AOL RED Blogs: Pages RED

'Eclipse' Is Gonna Burn Bright

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:51:49 PDT

In my hot little hands I have the book I've been most excited about this summer ... well, after 'Harry Potter.' 'Eclipse' is the third installment in Stephenie Meyer's vampire love saga, and her books are, hands down, the #1 most-recommended books by readers of this blog. I was instantly sucked into the world of 'Twilight' when it was published in 2005 and spent a solid day of a vacation last year devouring 'New Moon.' Meyer's world is believable but fantastic, innocent yet sexy. She was bold enough to take the series in a way I never would have expected, in only the second book. I'm trying to savor 'Eclipse' by reading it slowly, hoping that no one would try to spoil this the way that YouTube fiends love to spoil the 'Potter' books an instant after they go on sale. For some reason Meyer's books don't get an ounce of the press that J.K. Rowling gets, and it seems like Meyer's fans are at least as devoted as Rowling's. I'm going to blame the fact that there's no real title for the series. Yeah, that's it. So I know you guys love these books. Are you reading the new one? Are you already finished and rereading it for the 7th time already? I know how it goes with these, 'cause I'm pretty much the same way. There would never have been enough Harry, Ron and Hermione, and there will probably never be enough Bella and Edward, either. Just promise they're going to make out some more.

A Midway-ish Update

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:22:36 PDT

... on The 50 Book Challenge. How am I doing? Check it out ... = loved it = hated it = recommended for under age 15 = somewhere from "eh" to good ____________________________________________________ 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood 'Safe Passage' by Ellyn Bache 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury 'Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood' by Ann Brashares 'The Year of Magical Thinking' by Joan Didion 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter' by Kim Edwards 'Fear of Falling: The Inner Life of the Middle Class' by Barbara Ehrenreich 'For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women' by Barbara Ehrenreich 'Everything Is Illuminated' by Jonathan Safran Foer 'Stardust' by Neil Gaiman 'The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance' by Catherine Ryan Hyde 'Girl, Interrupted' by Susanna Kaysen (reread) 'Couldn't Keep It to Myself' by Wally Lamb & the women of York Correctional Institute 'Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx' by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc 'Life As It Comes' by Anne-Laure Mondoux 'Taking Precautions' by Shyama Perera 'My Sister's Keeper' by Jodi Picoult'The Pact' Jodi Picoult 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' by J.K. Rowling (reread) 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' by J.K. Rowling (reread) 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' by J.K. Rowling (reread) 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' by J.K. Rowling (reread) 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' by J.K. Rowling 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz 'Contact' by Carl Sagan 'Naked' by David Sedaris 'The Sirens of Titan' by Kurt Vonnegut 'Armageddon Summer' by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville So I'm at 28/50 ... how are you folks doing?

No More 'Potter' ... WHAT NOW?!

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:36:11 PDT

OK, so ... seriously? 'Harry Potter' is OVER? Like, there will never be another book? EVER? I don't know how you guys are taking it but ... WAH! Yeah, I'm still rereading my favorite chapters from Book 7 every night *cough* *dork* ... but what the heck are you going to read NOW? Here's my recommendations for 'Potter'-esque reading -- add your own suggestions as comments. Someway, SOMEHOW, we're gonna get through this. *whine* 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black'The Golden Compass' by Phillip Pullman'A Great & Terrible Beauty' (and sequels) by Libba Bray'The 'Midnighters' series by Scott Westerfeld'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy and 'The Hobbit''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events''Twilight,' 'New Moon' and 'Eclipse' by Stephenie Meyer'The Chronicles of Prydain' by Lloyd Alexander Just ... need ... MORE? Yeah, I understand. Check out these upcoming fantasy movies (or just go see 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' for the third time like I'm doing tonight).

HP7 Predictions (NOT Spoilers) from Readers

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:14:13 PDT

Janine I have to disagree with some of your predictions. J.K.Rowling has completely confirmed that Dumbledore is stone-cold dead. But I do think that we will see him in some form, like a memory, similar to the stuff with Voldemort in the 6th book. Sirius will also return in some form because she never completely confirmed his death. Hagrid is good and so is Snape. The mirror that Sirius gave Harry will turn up again. So will Kreacher but I think Dobby will not be appearing again. I think Neville or Luna might die. Neville will kill Bellatrix LeStrange in a final heroic act of revenge. AnonymousHarry and Hermione [should be a couple] Yes, I'm delusional. Your Harry's scar thing [being a Horcrux] sounds good. I hadn't thought of that. Oh yaaaa cuz when he got hit with the spell, for all we know Voldie put some of him in Harry. Harry better live. Because if he doesn't, him and Hermione won't have cute little kids!!! And your last one, I don't even think JKR thought about that ... maybe in the 7th book they'll mention it. But in every book they say we'll learn a lot about Lily ... and we never really learn that much. AnonymousJKR has said one person from Harry's year would go back to teach at Hogwarts later in life but it won't be Harry. JamieI don't think Harry will die simply because fans would be outraged and the book would be known as a publicity stunt even though it is not. I don't wish death on Harry but that would be a really new and spectacular way to end the books. I might even cry! Yes, Ginny and Harry will get together, even if I don't like it. Voldemort will die, yes, and possibly Snape too, after saving, Harry of course. And possibly, Ron or Hermione will get near death and the other will "express their true feelings." And then they'll live. kt23rose I pretty much agree except I don't think Harry's scar is a Horcrux, but who knows? Anything's possible. Prongs56 Harry lives and has Tons of Potter babies with Ginny! Oh ... and my opinion is that Snape is evil! Very EVIL! AnonymousDraco Malfoy will turn good. Brittany I SERIOUSLY THINK THAT HEDWIG IS REALLY A PERSON AND THAT PRSON IS JUST AN ANIMAGUS. THAT OWL IS JUST TOO SMART. AnonymousI think that Sirius is dead but Dumboldore isn't and that Harry is going to live with him. Well there's my thoughts. Oh and I think Neville is going to die. We will have to see. Amber Haven Aunt Petunia is a witch. I think that there will be some big magical connection between Petunia Dursley and Harry. I think that she was sent to school and was expelled or dropped out; that is why she is so bitter to Harry and about her sister. Oh, and Dudley is a Squib or just didn't get the magic gene. Jovannie The scar being a Horcrux doesn't make sense because why would Voldemort attempt to kill Harry? Horcruxes are suppose to help keep Voldemort alive. He kills Harry, another part of Voldemort dies. Nice try though. =] Also, the R.A.B. being Sirius relative would make sense. Because of the last initial. I never thought about that.

Comments on the HP5 Movie

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:10:19 PDT

CariWhoo hoo, I'm going to see 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' again tonight. Seriously, this one is my favorite. I can't even watch the first two 'Harry Potter' movies anymore -- they make 'Star Wars Episode One' look like a masterpiece. AnonymousAhhhh!!! I saw HP5 yesterday and at the beginning I was disappointed 'cause (spoiler) first, they didnt have Hermione and Ron as prefects or Harry as the Quidditch captain!!!!!!! There wasn't even any Quidditch in the movie!!!! But I really liked the Dumbledore/Voldemort scene. I think they did a pretty good job of that. SarahThe 5th movie was really awsome! I thought it followed the book pretty well. I mean, the book is long enough, and to put almost all of it in a "no-longer-than-3hr movie" was pretty cool on their part! Afterwards, when we (me and my family) were all driving home, we couldn't help but discuss the differences, what the book had and the movie didn't:1. Movie -- they didnt mention Quidditch at all.2. Ron and Hermione didnt become prefects, like in the book.3. Cho told about the secret D.A, instead of her friend Marietta, or whatever her name is in the book.4. And lastly, I dont recall Professor Umbridge and her "squad" (lol) breaking into the room in the book. I think they just caught them or something.Besides all that (which isn't really that much), I thought it was a really really great movie! During the middle, i just wanted to jump in tha screen and slap Umbridge!!! That takes some good acting -- I wish I could tell her that! lol AnonymousI disagree with your thoughts about the movie. I too went to the midnight showing, and was not impressed. They cut a lot of content and the movie just seemed too short. I am a semi-obsessed Snape fan, and I believe that he didn't get enough time in the movie. The worst part for me was the Snape's Worst Memory scene. It was very short and showed little or nothing. Sorry, I'm rambling. I believe Snape is good, but he will die in the last book. I don't want him to die, but there isn't much else to do with his character. Anyway, I love your blog! polars99 OK, first of all the movie was awsome for what is the longest book, I think ... but the differences were too much, like no Quidditch and Ron and Hermione not being prefects. But Umbridge (toad lady) never broke into the Room of Requirement; they all got caught running from her, but it's a movie.

'Harry Potter' Predictions

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:10:48 PDT

James, Kori and I are exhausted. We went to see a midnight showing of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' and I didn't go to bed until 3 a.m. If you haven't seen it yet, PLEASE PLEASE go see it! This was my favorite 'Potter' movie so far and I even forgive them for not sticking closely to the book. I need to get some sleep and then I'm gonna have to see it again. Seeing the 5th movie is getting me all excited for the release of the 7th book! James, Kori and I (can you tell we're the resident 'Harry Potter' nerds at RED?) are all ready to hit the bookstore at midnight on the 20th to pick up our reserved copies. What do you guys think is going to happen? Here are my predictions: begin geek transmission / 1. Someone will mention how Harry looks like his father but has his mother's eyes. 2. Neville Longbottom will bumble along and then commit some huge act of heroics. 3. Hermione & Ron will get together (duh, duh, double duh). Snogging ahead! 4. It'll be revealed that at the end of Book 6, Dumbledore took the draught of living death which Snape gave him and he's actually still alive and will pop up at the last moment and possibly save the day, yay yay! (Do you kids know what a Deus Ex Machina is? Look it up.) EDIT: OK, JKR confirmed that he's really dead, but are we really gonna listen to HER, the creator and writer and person who knows everything? ...Oh. 5. Ginny will flirt Harry into submission. Good Harry. Niiiiice Harry. 6. Snape is actually good, but someone else is bad, like Hagrid, maybe. (I really really hate Hagrid. It's the dialect or the beard or the shack or the animals, something though.) 7. Trelawney will make more bad predictions. And possibly one more good one. Possibly. 8. Harry's parents will appear somehow. 9. Harry's scar will be the final Horcrux. 10. R.A.B. is Sirius' brother. Yes, yes, we've all already figured that out. 11. Voldemort will be vanquished. Take THAT, Satanic evil dark lord of all that is bad. 12. My personal jury's still out on whether Harry lives or dies, but I kind of think he'll live and become either an auror or the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. For more than one year. Unless JKR decides to write a Book 8 after all. 13. For some reason, Harry has never, ever thought to ask about any other family. Will we, like, EVER find out anything about Harry's wizard grandparents and what their story is? My prediction: No. / end geek transmission

