Bout of Books Read-A-Thon

As the school year winds down, I've come to realize that since January I've read almost entirely work related non-fiction. Not that there isn't validity in reading non-fiction, but sometimes one just needs a little escapism.  When my friends Amanda and Kelly decided to start their Bout of Books read-a-thon, I knew this was just for me!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.

For me, I'm focusing on reading what I love.  I have several new YA novels sitting in my iPad just waiting for a reader.  This week, I'm tossing aside work related reading to focus on reading one YA book and one anticipated novel.  One YA book I've been holding captive in my iPad is  City of Ashes,  the second of the Mortal Instruments books, was written by Casandra Clare.  I've had this book in my "to read" list for years, this week it's getting read!   (she has great educational resources on her site for all of my teacher friends)

My second novel to start this week is Inferno.   I've pre-ordered and it will download into the Kindle App on my iPad at midnight on the 14th.   I love this series and can't wait to read the new installment. I won't finish this new novel by the end of the read-a-thon, but I'm looking forward to committing the time to dive in a start reading!

 Secretly, I would love to be Robert Langdon living out all of these super-cool adventures. 

So those are my reading pleasures for this week.  Do you have any specific books you are going to tackle this week? 

Doris

The Not So Great Gatsby

I have to admit a prejudice. I normally don't like it when a favored book is made into a movie.  I feel the imagination is much more vivid then what can be seen on screen.  I'm admitting this because before you read my review of Buz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby, you should know where I come from. 

 (Spoiler alert - Don't read on if you don't want to know)

You have been warned.

First, Luhrmann has a reputation for taking on great literature and tweaking it to be something new and edgy.  I was torn at how I felt about this upcoming look at Gatsby.  Would it be amazing?  Would he bring in a new interpretation like he did with Romeo and Juliet? Would it be a disaster?   While Moulin Rouge' wasn't great, I really liked the modern interpretation of Romeo.  I walked into the theater hopeful.

 Before I talk about what I didn't like, there were a few high points.  The costumes, while not completely authentic to the time period, were very well thought out.  Here are my sticking points; the use of polyester for some of the hair/clothing pieces ( Polyester was invented in the 40's); while the roaring 20's was a wild time in our history, the truth is that it was tame compared to some of the costumes of the movie; finally, Tiffany and Company Created the jewelry which I liked but I felt it was over the top.  Most costumes were spot on, so overall I thought this was a plus of the movie.

Now, if you know me, don't pass out here.  Leo was pretty good at playing Gatsby.  (GASP)   There I said it.  I don't tend to be a huge Leo fan, but he was less stiff then Redford in the 1974 adaptation and DiCaprio was able to display the intense character that is Gatsby.  There were a couple of places he seemed forced, but I think that was because of his direction and not his acting.  Overall, I felt him as Gatsby.  Maybe he's growing on me, maybe he's a fan of the book, but this is the first time I've actually liked him in a role.  

So - to the not so great parts of the movie.

The cinematography, which I felt had potential to be great, was lacking.  I am not sure why this had to be in 3D.  While there were a couple of places that it might have enhanced the movie, it was more of a distraction then a real effort to add depth.  The party scene was so flashy I found it visually annoying, the words swirling on the screen distracting, the car scenes seemed out of focus and blurry.  There were times when the movie seemed cartoon-like. 

Wile Leo was great as Gatsby, I was disappointed in most of the other actors.  There were scenes early in the movie that felt more like a high school acting troupe then highly paid actors.  I didn't like Carey Mulligan as Daisy.  To me, she didn't have the chemistry that she needed with DiCaprio to really make Daisy work.  If I'm supposed to believe these two people were once madly in love, well she didn't do that for me.  Daisy is also supposed to be a jewel.  Cold but flashy - I just didn't get that from Mulligan.  

While I was not disappointed in his acting, I didn't like the way Nick's character, played by Toby McGuire, was portrayed.  As the narrator, I am supposed to trust Nick's view of the story.  By turning him into an alcoholic, I feel like the character has lost his ability to be a reliable narrator.    

So, if you still want to see the movie - check it out.  My suggestion is, skip it and wait for it to come to the dollar cinema.   

