Discussion Post Postponed

I apologize!

I've been preoccupied for the past couple of days, so I'll be posting the Book 3 discussion post tomorrow!

On the bright side, you get one more day to finish reading! Yay!

The X-Men: Volume 6

Goodreads Says:    1969: The X-Men, Marvel's poorest selling title, flagging in sales and on the verge of cancellation, was in dire need of a shot in the arm. A new direction. A new vision. Enter Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, and True Believer, you had better grab onto your hat and get ready for one of the most amazing evolutions in Marvel history! These two titanic talents threw caution to the wind with sensational stories that brought the X-Men in synch with the thriving youth culture of the late '60s. Adams' lavish and dynamic visuals merged with Thomas' challenging and contemporary stories to create a comic book series that throbbed with the pulse of the times like none other. Prepare yourself for the introduction of mutant mainstay Havok, the vampiric villainSauron, the Mutates, and X-Man-to-be Sunfire! Not to mention, the Living Pharaoh, a classic team-up with Ka-Zar in the Savage Land, as well as the return of Magneto and Professor X! Unquestionably a high-water mark of the '60s X-Men, this massive volume, loaded with extras, caps off-but will not end-the original team X-Men Masterworks! Collecting X-MEN #54-66.

My Thoughts:

-    What has happened to the paperback versions of these? It is like they never existed! Now my comics won't match!! Grrrrr!

-    This one wasn't as good as others. The plots weren't so great.

-    Learning more about Sauron was cool. I love that he wanted to take on a Tolkien name. Sauron has been in previous issues, but it was like they were introducing him for the first time.

-    The art is getting better. There is more definition.

-    Angel changes his outfit about 3 times in this volume. I like the last one the best. 

Previous X-Men Volumes

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
 

Hard Luck

From Goodreads:    Greg Heffley and his family and friends are back in Diary of a Wimpy KidBook 8, the latest installment in the #1 bestselling series by Jeff Kinney and one of the most anticipated books of 2013. A global phenomenon, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has more than 85 million books in print around the world.

Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck story?

My Thoughts:

-    I used to hate it when my mom would tell me that friends come and go but family lasts forever! Bleh! Now that I'm older, I can kinda see what she means, but friends come and go, and I can just make new friends when the old ones go. 

-    Fregley freaks me out.

-    Dating in middle school is awkward and lame. I figured Rowley would hook up with someone sooner or later though.

-    The magic eight ball stuff cracked me up! I love that Greg used it for everything. It reminded me the Simpsons episode when Bart and Millhouse had a magic eight ball. I think their friendship was torn because Millhouse got a girlfriend in that same episode too!

-    I like how many holidays were featured in this series. The family drama during holidays is awful, and I sympathize with Greg.

-    Greg's mom is smarter than I thought. Her closet is brilliant! 

-    The body blanket thing was awesome! 

-    I had fun with these books, but I'm glad they ended. You can have too much of a good thing. 

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
  

Library Books Read-a-Thon Progress

Day 1

Books Read:   1

Pages Read:    245

Total Books Read:   1

Total Pages Read:   245

My Thoughts:    I finished a book! Wahoo! I hope tomorrow is as productive!

Day 2

Books Read:   1

Pages Read:    219

Total Books Read:   2

Total Pages Read:   464

My Thoughts:    I finished another book! Woo! Still going strong! I started Cruel Beauty, but I don't think I'll finish. The main character is bugging me.

Day 3

Books Read:   0

Pages Read:    158

Total Books Read:   2

Total Pages Read:   622

My Thoughts:    I didn't finish a book, but I still read a lot. I'm in the middle of Attachments.

Day 4

Books Read:   1

Pages Read:    257

Total Books Read:   3

Total Pages Read:   879

My Thoughts:    This was my best day so far! I probably won't be able to read as much tomorrow but we'll see.

Day 5

Books Read:   0

Pages Read:    57

Total Books Read:   3

Total Pages Read:   936

My Thoughts:    Not a good reading day! I'll try to do better today! I'm in the middle of The Lightning Thief.

Day 6

Books Read:   0

Pages Read:    72

Total Books Read:   3

Total Pages Read:   1008

My Thoughts:    Another bad reading day.

Day 7

Books Read:   0

Pages Read:    137

Total Books Read:   3

Total Pages Read:   1145

My Thoughts:    Today was a better reading day! I hope I can end strong!

Day 8

Books Read:   1

Pages Read:    115

Total Books Read:   4

Total Pages Read:   1260

My Thoughts:    I wanted to read more, but didn't. At least I finished another book! This was a really productive read-a-thon for me! It was fun!

