Stephen King's Under the Dome is quite a read!

After just renewing this book for the second time I finished it!  Yea!  When I first plucked this novel from the library shelves I was a bit apprehensive about finishing it, especially when it numbers 1074 pages (this includes the author's notes).  I am a "Constant Reader" as Stephen King likes to call his followers and that is what I was.  I did enjoy this book.

Mr. King is a master of writing many characters.  He could mention a minor character a couple of times, but yet he made that character memorable.  He/she became a person in my mind.  (At the beginning of the novel he wrote from the perspective of a woodchuck!  That was incredible!)  This book is set in a fictional Maine small town called Chester's Mill.  "The Mill" as one comes to know it has many interesting people/characters.

The horror of the story comes into play when the city is enclosed in a dome that is impenetrable and totally seals off the village from the rest of the country.  The town is run by a second selectman, Big Jim Rennie, who quickly becomes a dictator.  There are people in the town that are for and against Rennie.  The President has given control of the situation inside the dome to Colonel Dale Barbara.  Rennie handily frames Barbara for murders that he and his son, Junior, commit.  The hero, Barbara, and his friends have much to overcome. 

This is a novel that covers many common themes or raises questions: good vs. evil; Is there really a God?; What would happen if a group of people were left in a situation without a normal government?; What would aliens think of us?; How might aliens treat us?

At one point while reading this novel I thought to myself, "Wow, King has really gone over the deep end."  Well, after I finished maybe I've changed my mind.  He left us at the end of the book with a message of hope.  I liked that.  There is hope.       

Rick Riordan has done it again with THE LOST HERO!

Rick Riordan has done it again with The Lost Hero!  He's written another brilliant book that blends mythology with great characters and universal themes.  I first got hooked on this author's work when I read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.  From books 1-5 I couldn't get enough.  Then when The Red Pyramid was published I rushed out to buy it and read it.  Book one in the Kane Chronicles was excellent!  I learned a great deal about Egyptian mythology.  I'm currently reading the book to my 5th grade class.  They are really enjoying it!  I can't wait for the next installment in the Kane Chroncles!

My students can't wait for us to finish The Red Pyramid so we can start reading The Lost Hero aloud!  I will be more than happy to accommodate them.  The novel is a spin-off of the Percy Jackson series, but I appreciate the fact that I can share this book with kids who haven't read the previous series and they will still understand.

This novel introduces us to three new demigods, Piper, Leo, and Jason.  Jason is a rather mysterious figure.  He appears unexpectedly at Wilderness School with Piper and Leo.  Piper and Leo believe they've known Jason for months, but really it's a clever trick of the Mist.  Mist helps to keep the magical beings/creatures hidden from regular "mortals."  Evil wind spirits try to attack and kill the trio on a field trip.  Jason, Piper, and Leo, manage to survive the attack, are rescued, whisked off to Camp Half-Blood (a special training camp for demigods), and their adventures are a whirlwind from there.

Each of the young heroes has special powers.  Piper, Leo, and Jason find ways to use them as they deal with some nasty characters.  The demigods experience evil gods and godesses, giants and monsters, and some of the worst villains and villainesses known to the Underworld.

Jason has the added disadvantage of memory loss and finding his way without knowing anyone.  The themes of friendship and loyalty definitely shine out like polished bronze and gold.  Jason may feel alone quite  a bit of the time, but yet he isn't.  He has successfully bridged a gap between two different worlds.

I can't/don't want to say much more, because I don't want to give anything away.  This is a wonderful book, I can't sing its praises enough!  Oh, if only I had a muse to write like Riordan does.  I can't wait for the second book in this new series.  I'll be waiting!  Once my students read or listen to this book they will be hooked too.

The Reader with Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes

I finally got a chance to watch The Reader this weekend.  I loved it!  The acting was amazing, and the story was multi-layered and rich!  I was home alone, so I felt free to weep freely (and I did) and enjoy the film.

Ralph Fiennes has always been one of my favorite actors; he has a quiet intensity.  There is also a somber mystique about him.  Kate Winslet's performance was amazing!  I'm going to have to watch some more of her latest work.  I'll have to watch Revolutionary Road, the movie in which she received the Academy Award.

