounded souls begin to weave together like an Amish patchwork quilt, they each discover missing pieces of their life puzzles--and glimpse the merciful and loving hand of God.

The new series is entitled Seasons of Grace.

October Reading in Pictures

2008-11-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Secret

2008-10-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

A new book by Beverly Lewis entitled The Secret is coming out in April of 2009. I have seen two different names for the series Seasons of Grace (on the cover) and Just Plain Grace (from a website). There is no description about the book yet so the content is a mystery.

September Reading in Picture(s)

2008-10-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

I only read one book in the month of September-Oh the shame! At least it was a long book.

August Reading in Pictures

2008-10-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Tragedy!

2008-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Each year in school, we study a play written by Shakespeare. The first play I remember studying Much Ado About Nothing. We didn't study it in depth hardly at all, mostly using it to make grammar corrections as a warm-up. My freshman year of high school, we studied Romeo and Juliet. This was my first experience actually analyzing a play and I found it to be quite challenging. We acted it out as well as did numerous other activities with it, including writing in iambic pentameter. Sophomore year, we read Julius Caesar, which I found exceedingly boring at the time. During Junior year of high school, my class studied Macbeth. I found acting certain scenes out to be the most fun. That year, I had an excellent teacher who taught us a lot more about how to analyze Shakespeare. Next year, my Senior year in high school we will be reading Hamlet. All the plays we read in high school fall under the category of tragedy. For some reason, the administrators (or whoever makes these decisions) feel that we don't get enough tragedy in our everyday lives.

My friend and her family come down to visit in the summer often and go to see a play at the local Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). As long as I've lived here (every summer since 2001), I've only seen three plays, all Shakespearean. The first play I went to was King Lear with my dad and step-mom. I was young and didn't understand much of the dialogue. A few years ago, I went with my friend and her family to Twelfth Night on the 70th anniversary of OSF's opening. I enjoyed the comedy much better than King Lear and understood much more of it. That evening, we saw former governor Kitzhaber. This year, my friend came down again and we saw Othello. I enjoyed it very much, though it was a tragedy. The acting, as always, was superb. Once, I became used to the dialogue, I understood much of what was said.

This last performance and brought my play count up to seven (soon to be eight): Two Comedies and five (soon six) tragedies. I must be destined to read tragedies...

July Reading in Pictures

2008-08-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

June Reading in Pictures: Pitiful!

2008-07-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

Books of the Summer

2008-06-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

I've decided to make a list of books I want to read this summer. Some are classics and others are books that I should have read before now.

For School (lovely summer reading):
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

For Pleasure (most of them):
A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
(The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Emma by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

I may add a few novels to the list. It is an ambitious list and I probably won't read all of them.

May Reading in Pictures

2008-06-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

April Reading in Pictures

2008-05-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

Longing Update

2008-05-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

Beverly Lewis has updated her site with more information regarding her new book, The Longing:

Although she still prays for Caleb, Nellie Mae Fisher has broken up with her beau. Now, her heart's greatest longing is for more knowledge of the Lord.

Caleb yearns for freedom, as his plans to leave Honeybrook have been thwarted. He must stay on as caretaker for his father, who was crippled in a wintertime accident. He also longs for Nellie Mae, still hoping that she will return to the Old Order…and to him.

Christian Yoder, a young Mennonite man, longs to get to know Nellie Mae better…and to share with her the secrets of her sister Suzy's final days.

Rhoda, Nellie's older sister, longs for more of what the world has to offer—from fancy clothes, to her own car, to a new English boyfriend.

Meanwhile, father Reuben Fisher longs for unity—among his family and all the brethren.

Whose longing will be satisfied, and whose will not?

It is to be released in October, not August.

Related Posts:
The Longing!
The Forbidden Cover
New: The Forbidden!
The Parting Review
The Parting - New Amish Book

The Longing!

2008-04-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

I have just discovered that the third book in The Courtship of Nellie Fisher by Beverly Lewis is coming out August 1! Here is the synopsis I found:

Although she still prays for Caleb, Nellie Mae Fisher has broken up with her beau. Now, her heart's greatest longing is for more knowledge of the Lord.
Caleb yearns for freedom, as his plans to leave Honeybrook have been thwarted. He must stay on as caretaker for his father, who was crippled in a wintertime accident. He also longs for Nellie Mae, still hoping that she will return to the Old Order and to him.

March Reading in Pictures

2008-04-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

February Reading in Pictures

2008-04-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

Long Awaited Library Update

2008-02-12T16:26:00.000-08:00

Unbelievably, I have not mentioned that the Jackson County libraries reopened a while ago. The Ashland and Medford libraries opened on October 24, 2007 and the thirteen other branches opened on October 29, 2007.

The Forbidden Cover

2008-02-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

I found a large image of the official The Forbidden cover on Beverly Lewis' website. It now states that the book will be released in April. I looked elsewhere and the publication date is said to be April 30, but other sources say May 1. No matter what the publication date, I have it on request at the library. Apparently, I am the seventh person with the idea.

Related Posts:
New: The Forbidden!
The Parting Review
The Parting - New Amish Book

Mary Ingalls on Her Own: Short Review

2008-01-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago, I bought Mary Ingalls on Her Own and finished it in less than two hours. I could have written an extremely long review as I did with Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls, but I have been really busy.

In short, it met my expectations and I enjoyed it. I was a bit bothered by the fact that Mattie was a fictional character. However, the biggest problem was that it was too short! I thoroughly enjoyed Mary's character and would have been interested in more details about her life at the blind school. Harper Collins could have made a series about Mary. Of course, I do not hold Harper Collins in high esteem after they did to the rest of the Little House series.

When I went to buy the book at Powell's, I saw the abridged versions of the Little House books. They were only a hundred or so pages long and had those horrible photographic covers! I have treasured those books for years and looked forward to each new book that has come out. It was sacrilege to see them in a lesser form.

Related Posts:
Browse Inside Mary Ingalls on Her Own
So Maybe it is Called...
A Strange Place to Find Mary
He He... A sneak peak
One Thing I Overlooked...
More About Mary
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

Browse Inside Mary Ingalls On Her Own

2008-01-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

I wandered over to the Harper Collins site yesterday and saw that they had added the "Browse Inside" feature to Mary Ingalls On Her Own. This shows the cover, title pages, copyright page, table of contents, and first three pages of almost every chapter. I had to stop reading the excerpts because I didn't want to spoil the book for myself. I didn't mind reading the first excerpt:

Mary Ingalls stepped carefully from the train onto the bustling platform in Vinton, Iowa. She stood straight and quiet, her hands clasping the handle of her small suitcase. Her pale blue eyes shone with a mix of anxiety and excitement. Mary took a deep breath as the cool November breeze fanned her flushed cheeks and carried the hot smell of engine steam past her nose.

