888 Challenge Check in

I have made some progress on my challenge list – and actually managed to complete 3 books during my vacation week – which is much more than I accomplish during a regular week. Because I blog. I started the challenge in February, and I have now read 18 books. I have also read a book “in process.” My friend Jennifer is an author…and has asked some people to read her book before she sends it off to publishers. So…19 books.

In the car, on the way to Tampa, I finished “Seduction of the Crimson Rose” by Lauren Willig. This is the fourth in Willig’s series about the “flower” spies of the London aristocracy during the Napoleonic wars (The first is “The Secret History of the Pink Carnation.). I really like this series. It has everything. Action. Adventure. History. And most importantly, romance. One of the things that I like about this series is that they are framed by another story: that of a grad student in today’s time doing research for her dissertation on the identity of the Pink Carnation. The juxtaposition of the contemporary romance with that of the regency time is a fun contrast. All the books in this series are very witty…but this one has a very cynical edge to it.

Next in line: Marie Phillip’s first novel “Gods Behaving Badly.” It is a comedy of the absurd. Imagine that the Greek Gods have moved from Olympus to a townhouse in London that they were able to get cheaply during the plague…and they haven’t cleaned it since. Because they are Gods. They have all but lost their powers because no one believes in them anymore. Even Eros doesn’t believe in the Greek Gods anymore and he is one! He says to his mother, Aphrodite, “I wish my mother was the virgin Mary.” Bickering Gods leads to seeking revenge on one another…and it takes a very ordinary human to step up and be a hero to save us all.

And while I am reading books that will never be read by my book group, I continue the trend with Zoey Dean’s “How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls.” This is a really clever book about a massively in debt Yale grad with an English degree. And having seen “Avenue Q” – you know that it sucks to be the main character – because what do you do with a BA in English?! If you are the heroine of this novel, you get the chance of a lifetime to have your debt erased by helping two filthy rich girls/Paris Hilton wannabes get into Duke. Take a moment to savor the vision. And the possibilities. One of the funniest parts of the book is the multiple guess questions that are proposed at the beginning of each chapter (she is trying to make studying for the SAT “relevant” to the girls): Choose the analogy that best complements the following phrase:
YACHT : SOCIETY PRINCESS
cardboard box : wino
Chihuahua : rock starlet
Cocaine : supermodel
Fendi Baguette : Sarah Jessica Parker
Drug arrests : Robert Downey, Jr.

While we were on the cruise, my husband finished “I hope they serve beer in hell” by Tucker Max…and he handed it off to me. First of all…I apologize to any of you who picked this book up after seeing it on my website…and for some reason thought it was a recommendation from me. It is not. It is a clear departure from most books that I read. I think it could be categorized as the antithesis to the chick lit genre. I will admit that I laughed out loud at several stories…but pretty quickly, the book got old and stale. Perhaps it’s funnier to people who actually know Tucker Max. I am sure that it is hilarious to people who like stories about drinking, whoring, and excrement. And if curiosity is getting the better of you…just check out Tuckermax.com and you can read at least half of the book there. For free.

MY week in review

Every Friday, I blog about our week. It's usually about what we accomplished homeschooling. Sometimes it takes the form of a mini (okay...sometimes not so mini...picky, picky!) rant. Sometimes I tell you about what all of us accomplished (attempted...thought about...procrastinated...failed to do...). This week...you are just going to hear about me. It's my blog, and I'll pontificate if I want to.

In order to tell you about a week of homeschooling...Katie has to finish her week. We have had so much drama today (ummm...and yesterday...and the day before...ummm...all week) that she didn't finish much. My math genius stood here in the kitchen and said to me (about a simple multiplication problem) "I don't get it." Huh? I gave her a perplexed look, and the tears streamed and streamed. Again, huh?! I believe there has been an attack of hormones. Maybe we'll attempt that week in review over the weekend.

So, instead of Katie's week...you can hear about mine. Because it's endlessly fascinating. Compelling. Enthralling. Tedious?

Monday started with me going to water aerobics. I am not much of an exerciser. I don't even like to walk up the hill to get the mail. I figured that I love the water...I hate to sweat...it would be a good match. I am by far the youngest one in the class. It's interesting doing our "cycling" across the pool and being lapped by a 67 year old. Twice. After the class, I felt fine...but later that day, I could really really tell that I had worked muscles that forgot that they were muscles. They didn't much appreciate the reminder as they were quite looking forward to retirement as fat cells.