RED Readers Recommend

Mon, 2 Jul 2007 14:22:58 PDT

Katie Two of my favorite books are 'Monster' by Walter Dean Myers and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. They are both super good books and I plan on reading them again. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' took me awhile to read but it was really good. 'Monster' is about this 16-year-old boy who is accused of a crime that he didn-t do. It tells the story from his side. I totally encourage everyone to read it. It's really good. :) TaylorI just finished 'Avalon High' by Meg Cabot and I <3 it! It was different, but really interesting. I heard there was a sequel coming out in July, too, so I'm keeping my eyes open for that! AnonymousI have to read 'Eva' and 'October Sky' for my summer reading. I already finished 'Eva' and I loved it. It had so many connections to our lives now. Now I'm in the middle of 'October Sky' and I like it even more than 'Eva.' I plan to watch the movie after I finish reading and doing my journals. ShelbyI love tons of different genres. Especially fantasy books so 'Harry Potter' and 'Lord of the Rings' are my faves. I even have a life-sized cut-out of Legolas. But realistic fiction books are great too. I also like classics like 'Jane Eyre' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' CariHahaha, we bought Kori that same life-sized cut-out of Legolas for her birthday! AWESOME. AnonymousAlthough I am not a reader by any stretch of the imagination [sorry ;)], I've been reading 'Keeping Faith' by Jodi Picoult, who is one of my favorite authors. 'Keeping Faith' is awesome so far, and it is so hard to put down, mainly because it tests the religious boundaries of the common world. Highly suggested! Shel I started the 'Uglies' series just a few days ago, and I'm amazed at how good they are. It's not (by any means) a normal future/sci fi novel. It's so different, it seems real! I was reading and I was like "Oh my God, I can't believe all this is gonna happen in the future!" Then I had to remember it was just a book and it wasn't real =] I also read "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass recently. It's amazing! I would recommend it to anyone. AnonymousYou should have put 'Twilight' and 'New Moon' by Stephenie Meyer on there. 'Eclipse' is coming out in August. Those are the best books EVER!!!! CariTrust me -- they pretty much come up every day. I don't think there are any books more mentioned in this blog than them! mittywilkins I love Frank Peretti. So far this summer, I have read three of his books: 'House,' 'Hangman's Curse' and 'Nighhtmare Academy.' 'Hangman's Curse' has been made into an awesome movie too!

Couldn't Keep This One to Myself

Mon, 2 Jul 2007 14:21:50 PDT

Back from the beach, and got hardly any reading at all done, although I am about a hundred pages into a Kurt Vonnegut book, 'The Sirens of Titan.' Since Vonnegut's death earlier this year, I decided to read more of his work. But I spent pretty much all weekend fixated by an amazing book, 'Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution.' Wally Lamb is a well-known author who wrote one of my favorite books ever, 'She's Come Undone,' but he also is a volunteer teacher at a women's prison in Connecticut. He compiled this book of his students' writing which will help you drop whatever preconceived notions you might have about prison and its inhabitants. These stories are heart-breaking, astoundingly well-written and simply amazing. Check this one out!

Summer Rocks for Reading

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:41:45 PDT

Why? Because not only do we have tons of free time without school, but we also have tons of free brain space. Without having to remember stuff like locker combinations and when your history project is due, you get to fill up all your brain space with fun stuff like books that you love. Brain space ... I think I might have invented that term, but I'm not a scientist, so don't hold me to it. AmoOMG! I luv 'The Pact' by Jodi Picoult! I read about two years ago for the first time. I read it all the time now. I swear, I've read it 17 times since i got it. LOL. I finished the whole thing in two hours the first time I read it. It's my fave book ever! ShannonMy favorite books include 'The Outsiders' by S.E. Hinton and 'Armageddon Summer.' This year for our summer reading assigment, we must read 'The Story of My Life' by Helen Keller. Everyone was bummed out because what's so great about Helen Keller? We all know she was blind and deaf. Soom after I began reading, I realized there was a lot about Helen Keller I didn't know. This is a great book. It is a tad boring at first, but it will pull you in. Chelsea'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson is an amazing book! I love to read, so usually it's hard for me to pick favorites, but that is definitely one of them. Every person I have given the book to feels the same way. Another amazing book by Laurie Halse Anderson is 'Catalyst.' The cool thing about Catalyst is that the main character and the main character of 'Speak' actually talk to eachother. It is set in the same high school, with some of the same people, and a whole new set of problems. My friend and I are big book readers, and if we find one we like, we give it to the other so she can read it. I introduced her to 'Speak' and 'Catalyst,' and she introduced me to 'Uglies,' 'Pretties' and 'Specials' by Scott Westerfeld. Those are on my favorite book list as well. My point is, these books are amazing, and thank you for letting people know about them, because I could not possibly tell every reader out there. But read these books, I am sure you'll love them just as much as I did. CariI was so excited in 'Catalyst' when the main character of that book meets Melinda from 'Speak.' It was awesome to see someone else's perspective about what happened in 'Speak' and see how Melinda turned out. And thanks for your long comment, Chelsea! AnonymousGreat picks! Your summer reading picks are *much* more interesting than my assignment: 'The Grapes of Wrath.' I know it's a classic, but ... come on. The 7th 'Harry Potter' is coming out this summer!!! Why couldn't my teachers make me read that? Honestly ... CariOK, confession time: I couldn't get through 'The Grapes of Wrath.' *hangs head in shame* I never had to read it for school, but I tried to read it on my own and ... nope! So you're a better reader than me. But hurry up and get through it so you can reward yourself with 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' when it comes out!

The 50 Book Challenge

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:24:15 PDT

Awhile ago, I wrote about the 50 Book Challenge and its fierce grip on me. It's like I can't read something unless it fits into the challenge. So much for magazines and newspapers. Basically, the goal is to read 50 books each year, with certain guidelines (you can check 'em out right here). I am a little behind, but I'm counting on lots of time at the pool and beach this summer to catch me up ... in fact, I'm leaving for the beach today! It's just a long weekend, but I have two books in my backpack all ready for me. I've finished # 19 of 50 and I'm reading like five more. Do you guys read one book at a time or lots? Most of my friends say I must have attention-deficit disorder to read so much at once. And a lot of you pledged to do the challenge, too. Have you been keeping up? How's it going? What do you like and hate about it?

Jodi Picoult

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:26:06 PDT

Several of you have recommended novels by Jodi Picoult, so last week I decided to try out 'The Pact.' Not only did I rocket through it in two days, but as soon as I was finished, I ran out and bought another book by her, 'My Sister's Keeper,' and gobbled THAT up in two days, too! I'm totally in love with her books -- they're not perfect, but they're well-written and engrossing. 'The Pact' tells the story of a high-school couple who grew up next door to each other. Their parents were best friends ... until the night that the girl winds up dead and the boy tells police it was a botched suicide pact. 'My Sister's Keeper' is about a girl who was created via IVF to be a donor to her older sister who has leukemia. At age 13, the younger sister decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body, but it means her older sister will die. They are both amazing books and I know I'll read more by her. Why do you folks suggest? And do you have any authors that you discovered and just had to read ALL of their books right away?

Your Summer Reading List

Fri, 8 Jun 2007 10:48:00 PDT

Ah, summer. Brain freeze from popsicles, peeling sunburn, scraping your toes on the pool deck. No wait, I'm happy it's summer, really. Summer's the perfect time to pretend we don't know what's really in hot dogs, and read as many books as possible, beach-side. My reading time always seems to increase in the summertime, and that's how I like it.Here's some of what's on my list for the summer:'The Pact' by Jodi Picoult'The Life of Pi' by Yann Martel'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe'Paint It Black' by Janet Fitch'The Sandman' Vol. 1-3 by Neil Gaiman'Anansi Boys' by Neil Gaiman'Specimen Days' by Michael Cunningham'Cat's Eye' by Margarat Atwood And here are the top 10 books I recommend for summer reading (OK, some of them are series ... look, I'm not a stickler for the rules, here): 10."The Taker" by J.M. SteeleA girl who bombs the SATS gets a mysterious offer to improve her offers by using a test-taker. 9. 'The Color of Water' by James McBrideThis true story examines an extraordinary family of 12 multiracial siblings and their white mother who ran from her past. 8. 'Maximum Ride' series by James PattersonThese kids are 98% human and 2% bird. They're raised in a lab until, guess what?, they bust out. 7. 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice SeboldA 14-year-old girl is murdered and watches from heaven as her family tries to recover from their grief and find her killer. 6. 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray BradburyIn the future, firemen don't extinguish fires, they start them. 451 is the temperature at which books burn. 5. 'Trigger' by Susan VaughtA teenage guy is recovering from a gunshot wound he inflicted on himself ... and can't remember why. 4. 'The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy & Goth Girl by Barry LygaA nerdy outcast meets a hostile, troubled girl; in each other, they find an uneasy friendship both of them didn't know they needed. 3. 'Speak' by Laurie Halse AndersonA girl's first year of high school is scarred by an end-of-summer party that changed her life forever. 2. 'Uglies,' 'Pretties' and 'Specials' by Scott WesterfeldIn this world, kids are 'Uglies' until their 16th birthdays, when they finally get the plastic surgery to make them 'Pretties.' 1. 'Twilight' and 'New Moon' by Stephenie MeyerOh, come on, like you haven't read these yet! Fine, fine, just read them again. What are you planning on takingto the beach or pool this year?

RED Readers Recommend

Fri, 8 Jun 2007 08:00:05 PDT

NicoleI am reading a trilogy called 'Fire-Us.' I just finished the second book earlier today. It is really good so far. You really should read it! The books in order are: 1. 'The Kindling' 2. 'The Keepers of the Flame' 3. 'The Kiln.' I really think you should check them out!!banannie1992 Okay, I have to agree with reading Sarah Dessen Books. I'm ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE with her books! They are my favorite books and I've read nearly all of them. But "Keeping the Moon" sank on a cruise ship I was on when I was only a few pages in and I have yet to get it again. Also, I just finished reading 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold and it was extremely chilling but amazingly well-written and really, really, REALLY good. I would recomend it to advanced readers, possibly a little older than me (I'm 14. but a really advanced reader), just because it's a little bit freaky ... OK, a lot a bit freaky. Also I'd recomend 'Twilight,' the 'Uglies,' 'Pretties' and 'Specials' books because they are SO good. AmandaI read the Joan Lowery Nixon books and I TOTALLY get all caught up in them. They are the best novels ever. I can't stop reading them!!! You should try them if you're into mystery novels!!!!AnonymousAll of Gail Carson Levine's books are good, such as 'Ella Enchanted,' and 'Two Princesses of Bamare,' and her new one about a mirror is REALLY good too. If you like cute, romantic books, these are really sweet.

Do you share books with your SO?