From what I've read, I think that I will enjoy this book. There is a "Browse Inside" link in my sidebar.

Related Posts:
So Maybe it is Called...
A Strange Place to Find Mary
He He... A sneak peak
One Thing I Overlooked...
More About Mary
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

The Review: Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls

2008-01-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

And now, after all the speculation and guessing on my part, here is my review of Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls by Tui Sutherland:

Let me begin by saying that I questioned the quality of this book beforehand. I wondered how the events from On the Banks of Plum Creek could be made fresh and interesting.

From the start of the book, Nellie came of as a spoiled brat with no sense of reality. Her voice was annoying:

"Nellie Oleson did not like the prairie. She did not like the dust. She did not like the big open sky. She did not like how there was nothing to see in any direction for miles and miles and miles. She did not like the mushy, hot, itchy smell of horses tied up along Main Street, or the wind that whistled all night and blew dirt in her face all day long." (1)

The background story before Laura showed up was interesting. It gave me a better perspective on Nellie's life, not just Nellie's actions as in On the Banks of Plum Creek. As I read on, I gradually began to feel more sympathy toward Nellie.

When Laura Ingalls was introduced, I felt that some of Nellie's thoughts were irrational, but I understood that Nellie felt ostracized from the other girls. While the Town Party and the Country Partly followed Wilder's description, Nellie's thoughts were insightful to her character.

Before I read this book, I had always felt that Laura's mean trick at the Country Party was justified. However, Laura's trick seemed cruel in Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls because Nellie is starting to accept Laura. This trick turns Nellie against Laura even more.

The end of the book did not show complete redemption. There was no "sorry" from Nellie or forgiveness on Laura's part. Nellie's struggle was more of an internal one. It was about Nellie feeling better. It showed growth in her character.

This book did exceed my initial expectations. The message was good and it fit well with On Banks of Plum Creek. I would not say that it was an exceptional book, though I did think that it was probably the best that could be done with the material. The language of the book was simple and redundant at times. This may have been done to get the effect of being inside Nellie's head. Also, the book was written for younger children. Overall, I would say it was well done.

I would be interested to know how much of the new plot information was factual.

Related Posts:
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

Story Girl and Golden Road

2008-01-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

I recently read The Story Girl by Lucy Maud Montgomery and its sequel, The Golden Road. I have always enjoyed L. M. Montgomery's novels. My only complaint is that they are too descriptive sometimes. The descriptions are beautiful and worded well. I love all of the escapades that the children get into. The Story Girl's tales are interesting and well placed in the novels.

The books follow Beverly (the narrator), Felix, Sara Stanley (the Story Girl), Dan, Felicity, Cecily, Peter, and Sara Ray over a year's time. Beverly and Felix come to live with their Uncle Alec and Aunt Janet in Carlisle. Sara Stanley, their cousin lives with Aunt Olivia and Uncle Roger (and later with Uncle Alec and Aunt Janet) while her father travels the world. Dan, Felicity, and Cecily are Alec and Janet's children. Peter Craig is the hired boy for Aunt Olivia and Uncle Roger. Sara Ray is the teary-eyed companion who suffers under her mother's strict rules. All of the children and adults are charmed by the Story Girl's stories.

One of my favorite characters is Cecily. She is such a gentle spirit. Sara Ray is my least favorite character of course. Her behavior is always irksome. The Story Girl herself is quite charming, but Beverly's point of view certainly influences the reader's perception. In The Golden Road, my favorite chapter, Great-Aunt Eliza's Visit, is hilarious.

New Books (thus far)!

2007-12-25T20:57:00.000-08:00

Thus far into the holiday season I have received six books:
* Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls By Tui Sutherland
* Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
* Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I still have my birthday and Christmas gifts from my dad and Lisa to go.

For more on the Nellie Oleson book look to these posts:
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

New: The Forbidden!

2007-12-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

I just came across the next of Beverly Lewis' The Courtship of Nellie Fisher series. It is called The Forbidden and picks up right where The Parting left off. Here is a synopsis from Christianbooks.com:

Caleb Yoder's father has forbidden him to court Nellie Fisher, but words alone cannot stop Caleb's love. Yet he knows that if he continues to meet Nellie at their secret place, he risks losing everything he would inherit.
Nellie, too, is torn. She longs to marry her Old Order beau but cannot ignore the gentle pull she feels toward the faith of her new Order family. Still struggling to come to terms with the death of her beloved sister, Nellie visits the Mennonite friends who were with Suzy on the day she drowned. Will Nellie find the missing pieces of her sister's life-and her own future as well?

It comes out in May 5, 2008 and has 352 pages.

Related Posts:
The Parting Review
The Parting - New Amish Book

So Maybe it is Called...

2007-12-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

...Mary Ingalls on Her Own? Harper Collins has a new cover with the title on their webpage. I've been calling it Mary Leaves Little House this entire time. They list its publication date as December 26. Notice the new widget in my sidebar!

Related Posts:
A Strange Place to Find Mary
He He... A sneak peak
One Thing I Overlooked...
More About Mary
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

The Lacemaker and the Princess

2007-11-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is about a common girl named Isabelle making friends with Marie Antoinette's daughter. She has to make the decision between her family and staying with the royal family. Her brother is wrapped up in the coming revolution and she must decide where she stands.

I enjoyed the book, but was a bit frustrated with Isabelle at times. It seemed that she didn't really understand the suffering of the country. Therese, the princess, was extremely selfish and wasn't a good friend to Isabelle.

Great Gatsby. Good Book.

2007-11-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

In the past, I have not been very pleased with the required reading books at school. In Freshman year, we had to read Lord of the Flies and Of Mice and Men neither of which I enjoyed. The others: A Wizard of Earthsea and The Bean Trees were okay, but I wasn't too fond of them. Romeo and Juliet was fine however. During Sophomore year, we read Black Boy, Antigone, Julius Caesar, and Krik? Krak! I disliked the plays especially. The books were just okay. The degree to which I liked the books does have a lot to do with the teacher though.

