Monday Maunder: May 21, 2012

Last week, I shared the reason why I have been sparse here on the writing front.  This week, I have decided to be take baby steps to begin getting back to a more regular posting schedule again.  I anticipate it to be slow at first, but I will eventually get back to reading and writing more frequently.  In the meantime, here is a quick lowdown with the usual format . . .

ON READING

Since I last posted, I have finished reading The Kingdom Keepers #2:  Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson as well as The Walking Dead #1:  Days Gone by Robert Kirkham.  I also started reading The Kingdom Keepers #3:  Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson.  Reading continues to be very slow.

ON WRITING

Just as reading has been slow, so has my writing.  I did, however, work on two pieces that have been the hardest to write in my entire life:  my father's obituary being the first and the second was a poem about my father that appeared in the memorial service program.  I actually wrote this poem more than 10 years ago, but made edits before it was publicly printed in honor of this very special man.

I have been meaning to journal to help release this mix of emotions, but have found it difficult to go there quite yet.  Maybe someday . . .

ON LIFE

I want to leave you with two positive notes, since my life has been rough these past few weeks.  The first is the wrapping up of my book drive that was started last month.  I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of books donated and I really look forward to delivering the books to Shriners Hospital for Children here in St. Louis.  As soon as I do, I will be sure to post lots of details, complete with pictures and even some much deserved thank you's!

The second positive is the announcement of the winner for The President's Vampire.  Congratulations to Michelle of That's What She Read!  The book is being mailed out to you later this week!  More giveaways will be coming your way as well, so be checking back later this week for more information.

I cannot close without sending out a HUGE THANK YOU for all the of the kind words of support that I have received from so many of you.  Each comment and message helps to ease this pain a bit more, knowing that I am not alone and that there are so many of you keeping my family and I in your thoughts and prayers.  

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

My Recent Absence

I don't know if all my readers have noticed that I have been absent from my Monday Maunder posts the last couple of weeks.  Thankfully, I have had some posts scheduled to fill in the gaps of my absence; however, I still wanted to explain to all of you just a bit about why I have been mostly away from all things online.

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, I received the worst phone call of my life informing me that I had tragically lost my father.  Approximately 24 hours later, I was in my car with my children, driving half way across the country to be with my family and tend to our loss.  Since that call, my life has been turned upside down and I have been experiencing a wide array of emotions.  

As I write this post, I have returned home in the attempt to go back to my old routine.  I don't think the routine will ever be the same to be quite honest.  I will just try my best because afterall, an instruction manual has never been written on how to deal with a situation like this.  You just have to do your best to cope and deal with the pain.  One thing that helps me is writing; therefore, I have decided to attempt to dive back into my writing.  Things will continue to be light again this week and maybe next, but I will slowly be coming back.  Writing is healing to me.  It takes me away, but also allows me to process.  Reading helps me to escape, but focusing has been difficult for long periods of time.  

I guess I just ask you to bear with me.  Be patient with me.  It's a rough time right now.

Fables #4: March of the Wooden Soldiers by Bill Willingham

March of the Wooden Soldiers continues the brilliance of the Fables series by Bill Willingham.  In the previous editions, readers are introduced to fairy tale favorites that we have grown up with; however, these characters have been exiled to our human lands due to war.  Conflicts have erupted amongst their own throughout the centuries, but within this fourth edition they must band together as the old war returns to their new home.

As I read more through this series, I fall in love with it even more.  As Willingham expands on the history of his created world and opens readers' eyes to the unknown stories behind the characters, I become more and more invested and completely hooked.  We see the power of these fabled characters, but also their vulnerabilities, creating more of a connection to mere humans like myself.  I simply love falling into this world with every edition I pick up.  My only complaint is that Snow White's special delivery has not yet made an appearance!

For reviews of the previous editions, click the links below:

#1:  Legends in Exile
#2:  Animal Farm
#3:  Storybook Love

Special Note:  For mature readers only!