Wed, 23 May 2007 12:55:07 PDT

I was talking with a friend recently who was bummed that her BF wasn't into reading like she is. She wanted to be able to go to bookstores with him or discuss what she was reading. So, yeah, book discussions aren't exactly as exciting as ... oh, I don't know, making out. But do you think this is an important thing to share with your BF/GF? I once dated a guy who hated reading, but loved finding used bookstores for me to explore. (And there's nothing more important in life -- OK, at least for me -- than being able to get hardcovers for a dollar.) Lots of you post comments on this blog that you're the only one in your group of friends who likes to read. I'm lucky in that I do have lots of friends I can share books with. But what about your GF/BF? Is it a crucial thing to have in common? While we're on the subject, my favorite book about a relationship is, hands-down, The Time Traveler's Wife. It's probably better for a slightly older crowd, let's say 16 and up, but this book portrays what feels like such a real relationship against a quasi sci-fi background. Henry gets unstuck in time and visits Claire at different points throughout her life. Talk about never getting any 'alone time.'

a book I just finished

Wed, 23 May 2007 12:47:29 PDT

Life As It Comes by Anne-Laure Mondoux2007; 211 pp.date finished: 5/22/07Mado is a 15-year-old French girl whose parents died in a car accident, leaving her in custody of her irresponsible 20-year-old sister. The sisters decide take a summer vacation to their parents’ country house to relive some memories and get away from it all – but right before they leave, Mado finds out her sister is pregnant and wants to hide the fact from their social worker.This book was a quick read, although since it was published in the English language, it would have been nice to mention at some point they lived in Europe. (I was a bit confused for the first few chapters ... like why wasn’t going to Amsterdam wasn’t a really big deal?) Overall, though, for the subject matter, I felt like this story lacked a lot of depth. I never found out one substantive fact or memory of the parents. About as deep as it gets: a memory of going swimming. Sadly, this story didn’t dive much beyond the surface.

Books vs. Movies

Wed, 16 May 2007 12:57:44 PDT

It's an age-old (OK, century-old) problem for bookworms: what to do when a movie version of your favorite book hits the big screen. I'm continually frustrated by iffy renditions of books I've dearly loved. I understand that it takes a lot longer to read a book than watch a movie, so they HAVE to be condensed. But why do filmmakers insist on changing stuff around for no reason at all? Take the third 'Harry Potter' movie. Lupin tells Harry that he knew Harry's mother. In the book, it was his father. What was the point of changing that? Seriously. Mo...ther. Fa...ther. Unless I can't count, I don't think it's exactly taking a lot quicker to say one than the other. One of my fave books ever, 'White Oleandar,' was totally butchered in the movie. I went to the theater so eagerly, and now when I see the movie on TV (TV! it's free!), I grab the remote and flip away. So all this brings me to: The movie version of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is coming out in July. So is the 7th book. Since I'm a 'Potter' fan of near-legendary dorkiness, I've been planning to reread all the books in anticipation of the final installment ... but that means I would be rereading the 5th book shortly before the movie comes out. So I'll know it well, and will notice EXACTLY where they change things. And that's gonna hurt like the Cruciatus Curse. (See, I AM a huge nerd.) What do you guys think about this whole book/movie battle?

RED Readers Recommend ...

Wed, 16 May 2007 08:27:14 PDT

Lindsay Have you ever read 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift? Apparently it's a classic? I never knew. I'm sheltered. Anyway ... I have to read it for school. I haven't gotten past the first page. But it seems kind of weird. Is it interesting at all? Cari I did read 'Gulliver's Travels,' but a long, long time ago. I think I was maybe 10 or 12. I think a lot of it went over my head at the time and I should probably read it again. Let me know what you think of it! Sarah All of the novels by Sarah Dessen: 'Dreamland,' 'Just Listen,' 'That Summer' and 'The Truth About Forever' are amazing. My absolute favorites are 'Keeping the Moon,' 'This Lullaby' and 'Someone Like You.'OCBP I really get lost in books. REALLY! I feel like I'm in the book, like a front row seat to the action of the book. REALLY!!!! The only time I'm not lost in reading is when I'm working on my Web site. Rae 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee sounds pretty good; so does 'Slaughter-house Five' by Kurt Vonnegut. Sad to say, but I haven't read any of the books on your list of favorites. Although since you seem to be way into the way a book is written, you might like one written in the sixties (I think) called 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes. (It was made into a movie called 'Charly.') It's about a man who is mentally challenged and gets this life-changing operation to increase his intelligence. It's really inspiring. P.S., I'm definitely seeing if the library has any of the books on your list, which I'm pretty sure it will. Cari Thanks for the recommendation! I remember reading an excerpt of 'Flowers for Algernon' in a class once and I really liked it. I've added the book to my online wishlist! :) And don't recommend: ;-)AnonymousI couldn't stand 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' I read it last year for class and I hated it. I know the difference between good literature and a good book. This was good literature but a bad book. Even worse though was 'The House on Mango Street.' That was really bad.

Cari's Fave Books

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:10:25 PDT

I get asked a lot what MY favorite book is. I don't have any one favorite, so here's a list of the books I consider my favorites. I didn't try to make a Top 10 or Top 5 or meet some arbitrary number -- I'm just thinking of the books I can read again and again and always find something new in them. So these are the six that came to mind: 1.) Everything Is Illuminated (2002)by Jonathan Safran Foer Almost goes beyond description, told in separate parts, some funny, some tragic, some lyrical as poetry. I know a lot of people either hate this book or absolutely love it. I'm in the latter category. A character named, coincidentally, Jonathan Safran Foer goes to the Ukraine to try to find the woman who may have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. We learn about his trip in the voice of Alex, his translator during the trip and the literary equivalent of 'Borat.' We also get to read Jonathan the Character's novel about the shtetl where his ancestors lived, and Alex's letters to Jonathan. As my friend Alyssa put it, one page will have you laughing your butt off, and the next page will break your heart. Also See: 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' 2. 'White Oleander' (1999)by Janet Fitch Astrid, the daughter of a beautiful, brilliant poet, is shoved into foster care at age 12 when her mother murders her boyfriend. Astrid moves from home to home as she grows up, assuming different identities and trying to find her true self against her varying families and her mother's crushing presence from prison via letters.This is a beautifully written book, again like poetry. It's important to me to read books with beautiful writing -- no matter how difficult or sad the plot might become, the beauty of the prose sustains the reader and makes is a full experience. Kind of like getting dessert after a really, really good dinner. Also see: 'Paint It Black' 3. 'The Bell Jar' (1963)by Sylvia Plath The poet's semiautobiographical tale was published under a pseudonym before her death. In the book, Esther Greenwood has been selected for a special magazine scholarship, where she is working in New York City when she begins to descend into madness and depression. She enters a psychiatric hospital where she must grow or give up. Also see: 'Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger; 'Girl Interrupted' by Susanna Kaysen 4. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (1960)by Harper Lee I first read this book in 8th grade (and it was the first book report I *ever* typed on a computer. Yes, hahaha, let's all laugh at Cari. ANYway, this coming-of-age story exposes the savagery of modern suburban life, the horrors of prejudice and just what happens when justice fails. This is such a compelling read -- if you sit down with this, you're not going to want to stop to eat or sleep. (Food and energy are SO over-rated anyway.) Also see: 'In Cold Blood' by Lee's good friend Truman Capote 5. 'Slaughter-House Five' (1969)by Kurt Vonnegut Vonnegut melds sci-fi and humor into a war novel about a man who repeatedly becomes unstuck in time. Somehow this book taught me pretty much everything I now think about life, alien abduction nonwithstanding. You can seriously not go through life without reading this book. Seriously. Also see: 'Cat's Cradle' 6. 'She's Come Undone' (1992)by Wally Lamb The first Oprah book I ever loved (although I'm somewhat shamed to admit it). Wally Lamb is/was a high school English teacher, and I feel like every trick and tip I was ever taught in creative writing classes runs through this book: showing not telling; quirky memorable characters; detailed descriptions, you got it. Ditto on the "issues": domestic violence, AIDS, homophobia, obesity, miscarriage, sexual assault. But this book is about more than techniques and issues. It's also hilarious, heartbreaking and fascinating. Also amazing how convincingly this guy writes in the voice of a female. I love this book, but I admit it's probably not for most guys. Plus, my friend Sara is friends with Wally Lamb's son, and that's just cool. Also see: 'I Couldn't Keep It to Myself'

RED Readers Recommend ...

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:56:25 PDT

[Psst! Sign your first names, people! Otherwise I have to list these with no names at all, and that makes me feel lonely. :( ] AnonymousThere is a sequel (well, more of a companion) to 'The Giver' titled 'Gathering Blue.' Instead of a world where technology is advanced, Lowry creates a new setting, one where humanity has regressed to the Dark Age. There are certain potential connections between the two, left open by Lowry for the reader to decide. It is well worth reading, though (IMO) it's not as good as 'The Giver.' Anonymous'The Partner' by John Grisham is a very good book. Anonymous'Inkheart' by Cornelia Funke is my all-time favorite book. The sequel 'Inkspell' is awesome too. But you have to read the first, then the second. Otherwise, it is a little confusing. Everyone should read it. But right now, I am reading 'Feeling Sorry for Celia' by Jaclyn Moriarty.AnonymousI just reread 'Twilight' for the fourth time. I can't wait till the 3rd book in the series, 'Eclipse,' comes out on August 7. I also read 'Peeps,' a much more scientific vampire book. The title is short for parasite positive, the term they use in the book instead of vampire. I really liked 'Peeps,' but 'Twilight' will always be my favorite. Cari's NoteOMG! The cover art for 'Eclipse' is out!!! Have you guys seen it? GO SEE IT! I love these books as much as you guys do. AnonymousHey, I read ALL of the time, no joke. I've probably read about 50+ books in the last SCHOOL year, not since January, and I thought it was really cool to find a blog on someone who loves to read. I always felt like kind of a book nerd because sometimes I can knock out up to four novels in a week, or maybe more depending on what I have to do, just because. But it's GREAT to know that there are even blogs about people who love reading. Books I would recommend: ALL of the 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' books;I finished reading 'Uglies' by Scott Westerfeld yesterday and it was amazing and I've started 'Pretties,' 'The Secret Under My Skin' by Janet McNaughton (also a futuristic but realistic book like 'Uglies,' 'Pretties' and 'Specials'), 'Peaches' by Jodi Lynn Anderson and wayyy more but if I kept listing I would probably list my whole bookshelf, and it's full of tons of books! Keep writing, and reading, of course! Your blog's GREAT.