I did enjoy The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald this year. It has some nice ideas about wealth, artificiality, and honesty. There are a few quotes I like:

"Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, I was with him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without,simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life." (40)

"Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry." (93)

"...now I was looking at it again, through Daisy's eyes. It is invariably saddening to look through new eyes at things upon which you have expended your own powers of adjustment." (110-111)

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made...." (187-188)

I think the last quote really captures the book.

Miss Spitfire!

2007-11-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

I LOVED this book. It really gave insight into Annie Sullivan's thoughts. At times, I feel myself becoming as frustrated with Helen as Annie. I found it amazing that though Helen spelled the words, she never understood them until she made the link between W-A-T-E-R and "wah-wah." The insight into Annie's past was also interesting.

A Strange Place to Find Mary

2007-11-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

When I googled Mary Leaves Little House today, I found a new link to the Harper Collins site. There were book reviews of the book on the page dedicated to The Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks. I also found the reviews on the actual book page(more reviews there):

Great read and a great addition to the Little House on the Prairie collection. I have always wondered what life was like when Mary went to blind school and the author did a great job in coming up with a probable answer. Now if someone will come out with a book about Carrie and Grace-it'll make the series more complete.
— Jean (Philadelphia, PA)

Mary Leaves Little House, by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, is a perfect transition from the Little House books of years ago. Kimmel has done a wonderful job capturing the personalities of the Ingalls family, and I loved "seeing" the world through Mary's eyes. I was always intrigued with what became of Mary once she had grown up and left home, and this book offers the answer I had wondered about for so long. This is definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone who is a fan of the Little House series!
— Kristine (Morristown, NJ)

What I liked best about this book was that the author kept true to the style of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I always wondered what life for Mary was like...this book is a realistic account of life at the school for the blind. Mary really had to be on her own for the first time, and it was a wonderful way to see the obstacles she faced and how she overcame them. Mary was a very strong person and this is a wonderful look at their life.
— Marjie (Spring, TX)

I realize I might be becoming slightly obsessive about this book.

Related Posts:
He He... A sneak peak
One Thing I Overlooked...
More About Mary
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

He He... A Sneak Peak

2007-11-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

I just wandered over to Sarah Miller's blog and saw that she had posted a review of Mary Leaves Little House. Her review assures me that I won't be disappointed, which is a relief. Now, I'm impatient! I wish I could get a hold of an advanced reader's copy myself.

I also found a synopsis from the publisher on Barnes & Noble:

When she was just fourteen-years-old Mary Ingalls fell ill with scarlet fever and lost her sight. Now two years later Mary is getting the chance to continue her education at the Iowa College for the Blind. Going back to school is a dream come true for Mary, and at the Iowa College she will not only take academic classes, but will also learn Braille and other skills that will make her independent once again. But with this new opportunity comes new challenges, and as Mary struggles to adjust to life without her family, she is also forced to take a hard look at her future, and confront her true feelings about being blind.

The publication date is still varied between sites:
December 26, 2007
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Harper Collins
January 1, 2008
Amazon Canada
Overstock.com
Tower Books

Related Posts:
One Thing I Overlooked...
More About Mary
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

One Thing I Overlooked...

2007-11-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

When I posted the Mary Leaves Little House Cover, I didn't notice in my search that there were two slightly different covers. Mary is facing more toward the window in the first one and the colors are a bit different.

Related Posts:
More About Mary
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

Hurt Go Happy

2007-11-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

I recently read a book called Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby.

Joey is a deaf girl isolated from the world because her mother won't let her learn sign language. One day, she stumbles upon a neighbor, Charlie, with a pet chimpanzee named Sukari. Through them she is able to begin learning sign language and convince her mom to let her. When Charlie dies, Sukari is put in a testing facility and Joey has to rescue her.

This book paints a clear picture of what it is like to be deaf. I learned about the horrors that face abandoned primates also.

More About Mary

2007-11-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

I have found an official book summary of Mary Leaves Little House at Harper Collins. They still list the book as Mary On Her Own, but the title on the cover says Mary Leaves Little House.

Mary Ingalls lost her sight after a devastating bout of scarlet fever. Now Mary has the opportunity to attend the Iowa College for the Blind, where she will get a fresh start with her education and can learn the skills she needs for an independent future as well.

It seems like a dream come true. But it also means leaving her cherished family behind in Dakota Territory, including her sister Laura. Laura's feisty personality has always complemented Mary's quiet nature, and ever since Mary lost her sight, Laura has served as Mary's "eyes" to the world. Now that she's on her own, Mary must learn to get along without her beloved sister, and in the process realizes that she may have a bit of Laura's spunk in her after all.

For the first time, readers will get a glimpse into the life of Mary Ingalls and will discover a whole new side of this Little House sister they've gotten to know through Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House books.

My anticipation of the book grows!

Related Posts:
Mary Leaves Little House Cover
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

The Parting Review

2007-10-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

I recently read The Parting, the latest of Beverly Lewis' Amish books. Admittedly, I was predisposed to liking the book before it even touched the shelves. As usual, Beverly Lewis did an excellent job of portraying the Amish lifestyle. It left me in anticipation of the next book in the series.

In an earlier post, I shared the summary that Mrs. Lewis provided on her website.

Mary Leaves Little House Cover

2007-10-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

They finally released the cover for Mary Leaves Little House! I see that they have changed the author's name from Elizabeth Cody Kimmel to Elizabeth Kimmel Willard in order to keep the book in the same section alphabetically as the others.

I've noticed some dispute between book sites about the actual publication date; December has been listed as well as January.

Related Posts:
Nellie Excerpt
More About Mary and Nellie
New Little House Books!!!

The Lily Adventures

2007-10-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

I just recently read the first two books in The Lily Adventures series by Lois Gladys Leppard. Both Secret Money and Suspicious Identity are pretty slow paced until the end, which goes by much too fast. The resolutions of both books occur in the last few pages and leave little room for explanation. I like the ideas of the two plots, but they are not well developed. There are two more books in the series, Accidental Dreams and Mysterious Revelations, but the library system doesn't have them. Alas, I may never know how the mystery turns out. It seems to me that Mrs. Leppard could have combined the books into one because the overarching mystery is left unsolved. I would prefer a more compact, better edited version.

