All Consuming : Lady S

Why I recommend "Son of a Witch: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:05:25 GMT

by Gregory Maguire

A few years ago a friend loaned me Wicked. I would almost say that book changed my life. I have been waiting and waiting for Son of a Witch to come out in paperback to I could (afford) read it.

And it was worth the wait. It is not as good as Wicked, but it has an interesting story. Liir is a compelling character who makes believable choices in his quest to find Nor (Fieryo’s daughter).

I didn’t love this book as much as Wicked, but it is a worthy followup. However, Gregory Maguire better write a third story in this series.

Why I recommend "A Bend in the Road"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:40:26 GMT

A Bend in the Road

by Nicholas Sparks

I think you should read this book. I am not sure I have read any of his other books, but I saw the movie of Message in a Bottle. That ending was enough to keep me from reading any of his other stuff.

This book was great. It totally redeemed him in my eyes. There is just enough suspence to keep you going, but not too much to make you afraid for the characters.

A story about "What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls : A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Daughters"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 03:30:05 GMT

What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls : A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Daughters

by Lynda Madaras

Okay, so I skimmed this book at the bookstore. I didn’t really want to read the whole thing, but I did feel the need to check it out. I can understand why closed minded individuals would want it off library shelves. It had many very detailed pictures of the changes females bodies go through.

I have in my travels discovered that the people who are most interested in removing books like these from libraries are the ones whose children need the books the most.

A story about "What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys : A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Sons"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 03:25:31 GMT

What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys : A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Sons

by Lynda Madaras

Okay, honestly, I didn’t read this whole book. I will someday, if I ever have a son. However, I didn’t not feel the need to read it cover to cover for this list. I skimmed through it, read about the different stages of penis growth and then looked at other chapters.

A story about "Mommy Laid An Egg: Or, Where Do Babies Come From?"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 03:20:09 GMT

Mommy Laid An Egg: Or, Where Do Babies Come From?

by Babette Cole

I read this tonight in Borders. It is a cute, funny book that is a good teacher of where babies come from. It is very matter of fact with great illustrations. It will be on my child’s bookshelf.

Why I recommend "Chicks with Sticks: It's a Purl Thing"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 16:01:06 GMT

Chicks with Sticks: It's a Purl Thing

by Elizabeth Lenhard

this book isn’t so bad. i have read a few reviews of this book and i see the others that read it marked it as “not worth consuming”. this is not GREAT LITERATURE people. it is a cute little book about a bunch of girls and how knitting brings them together and brings about who they really are.

i enjoyed it for the 5 nights it took me to read it. it was cute, funny, and simple. if you are into knitting and like chick lit you should read this book.

A story about "Chicks with Sticks: It's a Purl Thing"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 12:41:34 GMT

Chicks with Sticks: It's a Purl Thing

by Elizabeth Lenhard

Okay, I finished the KV book and I was ready for light and fluffy. This definately fits the bill. It is a cute little teen novel that has knitting at its core. It certainly isn’t deep or even fabulous literature, but I am liking it. The characters are stereotypical, but are growing out of those stereotypes as the book progresses.

This will be a quick read, and then more depth.

A story about "Juggling for the Complete Klutz"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 16:43:12 GMT

Juggling for the Complete Klutz

by John Cassidy

I got this book my senior year in High School and spent all of Christmas break teaching myself to juggle. All I wanted to do was learn to juggle 3 balls, and that’s as far as I have gotten in 12 years. I can also juggle with another person by my side.

I still have the juggling balls that came with this kit. they are red on four sides and dark blue with white stars on 2 sides. I have had to sew them up a few times, but they still work.

How "Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 16:37:22 GMT

Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook

by Debbie Stoller

I will never truly finish consuming this book. It is a great guide to have when you are learning to knit. I love the patterns. I am going to make my own knitting bag and needle case from the patterns.

A story about "The Vulvodynia Survival Guide: How to Overcome Painful Vaginal Symptoms and Enjoy an Active Lifestyle"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 16:34:51 GMT

The Vulvodynia Survival Guide: How to Overcome Painful Vaginal Symptoms and Enjoy an Active Lifestyle

by Howard I., Ph.D. Glazer

This book certainly didn’t teach me how to “survive” this female medical issue. Glazer has a method, and that’s what he preaches. Also, there are 2 types of vulvodynia, and this book really only addresses the chronic itchy painful type. I don’t have that one.

Good luck to you.

Why I recommend "The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 16:32:52 GMT

The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health

by Elizabeth G. Stewart

Every woman in the English speaking world should own a copy of this book. If it is published in other languages, those women should have it too. It is like a car owners’ manual, only more. It answers (nearly) every question I have ever had about the lower regions of my body.
I have already given it to one friend and loaned it to my sister. When my friend’s daughter gets her period for the first time, this will be my gift to her.