Tell Me:  Who is your favorite fairy tale character, and how would you imagine them living in an exiled world?

Gopher to the Rescue!: A Volcano Recovery Story by Terry Catasus Jennings

Terry Catasus Jennings explores the cycle of a volcanic eruption in her children's book, Gopher to the Rescue!:  A Volcano Recovery Story.  Looking at this natural disaster from a gopher's point of view, the reader discovers the devastation a volcano can cause as well as how the smallest of animals bring life and recovery back to the land.

Many years ago, I walked the mountain and discovered first-hand the destruction of the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State.  I saw the beginnings of life returning, but I never had the understanding of where or how the healing of the land began.  Gopher to the Rescue! has helped me to better understand the rebuilding process and has provided this adult mind a new perspective.  I have yet to share this treasure with my own children, but I look forward to doing it in the near future when my son begins this unit in school.

As usual with books published by Sylvan Dell, readers can expand the story into real life with pages of additional activities as well as a multitude of resources available online.  Pair these with a trip to Mount St. Helens or other local volcanic site and you will have your children exploding with practical knowledge you can't get just anywhere!

Have you personally experienced a volcanic eruption or seen the aftermath?  Please share you experiences.

Thank you to Sylvan Dell Publishing for a complimentary review copy of Gopher to the Rescue!:  A Volcano Recovery Story.

Locke and Key #3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill

Joe Hill continues his horror tale following the lives of the Locke family in the third edition of Locke and Key:  Crown of Shadows.  After the murder of the father in the first edition and the ultimate end of his murderer in the second, readers may believe that we can finally see some resolution and healing of all those involved.  However, we find the three children fighting against the evil and dead on their own, with only the help of magical keys.

Once again, I have been awed by Hill's creative mind and Rodriguez's brilliant art in Crown of Shadows.  I could not read fast enough, yet found myself flipping back through the pages mesmerized by the story, both in writing and in art.  This story keeps getting better and better and I look forward to getting my hands on the next in the series.

WARNING:  As in the previous editions, this graphic novel is meant for mature eyes only.

Have I convinced you to pick up these books yet or were you already a fan?

The Great Divide by Suzanne Slade

A few years ago, I was introduced to Suzanne Slade through her animal addition, What's New At The Zoo?  It was an instant hit at our house, especially with a little boy who has a liking for math.  In Slade's newest picture book, The Great Divide, she takes on basic division with the continued theme of animals, but this time focusing on groupings and the cool names that they are referred to.

I personally love Slade's ability to turn math into rhyming fun.  Her wit and unique idea not only create math sentences, making this sometimes difficult subject easier to relate to, but also brings in a scientific topic that even adults can have fun with.  Let me just share one little example from the book . . .

Sixteen busy wallabies - 

moms always on the job. 

Two groups hop away

how many in each mob?

Slade has another number hit!  After reading this one, I am only left wondering why I do not have copies of the other books in the series:  What's the Difference? and Multiply on the Fly.  In the meantime, I look forward to spending time doing the attached activities with my kids, including those in the book and the others found online.

Special Note:  I cannot close this review without also making special mention of the illustrator, Erin E. Hunter.  The illustrations accompanying Slade's story assist in the math learning, but also realistically portray the animals.  The illustrations are in one word:  GORGEOUS!

Assignment:  Test your division knowledge by re-reading the above example and writing the math sentence/equation in the comments!

Thank you to Sylvan Dell Publishing for a complimentary review copy of The Great Divide by Suzanne Slade.  I also recommend reading my previous interview with the author that took place after the release of the first book in the series, What's New At The Zoo? (September 2009).

Lauren Oliver Comes To Town!

As I was going through all my notes, I discovered that I had forgotten to share one of my favorite events of 2012 so far . . . a night with Lauren Oliver, author of the book Delirium.  I read this book last year and really enjoyed it on multiple levels.  Since she was touring for the sequel, Pandemonium, I knew I had to attend!