The books focus on the mystery surrounding the death of Lily Masterson's father. In Secret Money, Lily receives an urgent message telling her to return home to her ailing father. When she arrives, she is told that her father was killed a few weeks earlier in a horseshoeing accident. However, the death does not appear to be an accident at all. In Suspicious Identity, Lily is now living in her Aunt Janie Belle's house because her property was foreclosed. She discovers an old letter from her mother to her father telling of valuable jewelry. The jewelry is found when she sneaks into her old house to look for it. The mystery of her father's death is yet unsolved.

The Last Battle...at last!

2007-10-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I finished reading The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis. Now I can say that I have read the entire series. Though it wasn't my favorite book of the series, I did enjoy it.

It begins with a seemingly innocent prank by Shift (the ape) to convince the Narnians to do their bidding by pretending Puzzle (the donkey), dressed in a lion skin, is Aslan. The prank begins to spin out of control when the Calormenes and a few wicked creatures join in. Soon, Narnia is no longer in the control of King Tirian. Jill and Eustace are transported to Narnia to help fight. When all hope of victory seems lost, Aslan comes to lead his people into paradise.

I was shocked in the end to find that Digory, Polly, Peter, Edmond, Lucy, Eustace, and Jill were all killed in a train wreck. It saddened me to see Susan scorn Narnia. Even though she was a bit of a bore, I still felt a connection to her. The end left me a bit melancholy. I knew that this new Narnia was better, but I would still miss it.

The Magician's Horse or The Boy and His Nephew

2007-10-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Or maybe I should say, The Boy's Nephew and The Magician and His Horse. How about The Boy's Horse and The Magician and His Nephew? Okay, I'm really talking about The Magician's Nephew and The Horse and His Boy.

I read these two books for the first time this weekend. *gasp* To be honest, I'm not sure why I haven't read them before this. After all, I do own the entire series and loved the first four books.

The Horse and His Boy is unique from the other books in the series because it takes place solely in Narnia. Shasta and Bree (a talking horse) try to flee from Calormen to the north. On the way, they meet Aravis and Hwin (also a talking horse) that are also fleeing. They escape some close calls and end up saving Archenland and Narnia from the Calormene envasion. I have to appreciate the imaginative names, though I doubt I could pronounce them correctly. It was nice to see Edmond, Lucy, and Susan again.

The Magician's Nephew is bound to become one of my favorite books in the series. It is ultimately about the creation of Narnia and how humans first came to know about other worlds. Digory and Polly are forced into traveling to the Wood between the Worlds by Digory's Uncle Andrew. Once in another world, Digory unknowingly sets loose a witch who eventually becomes the White Witch. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Digory and Polly are exploring the attic tunnel and end up in Uncle Andrew's study.

I can't wait to read The Last Battle now!

Nellie Excerpt

2007-10-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

The new Little House book, Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls, came out almost a month ago now. I have not gotten around to reading it yet, but I did find a long excerpt of it on the Harper Collins site. Here is the beginning:

It was a mild winter, but Nellie hated it anyway. Soon after Christmas an icy-cold rain blew in and washed away all the snow. It rained for days and days. The streets in town were muddy swamps, and it seemed as if every bit of that mud got tracked into the store and scraped all over the floor. Nellie got soaked to the bone every time she stepped outside—when she went to the pump for water, when she walked to Sunday school, when she was sent to look for letters at the post office. She felt like she spent half of the winter standing by the stove, shivering and dripping and trying to warm up, with her flat wet hair plastered to her head instead of shining and curly as it should be.

I'm not sure if I really sympathize with Nellie after reading the excerpt. Honestly, I don't think she was that stuck up. Before I make a judgment, I should read the book.

Related Posts:

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

2007-09-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

I was thoroughly surprised with Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Wiggin. Here I was expecting a kid's novel. There was lots of advanced vocabulary sprinkled in with vivid descriptions. At some parts, I became a bit bored, but I did enjoy Rebecca's many thrilling scrapes. She reminded me of Anne Shirley in her manner and wild imagination.

Our Only May Amelia

2007-09-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

This morning, I finished rereading one of my favorite books, Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm. The first time I read it, I cried. May Amelia Jackson is a spunky twelve year old living on the Nasel River (now Naselle River) in Washington. She is the only girl in a family of 7 boys and longs for a sister.

What May Amelia really wants is her father's approval and love. She feels that her father hates her. Her grandmother is a horrible woman who beats and criticizes May whenever she feels like it. I truly come to hate her as the story goes on. I can't help but love Wilbert, May's understanding brother. The characters are vivid and full of life.

Book Quotes

2007-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

I have decided to compile a list of my favorite book quotes.

*Narrator - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb and he almost deserved it.

*Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (SPOILERS!)

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

*Charles Ingalls - Little House on the Prairie

"There's no great loss without some small gain."

*Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

"From this point forth, we shall be leaving the firm foundation of fact and journeying together through the murky marshes of memory into thickets of wildest guesswork."

*Laura Ingalls Wilder - On the Banks of the Bayou

"Nothing worth having was ever gotten without a struggle."

*Charles Ingalls - On the Banks of Plum Creek

"What must be done is best done cheerfully."

*Laura, Almanzo, and Rose Wilder - Little House on Rocky Ridge

For many days, all day long, they picked up rocks and threw them to the side of the garden. No matter how many rocks they took out, the earth grew more.

Hattie Big Sky

2007-08-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today, I finished a wonderful book entitled Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. I had obtained an advance reader's copy from a free book table a few weeks ago.

I liked it because it was different from the usual historical fiction novel. For one, it took place in 1918, which is a period I haven't read much about. It was interesting to read about WWI from the perspective a girl homesteading in Montana. I thought it was a clever plot. The book made me laugh and my eyes teared up at one point. I couldn't put it down.

More About Nellie and Mary

2007-08-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

I've found a review on the new Little House book Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls. Here is a rather large excerpt:

Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls, by Heather Williams, is an outstanding addition to the Little House collection. Written from the viewpoint of Nellie herself, children and fans will relive the first meeting between Nellie and Laura and find that Nellie is not as one-dimensional as most people believe.

Children will learn a great deal about their feelings and relationships through Nellie Oleson. As Nellie discovers, being a friend and being accepted takes work, parents can make mistakes, and revenge does not feel good

The reader first meets Nelly working in her father's store. She hates the chore of dusting the merchandise and believes it is better left to the country children of Walnut Grove. In fact, Nelly hates all of Walnut Grove. To her, the small country town is filthy and boring. She dreams of running off to New York where she can be a fashionable young lady of society. But for now, Nelly is stuck.