Postmodernism

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:46:23 PDT

More on postmodernism, from a reader: I totally second the 'Slaughterhouse Five' suggestion. I actually just finished writing my post-modernism literary theory paper on this book, and it worked out perfectly! It's like the epitomy of post-modernism, going against time, chronological order, and literary tradition. I'd also suggest 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller (he's on the list on names). The two books are actually pretty similar in that they time jump quite frequently. I'd say 'Catch-22' is a more difficult book, however, because it's really hard to tell where it is time jumping to (while it's usually obvious in Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse Five') and there are also a lot more characters you have to try to keep track of (and their stories get pretty tangled), versus mainly just Billy Pilgrim in 'Slaughterhouse Five.' Either book would be a perfect example of postmodernism, or possibly modernism, since the two are pretty closely related, and both are pretty comical and interesting.

Wanna Win Stuff?

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:56:18 PDT

This isn't about books per se, but have you guys seen RED's new Free Stuff blog? That's where we round up all the giveaways that are going on at RED. Bookmark the Free Stuff blog and check back often! Right now, RED's running giveaways of an iPod nano, hardcover copies of 'Cathy's Book,' rain boots, and watches for girls and guys. We also have a contest to win one of five Nintendo Wiis. Check it out!

Bookjackets & Postmodernism

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:41:53 PDT

awesome0944 What are those little summary things in books called? You know, how in hardcover books it's on the inside cover or on paperbacks it's on the back? I really want to know. I know it's probably a really easy question, but hey, I don't know, so I'm asking. CariThis question made me smile! The answer is jacket copy. And it's great that you're not afraid to ask -- asking questions because you want to learn will get you far in life. (Holy run-on sentence, Batman!) _____________________________ AnonymousI have to do a project on a post-modernism book; I don't really know where to start, however. Any suggestions on what I should pick? CariModern/postmodern literature embrace subjectivism, basically meaning that nothing is fixed/absolute. Things are told from a character's perspective instead of the omniscient (sees all/knows all) device of the 19th century (think 'Middlemarch' ... ugh.)Kurt Vonnegut is actually a great choice, and teachers LOVE him as much as I do! Try 'Slaughter-House Five' or 'Cat's Cradle.' Chuck Palahniuk, who wrote 'Fight Club' (yes, it was a book first) just came out with a new book called 'Rant.' I've only read the first chapter so far, but it really sucked me in. Toni Morrison is another great choice -- try 'Beloved,' about a former slave with a supernatural problem. It's one of the most haunting (literally) books I've ever read.Check out a long list of postmodern authors here. Does anyone else havesuggestions for this reader?

Writing

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:26:12 PDT

cleighsingsHi! I am a BIG reader as well and I also love to write ... right now I am working on my 4th book and was wondering if you have any writing tips you have found or realized in your reading? CariI love to write, too, and wrote my first novel (um, unpublished) at age 12. (Yes, I am also currently writing one!) Here's an article I wrote awhile back on how to write a great short story. Obviously, novel writing is a bit different, but the same core rules apply. That said, once you've learned, DON'T be afraid to break the rules sometimes. All great writers have to get out of their comfort zones to grow.

Kurt Vonnegut, 1922-2007

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:48:38 PDT

Last week the world lost what I think was one of the most brilliant and creative people of the modern age. Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote books including 'Slaughter-House Five' and 'Cat's Cradle' died at the age of 84. He changed the way I look at life. His blend of humor, satire, science fiction was unparalleled. The world will miss him dearly. As Vonnegut might have said, "So it goes."

RED Readers Recommend ...

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:15:18 PDT

pnkxtremeI absolutely love 'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer -- it's so awesome. It's about a vampire who falls in love with a city girl named Bella who just moved into town. And the first day he sees her, his vampire instincts tell him to bite her, but he holds back and gets to know her. It's a powerful story and I couldn't put it down. I stayed up two full days to finish it. CariSoooo many Pages RED readers are obsessed with this book, and I love it too! Did you know there's a sequel? It's called 'New Moon' and the author was brave enough to take the story in a totally new direction. cleighsingsI love Lauren Myracle but my ALL-TIME FAVORITE is Judy Blume. I know all of her books by heart Well, keep on writing, and thanks! CariYay for Judy Blume! My faves by her are the Fudge books. :) I don't care how old you get -- those books are crazy fun. acinoccoI luv sci-fi! And my favorite books of all time are 'The Guardians of Time' trilogy by Marianne Curley! Woot! The first book is called 'The Named,' and if you really like it I'm sure you'll find out the other two. ohemgeet0astThe book I recommend reading is 'The Guardian' by Nicholas Sparks. This book is seriously one of the best I have ever read. The author is the same person who wrote books such as 'A Walk to Remember' & 'The Notebook,' both of which were the bases of two very good movies. 'The Guardian' is about a 25-year-old woman who loses her husband to a brain tumor & continues to try to find love. And yet, it is about so much more than that. There are many twists & turns that you never would have expected to happen in the book. Nicholas Sparks really does know how to pull at peoples' heartstrings. I absolutely loved this book & I would recommend it to anyone. :] numb41793'What Happened To Lani Garver?' by Carol Plum-Ucci is SUCH an amazing book! It will make you think again and again about EVERYTHING! Anonymous Hey Cari, I have a good book I have been reading, called 'The Diary of Anne Frank.' It has made me cry like three different times. Oh, and I like 'The Freedom Writers Diary.' If you have seen the movie 'Freedom Writers' and you liked it, then you will love the book. Cari'The Diary of Anne Frank' is one of my favorite books EVER. Everyone should go out and read it! It's amazing that at such a young age, Anne was able to capture so much not only about her own life, but the human experience and tragedy of such a massive scale as well. My dad and stepmom visited the Anne Frank house & museum in Amsterdam last summer, and they said it was amazing.

Reading Wednesdays

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:23:52 PDT

Reading Wednesdays are the very special day we all share what we're currently reading. Aww! It's sharing time. That makes me feel so warm and fuzzy. Since I've finished 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter' (really enjoyed it, although the end was lacking, I thought), I now turn my attention to the other book I've been reading, 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. Although this is a classic, I'd never read it before and knew it was time when I found a copy for sale on my birthday last month. My friend even bought it FOR me on the spot, in honor of my special day. Set in a future where TV is the be-all and end-all of life (and keep in mind, this was written BEFORE the Web ...), Guy is a fireman whose job it is to START fires, not stop them. He's burning books because they are ambiguous and emotional and "don't agree with each other." Then he starts to get curious about the books and he finds someone who might be able to help him stage a revolt and save what books are left in the country. That's pretty much where I'm at right now. Unlike some other books in this vein ('1984,' 'Brave New World'), I feel like I have a good sense of Guy and his emotions and wants. Sometimes books set in the future can be cold and sterile and detached, but 'Fahrenheit 451' almost seems like a natural (if incredibly scary) continuation of humanity as we know it. **shiver** (That's why my TV's not plugged in. ;-) So what are YOU reading right now?

vote for James' book!

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:09:02 PDT

James (of 'Truth or Crap' fame, of course) has entered his manuscript in a contest to have it published, so go vote on the first chapter: Vote here! At that page, you have to pick a number on rate the article (10's the best), then sign up, then click the same number on the page again, and you'll help him win. His book is AWESOME, especially if you like 'Harry Potter' type stuff. I've been helping him edit it for the past couple of years. Please go read the first chapter, and if you like it, give it a great rating!

Biographies

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:51:49 PDT

csquare93 Hey i have to read a biography for school. I dont know who to read it on! I want to read it on someone most people dont know or someone adventurous and exiting. Any ideas? wolfpup106 For the person who needs to read a biography -- I read one about Mark Twain awhile back and really liked it. A lot of his early life is full of adventure, and there's plenty of interesting stuff that most people don't know, like why he decided to call himself "Mark Twain" (his real name is Samuel Clemens) and what it (Mark Twain) means. Cari I don't actually read a lot of biographies, but last year I read 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey" by Antonia Fraser and loved it. There's not a lot of adventure in the traditional sense, but in a weird way it was a pyschological thriller. The book dispels a lot of myths about her (she didn't really say, "Let them eat cake") and I couldn't put it down. Anyone have other suggestionsfor biographies?

Why I am the only person to hate this book

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:43:33 PDT

AnonymousI was surprised when you said you didn't like 'The Secret Life of Bees.' Personally, I liked it alot. My mom owns it, and I loved it. It was an awesome summer read, and pretty easy too. wolfpup106 You didn't like 'The Secret Life of Bees'? I thought that one was supposed to be really good ... right up there with 'My Sister's Keeper' (which, by the way, is one of the best books I've ever read ... it's great, as long as you can get past the occasional use of language) a few years ago, when they were both really popular. Is there a reason you didn't end up liking the book? CariI know -- people are always surprised by how much I HATED this book! Here's the deal: If I were writing a book, this is exactly the book I could write at this stage in my life -- which is why I haven't published a book yet. I have higher standards for myself than Sue Monk Kidd or her publisher apparently did. Oh SNARK! I know, I'm mean, right? 'The Secret Life of Bees' isn't a BAD book, per se. It's just that it could have been so much more. While the narrative prose was lyrical at times, the dialogue seemed very awkward to me. The plot: In the summer of 1964 (the Civil Rights summer), Lily, a 14-year-old white girl, springs her African-American nanny, Rosaleen, from jail after Rosaleen spits on the shoes of white bigots when she tries to register to vote. Yes, Rosaleen was incredibly courageous to stand up for herself ... but I found it hard to believe that she would have risked her safety or even her life in this case. 1964 in South Carolina was a very dangerous place and time for civil rights activists. Yes, she's incredibly frustrated and has been discriminated against her entire life. I would be furious too. But I also found that act of defiance to be out of character, at least in how she acts for the remainder of the book. It felt like the author needed some kind of plot device to fuel their escape and that's what she chose. After that, Lily & Rosaleen escape to Tiburon, S.C., because Lily found a picture of a black Madonna with that location written on the back, that used to belong to her late mother. Lily & Rosaleen find the honey manufacturers (three sisters) who use the black Madonna as their logo. The sisters, May, June and August (this is the author's way of trying to be unique, I guess) take them in. I thought we'd learn lots of interesting things about the black Madonna, and I was really intrigued by the concept, but, no. All the "secrets" and "surprises" were very predictable and transparent. I was really disappointed by that. No, this book didn't totally suck (I liked the part about the stone wall into which May tucks notes, like the Wailing Wall), but I admit I would rather have my time back. This book could have been so much better than it was.