Doris

(Look below for reads of the week)

Fun Reading - Just finished Eleanor & Park (review coming later this week)

Work Reading - The Skillful Team Leader

Currently Reading - A Separate Peace

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Today I attended my first board meeting for the Children's Services Board of Galveston County.   I was honored to be asked to serve on this board.  I've spent my life working around children, now I have the ability to help those who don't always have an adult to advocate for them.

  April in National Child Abuse and Prevention Month.  You can learn more about ways to help support our most innocent citizens here.   Today we tied blue ribbons on the trees around the county courthouse.  Our goal is to help promote awareness.  There is much we can do to help those who can't help ourselves, we just need to take a look around and do something.

  If you don't know where to start, check out Pinwheels for Prevention.   This Nationwide organization works to ensure the healthy development of our children.  This organization focuses on advocating for the existence of a national policy framework and strategy for children and families while promoting evidence-based practices that prevent abuse and neglect from ever occurring. 

Currently Reading:  Wonder Boys

100 Books in One Year Challenge

One of the greatest gifts I give myself every year is reading.  I find that reading opens my mind to new ideas, gives me amazing opportunities to experience new cultures and allows me to escape the humdrum of the day to day grind.

As a reading teacher, I also know that reading in front of a child is one of the single most influential ways to help your young student achieve.  Now with audio books, reading can happen in a car or on an electronic device, you can take the book anwhere.

My fellow-blogger and amazing author COREENE CALLAHAN (@coreencallahan) is hosting a 100 Books in One Year Challenge.     

No, I'm not crazy - and neither is she.  (She's like an award winning author and everything!)  While the goal seems a bit daunting, the overall enjoyment is worth it!  

Join us reading and posting about books.  Just pop over to Coreene's blog and read about the details!   If you want to follow the books I'm reading you can do so on GoodReads here.  

Have a safe and Happy New Year!  

On Monday

My dear colleague, Kylene Beers, has given me permission to share her posting.   Her writing is so poignant for today, that I'm simply going to provide a link.

For my fellow educators - tomorrow is Monday.  Let us all say a prayer for our all of our children and for each other.

On Monday

Sunday Reads: Casual Vacancy, Tech Tip of the week and Banned Book Week

This has been a busy week with little time for reading.  The one thing I wanted to stop and assure that I did this week was to read Rowling's new book.   As a HUGE Rowling fan, and as a Senior Staffer on The Leaky Cauldron, I am going to admit that I went into this reading bias.  Anything that Rowling does will be washed with the beauty of the kind and amazing woman she is.  I tried my best to look at this book as something that was not Harry Potter and was not supposed to be anything like Harry Potter.

No matter what happens, it is so difficult not to compare this book to Harry Potter.  Rowling herself told Ian Parker of the New York Times that she had a lot of "real world material in her"  and she wanted to write about that.  This book is real world.

First, Rowling is masterful at creating a fantasy-world and making it seem real.  Yet her strength, in my opinion has always been the depth of which her story was conceived.  The "back-story" of characters, their family and their history has been the one thing that sets her apart from others.

 In Casual Vacancy, there is that depth, yet it seems to be rather one sided.  Since this book is a politically minded dark comedy, I knew that I'd get the sense of the author's political slant.  As a reading teacher I would tell my students that the author is a central character in the story because he or she wrote it.  Yet I felt that Rowling's political views were heavy handed in the story.  It is actually my only criticism.  I would have liked to see both sides of the political spectrum written with the same depth.  The story came across "lopsided" in my opinion because I felt I knew one faction well and the other seemed to be very one dimensional.

*Kind of spoilerish below as I reveal plot elements- so don't proceed if you don't want to know anything about the book before you read it*

First, it's dark.  Very dark, but also very real.  Casual Vacancy takes a look at the events in Pagford.  Early in the book, one of the central characters drops dead. What follows is lust, greed, drug addiction, adultery, child abuse and teenagers coming of age.

The book focuses on two opposing political factions and their desire for power. Yes, the plot is real.  There are no magical books, house elves, enchanted candy stores or wonderful old wizards who you should trust with everything,   This story focuses on events that could happen.

 Casual Vacancy is a great read if you are fond of dark stories that focus on political intrigue and abuse.  I felt the character development was a bit lopsided, but overall it was a good story.