Tuesday brought a frenzy of a day. Tuesday is the day the girls have choir with Gwinnett Young Singers. And at the same time, I had to be at a homeschool class fair to "sell my wares" so to speak (get people to sign up for Latin classes for next school year). I had to make a display board and some handouts for people. Yes, I have known about it for a month...and the day of is the best time to do this you know.

I have been teaching Latin to high school homeschoolers for three years. I don't have a degree in it. And actually, I have not studied it at all since high school. It just stuck with me. I can decline and conjugate on command. I should be in a talent show. I took five years of Latin in high school. No, I was not held back. My high school started in 8th grade. Most 8th graders took art...but no, not me. See...my avoidance of crafts has been a life long thing.

So...anyway...on Tuesday...I needed to make a display board. Of course this requires a trip to my happy place. On Tuesday. Did you know that tri-fold boards cost $75? It was a pretty good deal if you ask me. A much better deal than those $400 jar openers. For someone who hates crafts (and creating a tri-fold board is a craft)...I didn't do so bad:

I had 9 students sign up for my class on Tuesday evening -- and I am sure that I will have more when we get closer to the start of the school year. Pretty good. I even stole a student from the Spanish teacher (shhh...don't tell!).

Wednesday brought another morning of water aerobics. There was progress. I was only lapped once. Okay, fine, one and a half times. Picky, picky. In the afternoon, I took Katie to the doctor for a mysterious fever. She registered at normal in the doctor's office. And then 3, count them 3, minutes later, registered at 101.8. Mysterious indeed.

The highlight of my Wednesday was going to see the musical "Avenue Q" at the Fox theatre. What? You haven't heard of this hilarious play? Click on the link to check it out. Basically, it's Sesame street for adults. The main character (err...puppet) just graduated from college...has no money or job...I mean, what can you do with a BA in English? So...he ends up in a run down apartment on "Avenue Q" with Gary Coleman (yes, that Gary Coleman) as the super...Which leads to the first song: "It sucks to be me." The music is hilarious - great songs like "everyone is a little bit racist" or "The internet is for porn." If you feel compelled (and you should!)...go to you tube and look up "Avenue Q" and you can see it in action and hear the songs.

Thursday...pretty uneventful. Because of Katie's mysterious fever we stayed home from homeschool classes so as not to inflict others with mysterious fever disease. Rhea, have you looked that one up on WebMD?

Thursday evening was my book club - and we discussed "Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson. I am so glad that I read his "Devil in the White City" first. I would never have picked it up if I read "Isaac" first. It's about the Galveston hurrican of 1900 which is the largest natural disaster in the US. It's a compelling story about the hubris of the weather bureau (how they refused to use the word hurricane so that they would not panic people; how they did not allow the Cubans to telegraph weather information because they were easily excitable - and so that they would not "steal" weather forecasts; how they were SURE that no hurricanes could go as far west as Texas - and that hurricanes only move on ONE set path). Compelling, no? But...Erik Larson needed a theasaurus and an editor. I have never read a book that needed charts, pictures, and diagrams as much as this one. I was ready to throw it against the wall...and then I reached page 150...and the human element emerged. It was harrowing to read what happened on that hot and humid day in September of 1900.

And then there was today. The day of fluctuating hormones. I remained calm. I didn't need a mommy time out. I was on the verge. But I had a moment of Zen and moved on. Tonight the girls had their Spring concert with their choir. There are 4 different levels of choirs...so it made for a long evening -- but what a place to hear the beautiful voices of children.

(Madalyn got a little sleepy by 10pm when she was waiting to sing with all the choirs!)

888 Challenge Check in: Reviews of the "Twilight Saga" and "Body Drama"

I am really enjoying the 888 challenge process - and it has been a challenge. I cannot tell you how many trashy books I have ended up returning to the library because there are other books that I am trying to read. Of course, blogging is really infringing on my reading time. But that's just as constructive, right? Right? I am still basking in the glow of having Larry Goldstone, the author of "Deconstructing Penguins" post a comment to my blog in response to this post - so now I think I'll try to see if I can get other authors to come by and say "hello!" It's a reasonable goal. Right?

My friend Abbey has been chomping at the bit for me to finish the "Twilight" series...and last night I finished the third book. There seems to be quite the "Twilight" bandwagon out there (Abbey even says they are "mommy crack"). I have one friend who even read them with her bookclub. The series has quite the fans - and the movie has even been cast. Maybe I am the only one...but I don't get it.