Why it's taking me forever to finish consuming "Chicks with Sticks: It's a Purl Thing"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:58:11 GMT

Chicks with Sticks: It's a Purl Thing

by Elizabeth Lenhard

Because I lost it. Shhhh…don’t tell Caitlin. She will kill me!

Why I gave up consuming "Shopgirl"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 14:49:35 GMT

Shopgirl

by Steve Martin

Because it is not very good. I can’t get through Steve Martin’s overly flowery language. Too many metaphors and similies, too many unnecessary adjectives.

I just can’t do it.

A story about the last time I consumed "Mummies in the Morning (Magic Tree House, Book 3)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 03:11:36 GMT

Mummies in the Morning (Magic Tree House, Book 3)

by Mary Pope Osborne

My kiddos (second graders) and I love this book. I have read it with several different groups, but this year we had a lot of fun. Along with reading the book we did the following skill builders/activities:
note-taking, just like Jack, on vocab, setting, characters, facts
y => i + es words, mummy => mummies
following directions to make a pyramid and sarcophagus
phonemes and heiroglyphs for spelling and writing
cartouches of our names
crossword puzzle of vocab words
some read aloud from the Research/Teachers’ guide book

Why it's taking me forever to finish consuming "Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer--America's Deadliest Serial Murderer"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 18:20:36 GMT

Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer--America's Deadliest Serial Murderer

by Ann Rule

I only read this on the treadmill in the morning. So for 15 or 20 minutes each day I am grossed out by the activities of Gary Ridgeway, and then I go on with my day.

Why I recommend "Gathering Blue (Readers Circle)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 02:33:22 GMT

Gathering Blue (Readers Circle)

by Lois Lowry

This was not quite as fabulous as “The Giver”, but wonderful none-the-less. Lowry is a gifted storyteller who truly understands the style of show not tell. She feeds you little bits of detail, and then when she gives you the last clue, you can’t believe you didn’t know it all the time.

Kira lives such an entirely different existance from Jonas (in “The Giver”). Her people have nothing. They live in “cotts”, scavange for food, and live in fear of the “beasts”. Kira has a crippled leg and when her mother dies, is nearly killed herself. Only her talent with stitching saves her. She is taken in by the guardians and begins to see the truth about her community.

I can hardly wait to read the final story in the trilogy, “The Messenger” which ties the two books together. All this, because “The Giver” is on the challenged booklist.

How "The Giver" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 22:42:28 GMT

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

This may be the best (YA) novel I have ever read! It is such an amazing story with details and action you won’t believe. This book made me think about my family, my home, and the world around me in a way I could never imagine.

Jonah is a “Twelve” who is has just been assigned his life job. He has grown up watching his mother, a judicial worker, anda his father, a nurturer, go off to their jobs. He has done volunteer work since he was an “eight”, but nothing prepares him for his assignment.

Everytime you think you have learned everything about the community, you learn something else.

Why I recommend "Crazy Lady! (Trophy Newbery)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:18:11 GMT

Crazy Lady! (Trophy Newbery)

by Jane Leslie Conly

I am reading books from the ALA’s most challenged list. I checked off all the books I have already read (although I plan to go back and read some) and now I am working through the part of the list I am interested in reading. I went through the list in my school library and grabbed this one. I finished it this morning and sobbed through the last two chapters.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why this one would be challenged. All I can discover is it is challenged for “offensive language”. Cause you know, no 11 or 12 year old has ever heard damn, which is about the worst thing I could find.

Vernon Dibbs is one of 5 children being raised by their father after their mother’s death. The Dibbs family lives in a rundown neighborhood in Baltimore. In their neighborhood is a duplex in habited by a retired teacher and an alchoholic with a retarded son. As the story goes on Vernon is tutored by the retired teacher and to repay her helps out the mother and son.

This intense story shows great character development, and insight into types of people many kids may never know. I plan to recommend this book to several of my students.

A story about the last time I consumed "Reunion"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:24:56 GMT

Reunion

The last time I consumed this is the last time anyone will ever consume it. Fox cancelled this show. The network that brought “When Animals Attack” and “Trading Spouses” killed another decent show. I do believe they were the ones that killed off the reality show that was a murder mystery. Before it ended of course. That was the show where the guy who won died in 9/11. That was probably more known that who did the murder (cuz I don’t know who dunnit).

And I will never know who killed Samantha and why.

A story about "Where or When: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:37:01 GMT

Where or When: A Novel

by Anita Shreve

This was not my favorite, but I couldn’t put it down toward the end. It was one of her back and forth in time novels. I sometimes had a hard time following it, and waiting to find out what would happen.

For her “time travel” novels, I prefered The Last Time They Met

A review of "Ben & Jerry's Marsha Marsha Marshmallow"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Lady S) — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:33:43 GMT

Ben & Jerry's Marsha Marsha Marshmallow

by Ben & Jerry's

This was very good ice cream. I love B&Js, but this is the first time I had had this one. I don’t really care for chocolate ice cream, but I love marshmallow. My favorites have caramel in them. I might not buy it again, but I enjoyed it at the time.