Sunday, February 28, 2010

I just had the nicest week off.  My husband worked each day so I had lots of time to myself.  I decided to clean one room each day then do my own things: read, craft, walk, photography.  Although, I should put "read" at the bottom of the list since I didn't do very much. 

As always, I'm enjoying this newest edition of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.  There is just something so soothing about these books.  They're simple but deep and the characters...ah!  the characters are wonderful!

Back to school tomorrow.  I begin each block with about 20 minutes of silent reading.  I can't tell you how many kids have admitted that, because they were forced to read, they finally completed a book on their own.  And their teacher gets to read, too!  It's a win-win for everyone!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Ah!  School vaction!  I so need this!  After two weekends in a row with Kylie, I'm enjoying a quiet and lazy time.  I read all yesterday afternoon and finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, finally!


I really enjoyed this book.  It's almost like it was two books in one.  There was the outer story of how business reporter Mikael Blomkvist is convicted of libel and then there is the inner story of how he solves the mystery of a 30-year-old dissappearance/murder.

What really mkaes this novel stand out, though, are the characters.  Blomkvist is flawed but ethical.  I like that he's not perfect.  Then there is the girl with the dragon tatto, Lisbeth Salander.  She's a genius when it comes to computer hacking and Blomkvist hires her to help him solve the mystery.  She's tough and brusque and will do anything to protect herself; she's had to do just that since she was a teenager.    

Now, I'll have to begin a new book but it will take me a day or two.  I spent such a long time with these two poeple that they feel like friends and it will take me a while to let them go.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Reading Update

I can't believe I'm still reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I'm enjoying it but just can't seem to find time to read.  I'm only about a third of the way through.

We went to Portland last weekend with Kylie so no reading got done, that's for sure.  Lots of fun, though.

And this week there's the Olympics!

Oh, well, I'll keep plugging away. 

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Swimsuit

I'm having a Kylie weekend so not much reading is getting done.  All she wants to do is play school and I love it!



I finished this book on Friday and liked the little twist on his normal format.  This one is narrated by a newspaper reporter who is "commissioned" by the killer to tell his story. 

It kept me interested until the very end when it seemed a bit rushed and anti-climactic.  Other than that, though, it was a pretty good quick read. (Even though it took me a week!  But that was my fault, not the book's.  We started a new semester at school and I've been busy with that and extra tired at night.)

I hear the pitter patter of little feet so it's back to playing school again!