Reading Wednesdays

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:48:45 PDT

So I thought we could start a new tradition here of Reading Wednesdays. Each week we'll share what we're reading RIGHT NOW, whether we're staying up late at night with a page-turner or forcing ourselves to finish a real sleeper. This week I'm reading 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury and 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter' by Kim Edwards, but I'll choose to focus on the latter for now. The story opens on a snowy night in 1964, when a doctor delivers his own twins, a boy and then a girl. His wife, unconscious, doesn't know their daughter is born with Down syndrome, and on an impulse, the doctor gives the baby girl to the nurse and tells her to bring the baby to an institution. He tells his wife the second baby died. The nurse, Caroline, does as she's told, but when she sees the terrible conditions, she decides to take the baby and leave town. The story unfolds from there, following the two families as they live through the ramifications of that night for years to come. I am loving this book! The language is beautiful and the characters are richly drawn. I love love love when you can really see how different characters' motivations come into play and you can fully understand why they do certain things even if you almost hate them for it. My one gripe is that Caroline (although she does change throughout the book) doesn't really WANT anything after a certain point. And I feel that characters always have to want SOMETHING in oder to make them convincing. That said, I'm about halfway through right now, and can't wait to finish, and dreading it at the same time because then I won't have the plesaure of reading this anymore. So what are YOU reading right now?

Books Set in the Future

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:24:46 PDT

Bigbookworm Do you know of any books that take place in the future? I love books like that!!! =] AnonymousI read a lot of books about the future, cuz I like sci-fi. So here are some recommendations: 'The Transall Saga' by Gary Paulsen: It's set in the future, after humans as we know them are gone. I really liked it, but depending on your definition of "mystic," you might not, though I don't think it has mystic elements. 'The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm' by Nancy Farmer: It's set in future Zimbabwe and is about three kids and three detectives, each with an overly hightened sense. 'Star Split' by Kathryn Lasky: OK, if you're a guy, you might not like this, but for anyone else, it's a really good book. It's about a future in which humans who have enough money have extra chromosomes and are genetically perfect. Cloning is illegal for anyone except the government, who clones a new person each year to act as a matriarch. There's a lot of sci-fi stuff, though not a whole lot of future tech beyond that of genetics. 'The Downsiders' by Neal Shusterman: Well, it's either the present or the future, but it's about a civilization that exists basically under the streets of a city. It's really amazing how much they built up and how they keep their existance a secret from all city residents. When Talon, the main character, ventures into the world above the sewers, however, things get complicated. I'm going to recommend an author as well. William Sleator writes some really interesting and exciting sci-fi books. I don't think any of them are set in the future, but they all involve strange and futuristic technology, like a singularity (a black hole) in 'Singularity,' a box that can speed up or slow down time in 'The Boxes,' and a duplicating machine in 'The Duplicate.' The coolest part is that Sleator also explains the science behind each concept, but the book never becomes boring. They're all fast-paced and exciting. He writes some fantasy too, so if you don't want mystic elements, I'd advise you to make sure you check out his sci-fi instead. CariHere are my suggestions ... They're not as much in the sci-fi vein; "my" future books have more to do with a society gone mad. Mwa ha ha! '1984' by George Orwell: THE book about a frightening future in which the government oversteps its bounds. Remember, Big Brother is watching you. (And you thought it was just the title of a reality show ... ;-)) It's actually been a long, long time since I read this ... I should go back to it soon. 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells: A scientist goes into the year 800,000 and discovers that the human race has evolved into two separate species. One is airheaded and weak, yet in control; the other is ape-like, angry and cannibalistic.'Brave New World' by Alduous Huxley: People are bred according to their jobs and classes in society. Moreover, no one can feel or experience anything too happy, too sad, too extreme in any way. I loved this book but hated the ending ... just sayin'. 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry: One of my fave young-adult books EVER, this story is about Jonah, who lives in a mysterious community where he is selected to receive all the memories of "before." This one is not to be missed.'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury: I'm actually reading this now! The main character is a fireman who's job is actually to START fires, because in the future, all books have been banned.

The 50-Book Challenge

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:01:51 PDT

I know some of you have done it or are doing it now ... for those of you not familar with it, here's the rundown: 1.) Set your timeline. A calendar year is standard (I go from Jan. 1-Dec. 31 ... how boring, I know), but you could set a goal by the season, month, vacation, school year, or from a random date you choose ... like today! 2.) Set a goal for yourself. Fifty books in a year is the current going-rate, mainly because 50 sounds like a good number and it's just slightly less than a book per week. If 50 is too much -- or too little -- set yourself a different goal. But make it a challenge! Don't set a number you won't have to push for ... otherwise, what's the point of a challenge? 3.) Monitor your reading material. Don't read ALL fantasy, or ALL non-fiction, or whatever. Try to read an even ratio of each genre so you end up with a wide range by the end. I try to read about half fiction and half non-fiction. Out of my fiction, I read about a quarter young-adult (hey, I'm only thinking of you guys here ;-) and three-quarters adult. The thing I really need to work on in 2007 is reading more classic books and more poetry. 4.) Watch it with the re-reading! You can re-read something IF:a.) It's been so long, you don't really remember it.b.) You get something new out of it every time you read it. 5.) Don't read something short just to make the goal! I read more PAGES last year than a friend who read 61 books. A lot of the books I chose to read last year ended up being 500 pages or more. I didn't make my goal, but I read some great stuff. Besides, if you always put off reading the long stuff, when WILL you read it? 6.) IF you don't make it, don't beat yourself up. The first year, I only read 32 books. Last year, I made it to 47 ... SO CLOSE! Yeah, I fell short of the number, but not by a lot. This year I hope to make it to the end. Here's my list from 2006. = loved it = hated it = recommended for under age 15 A ... Anderson, Laurie Halse: "Catalyst" B ...Ball, Alan & others: "Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death" Blume, Judy: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" Brashares, Ann: "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Brashares, Ann: "The Second Summer of the Sisterhood" Brashares, Ann: "Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood"Bryson, Bill: "I'm a Stranger Here Myself"Burroughs, Augusten: "Dry: A Memoir" C ...Calonita, Jen: "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" Capote, Truman: "In Cold Blood" Cather, Willa: "My Antonia" Cole, Tim: "Selling the Holocaust: From Auschwitz to Schindler, How History is Bought, Packaged & Sold" cummings, e.e.: "is 5" Cunningham, Michael: "The Hours" D ...Didion, Joan: "Where I Was From" Donofrio, Beverly: "Riding in Cars With Boys" E ...Ehrenreich, Barbara: "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" Ehrenreich, Barbara: "The Hearts of Men: American Dreams & the Flight from Commitment" Eugenides, Jeffrey: "The Virgin Suicides" (reread) F ...Fisher Young, Sarah & Susan Shelly: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance" -- yeah, sometimes I have to get boring! Fraser, Antonia: "Marie Antoinette: The Journey" G ... Gaiman, Neil: "American Gods" Gaiman, Neil: "Fragile Things" Gleick, James: "Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything" Golden Gelman, Rita: "Tales of a Female Nomad" Gurganus, Allan: "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" H ... Hoffman, Alice: "Practical Magic" Huxley, Alduous: "Brave New World" I ...J ...K ... Kaysen, Susanna: "Asa, As I Knew Him" Kidd, Sue Monk: "The Secret Life of Bees" L ...Levitt, Steven D. & Stephen J. Dubner: "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" Lyga, Barry: "The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy & Goth Girl" M ... MacLean, Christina Kole: "How It's Done" Margolis, Leslie: "Fix" Meyer, Stephenie: "New Moon" N ...Niffenegger, Audrey: "The Time Traveler's Wife" (reread) O ...Orman, Suze: "The Nine Steps to Financial Freedom"... boring again, I know, I'm sorry! P ... Peters, Julie Ann: "Between Mom & Jo" R ...S ... Schlosser, Eric: "Fast Food Nation" Sittenfeld, Curtis: "Prep" Steele, J.M.: "The Taker" T ...Traig, Jennifer: "Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood" U ...V ... Vaught, Susan: "Trigger" von Ziegesar, Cecily: "The It Girl" W ... Walls, Jeannette: "The Glass Castle" Warren, Frank: "PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives"

THIRSTY for Vampire Books? (sorry, couldn't resist ...)

Fri, 9 Mar 2007 08:08:52 PST

AnonymousI love vampire books. Have any that I haven't read? CariI assume you discovered Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer long ago, but this is not my area of expertise, so I'll turn you over to the capable hands of ... wolfpup10For the person who is looking for vampire books -- have your read all of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' stuff ... particularly 'Demon in My View' and 'Shattered Mirror' (I REALLY liked this one)? How about 'Vampire Kisses' 1, 2, & 3 by Ellen Schreiber? Some other titles (though I can't vouch for how good they are ... they have all gotten good reviews though) are 'Blood Thirst: 100 Years of Vampire Fiction,' 'Bloodline' by Kate Cary, 'Companions of the Night' by Vivian Vande Velde, 'Peeps' by Scott Westerfeld, 'Sweetblood' by Pete Hautman, 'Vampire High' by Douglas Rees, 'Lady Crymsyn' by P. N. Elrod, and 'The Darkest Thirst: A Vampire Anthology.' The ones without authors are considered to be part of the "story collection" section and are often ordered by their title. I hope this gives you some ideas.

Literary Classics ... and a Book Scavenger Hunt!

Fri, 9 Mar 2007 07:47:19 PST

Katie201I am reading a three-book collection called 'Degrees of Guilt' by three different authors. It is the story of a teenagers accidental death from three sides his twin sister, his best friend, and a guy he was nice to. You read all three books then decide what happened I LOVE IT. CariThat reminds me of this book called 'Interstate' by Stephen Dixon. You read the same story 8 different times, but told in different ways with different perspectives and try to figure it all out on your own. It's such an interesting way to write/read. Katie201I must say that I love reading plays as much as I love reading books. My favorite are:'Peter Pan' (adapted into the book and later into several movies) and 'The Little White Bird' by J.M. Barrie... by Sophocles: 'Antigone' by Tennessee Williams: 'The Glass Menagerie,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' by Shakespeare: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,' 'The Merchant of Venice,' 'Macbeth,' 'The Taming of the Shrew' and finally the best ever, 'The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet' (been made into two movies but like mentioned in 'New Moon,' by Stephenie Meyer, the 1968 version is the best). CariWow, you're really into the classics! That's awesome. Classics are classics for a reason, right? I've read most of those books, but I admit I had to read them for school. My favorite play by Shakespeare was probably 'Macbeth,' although I also really liked 'Othello.' And I agree, the 1968 version of 'Romeo and Juliet' is the best. The 1996 one with Leo DiCaprio and Claire Daines was a little too gimicky. I love Tennessee Williams too, and I have both of those plays. In fact, two of the books you mentioned are visible in my book pic. Check it out below... it's like a scavenger hunt! Can anyone else spot tiny, tiny versions of books they love?

i don't have a problem...

Thu, 8 Mar 2007 11:50:00 PST

i could stop buying books any time, honest.(yeah, this isn't even all of 'em.) Funny story, these bookcases used to belong to James. I bought them from him when we used to work together back BEFORE we worked together at RED. And he totally ripped me off because I tried to sell them again second-hand and NO ONE would buy them. Hmph. OK, it wasn't reeeally a funny story. It was just a story. OK?! Happy now?