Things become worse when a new girl comes to school. She is dirty and has "country girl" written all over her. Her dress is too small, she walks barefoot, and on top of that, she lives miles from anywhere. So why do all the kids at school like her better?

In an attempt to win over her classmates and teach Laura Ingalls a lesson, Nelly and her Mother plan a party. They bake a special cake, make fresh lemonade, and clean the house from top to bottom. Nelly believes the party will make her "the most important girl in school once again."

Everything goes smoothly until Nelly shows off her Christmas present. It is a beautiful wax doll that says "Mamma" and opens its eyes. Nelly shows the girls that her doll has real shoes, petticoats, and a beautiful blue silk dress. But when Laura reaches out to touch it Nelly pulls the doll away and yells, "Don't you touch her!" Laura ends up spending the rest of the day by herself. Nelly's plan worked.

Nelly remains satisfied with herself until the following week when Laura announces that she is going to have a party. Reluctantly, Nelly agrees to go and her mother is pleased to find that someone in Walnut Grove "has some manners."

Laura's party turns out very differently than Nelly's and even though she has several bad experiences she comes away liking the kind smile of Mrs. Ingalls.

Though the meeting and rivalry Nelly and Laura take center stage there are many other storylines taking place. Each of these contributes to the development of Nelly, her relationships, and her family. This book will make a remarkable addition to any library.

I have also found a short description of Mary Leaves Little House:

In 1881, sixteen-year-old Mary Ingalls becomes a student at the Iowa College for the Blind, where she studies academic subjects and learns skills that will allow her to be independent and to earn a living.

I can't wait for more information!

A Deathly Hallows Review

2007-08-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

I found this wonderful review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Library Thing. It seemed to capture the book excellently. Here's an excerpt:

In Deathly Hallows, Harry gradually finds himself without several things he has previously believed he relied upon, the truth growing ever more apparent that his true magic is drawn from friendship, loyalty, protection, courage and the pursuit of what is right.

Another excerpt from this same review summed up my feelings and made me laugh at the end.

We will miss awaiting news of Harry's next adventures, indeed many of our questions over the last ten thrilling years have now been answered. We can however rest assured that this story will be visited over and over again, in the imaginations of children and adults alike. And of course, just because it's in our heads, doesn't make it any less real ;-)

New Harry Potter Quiz

2007-08-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

If you look on my sidebar, there is a Deathly Hallows quiz that I created. Test your knowledge! I think some parts are a bit hard. I used Wikipedia to check my answers and find answers (that I didn't know!).

I Stole This One

2007-08-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

I found this while surfing the blog archives of Here in Bonny Glen. I couldn't resist.

1. One book that changed your life?

Oh, this is a hard one! Maybe, Nancy Drew because it was from her I learned my love of books. My dad used to read them to me when I was little.

2. One book you have read more than once?

Just one? I have probably read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder the most out of any book. If I were to guess, I would say I have read it 6 times possibly. Although I've read all the Little House books nearly as much as The Long Winter, I once read it twice in the same year.

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

Ahhh! Only one? A 9 in 1 volume of the Little House series or some other huge combined volume of another series (such as Anne of Green Gables).

4. One book that made you laugh?

Amelia Bedelia of course! Who could resist her literal adventures?

5. One book that made you cry?

Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer Holm... and many others.

6. One book you wish had been written?

Little Town by the Loch (The sequel to Beyond the Heather Hills). I miss Martha!

7. One book you wish had never been written?

I don't think that I would wish a book unwritten. Everyone has different tastes in books. Someone else might wish away one of my favorites.

8. One book you are currently reading?

On the Banks of the Bayou by Roger Lea MacBride. And no, I don't only read the Little House books. I just read them every year.

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou for my summer IB English homework.

Keno Library

2007-08-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

While driving to Klamath Falls for the fair last Saturday, we passed the nearest open library. We stopped there and I took a few pictures. Unfortunately, it was closed at the time. Otherwise, I might have stopped in! It was quite small, but given the size of the town, it was adequate.

Pa's Last Days...

2007-08-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading New Dawn on Rocky Ridge today. Though Rose can be irritating at times in the book, the two chapters from Laura's point of view make up for it. The chapters focus on her return to De Smet to see Pa on his deathbed. It was great to see De Smet years after Laura, Almanzo, and Rose left it.

Although she was bone tired, Mama's eyes eagerly scanned the buildings along Main Street, the merchants and other businesses, and Pa's old store. Nothing much had changed, she was surprised to see, except that the town looked a bit more prosperous than she remembered. It was spring, and many of the storefronts sported fresh coats of paint, and new roofs. The boardwalks had been extended too.

I loved the glimpses back into the past mingled with the present.

She leaned forward and looked him in the eyes. "Hello, Pa," she said softly. As she looked at him, she made herself see the Pa she knew when she was young and he was her strong and cheerful father. Even though Pa's body was old and worn out, she could see a twitch at the corner of his eyes, and a twinkle in them, that was the Pa she remembered.

I thought of Pa and his fiddle as I read:

But the Best moments were when Mary would sit down at the organ in the parlor and play some of the old songs Pa used to play and sing for them on his fiddle. Pa couldn't play his fiddle anymore. But they could make music together, and even though Pa couldn't come into the parlor to be with them, he could hear the music and hear his girls singing for him.

Pa's last words put tears in my eyes.

Then Pa opened his mouth. "Look, Caroline," his weak voice barely rasped. Mama leaned closer to hear better. He paused a moment, to catch his breath again. "See how Laura's eyes are shining."

New Little House books!!!

2007-08-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

While surfing the Harper Collins site the other day, I discovered that two new Little House books were going to be published. The first one, Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls (by Tui Sutherland), is due out on September 4. It is supposed to be 240 pages long. Here is an excerpt from Harper Collins about it:

Nellie Oleson does not like living in Walnut Grove. It's dirty and dusty and full of poor farmers.

One day a new girl, Laura Ingalls, comes to school. Laura's dress is too short, she doesn't wear shoes, and she lives out on the lonely prairie. But everyone wants to be Laura's friend. Nellie doesn't understand: If she's the prettiest and richest girl in Walnut Grove, shouldn't she be the most popular?

