I’m once again joining with Modern Mrs. Darcy for her monthly link-up for books called Twitterature. The premise of this link-up is to share short, casual reviews of books we’ve been reading.
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After so many non-fiction books, I got on a fiction kick this month including one book to which I devoted an entire post.
The Fault in Our Stars
Check out the full review here but I’ll say The Fault in Our Stars is one of my favorite novels ever. Just so great. #MustRead
Ender’s Game
Ender’s Game is totally and completely different than anything I normally read but I found myself sucked in and finished it in just a few days. This one is being filmed as a movie and I’m torn about whether I’m excited or not. It’s certainly going to be better as a book but it could be really cool if they do it right. Either way, it’s worth the read if not the watch. Great characters, great plot, great pace, and two really great reveals.
Glamorous Illusions
Parts of Glamorous Illusions were downright charming but overall I found it a little slow, perhaps because it’s just Book One in a series. I think this was a free kindle book and it kept me busy during my flights last weekend.
I picked up a used copy of Harry Potter over the weekend. I could write a whole post about this but here’s the short version: I’ve never read any of it and I want to preview it before I see if it’s something I want to let Emma read. Parents, any wise input on it?
I LOVE the Harry Potter series and I will definitely let my kids read it when they are old enough. Actually, I will probably see if they will listen to the audiobook version read by Jim Dale. They are absolutely the most amazing audio books EVER. It got to the point by the final books, where even though I could read the book MUCH faster, I waited to listen to the audio book with Jeremy because the reading was amazing. The accents, everything, totally made it come alive. I kind of feel like the age of Harry in the book is the appropriate age for the reader to be able to understand the evil and scary bits.
Katrina recently posted…Reflections from a Reluctant Teenage Locavore
Hm, I do have an audible account so I could use that for HP. But, I’m about 70 pages into it and find myself extremely bored. I know it must get good because millions are crazy about it but how long does it take to get into it? If I’m not into it yet, will I be? Harry just got sent to school and is getting his money out of the bank and buying school supplies.
The audio is DEFINITELY better. It really brings the characters alive. Check the library to see if they have the audio. Also, our library (and likely yours) has OverDrive, which enables you to check out audio files to devices for free. Try that. I mean, the first book is for 11 year olds, so it is the least “riveting” in that sense. Stick with it.
Katrina recently posted…Reflections from a Reluctant Teenage Locavore
I checked and our OverDrive doesn’t have the audio. They probably have the CDs there though. I’ll look into it. Thanks!
The beginning of all the HP novels is a little slow. Once he gets to school each year, things get really fun. Keep at it! Not sure how old your daughter is, but I think HP is sort of meant to “grow up” with the reader — the earlier books are ok for younger kids, then the subject matter gets a little scarier/more serious as the kids in the books get older. (Each book is a school year for Harry and friends, in case you didn’t know, so by the time you read all 7 books it’s like they’ve started in middle school and grown up through their senior year of HS)
Sarah recently posted…Cooking School: Substitutions
I just love the Harry Potter series. I don’t know how old your kids are, but the first couple of books should be just fine. Toward the end of the series, they do address deeper themes (although I think almost every book had me in tears at some point). I have never listened to the books on tape, but I bet they’d be great fun.
Meg Evans recently posted…My Stack of Books: July to now
I had The Fault in our Stars on hold at the library for at least 6 months before it became available. And then I couldn’t get to the library to pick it up. Looks like I need to get on the waiting list again. I keep hearing such good things about it!
Definitely! Let me know what you think!
I read your Fault in the Stars review and I must say, it was pretty convincing :). You’re right–who writes a whole book about kids with cancer?! But it must have been redeeming if you enjoyed it so much.
Jenn @ A Simple Haven recently posted…Late Summer Reading {& Twitterature Link-up}
Yes, I guess I could say who reads a book about kids with cancer?? But really, it’s about young love and life and friendship. Very redeeming qualities!
So, Amy, you’ve made me pretty curious about The Ender’s Game. I think it might be a good one to listen to on audio while I work out.
Shana Norris recently posted…Twitterature :: August 2013
Oh, I hope you check it out. I’m not usually into sci-fi but it’s solid. Let me know what you think!
