Past reading

Star Trek the Next Generation: Resistance, J.M. Dillard
Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt
             Resistance is a book about the Starship Enterprise's struggles against an especially aggressive race called the Borg. I find it an enticing read, but I also feel that J.M. Dillard sometimes tries too hard to be a good writer, if you know what I mean. S/he often writes with detail a little over the top. S/he often restates what s/he said only moments ago, trying to really leave you with an adequate vision of what is going on, and it works, but I am a little bored of redundancy.
             Angela's Ashes is excellent. A memoir about the childhood of Frank McCourt, it's sort of--I guess you could call it subtly depressing. Frank retells details of his miserable life in a monotone, with almost no description of emotion. It's almost as if Frank floated through his experiences, occasionally commenting and interacting, but simply watching and drinking in.

November's Favorite

Comments during book: Distant Waves, Suzanne Weyn page 54 Beautiful writing. It's set in the late 1800's/early 1900's, so the language is pretty advanced and fancy, but i'm managing to keep my head above water. It reminds me a lot of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth Speare, which is one of my favorite books. It must have been easier for Speare to write in an old-fashioned way, seeing as that book was written much longer ago than Distant Waves. So how does Weyn do it? It's a mystery.				11/2/10	by 713eliza	Delete
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For the response to this book, click label Responses.

Notes During Reading: Star Trek

Star Trek, Alan Dean Foster

page 34

Let me just say this: HUGE Star Trek fan, particularly The Next Generation. For your convenience, I will not elaborate right now on the difference between a Trekkie and a Trekker. However. The book relays the story of the most recent Star Trek movie, and although the language is somewhat challenging, I understand enough of the book to enjoy it. The book is filled with excitement and danger, just like the TV series. I can see the photon torpedos heading for the ship's hull; I can see the sweat and blood trickling down the faces of the ship's crew. Granted, I am somewhat of a nerd; so this kind of thing is perfect. And so if you feel yourself being pulled over to the geeky side if life (we have cookies!) then this book is a must.

During-Reading Comments

Catalyst, by Laurie Halse Anderson

page 74

    Gripping. How could the main character, Kate, only apply to one college? She couln't take the time to apply to more, at least one more? Where is her future now? It's too late to write to more schools. What is she planning to do? What was she planning to do if she didn't get in? This book has me completely in the moment and STRESSED! Holy cow! I'm not even in high school yet and I'm worried about college!
    Guess what, readers? I have my first ever SIGNED COPY! And this book is by one of my favorite authors! You may have read my posts about Wintergirls and favorite authors. Okay! Read on!

October's Favorite

Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
Page 167
Loving every page. Beautiful quotes. Fantastic and fantastical, but haunting. Read these:

page 15: The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and cavities and boyfriend/girlfriend juice, the stain of lies. For one moment we are not failed tests and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better. Then it melts.

 page 28: I bit the days off in rows, corn kernels that popped in my mouth and wedged in between my teeth. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Again. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Again.

page 32: Plastic stars wait on the cold ceiling, watching the light switch, nervous, ready for the dark and their que to glow.

page 50: Clouds hang in the air. Tears roll down the mirrors, walls, and the windows.