Nellie will do anything to get Laura Ingalls out of her life, and one day her wish comes true. Something terrible does happen, but not just to Laura Ingalls—it happens to the entire town of Walnut Grove.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic story On the Banks of Plum Creek introduced readers to Nellie Oleson. Now readers will see events unfold from Nellie's perspective in Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls, which is an enchanting and eye-opening look at Laura Ingalls's prairie foe.

The other book is entitled Mary Leaves Little House (by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel) and is set to be published on January 1, 2008. It is reported to be 192 pages. The author said this about the upcoming book:

The book is entirely centered around Mary's arrival and first several weeks at the Iowa College for the Blind. Sequentially, it fits in exactly where we leave off in the original series when Laura bids Mary and her folks goodbye, as they accompany her to the train to Vinton, complete with a fried blackbird lunch. I used details from the Wilder books wherever possible, such as the autograph albums Ma brings home for Carrie and Laura, and the beadwork that Mary later becomes so good at, and Mary's friend Blanche. The Iowa College for the Blind is still in existence under a slightly different name, and they had a lot of information about what school and daily life were like in Mary's era, including some personal information about Mary's classes. So the book uses as many facts as possible, but within that framework I created a fictional account, trying to imagine what Mary, always so good and accepting, might have felt like deep down inside about losing her sight and leaving home, and what she might have experienced during those first few weeks.

I'm excited for the new titles, but a bit worried about the quality of them considering Harper Collins' recent abridging.

The time has come...

2007-08-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

...to talk about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
First of all, I loved the book, as I knew I would.

(SPOILER WARNING!!!)

How did my predictions hold up?
I said that Neville, Snape, Lupin, Wormtail, Bellatrix, Lucious Malfoy, Arthur, either Bill or Charlie, and Voldemort would die. Neville, Lucious, Arthur, Bill, and Charlie didn't die. However, J. K. Rowling did say that she planned on killing Arthur initially. I thought that Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Tonks, Draco, Narcissa, Percy, Molly, the twins, and Hagrid would live. Fred and Tonks died.

I was right about Snape being on Dumbledore's side!

I thought the trio would go to Hogwarts, but after the first few chapters I knew this was an impossibility.

On the relationships front, I was right about Harry/Ginny and Hermione/Ron. Lupin and Tonks married before they died. Neville and Luna never married. Luna ended up marrying a fellow Naturalist.

Well, I was definitely very wrong about where the horcruxes were. They were at Gringotts and Hogwarts. I guess the locket sort of ended up at the Ministry. The dairy was not intended to get to Hogwarts.

Voldemort was defeated by the Avada Kedavra curse, but by his own wand. The other added element was Harry being the unintended seventh horcrux.

The deathly hallows were definitely not what I expected. It would have been hard to guess accurately.

Aberforth was a big part in the book and he used the two-way mirror! I was correct in guessing that R.A.B. was Regulus. No one used magic late in life; J. K. Rowling changed her mind. No time turners were used.

What was I thinking while reading the book?
After the deaths of Charity Burbage, Hedwig, and Mad Eye, I realized that this book was really going to be a blood bath. I became nervous for Harry and the others.

I loved how Rufus Scrimgeour couldn't pry anything out of the trio. It helped that they didn't know much about the importance of the Deluminator, the snitch, and The Tales of Beetle the Bard.

When Harry and Ron finally realized the importance of being kind to Kreacher, I was so happy. I finally appreciated SPEW and Kreacher fully.

When Lupin and Tonks were having problems, I thought that Tonks was pregnant (and she was!).

I was completely surprised when I found out that Dolores Umbridge had the locket! I never could have imagined that the locket would end up there.

I never suspected Bathilda Bagshot was not who she seemed to be. Though she was mysterious, I thought that she just couldn't talk outside where someone might hear her.

I had the impression that the silver doe was somehow linked with Dumbledore or Aberforth.

When the trio discovered the deathly hallows, I never doubted their existence. I agreed with Hermione that Harry shouldn't have focused on them so much. I was relieved when Harry decided that the horcruxes were more important.

I knew that the trio had to escape Malfoy Manor somehow. However, I didn't expect Dobby to be the one to rescue them. Dobby's death came as a shock. I accepted it readily though.

Ted Tonks and Peter Pettigrew's deaths didn't alarm me. I was just worried for my favorite characters.

The Gringotts break-in was awesome! I knew as soon as the dragons were introduced that the trio would use them to escape.

When the barman from Hog's Head saved the trio from discovery, I thought back to an editorial on mugglenet that I had read. They proposed that the barman was really Aberforth Dumbledore. It seemed as if they were right!

After the trio returned to Hogwarts and found Ravenclaw's diadem, I was pleased that they saved Draco. I've thought since book 6 that Draco was not really a bad guy, just trapped, like Regulus was. I thought that the fire was a cool way to destroy the horcrux.

Fred Weasley's death was one I wasn't expecting. I thought of George and how he wouldn't have his twin around. I was sad for Molly, whose Boggart came true. Oh, I loved that part where Mrs. Weasley saw Bellatrix fighting with Ginny and yelled, "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU *****!" That's not to say I approve of swearing, it's just a great image.

When Voldemort killed Snape and Snape gave Harry the memory, I knew the Snape had to be good. I loved the chapter on Snape's memories. It filled in the gaps. I felt so remorseful for disliking Snape through many of the books.

The biggest shock of the whole book was when Harry discovered that he was the accidental seventh horcrux. I never believed the "Harry is a horcrux" theories because I believed that Harry would survive. My mind began to race thinking of a way Harry could survive. I still didn't believe he would die. I theorized that maybe when Voldemort tried to kill him, he would only kill the piece of his soul in Voldemort.

Oh, a note about the snitch's message, I open at the close, I figured that it would open at the end of Harry's life after he found out about him having to die.

I loved the scene with Dumbledore in the limbo between life and death was nice. I love it when Dumbledore says, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real."

I also enjoyed how Harry pretended he was dead. Neville killing Nagini was perfect. The face off between Voldemort and Harry is great. Harry sort of sounds like Dumbledore there.

As for the epilogue, I liked that fact that it was set at King's Cross Station and Harry was sending his children off to Hogwarts. It gave some closure to the story. When Harry talked about Snape, it was clear that he forgave him. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't learn more about the trio's professions, but I understand that not all the facts can be written. Luckily, J. K. Rowling answered some of these question in interviews.