Some of the themes the movie dealt with were love, loss, and guilt.  A relationship that lasted for a summer had a profound effect on two people.  We could debate about the morality of the relationship between the characters, Michael and Hanna, but I don't want to get into that.  I just wanted to write about how I enjoyed the movie.

I found myself becoming totally engrossed in the characters' lives.  The passage of time in the movie kept me focused also, in that the viewer went back and forth in time with Michael's character.   We first see him in 1996 and then we flashback to his thoughts when he first met Hanna before World War II.  As we go through the movie we find that Hanna is in Michael's thoughts a great deal.

Later in his life did Michael read to Hanna out of love, guilt, or a combination of both?  One could argue that she had victimized him and damaged him.  The romantic in me likes to take the view that Michael loved her.  Was Hanna's relationship with Michael more than just sexual?  She admitted she loved him. It could be debated. 

What do you think? 

I realize I haven't even scratched the surface discussing this movie.  My friends have said they don't like to read my reviews sometimes because I give away too much.  I decided to be as vague as I could.  I know that books are always far better than movies.  I'll have to add the book, The Reader by Bernard Schlink to my list of must reads. 

My uncle's 80th birthday party

My uncle, Ivan Hirsch, has been an inspiration and strong influence in my life.  It was my honor to throw a party for him for his 80th birthday.  My sister, Audrey, and I spearheaded the effort.  We had a great deal of help.  I have five super sisters and a wonderful mom who helped with a variety of tasks.  Of course my husband, Dwane, and Audrey's husband, Dan, helped with making food and running all kinds of errands.  The day of the party they also helped with keeping us calm!  Debby, and John, my cousins, also helped us to create a successful party.  I was proud it went well, because I'd never planned a party of this size.  We planned for about 50-60 people.

Uncle Ivan has held many jobs and in life, including a teacher, principal, insurance salesman, missionary, lay preacher/teacher and I'm sure I've missed quite a few here.  On account of these jobs/vocations, he's traveled many places.  I only hope that I'll be able to travel as widely as he and Aunt Millie have!

I can only hope, too, that I'll be able to display a portion of the faith he has.  I've always admired Uncle Ivan's faith.  Grandma had that same faith also.  One thing I've learned is that a good teacher leads by example.  Ivan Hirsch must have been a great teacher.  I've learned a great deal over the years.  Thank you!

God bless you in your travels, Uncle Ivan!  May He grant you many more years on this earth.  I pray you may teach more people about Jesus and His love as you've taught me.  You've been such a wonderful Christian example.

        

What a guy!



Today I would just like to say a big, "Thank you!" to my husband, Dwane, for all he does for me.  He works just as hard as I do, but yet today when I was feeling too tired (and somewhat lazy) he cooked for us.  He cooks meals for us quite often because I either have a meeting or some other activity.  Whatever he makes is always scrumptious.  He is also the "king of fabulous breakfasts."

Some of my co-workers say I'm spoiled.  Some might say my husband is "whipped."  I detest that term!  I like to think of myself as blessed and loved.

*This photo of us was taken almost a year ago at the family cabin.*

Nouns

I need to give credit where credit is due and this picture hails from "Schoolhouse Rock."  I loved listening to those educational ditties as a kid!  I received some educational ditties from my students today about nouns.  It's true that, "Kids say the darnedest things."

I asked my students in 6th grade English to give me a noun that described either something about their mood or being back in school.  I heard a variety of animals, everything from alligator to capybara.  Going down another row I heard some more nouns that entailed the likes of: bed, bike, pork patty, and lunch.  Don't hold the adjective in "pork patty" against my 6th grader.  Needless to say I got a good chuckle from the class in the morning.

I then tried a variation of the same exercise with my 5th graders.  I asked them to give me a noun that had to do with something from their summer.  Since I didn't think they would quite know what I was after I led with an example.  My first student led with a sentence.  "I went to see my grandma."  I said, "Grandma, that's your noun."  I had to work with the first 3 or 4 students and then by the time I got to my last student he/she had the hang of it.  I would have to say the 5th graders stuck to my topic a bit more than the 6th grade.