Library Books Read-a-Thon Kick Off

Today is the beginning of the read-a-thon!

Thanks to Rachael for hosting!!

Here are the library books I plan to read this week:

 

 

 

  

I probably won't get to all of them, but I'm going to try!

I chose a good variety, so hopefully I won't get burnt out!
I'll also be reading The Two Towers for the Read Along, but I won't be counting that towards the Read-a-Thon.

Good luck to everyone participating!!

The Fellowship of the Ring

Goodreads Synopsis:    The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure, The Lord of the Rings.

Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of power - the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plan for dominion is the One Ring - the ring that rules them all - which has fallen in the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

My Thoughts:

-    I love this series! It has been a part of my life since I was small. My father and brother read The Hobbit to me for the first time when I was 5, and I've loved Middle Earth and all it's inhabitants since. 

-    I enjoy all the songs. What would Tolkien be without the songs? His songs are iconic!

-    Bilbo's ironic parting gifts are hilarious! I laughed at each one.

-    I will NEVER forgive Frodo for selling Bag End, and especially to the Sackville-Bagginses!

-    I loved every part that mentioned characters or events from The Hobbit. I really enjoyed the part where Bilbo and Gloin catch up.

-    I like where the book ends. I know there is more, so I'm okay with how Tolkien left things. The fellowship broke up, but each party has their own new adventure.

-    Even though Tolkien is a heavier read, I enjoy his style. I like how he describes things.

-    Alan Lee's illustrations are stupendously awesome! I love them! I think it was genius for Peter Jackson to create Middle Earth through Alan Lee's eyes.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover

From Goodreads:    When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth.

My Thoughts:

-    I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous two.

-    Why does Cammie think she is more qualified to protect Macey than the Secret Service and other Gallagher Academy graduates? 

-    Zach bugs me. I think he is a jerk, and Cammie spends too much time worrying about him. He can't be trusted.

-    The ending seemed rushed and unfinished. I still have a lot of unanswered questions. 

-    The whole point of this book could have been done in a few pages. Did we really need a whole book to make us wonder who these Cavan people are? I would rather have read about Cammie trying to figure out who these Cavan people are and what their motive is. 

-    I really love the loyalty and dedication the Gallagher girls have for each other. I like that they refer to each other as sisters. 

-    Abbey was awesome! I liked her snarky and sassy attitude! 

Previous Gallagher Girls Books

(click on cover to see my thoughts)

 

The Third Wheel

Goodreads Synopsis:    Love is in the air - but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?

A Valentine's Day dance at Greg's middle school has turned his world upside down. As Greg scrambles to find a date, he's worried he'll be left out in the cold on the big night. His best friend, Rowley, doesn't have any prospects either, but that's a small consolation.

An unexpected twist gives Greg a partner for the dance and leaves Rowley the odd man out. But a lot can happen in one night, and in the end, you never know who's going to be lucky in love.

READERS LOVE THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID SERIES - the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, and #1 New York Timesbestsellers:

"In the publishing world, Kinney is a rock star." --NPR'S "Backseat Book Club"

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid is bent on world domination." --Time magazine

"One of the most successful children's series ever published." --The Washington Post

"A big hit with reluctant readers and anyone looking for a funny book." --School Library Journal

My Thoughts:

-    The beginning of this one is weird!

-    Having the right kind of toilet paper is important. I laughed all the the toilet paper hoarding and stuff.

-    I figured dating and girls would come into the picture sometime. That stage is so weird and awkward. There should be classes. 

-    Greg is a jerk! I can't say it enough. He is a horrible friend, and an even worse date.

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
  

Library Books Read-a-Thon

Even though I'm doing a read along right now, I'm going to participate in 

Library Books Read-a-Thon.

I read a lot of books anyway, and most, if not all, are from my library.

This event will also help me get ahead on my libraries summer reading program! 

Woo! More prizes for me!

Two Towers Kick Off

We are starting The Two Towers today! 

Welcome to those of you who are joining us! You can sign up here

Welcome back to the rest of you! I hope you'll stick with us!

This is the edition I'll be reading!

I'm so in love with my Lord of the Rings box set!

I love Alan Lee's illustrations!

Page Break Down:

Book 3:    13.5 pages a day

Book 4:    10.5 pages a day

Not bad at all!

I'll be doing a discussion post on Book 3 on June 15

Jenni will be doing a discussion post on Book 4 on June 30

Please use #LotRreadalong on twitter for quotes and thoughts while reading!

Good luck everyone!

Let the reading begin!!

Don't forget about our Fellowship of the Ring movie night!!