Lois Lowry

So,  three of the next four books I've read have been written by Lois Lowry.  I looked her up because I enjoyed the books so much.  They are all so different, but have something trying them together.  I just couldn't figure out how to sum up what it was. This is what she said about her books on her site, which you can check out on your own (http://www.loislowry.com/). "My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections."  I read this, and I was like "Duh! That is it!"  I got interested in Lois Lowry while I was working at George Kelly and the 8th graders there were reading The Giver.  I decided to read the book all these 8th graders were enjoying and loved it.  It inspired me to go out and buy some more of her books. (To be fair, it doesn't take much to give me an excuse to visit a book store and spend some money.)

Book 4: The Silent Boy
by Lois Lowry
Finished January 30th

The book is pretty cool how it incoporated real pictures and ancestors.  It totally got to me, seeing as I am a huge historical fiction fan.  I really enjoyed the story told from a little girls point of view.  It is set in the early 1900's in a farming community.  Katy, the girl, is the daughter of a doctor and tells of her experiences with another boy in the community and his family.  The boy is "touched" and has a special way of seeing the world and handling animals.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.  It definitely displays how we are all interconnected in our community.

Book 5: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
by James Patterson
Finished February 3rd

This book is a teen adventure.  It is kinda one of my secret obsession.  I love teen adventure.  It is adventure without the foul language and usually has some underlying message.  This one is about a group of children that have been genetically altered to have the bones and wings of a bird.  Or course, there are the typical bad guys, and an evil nemesis.  It has them exploring the country for their family history and purpose for exisiting.  It is the first of a trilogy, which I did not realize when I started.  If you are not interested in starting a trilogy, don't read this.  It leaves a lot of items hanging at the end of the book.

Book 6:  Gathering Blue
by Lois Lowry
Finished February 6th

This book has probably been my favorite I've read so far this year.  It is about a primitive like community that rids itself of their weak and young that have flaws.  Although, there are few exceptions, the story is told from the point of view of one of those exceptions.  Her name is Kira, who has had a twisted leg since birth, and was allowed to live.  She has extrodinary talent in weaving, which saves her from banishment when her mom dies from an unexpected illness.  I don't want to give too much away, (I could talk for hours about this one), but it has a couple of surprising turns in the story, and well worth your time.  It is also a book that has a theme of human connections.  Lois Lowry is a genius.  Also, according to her website this is the second book in a trilogy with The Giver.  Their stories are not related to the extend that you need to read one to understand the other.  They share no characters, but... I think it is a trilogy due to the similar setting and theme.  Read it.  You will love it.

Book 7: Gossamer
by Lois Lowry
Finished February 7th

If you are a dream junkie, you will enjoy this book.  It is about how these fairylike creatures collect memories to give us dreams.  The story centers around Littlest One and her experiences with an older lady and the boy that is staying at her house.  Of course you are encountered with this relationship between the lonely old woman, and an angry, hurt boy.... and the dog.  It also connects our dreams with the strength we need to deal with the challenges each day.  The book goes in a full circle, from Littlest One's first day of training, until her last day of training when she meets the newest dream maker.

New Year, New Books

Happy New Year! Yeah, I know I'm over a month late, but it is one of my goals this year to keep my blog updated. This morning I was contemplating what I could do to get myself motivated, or what I could write about. Then I remembered that I also have a goal to read one hundred new books this year. I thought I could do a Julie&Julia thing here. I'm going to try it, so here goes. I am going to blog about each new book I read. I am about 7 books behind at this moment. I will try to catch up. :)

Book 1: Inkheart
by Cornelia Funke
Finished January 10th

I got this book because I saw the movie. I saw the movie and enjoyed it. Like most movies written from books, I figured the book must be better. I will have to say, some parts of the movie played better for me then in the book. Although, in both the book and the movie, my favorite character is the little boy read out of From the Thousand and One Nights book, Farid. This book is fanciful and imaginative. It is a good book to read out loud to children. I think my nephew would love it. Hum, I should lend it to him. I do think he could relate to the martin. Mischievous.
How crazy exciting would it be to met the characters you have created. I think if I knew that could happen, I would try my darnedest to become an author. I don't know what kind of character I would want to come out of a book.

Book 2: Old Magic
by Marianne Curley
Finished January 18th

This book was an adventure. It took you though time and magic. It starts like a typical "I'm different" book. Outsider girl is drawn to new boy who displays a curious talent. The ideas inside are all magical; witches, curses, transformations, time travel, love, etc. It does talk of strong family ties and heritage. I bought this book as Amber's Christmas gift. It is not the kind of book I normally go for, but I thought, Why not? Pretty good. Definitely an Amber book.

Book 3: 'Till We Have Faces
by C.S. Lewis
Finished January 26th

I LOVED this book! As it says on the back of the cover, it is a myth retold. Which myth you say? The one with Psyche and Cupid. Although, sometimes it doesn't seem it, the story is full of all types of developing love. It reminds you of how selfish ones views can get when they are filled with misconceptions and misunderstandings. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I don't want to give too much away except that if you love mythology you will love this new twist on things. Well, not really new, but you will love it. I don't know what else to say, but read it.