It was fun to hear their responses and to get them thinking a bit about nouns, a very important part of speech! 

Where would we be without them? 

Back to School!

One of my favorite back to school memories includes having a new box of crayons and oohing and aahing over the beautiful sparkling colors. 

Even though I no longer get a new box of crayons and marvel at the beauty there I enjoy seeing the splendid students that walk through my door every year.  Each child shines with an inner glow and sparkles in his/her own way.  I have 14 students this year - 6 girls and 8 boys.  I am excited to get to know them better each and every day.  I know that there will be days when I will be challenged and tested, but those days will pass and soon be forgotten.  The good days are the ones that will be remembered.

When we do an art project and we use color crayons, I'll be surreptitiously sneaking peeks at those new crayons, though!  How fun to be be back in school!

Artemis Fowl The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer

I enjoy reading books that are classified as young adult literature.  One of my favorite series is by Eoin Colfer, the Artemis Fowl series.  The Atlantis Complex is the seventh in the series.  Artemis is a teenage genius.  He is suffering from a disease that comes upon him due to his involvement in crime, his feelings of guilt, and his use of fairy magic.  One of the manifestations of this illness is obsessive-compulsive disorder.  With the onset of the disease there is the possibility of multiple personality disorder as well.  This novel includes some great comedy and romance!  I won't give more of a "book" report because I hope you will pick up the books and read them!

In book one of the series, Artemis Fowl, we are introduced to the boy genius.  He happens to be a criminal mastermind.  Artemis learns of a secret world of fairies and the gold they protect.  Since Artemis is always seeking money and more power he is drawn to this fairy world.  Throughout the series we become involved in not only the lives of the human characters:  Butler (Arty's bodyguard), Juliet (Butler's sister) Artemis's mother, Angeline, and later Artemis Fowl, Sr.  But we also get involved in the lives of the fairy folk: Holly Short, Julius Root, Trouble Kelp, Foaly (a techno-savvy centaur), Mulch Diggums (a dwarf) and many other sprites, goblins, and even demons.

This series involves great settings and imaginative situations.  The villains are also quite dastardly!  These books have all the elements of good mysteries.  Time travel is even involved in book 6, The Time Paradox.  If you enjoy reading great literature, pick up this series and start reading.  Don't let the "young adult" literature category turn you off; you'd be missing out!

What a wonderful day!

Today was one of those summer days that every Minnesotan longs for: low humidity, a nice cool breeze, and a temperature in the 70s.  It was a gorgeous day!  I decided to go for a nice walk this afternoon.  I put my Skecher's on, grabbed my headset for my book on tape, and I was out the door.

It was fun to watch the grasshopper nymphs jump around and have fun.  I loved the sunshine and my body was soaking up the vitamin D!  On my trip back to my house I saw a dead garter snake.  Eeeekkkk!  I cut a wide path around that thing.  I traveled a bit farther and I saw a used a condom!!  Now that was another big EEEKKKKK!!! 

Now I love the earth and I'm all for picking up garbage, but I drew the line there.  I'm sorry, but there was no way I was going to bring that home and throw it in my garbage.  I saw the package as I kept walking and noticed it was a Trojan.  Well, at least whoever used the condom was trying to be safe.  My advice would be, "Just throw it in the trash when you're done and not on the side of the road!!"

As I continued on my way home I thought to myself, "How ironic...hmmm...dead snake and dead condom."

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

This summer I rediscovered my love of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels.  The first Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead Until Dark, was first published in May 2001.  I didn't discover the series until quite a few years later, but after I read the first one, I sunk my teeth into the rest. 

Sookie is a waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana.  She has the gift of telepathy.  This has been a blessing and a curse for her as her life has progressed.  Life was fairly normal in this fictional world until vampires "came out."  Once that happened the world is never the same, especially for Sookie.  She even has her first serious relationship with a vampire named Bill.  (We learn Bill was turned into a vampire during the Civil War.)  Other supernatural beings become known as well in the course of the series.  We see a whole range of "supes" from Weres, to other shapeshifters, witches, and fairies.