What were my feelings after finishing the book?
I felt satisfied with the story, but I was so sad that this was the end. There would be no more Harry Potter books. I know J. K. Rowling plans on publishing an encyclopedia, which excites me. I find myself wondering about what happens to the characters afterward.

What questions do I still have?

Did Harry and Ginny have any more kids? What about Ron and Hermione? Did Luna have children? Is Victoire the only child of Bill and Fleur?
Who is Draco's wife?
Who did Neville end of marrying (if anyone)?
Did Charlie or George get married?
Do Harry and Dudley keep in contact?
Whatever happened to Arabella Figg?
What are the children's full names and when were they born?
Do Harry and Ginny live at Grimmauld Place?
Where do the other characters live?

Library Lessons

2007-07-26T17:47:00.001-07:00

Today was my fourth time volunteering at the High School library. I love that library! It's like a home to me almost. I know all the librarians and the volunteers. My friend Rebecca always comes too, though she doesn't volunteer. This was her last library day since she will be going to a camp. Anyway, I have learned how to do a number of things now. The first day, I read shelves (checking that books are in the right order) and looked for missing textbooks. The second day, I replaced old magazines with newer ones. I had to take the older ones out of the jacket and put the new ones in. I also helped ready the new magazines to be entered into the system. I took out the slips of paper and stamped the school's address on the front and back. The third day, I learned how to completely get the magazines ready. This included putting the security strip in, labelling the date on a piece of tape at the top, taping the barcode in, and putting the due date sticker inside as well as the things I did the week before. That day I also counted some textbooks and shelf read the cookbook section. Today, I learned how to put the plastic covering over the paperbooks along with three other volunteers. We had a good time talking while putting on plastic covers. Meanwhile, I was able to listen to plans for the library campain. Since it is only the Ashland Library, only Ashland residents could use it. People in the county (such as myself), would have to pay for a library card. I was given a Save Our Libraries button by the head librarian at the school.

Ahh! The smell of a used book...

2007-07-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm really not fond of many smells that could come from used books, but I do like the old book smell. Anyway, I bought my first used book of the summer (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) at the Blue Dragon Bookshop a few weeks ago. Last Thursday, I went to the Book Exchange Used Book Store and bought two more used books (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Anne of the Island). Today when I was in town, I couldn't help but look in the Book Exchange. I found a cheap copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which is one of my favorites in the series. I think buying used books may become a habit before too long! The book collector in me has finally surfaced. I hardly ever spend money and now I've found something to buy. If only the Public Libraries were open, then maybe I wouldn't feel the urge to buy books.

My heart cries... I've been spoiled...

2007-07-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

So today I was on the Internet, just clicking around on some blogs, looking for interesting posts when I came across a Harry Potter spoiler. I was horrified and closed the window immediately. I didn't want to see it! Oh, I've been so lucky not to have been spoiled before this. It isn't the most horrible spoiler. It could have been a Harry lives/dies spoiler. I must restrict my Internet wanderings. Rebecca said that she'd get the book to me by next Tuesday or so. Here is the spoiler (in white text): RIP Severus Snape. It was just a headline. Maybe they're wrong (says the blatant optimist in me)!

UPDATE (July 26): Rebecca did not get the book today at the school library, so I'll have to get it next week because she won't be there. This means I'll get to read it first. Oh, I suppose another week couldn't hurt unless the person who has it now takes longer than a week to get it back in! Ahhh!

The books I grew up with...

2007-07-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have decided to compile a list of my favorite children's books. These are the stories that I would ask to be reread over and over again.

Picture Books

Chapter Books

Harry Potter Predictions

2007-07-06T17:26:00.000-07:00

With the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows drawing near (15 Days!), I have to try my hand at predicting the outcome of the final book. Up front, I have to say that I'm an optimist. With that said, I could (and probably will) be very wrong. I'm following the Scolastic questions:

Who lives? Who dies?
I know Harry could die, but I BELIEVE (and hope) he will live. I think Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Luna will live because I can't imagine losing those characters. However, Neville has a good possibility of dying because he was the other choice for the prophesy. I think Lupin could die fighting Greyback. Snape, Wormtail, Bellatrix (I think that's a cool name), and Lucious Malfoy could die. I think Draco and Narcissa will live. Voldemort HAS to die. As far as the Weasley kids go, Bill or Charlie are the only ones I could see dying. Percy can't because he's the bad child and there is no reason for the twins to die. Arthur could die, but I doubt Molly will. I think Hagrid and Tonks will survive.

Is Snape good or evil?
This is a hard question. I think Snape has to have some good in him because he's been working with Dumbledore for so long and Harry has been so against him. There must be some reason why Dumbledore had to die. Snape must have had to prove his loyalty to Voldemort so that the greater plan can work out.

Will Hogwarts reopen?
I think that Hogwarts has to reopen because the whole backbone of the plot is based around Hogwarts. Plus, this is book seven and year seven. Also, I think the trio must go back for their final year, even though Harry seems adamantly against it.

Who winds up with whom?
I am optimistic as ever in this category. I think Harry and Ginny will wind up together (assuming they both live) and Hermione and Ron will get together. I don't think the Lupin and Tonks relationship will work out because Lupin may die. Neville and Luna could end up together if they both survive.

Where are the Horcruxes?
Horcruxes tend to end up where Voldemort has been. For example, the diary was at Hogwarts (though Voldemort himself did not put it there) and the ring was at the House of Guant. The locket was supposed to be in the cave where he went with those kids. There could be one at Borgin and Burks because he worked there. I suspect one could be at the Orphanage where he grew up. Another could be at Godric's Hollow where he killed Lily and James. I doubt there is another one at Hogwarts. The Ministry of Magic, Hogsmeade, and St. Mungo's are out of the question. I suppose one could be at Azkaban, but I don't think so.

Will Voldemort be defeated?
One word: YES! I could imagine J.K. Rowling ending the series any other way. I doubt he will be defeated by the Avada Kedavra curse. He will probably be defeated in a very unique way.

What are the Deathly Hallows?
It could be the area beyond the veil in the Ministry of Magic. Deathly Hallows literally means "a sacred place like death." The veil could be described as such, but then we come to a problem. Sirius went through the veil and never came back. Is Sirius really dead? J.K. Rowling never assured us that he died.