  It is not a fantasy - so don't purchase the book hoping that Harry will save the day.  In the real world, there isn't a hero who swoops in on a broom to save us.

We have to save ourselves.

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.


My Teacher Tech Tip of the Week:

Edmodo

Edmodo is a social networking platform for educators.  It gives you the opportunity to experience a Facebook like interface but with the privacy needed for students.

I've encouraged teachers to consider using this Web 2.0 tool to allow students to interact with others in outlying districts or to create social media sites for literary characters!  Because it is so much like Facebook most students don't need help with the site, they just need access to it.

Banned Book Week:
Banned Book Week Starts Today  - Banned Book week is when we take time to celebrate our right to read! 


 My banned book of the day suggestion, has to be Harry Potter!

The ALA's Frequently Challenged books list is here.  Take a stand this week, read a book on this list and celebrate your right to read!

My Previous Banned Book Celebrations:
Why I Read Banned Books
Check Out Banned Books
Banned Book Week on The Leaky Cauldron
Banned Books:  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Banned Books:  Huckleberry Finn
Banned Books:  The Chocolate Wars




 

Sunday Readings, Wanderings and Technology

Allergies hit in full force this week.  Needless to say, I feel that my sinus cavity is revolting and trying to push its way out of my forehead. This to shall pass ...

Great Classroom Read:

Kate Messner has always been one of my favorite authors.  First, she's a teacher, so she totally gets kids and writes what she knows they'll love.  She also thinks about the teacher when she writes the book.  She provides materials for the classroom, suggests cross curriculum ideas and her books are filled with great words that kids need to know.

Capture the Flag is quickly becoming my favorite Kate Messner novel.  Written for the 3 - 7th grade student, the book could work with students who are older because the content is engaging, or as a read aloud to younger students.

The plot revolves around a group of kids who are stuck in Washington, D.C. due to a major snowstorm.  They learn that the America Flag that inspired the song "The Star Spangled Banner"  has been stolen and realize that the culprit must be snowed in as well.  What follows is an adventure that highlights great moments in America history while engaging the reader in an action filled 240 pages.

The cross curricular tie ins in this book are so amazing, that it would make a great school-wide read.  One of the great things about novels produced by teachers, is she created her own discussion guide. (seriously this woman is amazing!)

Professional Development Read:

A while back I read DON'T Teach the Canaries NOT to Sing  as part of my Principal Certification Class.  After the whirlwind read of graduate school,   I placed it on a shelf to look over later and kind of forget it was there.  I was reminded of the awesomeness of this book when it became the book study we're doing at CFHS.

Simply stated, this book is about creating a school culture.  Culture doesn't just happen, it is created by the staff.  This book offers great ideas on how to assure that your campus is one with a friendly, we love having you here kind of vibe!  The type of campus that your students will love as much as the staff loves to be there.  If you are in education, or if you are not and want to borrow some ideas for your business, this book is a great start.

Tech Tip:

Do you like the idea of texting parents announcements but you know you can't share personnel info with them?  Would you like to tweet with students but you don't like the" publicness" of Twitter.  Then try Remind101. 

Remind101 allows you to send one way communication to parents or students to remind them of tests, project due dates, upcoming events on campus or anything else that I can't think of right now.  Imagine being able to text all 180 of your students' parents to let them know that Science Fair sign up is next week, or that report cards will be out soon.  That is what Remind101 does for you.  You also don't have to share your phone number with parents.

It's also FREE!

You simply set up the account, share the login information with your parents and then approve them to receive your texts.  They can't reply back to you, so you don't have to sit around waiting to answer questions, it is one way communication that allows you to remind them of things.

I'd like to say that I found this awesome resource, but actually Bridgett,  my wonderful friend and Tister found it for us.   (Did I mention that she is awesome?)

TCEA is right around the corner.  I've heard from a few people that you are going.  In the next two weeks I'll post what I'm going to see.  I'd love to see and hear everything, so I am hoping a "share the wealth" action will happen.  I'll share the best of what I hear with others!

Have a great week, happy reading!  Please feel free to share great books or tech tips with me.  I'm always looking for input.

Doris