In the course of the novels that follow: Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, From Dead to Worse, and Dead and Gone, we get a glimpse into how Sookie views and deals with this world.  Because of her telepathic "gift" she is quite a "commodity" in the supernatural world.  We see her relationships change from vampire Bill to dating other supernatural men.  In the later books in the series Sookie has become involved with the vampire Eric who is the Sheriff of the Louisiana area.  

Sookie is a tough little gal with quite a sense of humor and much of that "girl next door" feel.  She is a likable character.  Once you start reading the books, though, you may get hooked, so beware.

I got a bit burned out at one point, though, in this series and stopped reading after All Together Dead.  After I picked up From Dead to Worse and walked a bit on the streets of Bon Temps, so to speak, it all came back to me and I was able to get back in the swing.  I know that the new book is out already.  I've seen it on the shelves.  I can't wait to read it! 

Dwane and I also got involved in watching the show True Blood.  This is an HBO series that is based on the book series.  It is fun to watch the characters come to life in this way.  HBO has taken their own liberties with the books and stories, but it is still fun to watch.  We bought the first season on DVD as a Christmas gift to ourselves.  Season 2 is out now, but I don't know if I'll be able to wait until Christmas to purchase it!!! 

I was bored today so I started a new project!

I was bored today so I started a new project!  At the end of June my husband, Dwane, and I finished the restoration of my grandmother and grandfather's 1950s dinette style table.  Now I need to change the decor in my dining room!  Since money is hard to come by, I am trying to find ways to make use of what I already have.  As a wedding shower gift my friend, Amy Jasper-Fenske, gave me a stained glass window.  I've always loved it, but didn't know where to display it, because it is rather large.  It will serve as my new focal point!  I just need to give the window a bit of TLC.
I scraped paint on the window with a razor blade and did some general cleaning today.  Dwane's words of wisdom for me were, "Just be careful and don't cut yourself.  I don't want to have to haul you to the emergency room."  Isn't love grand?!  I did have Dwane help, though, he works with razor blades on glass all the time at work and knows exactly what he's doing.

There are a couple of broken panes.  I am fortunate to have a brother-in-law, Steve, who said it would be easy to fix.  I certainly hope so.  I'm looking forward to the day when my new dining room decor project is complete! 

The picture I'm attaching today is of my dad's 15th birthday.  He is standing behind the table that Dwane and I now proudly have in our dining room.

Eve by Elissa Elliott is a remarkable book.  At first I was skeptical because often I let my Lutheran theology get in the way of my reading.  I set that off to the side and wanted to enjoy a book.  I did.

Elliott weaves a tale of Adam and Eve and their first children.  She creates a setting that is lush and yet savage.  As one reads you understand the hardships that Adam and Eve confront.  The narrators in this novel are Eve and her daughters: Naava, Aya (who has a crippled foot), and Dara.  We are also given a glimpse into the lives of her other children at this time: Cain, Abel, and Jacan.

Adam and Eve believe they are alone, but one day the family discovers that a new village is being built to the north of where they live.  Elliott has placed her family within close range of an ancient Mesopotamian village/city.  This city then provides much of the conflict for the story.

When Eve narrates we are told about her life back in the Garden and her life with Adam before the two were expelled from the Garden.  We are also told about what happens afterward.  Her story is told in such a genuine way that one feels as if you know her.  We learn about her dreams, goals, and feelings.  Elliott makes it seem as if you know the women in the book. 

When Naava, Aya, and Dara are narrating we also see the story from the eyes of three other contrasting viewpoints.  Each sister is very different.  We read about sibling rivalry, love and caring, and downright hatred at times.

My favorite character was Aya.  She had issues to deal with in the story, but she seemed to be the "roundest" character of all.  I believe she learned the most.  She loved Elohim (God) and worshiped him only in a land of many gods.  She knew she was beautiful even though she was crippled.  She had an inner peace about her that her older sister, Naava, envied and never achieved.  Her name meant 'bird,' and she seemed to soar above her hardships.  I believe that this was just one lesson that Elliott wanted us to take away from the novel. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I am involved in a book club and we read this book as our August choice.  I am so thankful for our book club, because I don't think I would have read this wonderful book otherwise!  Thanks, Jena, you have chosen some good ones. 