Other Predictions:
I think Aberforth Dumbledore will be introduced in the seventh book. He could give us a lot more information and insight about Albus Dumbledore. Also, I think that R.A.B. is Regulus Black (Sirius' Brother) and that we will learn much more about him. The two-way mirror will probably be important. Maybe it will be the key in contacting Sirius or something to do with the Deathly Hallows. Arabella Figg may do magic because J.K. Rowling said that someone would do magic for the first time.

What I want to see:
I think it would be really cool if there were time turners in the seventh book. This is improbable since all the ones inside the Ministry were destroyed.

Letters, Now Old-fashioned

2007-07-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

With the growing popularity of e-mails and instant messaging and even BLOGS, letters have become old-fashioned. Though I was born during the information age, I still write letters and have convinced a few of my friends to write back. Currently, I'm writing two of my friends while away this summer. One friend and I have a tradition of decorating and writing on the back of the envelopes. I used to write to my half-sister, before she went to college. I also wrote to another friend before we switched to e-mail. I met my very first penpal May 20, 2000 at my cousin Linnea's wedding. After hanging out together for the entire reception, we decided to write. It has since been seven years. I saw her in April for the first time since then when I visited my aunt. We are not currently writing letters, but keep in touch.

Receiving a letter in the mail is always so exciting. Maybe it's because it takes so much longer and is much more infrequent than e-mails. Letters are often longer and well thought out whereas e-mails can be as short as a few words typed hurriedly. There is a certain charm in a letter that cannot be obtained in an e-mail.

What? No Libraries?

2007-07-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

First there was this:

ALL 15 Jackson County Library branches are closed as of Saturday, April 7, 2007, due to a lack of funding.

Then, came this:

Effective May 31, 2007 all branches of the Josephine County Library system will be closed due to lack of funding.

The nearest public library from here is in Keno, OR. That is 32.5 miles or 39 minutes away (according to mapquest). The nearest public library in Siskiyou County is in Yreka (population 7,204). That is 42 miles or 44 minutes away. The nearest public library in Douglas County is in Glendale (population 855). That is 65.5 miles or 66 minutes away. This geeky moment is brought to you by me.

I was horrified when my dad informed me that the federal funding for the libraries had run out and that they were closing down. What's even worse is that there was a levy on the May ballot that could have prevented this, but people voted it down. They didn't want their property taxes increased! I personally think libraries are more important than a few less cents in your pocket. I prepared for the long summer by bringing down over 60 books from my own bookshelf in Portland.

Luckily for the students of Ashland, the school board decided to keep each school library open once a week. The high school library is open on Thursdays from noon to seven. I went there with my friend opening day (June 28). We actually went the week before (that's another story), but of course it wasn't open yet. We expected there to be tons of people inside. Though we arrived a few minutes after opening and stayed there for 2 1/2 hours, we only saw a handful of people come in. Rebecca was able to check out books for me on her account. The librarian was nice enough to let us check out three over the limit (five). There were several former public librarians volunteering there. They were eager to help us in any way. I'm going to volunteer there on Thursdays if they can find anything for me to do.

The Parting - New Amish Book

2007-06-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

After the conclusion of the Annie's People series, I was worried that Beverly Lewis had stopped writing new books. There was no "Coming Soon" page in the back of the book. Recently, I was happy to discover that she has a new series called The Courtship of Nellie Fisher coming out. The first book, The Parting, comes out October 1. I've already got it held at the library. Here is the description from her website:

The People themselves dare to challenge the Old Ways of their heritage…and each patriarch must choose a side.

Nearly one hundred days have passed since the untimely death of Nellie Mae Fisher's beloved younger sister, Suzy, and Nellie dares again to dream of a future with handsome Caleb Yoder. But with rumors about Suzy still flying among the People, there are those who would keep the young courting couple apart…including Caleb's own father.
Meanwhile, a growing number of Honeybrook's Amish farmers are demanding tractors and other forbidden modern conveniences. When a revival adds to the tensions, passions flare. With the Old Order community pushed to the breaking point, Nellie and Caleb find their families—and themselves—in the midst of what threatens to become an impossible divide.

Little House Abridging

2007-06-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

I am angered at the fact that Harper Collins feels the need to make the Little House books simpler and shorter! All new editions of the Martha, Charlotte, Caroline, and Rose books will be abridged. I looked on Amazon and saw that many of them will only be 160 pages in length. Many of those books are 200-375 pages now. As a result, Melissa Wiley, the author of the yet unfinished Martha and Charlotte books, has declined from writing any other books. This is what she said in her blog:

In light of these changes, I have decided not to continue writing Martha and Charlotte books. Although it is indeed strange to know that I will not tell the rest of their stories (especially the story of Martha and Lew's romance, for which I have been sowing seeds since the first books), I do not think it is such a bad thing to end my part of the story with Beyond the Heather Hills and Across the Puddingstone Dam. In both of those books, I had the opportunity to say something about what is good and true and enduring in this world. Martha glimpsed it, looking into the eyes of her infant niece. Charlotte glimpsed it in the eyes of her mother, the grown-up Martha, who endured the worst kind of loss but, through faith, managed to keep hold of—and share—her joy.

I am so thankful that I have bought all the titles already, but I am so disappointed that Melissa Wiley will not be writing the rest of the Martha and Charlotte books.

Harry Potter List Galore

2007-06-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the seventh Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I'm posting a bunch of Harry Potter related lists.

Possible Horcruxes:

Riddle's Diary (destroyed by Harry)
Marvelo Ring (destroyed by Albus Dumbledore)
Slytherin's Locket
Hufflepuff's Cup
Nagini (the snake)
Something of Ravenclaw's or Gryffindor's
Voldemort

The Weasley Kids

Bill - November 29, 1970
Charlie - December 12, 1972
Percy Ignatius - August 22, 1976
Fred - April 1, 1978
George- April 1, 1978
Ronald (Ron) Bilius - March 1, 1980
Ginevra (Ginny) Molly - August 11, 1981

Defence Against the Dark Arts Teachers

Quirrell (Posessed by Voldemort)
Gilderoy Lockhart (Memory charm backfired)
Remus Lupin (werewolf)
Mad Eye Moody (really Barty Crouch Jr.)
Dolorus Umbridge (sacked)
Severus Snape (killed Dumbledore)
??? Aberforth Dumbledore (my crazy guess)