Our New Read

The book we will be reading for this month is Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I thought it was delightfully fun and loved it. I just hope everyone else likes it. You can check a couple posts down and see my Teaser Tuesday has an excerpt from the book, but here is a review from Amazon.com

Sophie Hatter reads a great deal and soon realizes that as the eldest of three daughters she is doomed to an uninteresting future. She resigns herself to making a living as a hatter and helping her younger sisters prepare to make their fortunes. But adventure seeks her out in the shop where she sits alone, dreaming over her hats. The wicked Witch of the Waste, angered by "competition" in the area, turns her into an old woman, so she seeks refuge inside the strange moving castle of the wizard Howl. Howl, advertised by his apprentice as an eater of souls, lives a mad, frantic life trying to escape the curse the witch has placed on him, find the perfect girl of his dreams and end the contract he and his fire demon have entered. Sophie, against her best instincts and at first unaware of her own powers, falls in love. So goes this intricate, humorous and puzzling tale of fantasy and adventure which should both challenge and involve readers.

Sound interesting? Pick up a copy at the library, or if you think you might like to own it you can find it on Amazon for $6.99. Happy reading!

Cecilia's Teaser Tuesday

After lunch, Kate put on a shapely brown fleece jacket (just because it was utilitarian didn't mean it couldn't have style), a pair of jeans, and hiking boots, and set out, eager to see the countryside.  She brought a sketchpad in the hope inspiration would strike, as it often did when she went for a walk.  The beauty of the place was overwhelming, wrapping her in a velvet cloak--such purity of color, texture, and scent.  It was everywhere, in the belled petals of foxglove, the rawness of the earth, even the handful of broken window glass she scooped up from the side of the lane, sparkling like diamonds.  She let the pieces fall in a glittering cascade, admiring how they caught the light.  She felt the stirring of creative impulse, but didn't act on it right away: she must coax it from its hiding place, like a fox from its den.  She wouldn't force anything; it didn't work that way.  She took her time, picking daisies for a bracelet, slipping it on her wrist as she crossed the meadows.  The air smelled of grass and wildflowers.

The Lace Makers of Glemara  by Heather Barbieri   page 51

Kori's Teaser Wednesday

I looked out on an abandoned, locked-down Washington. In the distance I saw smoke rising from the Pentagon. The symbol of our military might was smoldering. I was struck by how skilled and ruthless the al Qaeda pilot must have been to fly into the low-lying building. My mind drifted back over history. I was looking at a modern-day Pearl Harbor. Just as Franklin Roosevelt had rallied the nation to defend freedom, it would be my responsibility to lead a new generation to protect America. I turned to Andy and said, "You're looking at the first war of the twenty-first century."

I forgot to post this yesterday.

Liz's Teaser Tuesday

"You are a terror, aren't you? Leave this yard alone. I know just where everything is in it, and I won't be able to find the things I need for my transport spells if you tidy them up."

So there was probably a bundle of souls or a box of chewed hearts somewhere out here, Sophie thought. She felt really thwarted. "Tiding up is what I’m here for!" She shouted at Howl.

‘Then you must think of a new meaning for your life." Howl said.




Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones



If no one is opposed to reading this I want to suggest it for our next read or a sometime in the near future read. I found it so delightfully fun and humorous. Good light reading.

Debby's Tuesday Teaser

I listen to the summer symphony outside my window. Truthfully, it is not a symphony at all. There's no tune, no melody, only the same notes over and over. Chirps and tweets and trills and burples. It's as if the insect orchestra is forever tuning their instruments forever waiting for the maestro to tap his baton and bring them to order. I, for one, hope the maestro never comes. I love the musical mess of it.

This is a sequel to Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

page 107 Love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Reminder

Just a reminder that we will not be meeting this Tuesday, but NEXT Tuesday. We will be meeting at Kori's house to discuss the book we've been reading, Freakonomics. If you need directions call Kori or email her. See you all next week.

Great books!

Hi ladies, I just finished two books that I loved. Here is a bit from each:

"At first, Henry had to listen to Denny grumble about being caught, getting kicked off flag duty and being cornered into working in the kitchen--forced to do the work of a Japanese girl. But when the lunch bell rang and hungry kids rolled in, Denny's attitude changed as they smiled and chatted him up. They all wanted him to serve them, holding back their trays, leering suspiciously at Henry as they passed. To them, Henry thought, we're at war and I'm the enemy."

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. The other one is Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. I already returned it to the library but it is about a 12-year-old girl who has a dysfunctional family and ends up living with a great aunt in Georgia and how she comes to accept who she is. I really enjoyed it and think you would too!