Even if you don’t end up enjoying it, Emma may, and the writing is good enough that it’s great for their writing/reading skills, IMO. I really enjoyed them but I wonder if part of the enjoyment was that everyone in the country was reading them all at once, if that makes sense. We were all swept up in the “world” of HP. 🙂
I agree with some of the other comments – the books get dark as they go along. Katherine (almost 10 years old) has read them all, but I only let her read the final books this summer and I’m admittedly pretty loose with what she reads as long as it isn’t romance -related. ( Those are a definite ‘no,’ LOL.)
Glad you enjoyed Ender’s Game. I can’t wait to see the movie!
I liked the first 2 Harry Potter books but once I read the 3rd one, then I really liked it b/c I saw that they all went together! I think they are a little dark and I’m sure I’ll let the kids read them–but probably a lot later than most kids. 😉
I read The Fault in Our Stars and I liked it. I thought it was clever and funny and sad and creative. (My favorite line was, “I want this dragon carrot risotto to become a person so I can take it to Las Vegas and marry it.”)
My only qualm was that I hate language in a teen’s mouth. Honestly, I’d almost let my teen kids (if I had them) read this book, but I just can’t do the language. Just me.
ohAmanda recently posted…For When You Feel Alone and Unseen
Ah! That WAS a great line. I need to go back and read through some quotes. So many great ones.
Thanks for chiming in on HP! Really trust your opinion for the kids so I’m putting that away for later. I’m hoping just to get trough a few myself to see. Neither of them are asking to read it at but I want to be ready. And really, I want to see personally what all the fuss is about.
OH, wait, one more favorite line: ““But I will say this: When the scientists of the future show up at my house with robot eyes and they tell me to try them on, I will tell the scientists to screw off, because I do not want to see a world without him.”
🙂
ohAmanda recently posted…For When You Feel Alone and Unseen
Yes! So good.
I LOVED The Fault in our Stars. So, so much. (I read Looking for Alaska right after, which I didn’t love, and my brother’s reading Paper Towns right now, which he’s not loving. And An Abundance of Katherines is waiting for me at the library when I get back to town. Also, you know he’s Hank Green’s brother, right–the Lizzie Bennet Diaries producer?)
How old is Emma? My oldest two are 10 and 8, and I’ve been wondering if they’re old enough for Harry Potter audio. (The audiobook is fabulous, like commenters above said.) I looked into snagging it for a car trip but I waited till the last minute. I think we might try it this fall, though.
Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy recently posted…Twitterature (August 2013 Edition)
No! I didn’t know that connection! I think I’d like to meet their parents and see what they did 🙂
My girls are 8 and 10, soon to be 9 and 11.
The Fault in our stars is now on my list to read. Thanks for the recommendation.
Great! Let me know what you think!
Amy, after reading your full review, I think it’s safe to say that you enthusiastically recommend The Fault in Our Stars! LOL! I’ve looked at this book before, but haven’t bought it because of the “kids with cancer” aspect. I generally try to avoid books that will make my cry. I might have to reconsider now….
Stacey @ The Anonymous Blonde recently posted…Summer Reading, Part II
OK, truth: I didn’t cry–but I’m not a crier so I’m not entirely sure I’m a good gauge. However, it was very moving in all sorts of ways and not terribly depressing to read at all. Definitely reconsider and let me know what you think!
Hi-I just came by to read your link up and saw your question on Harry Potter; my daughter wanted to start reading them in first grade, which is way too young to read the whole series, imo, so I told her she could read the book that corresponded with her grade (ie, in first grade she could read book 1, in second grade book 2, etc.). She’s now going into sixth grade and plans to read the sixth book during winter break. It’s been a great guideline for our family and wanted to pass it along to you.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing that with me! She’s already in 5th grade but I think doing one a year would be great rule of thumb at least in the beginning. Both girls have seen me reading it and neither are interested but we’ll see if that changes.
I still have The Fault in Our Stars on my to-read list!
I have always loved the Harry Potter series. My son is starting to read it now. I still think they are a little over my daughter’s head at the age of 9.
Stacey recently posted…Bookish: August 2013
Hurry and read! I want to know what you think!