Fantasy Books

Thu, 8 Mar 2007 09:06:09 PST

Wow, you guys just write this blog yourselves sometimes, huh? ;-) fantasticboyHey there, I have a few questions about books. I was wondering if you know of any good superhero books or fantasy books, because I am looking for a good read!!!!! Well, I hope that my question gets answered. sameyeam12Good fantasy books... The first ones that come to mind (other than 'Harry Potter') are those in the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman. The first one's called (in the U.S.) 'The Golden Compass' or (in the U.K.) 'The Northern Lights.' These are probably my favorite fantasy books. Also, if you can overlook the religious references, there's G.P Taylor's 'Shadowmancer.' It's set in the 18th century, and tells the story of a former vicar who seeks to control the universe... and those who try to stop him. REALLY good fantasy. Then, in the realm of sci-fi/fantasy, there's 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, and its sequels ('Speaker for the Dead,' 'Xenocide,' and 'Children of the Mind'). They're my absolute favorite sci-fi/fantasy books. Totally worth reading. wolfpup10For the person looking for fantasy books -- I'm more of a sci-fi reader myself, but I think you might like these (they're a mix of the two): 'Transall Saga' by Gary Paulsen, 'The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm' by Nancy Farmer, 'Storm at the Edge of Time' by Pamela Service, 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle, and 'Star Split' by Kathryn Lasky. Most of them also relate to people having superhuman powers, to go along with your other request. And if you are looking for books with a lot of adventure and maybe some mystery, the first three I listed here are perfect.

Ballet Books: Part 2

Thu, 8 Mar 2007 08:54:52 PST

More reader recommendations (thanks, folks!): ameliam9396 'Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You' by Dorian CirroneAnonymous'Aria of the Sea' by Dia Calhoun is a really good ballet book. It's fiction, but all of the dance terms are correct, or so I'm told by my dance friends, I don't dance anymore.AnonymousThe book 'Ribbons' by Lawrence Yep is a good, but sad, book about Ballet. somewhere_to_talk 'Secret of the Dance' is a good book it is by Susan Eileen walker

Pages RED: The Return

Thu, 8 Mar 2007 08:47:17 PST

And across cyberspace, a call arises:When are you going to update? I know, you're probably busy reading...we all are, but we love to read this blog (about our favorite subject, BOOKS!) too!!! So please come back and start updating more frequently. Take a page out of your fellow RED workers books, like Dee and James, and visit your blog to post a new entry once or twice a week at least, PLEASE!!!! We would all greatly appreciate it! -- Anonymous And so, I return, "Anonymous" ... if that IS your real name. Sorry, RED readers, for my way-too-long absence. I'm back, I promise. Taking a page from Dee and James' awesome blogs (I'll tell them your compliment, btw ... like they need MORE compliments, really!), I've returned from the beyond and will once again be updating this blog regularly. And let me add: I am so, so lucky to have so many readers who care about books and want to read this blog! You guys make it awesome and I'm so glad you've stuck around! THANK YOU!

Books about ballet

Fri, 5 Jan 2007 11:05:20 PST

way2much2fathom: "Hey. Well, I'm a ballerina, and I'd love to read some good books on ballet. Know of any?" xcrazy4dancingx9: "A favorite of mine is 'Marie, Dancing' by Carolyn Meyer. I totally recommend it for ballet dancers. It takes place in Paris in the 1800s; it's about a poor girl who dances in the opera house." Cari: I remember reading and enjoying 'Kate's Turn' by Jeanne Betancourt a long, long time ago. It's the story of a girl from Oregon who's accepted into a prestigious dance school in NYC and stuggles to find her place there.Any more recommendations for ballet books?

RED Readers Recommend...

Fri, 5 Jan 2007 10:53:29 PST

jerzeygirl1106: "My favorite book would definitely have to be 'Freak the Mighty' by Rodman Philbrick. It is about a physically disabled 13-year-old named Kevin, but is nicknamed Freak. He likes robots, and King Arthur and the Round Table. He is also very very smart; his favorite book is the dictionary!" LaLaWebb: "A good book is '13 Little Blue Envelopes' by Maureen Johnson. It is really good and I think you would like it." brunettekiss92: "Hey, I love to read ... I can see u do 2 so u should check out these books: 'Blue is for Nightmares,' 'White is for Magic,' 'Silver is for Secrets,' and 'Red is for Remembrance/' It's a small four-book series but they're really good!!! The author is Laurie Faria Stolarz." xcrazy4dancingx9: "One of my favorite authors is Lauren Myracle. She's written 'TTYL' and the sequel, 'TTFN.' Both books are written completly in IM form. She's also written 'Rhymes with Witches.' 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' books by Ann Brashares are a BIG favorite of mine. I'm waiting impatiently for the fourth one! I enjoy 'Guitar Girl' by Sarra Manning. It's about a girl who's in a band that becomes famous, but it's not all glory. My ALL-TIME fave author is Meg Cabot. I love 'The Princess Diaries' books and 'Avalon High'!!! I could not put it down!!" spooks1736: "Hey Cari, I have a book rec. It is 'Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun and Possibly Save the World' by Katherine Hannigan. This book is rockin' for anybody of any age."

Announcing... RED's Winning Writers

Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:30:59 PST

Awhile back, we asked readers to write and sumbmit their own fractured fairytales (inventive retellings of classic stories) in partnership with the release of the book 'The Looking Glass Wars' by Frank Beddor. The results are in! RED staffers chose the five finalists; then Mr. Beddor chose the winner. RED staffers stepped in again to pick the second and third place winners. Now the three of them get to step into the limelight as their stories get published on RED. We received a ton of great stories, and were truly impressed with the quality of work. You guys -- all of you -- are brilliant, inventive and wildly talented. And without further adieu (that's what they say at beauty pageants, right?), we present: Grand Prize: Francesca N., Age 14, N.Y. Rapunzel's Revenge First Prize: Dylan C., Age 15, Texas Special Agent Cindy Second Prize: Patrick M., Age 13, Conn. Little Red Riding Hood: The True Story Click on each story title to read the winning entries! The winners receive merchandise from 'The Looking Glass Wars' such as T-shirts, (um, fake) tattoos and autographed books. In addition, Francesca will receive a personal message from Frank Beddor about her story. Keep writing, everyone!

NaNoWriMo Starts TODAY!!!

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 13:40:47 PST

National Novel Writing Month begins today! Wanna write the first draft of a novel in only a month? Scroll down in this blog to the Oct. 20 entry, or go to www.nanowrimo.org, where you can get tips on writing, and keep track of your ever-growing word count. Here's the email I got today, kick-off day! Dear Author,Greetings! My name is Chris Baty, and I'm the director of National Novel Writing Month. Welcome to this year's noveling extravaganza! It's great to have you writing with us. As impossible as it may seem standing here on the precipice overlooking a vast November, NaNoWriMo will be over before you know it. This month---like the book you started writing today---moves at a frightful pace. To help give you a heads-up on some of the spirit-lifting milestones and spleen-poking hazards we'll be flying past on our way to 50K, I'll be sending an email like this one to you every Wednesday of the month. Which brings me neatly to the subject at hand: Week One.Ah, sweet Week One. Whether you're a first-timer or a NaNoWriMo veteran, Week One is epic. We step onto its stage clutching a few crumpled lines of dialogue, and bearing only the haziest notions of setting and story. And, when the curtain closes on the seventh day, we're improbably directing a strange and wonderful cast of characters, all of them eager to make their mark on the tale unfolding around them. The keys to thriving in Week One are straightforward:1) Surge early. To be on par for the month, you should be writing 1667 words per day. In Week One, try to get 2000 or 2500 a day, and beg, borrow, and steal as much of the first weekend as possible to write. You won't need to keep up this pace throughout the month, but nothing guarantees a NaNoWriMo victory (and a fun month) like opening up a hefty lead in the first week. 2) Know that you're not doing any of this alone. As you dive into your book, 70,000 other souls are going through the same ups and downs of the Great Sleep-Deprived Novel. Whenever you're feeling like hurling your laptop out the window or setting fire to your favorite noveling notebook, come to a local write-in or stop by the NaNoWriMo forums for encouragement and reassurance. Likewise, whe never you've had a ferociously productive writing day, celebrate by sending a pep talk or sports car or box of fantastically expensive Swiss chocolates to a writer in distress. 3) Embrace the fear. It's okay to be nervous. Nervous just means you're pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone---which is when great and magical things happen. Even if you have a complete story outline to serve as a map for the month, it's still terrifying to be stepping out into the frontier of your imagination. I blame this on a lifetime of exposure to the perplexing idea that art should be made by artists, and novels left to novelists. As someone who has done NaNoWriMo for eight years now, I can tell you this: Novels are not written by novelists. Novels are written by everyday people who give themselves permission to write novels. Whatever your writing experience, you have a book in you that only you can write. And November is a beautiful month to get it written. Have a great first week, everyone! I'll be writing like crazy until Wednesday the 8th, when I'll drop by your inbox again with some thoughts about the spleen-tastic adventures awaiting us in Week Two.Write on! ChrisNaNoWriMo OK, RED readers, I wanna know: Who's with me? And who's all like, "Uh... NO WAY!"

Not bad, you guys...

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 13:35:07 PST

What's the longest story you've ever written? 100 pages+ 16% 50-99 pages 4% 25-50 pages 14% less than 25 pages 51% I've never written a story 16% Total votes 662

Vacation reading!

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 13:25:07 PST

Hey, it still counts as vacation if it's just a long weekend, right? I spent some time in Florida soaking up the sun and reading as much as humanly possible (by the pool and at the beach, of course). Do you guys jump around on what you're reading? I definitely do -- it's like I have a remote control for books and can't stay on any channel for too long or my head will explode. But here's my vacation "haul": 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser -- I read the whole thing on my trip, and just in time, because this is the book that Sophia Coppola based her new movie on. Now I can go catch it in the theater! The movie trailer seems odd to me, since the director is trying to make Marie Antoinette's story funny and modern rather than dramatic and tragic. Should be interesting, even though we already know the ending (at least, I hope you've been paying attention in history class, right?) It's a very involved read but if you're into history and feeling ambitious, go for it!! 'New Moon' by Stephenie Meyer -- Of COURSE I adore 'Twilight,' and on my trip I finally got to spend some time with this book. I'm 330 pages in -- I love that the new book is about ****SPOILER AHEAD*** werewolves instead of vampires. I loved when Bella meets Emily, and Emily says, "So you're the vampire girl," and Bella says, So you're the wolf girl." LOVE IT! Can't wait to finish (even though I'll have to wait, like, another year for the next book...ugh!) 'Tales of a Female Nomad' by Rita Golden Gelman -- 150 pages in. This is the true story of a children's book author who decides to live her life wherever, whenever and however she wants. She travels to countries across the globe (such as Indonesia, Israel, Guatemala and Mexico) and decides to leave as much up to fate as possible. She has no permanent address to this day. I recommend this book for people who love reading true stories about ordinary people in not-so-ordinary situations.