This book is the story of Liesel Meminger a little girl who is given into foster care by her mother to Hans and Rosa Hubermann.  The story takes place in Germany right before WWII and throughout the war.  The narrator of this story, though, is not Liesel, it is Death. 

Death is an omniscient narrator.  At times the reader may actually feel sorry for him and all that he has to do.  One of the interesting characteristics of Death is that he is attracted to colors.  He loves colors.  One of the first scenes of the story is death focusing on the colors of the swastika.  It was quite an image!

Liesel is a feisty young girl trying to find her way in life and with her new family.  She is the book thief.  She steals her first book upon the death of her brother, The Gravedigger's Handbook.  Her new Papa, Hans, lovingly teaches her how to read it.  Liesel acquires other books throughout the course of the story including a book that didn't get burned during one of Hitler's book burning bonfires.  She was seen stealing this book, though, by the mayor's wife, Ilsa Hermann.  This opens up an interesting relationship yet to come.

Hans is a loving man who comes to love Liesel like his own daughter.  Rosa is a tough, cursing, hard woman.  Yet she loves Liesel in her own way too.  We are also introduced to Rudy, Liesel's best friend.  Another very important character is Max, a German Jew that hides in the Hubermann home. 

I don't want to give away too much of this story, because my book club ladies haven't discussed this one yet!  (Just in case one of them were to read this post.)  There is so much to this novel also for me to really do it justice too with my review.  Zusak wrote a novel that was classified as young adult, but I think many adults would benefit from reading this book about family, friendship, history, humanity, the horrors of World War II, and above all love.

Another book I read mid-July was Laurie Notaro's Spooky Little Girl.  This book was a fun laugh out loud read.  I had read many of Notaro's essays and really enjoyed them.  So when she started to write fiction I had to read some of her novels.  This book incorporated a character from one of her previous novels, Ruby Spicer.

This book gives us an interesting twist on life and death through the eyes of Lucy Fisher.  We see Lucy's life up until she dies unexpectedly and then what happens to her in the afterlife.  While Lucy is on the "other side" she meets the incomparable Ruby Spicer.

Grab this book and read it if you are in the mood for a good laugh.  If you are into analyzing theology, though, don't read this one.  Before you read Spooky you might want to read there's a (slight) chance i might be going to hell.  This novel will give you a little background into one of the characters.

What The Dickens by Gregory Maguire

I had mentioned that I would use this blog as a record about books that I've read.  One of the questions I hear the most when I return to school is, "Well, Lisa, how many books did you read this summer?"  Many times I forget.  This is the latest book that I finished.

I really enjoy reading Maguire's work.  When I learned that he had written another children's book I thought I would try it.  Maguire has such a gift for language!  He doesn't water that down either especially when writing for a younger audience.  This was a lovely story within a story!  Maguire wrote that he came up with the idea for this story after giving an assignment to middle-age students in a creative writing class.  This is the story of an orphaned skibereen (a tooth fairy) named What-the-Dickens.  He is befriended by another of his kind, Pepper, and she leads him to her colony.  What-the-Dickens learns a great deal about his people and himself.  This story of What-the-Dickens is told by a man named Gage Tavenner who met these fairies personally.

Maguire addresses themes of friendship, loneliness and belonging, and imagination.

I especially liked how the author addressed imagination.  When I teach creative writing, some of the students view it as a chore and some truly enjoy the class.  I hope I can foster a love of writing in them.  After reading this book I'm inspired to start a new year of writing class!  Thanks, Mr. Maguire!

Welcome to Kotila's Korner!

Hello!  My name is Lisa Kotila.  I've decided after long last to join the millions of folks that have a blog. Welcome to Kotila's Korner, my little section of cyberspace! 

I will post some general thoughts here, but I will make this a chronicle about books I've read, recipes I've tried, projects I've scrapbooked, cards I've made, and a general hodge podge of miscellany.  Have a great day!