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Showing posts from February, 2018

A Novel Based on a Real Person

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MOM'S READING This was not my first choice, but a series of circumstances led me to this book Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin.  It is based on the life of King Hezekiah.  I am not completely done but I enjoy it.  It isn't amazing but it is a good story.  I have read 2 other books by Lynn Austin and have found her to be one of my favorites.  This wasn't totally disappointing but it wasn't the same as her other books.  This book didn't seem to have much to work with especially when you are basing characters off of people from the Bible- that has got to be tough to write. Progress: 8/40 & 0/10 HERMIONE'S READING I broadened the prompt by letting biographies count even though I don't know if they do technically but we get to make up the rules so it counts.  Hermione says she learned that he wasn't successful in the beginning and he was once paid with 100s of razors and nail clippers- that was her favorite. READ ALOUD Since this

True...crime?

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 This week our reading theme was true crime, but I focused more on the true part and less on the crime part....at least for the girls any way.  Plus this theme overlaps the next which is "read a novel based on a real person" and I haven't found many appealing "novels" about real people but since it is Lent I think reading about the saints would be appropriate.  Any way, onward and upward....what have we been reading any way. MOM'S READING I finished Truevine by Beth Macy.  It was good and well researched.  I learned a lot about circus sideshows, the Jim Crow south, and a family with a strange history.  I chose this book because February is also Black History Month and I wanted to find a book that researched some crimes done on African Americans.  This book didn't disappoint my goal.   HERMIONE'S READING Hermione had a little catch up reading to do.  She read some shorter books this week and this shows you how much we don&#

Sports

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MOM'S READING I wasn't looking forward to this week's theme and I was right not to.  This week we attempted (I say attempted because Hermione is a little behind and I wasn't actively looking for sports books for the other two girls) to read a book about or involving sports.  This was the group read from Facebook Popsugar AND Goodreads so it was voted to read Beartown by Fredrick Backman.  I am not really enjoying it.  It is too predictable and fully of cliches.  There are many serious issues addressed but it is too repetitive and tries WAY too hard to sound philosophical.  I don't want to discount the subject matter but it totally reminded me of why I hate sports culture and high school.  I am still not finished so maybe it gets a little better but I won't be counting on it.  I am listening to this book on audio and there are too many characters to keep track of for me- but that might be a personal preference.  Too bad- I had seen such praise for this

Next Book in a Series

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MOM'S READING   For our reading this week was a "gimme" because we do love book series around here.  I decided to read Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery.  I started Emily of New Moon last year so only naturally I thought it would be great to read the next one.  L.M. Montgomery certainly does have a style that is enjoyable and themes that are timeless.  Popsugar Reading Stats: 5/40 & 0/10 HERMIONE'S READING It is good this was an easy week because Hermione is a little behind.  She is still reading her book from last week's theme, but she had earlier this year been reading through the Big Nate series and the Mysterious Benedict Society. ARIANA'S READING My 3rd grader's current favorite series are Ever After High, the Rainbow Magic Fairy books, and the World According to Humphrey- at least these were all the books she was reading this week. LUCY'S READING Honestly I didn't have time to get Lucy a