Help a fellow reader out.

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:41:09 PDT

Princesscocoa: Hi Cari, my name is Nicole and i like to read to but i like books with like teenage/high sckool drama in them. but i can never seem to find any. have u read any books with drama, if so can u give me some titles. THANKS A BUNCH. and i love ur blog. well i have to go. Bye. Cari: Hey Princesscocoa, have you read the 'Gossip Girl' series (by Cecily von Ziegesar) and 'Clique' series (by Lisi Harrison)? There's also the 'A List' series (Zoey Dean), but I'd recommend those for slightly older teens, and the 'Dating Game' series (Natalie Standiford), for slightly younger teens (I don't know how old you are). Those books are all pretty drama-filled, and there are lots in each series to keep you entertained. Also, lots and lots of RED readers love Meg Cabot books, about ordinary girls in extraordinary situations. Cabot is the author of 'The Princess Diaries,' for instance. I also definitely recommend 'Twilight' and 'New Moon' by Stephenie Meyer. Although those aren't about the daily trials of high school life, the main character is a student with a vampire boyfriend. Good stuff. Hey RED readers, what else do you have to recommend for Princesscocoa in the realm of teen/school drama?

Not about books, but...

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:32:21 PDT

Have you guys seen the all-new RED? It's at www.beRED.com or teens.aol.com. What do you guys think about it? We are so excited about our new site, and there will be even more great content launching soon. OK, just so this isn't totally ignoring books, remember to enter for a chance to win the 'Cathy's Book' & RAZR phone sweepstakes!! We're giving away two books and one RAZR every week until Nov. 3. That means you can enter this week, next week AND the week after. Oh yeah, and... the RAZR is pink. Who could resist? P.S., The blogs round-up is coming soon (see Oct. 17).

National Novel Writing Month!

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:16:49 PDT

All right! National Novel Writing Month (AKA, NaNoWriMo, because that is SUCH an easy thing to remember... not :) is coming up in November. I've never participated before, because I didn't have the time. Well, I still don't have the time, but you know what? I'm just gonna do it anyway! On the official NaNoWriMo Web site, you can sign up for an account, upload your ongoing word-count updates, get writing tips and more. You can "add" your real-life friends who also have accounts, and view their progress too. No one will actually see your writing unless you want them to, but this site is a great way to stay focused. The goal is to write a 50,000-word first draft in one month. That's a fairly short novel, but it's a great start. And that's about 1,666 words a day, or maybe five pages. Since the focus is just to write, write, write and make your word count increase every day, the focus is OFF of trying to make every single thing about your story perfect right off the bat. I know I usually get bogged down with this myself, so a program like NaNo may help me to bust out of it. So the past few days I've been working to outline my characters and plot. I've chosen a setting and have jotted down details and ideas for some scenes as well. Some people prefer to make complicated outlines, but I'm not going to -- I'm just trying to keep track of the ideas as they come. I know that a bunch of you participated in NaNo last year, and at least one RED member met her 50,000 word count. How did it go for you guys? What advice do you have for me and other would-be NaNo writers? And who's in this year?? The NaNo countdown begins at 12:00:01 a.m. on Nov. 1!

This is all about ME.

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 11:53:51 PDT

Not cool, people. Nooooot cool. My fellow 'Truth or Crap' crew member Kori is hoggin' all the glory. Go to our 'Crap' blog and vote for me in the poll! And remember: It's CARI. NOT Kori! Blegh!

Looking for Other Book Blogs!!

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 13:47:30 PDT

Do you have a RED Blog about books & reading, too? Post the link to your blog below. If your blog complies with the RED Blogs Guidelines (and wouldn't make a spelling teacher cry), I'll include it in a book blogs round-up here, and also add your links to My Favorites on here permanently. Sound good? Good.

RED Readers Recommend...

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:25:40 PDT

smallvilleluvr1: I'm reading the 'Cirque Du Freak' series by Darren Shan. My friend told me about them. My friend, Robert, and I were in the library where he has a job as a DUngeon Master for their Dungeons & Dragons games, so he's allowed in back and basement storages. I found the first few Cirque books on the shelves, but the rest were in storage. And I wanted to read them all at once... so with Robert's endless help, I took out ALL TEN!! Please tell me there are only ten, and I didn't miss any? I'm in the middle of Book 3 right now, when Darren and Debbie finish their date. cbeane: to smallvilleluvr1: There are currently 11 'Cirque' books out. The most recent is 'Lord of the Shadows.' But I heard there will be another by the title of 'Sons of Destiny' (which sounds like a super-interesting title!!!). I hope you like the 'Cirque'! I absolutly LOVE them! Note from Cari: to cbeane & smallvilleluvr1: 'Lord of the Shadows' was published in September. Whoo hoo!im4soccer: I recommend reading 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It is one of my favorite books of all times because it shows the intricate social life of females during that time period and Jane Austen uses great witty humor throughout the whole story. I also recommend 'The Chocolate War' by Robert Cormier. This is one of the U.S.'s most banned books in libraries and that is only because it embraces the ideas of nonconformity in the educational system. Finally, I would say definitley read 'The Ransom of Mercy Carter' by Caroline B. Cooney. It is about a girl whose family lives in a settlement near the Canadian border before the American Revolution. She ends up getting kidnapped by Native Americans and forced on a march to their homeland in Canada. There she must learn to adapt to the Indian way of life while treasuring thoughts of escape. She wants to go home, but she encounters a problem when she speaks the prayers in her head in the Indian tongue and forgets what her parents look like. Christina: I absolutely love the book 'Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog' by John Grogan. It is my favorite book and I highly suggest it. kt201: I must say that I am in love with James Patterson's 'Maximum Ride' series even though it is totally improbable. The books seem so real and adventurous. I love the books and hope he comes out with many more.sportygrrl131: If you like fantasy, than you should like 'Inkheart' by Cornelia Funke. It's a really good book that I just can't put down. I also love its sequel 'Inkspell.' I have always wondered if there was really a whole other world underneath the labyrinth of letters on a page. It's a little weird and farfetched only when you really think about it. But it's told in such a realistic way that you dont think about it too much. I also loved 'The Thief Lord.' Great read! Note from Cari: to kt201: 'The Thief Lord' will be made into a movie and released in 2007! More Info Here pjoeandannabel: 'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson is such a great book and so is 'Stargirl' by Jerry Spinelli. I could name a million others but I would fill up the page!! ;) queenmindy3: My favorite scary story/tragedy has to be 'MacBeth' by William Shakespeare. The witches are my favorite: "Double, double, toil and trouble! Fire burn and cauldron bubble!" Hahaha. sarahb519: [For Halloween reading,] 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' and 'Rebel Angels' by Libba Bray are both really creepy. michaelacoo: Hmm.... favorite book: 'Girl in a Cage' by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris. It's an amazing book, especially if you enjoy books that happen with kings and queens in England and Scotland and oh... all sorts of fantastic stuff! Read it! Read, read read it!!!

The 'Little Women' Wars Continue

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:03:25 PDT

CLKOOLKAT10: There are only so many books that I start and don't finish, but the absolute worst was 'Little Women.' I HATED THAT BOOK! You can't figure out who's who, nothing interesting happens, and it's a HUGE BOOK! I actually got through at least 1/2 of it before I finally stopped! Edancer5678: Wow, I can't believe someone put something so mean about 'Little Women'! That is my favorite book. ever. (along with 'Good Wives'). I think it is an amazing work and have read it twice. I love all the characters! It really changed my life and I want to read 'Pilgrims' Progress' now. I read little men. It was OK, but not as good as 'Little Women.' I guess I could relate to the girls more. Plus, every chapter is like a little story. I suggest to that person trying 'Little Women' again, but reading the Barnes and Nobles edition like I did. It has little notes at the bottom that explain the old-fashioned terms or references. It helped me understand and enjoy the book a lot. Cari: That's a great suggestion, Edancer5678. I remember being kind of confused by some things in that book. The first time I read 'Little Women,' I was 11 or 12 and it was one of the longest books I'd read at the time. (Afterward, I tried to read 'Pride and Prejudice' but that one was too hard for me at that age. It's still sitting on my shelf... I'll get to it someday, I swear.) I think it's a tribute to Louisa May Alcott (the author of 'Little Women' that 138 years later, people are not only discussing her book, but that there are readers so passionate that they defend the book to others who don't like it. And even those who don't like it -- well, at least they read it in the first place. Other authors should only be so lucky. Do you think people will be reading Meg Cabot and James Patterson and Stephen King in another 138 years (the year 2144)? Which modern-day authors will be timeless? Which will be quickly forgotten?

Hair-Raising Halloween Reading

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 08:04:29 PDT

Mwahahaha! Oh yes, we've been waiting for yooooo. Check out the 10 Freakiest Books for Halloween IF YOU DARE! So, what are your fave scary books?

'Cathy's Book' & RAZR Phone Giveaway

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 07:52:53 PDT

Read the official sweepstakes rules.View the official trailer!Girl Meets Boy.Boy Dumps Girl.Girl Saves Boy's Life.Boy Returns Favor.Cathy's Book (If found, call 650-266-8253)If your name isn't Emma, put this book down, BACK OFF, and nobody gets hurt! Emma -- I know it all sounds crazy. You (and Mom!) will be wondering where I've been disappearing to, and when I'll be back. That's why I'm leaving you all this evidence -- in case something happens and I DON'T come back. Look at everything in my book.Call the phone numbers. Check out the Web sites.But you can't tell ANYBODY about it, unless you want to end up in over your head, like me. So don't worry. I'll be OK (I think). Hey, maybe this is the beginning of a new life for me. For sure it's the end of the old one. Call me.Love, Cathy 'Cathy's Book' is stocked with real Web sites and phone numbers you can actually call -- so you can piece together the mystery as you read! Each week for five weeks, we're giving away two hardcover copies of the book ... and one pink RAZR phone! And of course, the phone will be preprogrammed with all the numbers you'll need to figure out the secrets of 'Cathy's Book.' The entry periods are:Oct. 6 - Oct. 13Oct. 13 - Oct. 20Oct. 20 - Oct. 27Oct. 27 - Nov. 3Nov. 3 - Nov. 10Make sure you enter the sweepstakes every week!Each Grand Prize winner will receive:� A pink Motorola RAZR phone** (approximate retail value $275) and � A copy of 'Cathy's Book'(** Note: This sweepstakes does not include cell phone service. Winners must let sponsor know what service they use so that sponsor can send them the appropriate phone.)Each First Prize winner will receive:� A copy of 'Cathy's Book'How to Enter:E-mail REDgiveaways@aol.com with this info:� First & Last Name� Age � Mailing Address� Parent's/Guardian's name� Parent's/Guardian's email addressCan't wait? Buy the book!

