Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Books #52-54

The first book I read was Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica. This is a middle school novel set in Boston and NYC. Molly's mom has died and she is living with her mom's best friend in Boston. Just before her never-married mom died, Molly found out that her dad was the star of the Boston Celtics. Molly's mission is to convince the MVP that he is indeed her father. This book was well-written, though from my point of view, predictable. I think my 6th grade girls especially will find it engrossing. I'm considering using it this year along with another Lupica book Heat.

On the adult side, I read Rumer Godden's Coromandel Sea Change. This is one of hers I hadn't read before. It takes place in India, probably in the 1950's. I found the plot a bit dated, but the writing is wonderful.

Finally, I LISTENED to Janet Evanovich's Fearless Fourteen. I wanted to knit on my porch and I wanted to read. Voila! Audio books. I enjoyed the experience, but wish I had read the book instead of listened to it. Because this is a series that I love, and have read, I have developed very strong character visualizations. The reader's interpretation of Ranger drove me nuts, thus taking a bit of the pleasure out of the book. I also got a bit tired of all the "bad" language --- it's not horrible, but I never noticed it while I read. Despite all that, the plot was good, the potato cannons and the monkey made me laugh out loud, and I got a lot of knitting done. I think that in the future, I will choose books to listen to in which I haven't invested quite so much imagination.

Speaking of bad language, I guess I shouldn't complain. I started watching the first season of Deadwood, and while I really like the story, every other word of the dialogue is a "F" word or worse. I don't get it. I guess I wouldn't mind so much if the vocabulary was a little larger, but to hear the same 3-4 words used repeatedly is a little much!

I'm still working on the Lace Ribbon scarf. I think I'm on the last pattern repetition. I hope so -- I love the pattern, but I'm tired of it. And I'm basically a monogamous knitter. 99% of the time I only have one project going at a time, although I have been known to have a pair of socks going at the same time as big project for portability's sake. But this scarf was supposed to be the portable project, which it is. It's been to Los Angeles, Connecticut, and Rhode Island in the last 3 weeks!

6 comments:

Caps said...

Hey there. Saw your blog on the Blog Train on Ravelry!

I can't wait to read Fearless Fourteen. I'm still in the middle of Lean Mean Thirteen. And I know what you mean about having charcaters developed in your mind, which is why I'm a little nervous for the movies to come out (if they ever do). I just know it won't be the same...

Unknown said...

I have that pattern in mind, too, but haven't found the right yarn for it yet. You would think the stash would provide!

Becka said...

Bless your heart, I know you love teaching and your heart has called you to teach if you teach 6th graders! Thank you for choosing to teach, too! Teachers are a wonderful gift to our children!
Hey from Becka from Ravelry Group "Blog Comments Train!"

Bianca said...

Amazing!Just two projects on the go... wish I could say that :-) I envy your scarf...hahaha... traveling through the US :-)

Greetings from Bianca (Lansingerland on Ravelry.... I came here through the Blog Comments Train)

Unknown said...

I am always amazed at how the language comes out on audio when I can just read right past it. The same is true for some sex scenes. I have not yet found a satisfactory romance novel on audiobook for that reason. They just sound silly.

cate said...

Oooohhh, new book ideas! Thanks for dropping by from the blog train!!! Gonna find out more about UCC! catie