The summary in a nutshell: Bella is new in town...and she captures the attention of the beautiful and perfect Edward. Edward has to work hard to control his blood lust for Bella because he is a vampire. Edward is constantly worried about protecting the accident prone Bella from certain death. Love ensues. She meets a werewolf. Love ensues. She has to choose. Drama ensues.

For the entire first book, I had violent thoughts about Bella (the heroine). She's needy, dependent, and clueless...and by the end of the book, obsessive. I have read quite a few reviews of people who had the same reaction to Bella...but they loved Edward. Again...I don't get it. I don't understand what Edward (or all the other guys in Forks) sees in her.

In the second book, Bella really needed an intervention. Her obsession for Edward (who chose to leave her so that she could lead a "normal" life - oh the irony!) is out of control. And then she on a dime trades that obession for another - for Jacob and for living life on the edge. She is still needy, dependent, and clueless...but now instead of with a vampire, it's with a werewolf. What does Jacob see in her? I don't get it.

Finally in the third book, Bella seems to get a small amount of gumption - but her gumption completely revolves around being a martyr. ACK! I didn't hate these books at all. They were a quick read. They were entertaining. But Bella...hmmm...I wonder what kind of trouble and angst she is going to cause in book four that is being published in August...because even though I don't get it...I'll still be reading the final chapter of the saga.

Next on my completed list: "Body Drama" by Nancy Amanda Redd. This book reminded me a lot of "Reviving Opheila" by Mary Pipher that I read in the early 90's. Both books explore the influence of the media on the self-confidence adolescent girls...how girls views of their own bodies are poisoned (so to speak) by constant visual stimulation of unrealistic expectations. What I like about this book (that Mary Pipher didn't do so well) is that it shows girls (in graphic details) that everyone is different...all of our parts come in different shapes and sizes...and that it is all normal. This book, I think, helps girls to realize that they have been socialized to look to the media for guidance on their own value - and for what is normal. But...in reality, girls can determine their own self worth - and what they are shown in the media is often not normal...and even more often, a complete fantasy. If you haven't seen it already -- go immediately to this link (sponsored by Dove's campaign for beauty) to see a model - and the wonders of photoshop in action!

888 Check In: I am deconstructing...

I have always considered myself to be an intelligent person. I am well read; I use words that make others scrunch up their faces in perplexion – or eyes gloss over in boredom; I have been called pedantic. But there is nothing like reading a book on how to critically discuss children’s literature to put me in my place.

I decided to read Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone’s "Deconstructing Penguins" after seeing several rave reviews on the WTM homeschool board. I had also seen it on several bloggers lists of books they were reading or were planning to read. Amazon has good reviews. And my library had the book…so I put it on reserve.

The basic premise of the book is that an author has intentional layers in his book – and it’s up to us as readers to solve the mystery of what the book is really about. By figuring out what a book really means, we move from being passive readers to active critical thinkers. The authors formed a child/parent book club and they used their technique to help children and their parents find the underlying meaning in the books they read. The first book they discussed was “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” which gave birth to the title of this book as they deconstructed the message of the story.

So…why do I feel like an idiot? In the book, the Goldstones state: “…you don’t need an advanced degree in English literature or forty hours a week of free time to effectively discuss a book with your child. This isn’t 'Crime and Punishment', it’s 'Charlotte’s Web'.” The authors do an amazing job of helping the members of their book group deconstruct titles such as "Babe: The Gallant Pig," "Frindle," "View from Saturday," "Phantom Tollbooth," and even some poetry. But…wow…I never would have arrived at the conclusions that they found. I am still not sure that I can arrive at the correct protagonist and antagonist for the books that I read.

And then, one of my favorite young adult books, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry is slammed in a chapter called “Obvious Characters, Contrived Endings, and Convenient Plot devices.” I understand their points after reading the chapter. But…I liked that story…and its subsequent sequels. And it even won the Newberry in 1994! Perhaps my critical thinking skills are a bit rusty…

I am looking forward to “deconstructing” "Animal Farm" with Katie next week…but only because this book is going to hold my hand through the process. I am looking forward to opportunities to discuss all the mentioned books with my children. But…what am I going to do for books that are not mentioned? The book does not give me a plug and go formula for dealing with other books…and after reading it…I am not sure that I have the skills to deconstruct on my own…