'The End' by Lemony Snicket

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 07:48:06 PDT

WARNING! There are some very 'Unfortunate Events' coming your way. Sure, you COULD look at this sneak peek of Chapter 1. But that would just be asking for more trouble, wouldn't it? And whatever you do, DO NOT CLICK HERE!

RED Reader Q&As

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:01:02 PDT

reitzaleah: 'Anastasia Krupnik' sounds like a good book! Does any one know who wrote it? Sorry for not mentioning that before! It's by Lois Lowry. She also wrote a few more books about Anastastia at age 13, but these weren't nearly as good. There's also 'All About Sam' (Anastasia's little brother) which tells his story from birth to age three -- this one is oddly entertaining. kleinemaus193: I'm somewhat picky of what I read. I really love Middle Ages or Colonial times book with a fact and fiction mix. I thought the book 'Fever 1793' by Laurie Halse Anderson was awesome, but I wanted more from it. Do you have any suggestions for books a long the same line? I really want to read something, but need some help. I haven't read 'The Other Boleyn Girl' by Philippa Gregory (yet), but it's been highly recommended to me. Based on what I do know about this one, I suggest this only if you're an older teen (15 and up). Does anyone else have suggestions for this reader? When I read historical stuff, I gravitate toward the 19th century, which is later than what you're interested in. I do most heartily recommend the 'Little House' books by Laura Ingalls Wilder for the 19th century, though. These books are great for any age! I first read them when I was a little girl and have never given them up! I re-read them every couple of years. beana3801: Hi! What is 'The Lovely Bones' about? I have the book around here somewhere but I am not sure what it's about. What is the youngest age you suggest for reading it? You should try reading 'A Child Called It' by Dave Pelzer. He has other books too. For 'The Lovely Bones,' I think 15 or 16 should be the youngest age to read it. This is Alice Sebold's first novel, about a girl who is murdered by her neighbor and watches her family during the days, weeks and years after her murder. It's an amazing, wonderful book, but because of the underlying content, I'd definitely say 10th grade or later. I read 'A Child Called It' about five years ago -- the writing style wasn't great, but it was certainly a book I couldn't put down. I wish that this book and its sequel were rolled into one because it just got so depressing after awhile. Right when things start to improve, the book just ends. swim4fun6: What is your favorite book?'White Oleander' by Janet Fitch. When the book opens, Astrid is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her mom, Ingrid, in LA. Ingrid, is a stunningly beautiful & brilliant poet who becomes obsessed with an ex-boyfriend and ultimately kills him. Ingrid gets a life sentence, & Astrid is sent to a series of foster homes in which she must fight to survive, and continually reinvents herself. The book follows her life until she is 18, with an epilogue when she's 21. One of the most beautifully written novels I've ever read, it's also a fascinating study of many different kinds of people. Fitch's second novel, 'Paint It Black,' was published last month, but I haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. I'd recommend 'White Oleander' for teens 15 & up.

FIGHT!!! Margaret vs. Anastasia

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 13:51:02 PDT

I got through all of childhood and adolescence without ever reading 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' But since this sorta thing is my job these days, I sat down with this last week. After all, 'Hannah Montana' star Miley Cyrus said it was her favorite book, and lots of you agreed that it was a great one. I hate to say it, but I was disappointed by this one! I read lots of other books by Judy Blume when I was growing up, and one of her books for adults ('Summer Sisters') and liked almost all of them. Even though the reader knows Margaret's most secret prayers, I felt like we still don't learn a lot about her emotions. I loved the character of the grandmother, though! It kind of reminded me of my own grandmother, because she also used to help me ditch my parents by taking me to Lincoln Center in Manhattan. I think maybe I would have liked this book a lot more if I'd read it for the first time when I was younger. There are other books I read when I was a kid that I still love to this day -- 'Anastasia Krupnik' definitely comes to mind. Have any of you ever read that one? It's good for younger readers, but I swear this one is still on my bookshelf, and I'm, well, twenty-something. :) 'Anastasia Krupnik' is about a 10-year-old girl who seems much more mature (don't be totally thrown off by the fact that she's only 10) who has weird parents. Her dad is a narcissistic Harvard professor and her mom is a pregnant painter. Anastasia is trying to find her place in the world, but her parents are kind of self-involved and not really letting her be a kid. At the same time, her parents are kinda hippie-ish and give her a lot more freedom than she realizes.

Review: 'Fan Boy & Goth Girl'

Thu, 5 Oct 2006 11:10:22 PDT

'The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl' by Barry LygaPublisher | 2006 | $16.95 | 320 pages Geek. Friendless. Outcast. Genuis. Donnie is a comic book fan who has a lot of creative talent -- and a lot of resentment for the other kids at his school. His snarky, witty commentary moves his story forward with humor but also lots of realism. At the start of the book, Donnie's life kinda sucks. His one friend has ditched him in favor of sports; his pregnant mom never pays any attention to him, and his stepfather (AKA, the Stepfascist) continues to be a redneck jerk. Then Donnie meets the unpredictable Kyra. Draping herself in head-to-toe black is the least of Kyra's issues, but she can offer Donnie the things he's lacking: friendship, understanding and confidence in himself. And she's the only one Donnie deems worthy to see the graphic novel he's slowly creating. Undertones suggesting the potential for school violence kept me worried throughout the reading -- and kept me from putting down this book for too long.

Poll Results

Tue, 3 Oct 2006 12:23:48 PDT

How do you get most of your books? Buy in stores 46% Buy online 4% Borrow from friends 6% School library 13% Public library 31% Total votes 932 I buy most of mine used from Amazon, in case you were wondering. :) Sometimes I sell old ones on there, too.

UPDATE: The 50-Book Challenge

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:41:07 PDT

IslandblondeUSVI writes, "Ok. The 50 Book challenge... Is it like a contest or something? How do you enter.. and what is it?" Cari: It's not a contest, just a personal challenge. You can Google it for more info (and lots of people blog about it). Here's some basic info: From a Web search:There are no set parameters for "joining" this challenge. It's intended solely to be a motivational tool to help people set reading goals for themselves. Want to make your goal to read 50 books between when you start and the end of this year? Fine. Want to read 50 books in the next 12 months starting right now? Golden. Want to read 100 books by next week? Go for it! Just read.What kinds of books count for the challenge? Variants on this theme include "Can I count textbooks?" and "Do graphic novels count?" and "What if I read the back of the toothpaste tube while I'm on the can, can I mark that down?" The answer to all of these should be obvious from the answer to the first FAQ above, which is "Count whatever makes you happy." Once again, the 50 books figure is totally arbitrary. There's nothing magic about the number, it's just a nice, happy, round number that was a stretch goal for me, so I went with it. Everyone's situation is different, so assess your own habits and goals and count what's significant to *you*. Cari again: Generally, I've read in other places that it's a good idea to make sure you don't stick to just one genre (so not all romance or sci fi) but to read lots of different books: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biographies, classic lit, etc. Aside from working at RED, I'm in graduate school part-time, and I personally don't count anything I read for school, but you could if you chose to. In 2005, I only read 32 (started in late Feb.), but I think I actually have a shot at getting to 50 this time! :) I started smack on Jan. 1, and I've read 35 so far. If you want more info, hit "previous" at the top of this blog until you get to early January 2006. I first posted about this challenge then, and LOTS of RED members pledged to to the challenge as well. So, who out there has stuck to the challenge? Who wants to take it on?

Review: 'The Taker'

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 12:33:45 PDT

'The Taker' by J.M. SteeleHyperion | 2006 | $15.99 | 240 pages Take your standard high school story, wrap it in a little mystery, and throw in some high stakes -- very high stakes. Carly has always dreamed of going to Princeton. She's a champion student... but one prob: She bombed the SAT. Even her jock boyfriend did better than her! Naturally, her parents freak out (like Carly's not freaking out enough for all of them) and make her study with her nerdy next-door neighbor Ronald -- who just happens to be a member of the "2400 Club." But, who cares about being tutored? Carly's heard all about the mysterious person who calls himself The Taker -- and when The Taker texts her, she decides she'll do anything to get a great score the next time around. Of course Carly comes to regret it -- but what can she do about it now? Once someone's agreed to use The Taker, there's no turning back... unless Carly can discover his identity in time. The mystery only continues to deepen from there. I hope you're not trying to study for the SATs yourself right now, because this book will engross you to the point of ignoring everything else around you. By no means is this classic literature, but maybe that's a good thing -- it means you won't be tested on it.

Review: 'Trigger'

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 12:19:36 PDT

'Trigger' by Susan Vaught Bloomsbury | 2006 | $16.95 | 304 pages Simply put, 'Trigger' is told in the voice of Jersey Hatch, a 17-year-old guy who shot himself in the head and survived. A year later, he's finally coming home, but he's permanently brain-injured, partially paralyzed on one side, and blind in one eye. What's more, Jersey's lost not one year of his life, but two -- he doesn't remember anything from the year before his suicide attempt. He doesn't know why everyone at school hates him (including the guy who was supposed to be his best friend), why his mom will barely speak to him, or even why he'd tried to kill himself in the first place. Now that Jersey's finally out of the rehab center and going back to school, it's as a totally different person than he used to be. And he's got a mystery on his hands. The author of this book is a neuropsychologist, and she captures the voice of a brain-injured person in a fascinating way. Jersey often forgets things, gets stuck in loops or fixated on things he shouldn't. Sometimes he can't control what he says. When he gets nervous about saying the wrong thing, he usually does... especially around his crush -- his ex-best friend's sister who's suddenly all grown up. I gobbled this one in two nights -- I simply didn't want to put it down. From the mundane (Jersey having to relearn to tie his shoes) to the horrifying (why did he pick up that gun?), this book digs into Jersey's mind and asks, When you've lost who you used to be, how do you become someone new?

What Miley Cyrus Reads...

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:54:14 PDT

Last week, RED caught up with Miley Cyrus of the Disney Channel's 'Hannah Montana.' Here's what she had to say about books: What's your favorite book? "It is written by Judy Blume. 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.'The last book you have read?"My last book I read? I just started this one for school: 'One Thousand Years Past.' I am only about 3 pages in."-----------------------Aw, shucks. 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret'?? I dunno about you, but I think that's pretty cute. I've never read it, but I know a lot about it (I know, I know, I just need to read it already! I'm not getting any younger here...) Have you guys read that book? What do you think about it?

JKR Keeps It on the DL

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:45:47 PDT

OK, so maybe I'm just behind the times (it happened a couple weeks ago), but have you guys heard about this? J.K. Rowling Challenges Airport Security Hey, I'd sure as heck challenge airport security if they weren't going to let me carry on the ONLY copy of my manuscript... especially when, like, the whole world is dying to get their hands on it....

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