Oliver remembers her writing began with writing companions to her most beloved books or as she better words it, "a 7-year-old version of fan fiction."  She was surrounded by writing thanks to her dad (her inspiration!) who also just so happens to be an author, but of nonfiction books featuring murder and serial killers.  However, the most amazing bit of information that Oliver shared about her writing journey was how she wrote her debut novel Before I Fall . . . on the subway, on her blackberry, emailing chapters to herself!  Isn't that amazing?!?

I really could go on and on about this event, but instead I will leave you with just a few fascinating tidbits instead from Oliver as a reader and writer . . .

• Pandemonium and the upcoming Requiem were both named by fans after she put a call out on her blog.
• She struggles with writer's block every day by making herself sit in that chair to write without coming up with any excuses.
• A few of Oliver's favorites include the Harry Potter series, anything by Roald Dahl, and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Have you had the pleasure of reading one of Oliver's books or attending one of her events?  What did you think?

P.S.  I was recently perusing Lauren Oliver's website and the design is gorgeous!  If you are interested in getting lost, definitely check it out!

Listen to My Trumpet! by Mo Willems

Let's start this review with a simple fact:  WE LOVE MO WILLEMS!  A while back, I shared a few of my favorite Willems' stories via the Walrus Report, featuring his wide array of characters from Knuffle Bunny to Pigeon.  However, in my household, nothing compares to the adventures of Elephant and Piggie.  These two unlikely friends leave both children and adults giggling by the end of their books and Willems' most recent release is no exception!

Listen to My Trumpet! follows Piggie while she shares her trumpet talent with Elephant.  However, Elephant tries to kindly break it to his friend that what she is playing sounds nothing like music.  In the usual fashion, Willems ends on one hilarious note that solves the friends' latest issue.

What I love about Willems is his ability to take conflicts or problems facing the preschool and elementary crowd and demonstrates how two very different creatures work together to find a solution.  He throws in just the right amount of humor to allow the lesson to be fun and creates a story that even adults can read over and over again.

Listen to My Trumpet! has quickly jumped to the top of this family's favorites, only falling shy of There's a Bird on Your Head.  I cannot even count the amount of times we have read the latest adventure and we only brought it home a couple of weeks ago!

Are you a fellow fan of Mo Willems and his characters, Elephant and Piggie?  Which tales would be your favorite?

REMINDER: Spreading Literary Love Book Drive

On this first day of May, I want to remind you about my latest project, Spreading Literary Love:  A Book Drive for Shriners Hospital for Children in Saint Louis!  Be sure to click on over to the original announcement to get all the details and please help to spread the word.

I also wanted to take a few moments to answer a frequently asked question ... Will I accept gift cards or cash donations?  Yes, though I understand that many may feel more comfortable with at least a gift card to a bookstore.  For those cash and gift card donations, I will personally purchase the titles that I would recommend and put in the hands of the children and young adults!  All donations are being recorded and will be passed on to Shriners Hospital for their records.

I will also leave you with the current status of donations:  1 $25 gift card to a bookstore.  Thank you donor!  You still have 10 more days to contribute and I hope to at least double these donations!

Click over now and 

help to spread the literary love!

Monday Maunder: April 30, 2012

Can you believe that it is the last day in April?!?  Summer is going to be here before we know it!!  I am so excited about this!!

ON READING

Reading has remained slow this past week.  I am still reading The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson, with the ending of Book 2 coming very soon!  I'm just going to keep on reading through to the end of Book 5, but I may throw in the first book in The Walking Dead series since I finally got it from the library!

I forgot to mention last week that I have started my book group again!!  Last year, I discontinued the group for a variety of reasons that I will not get into here.  Thanks to multiple requests and some amazing reading friends, we met last weekend and got the ball rolling again.  We are in the midst of choosing books and plan to discuss our first book, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness in a month.  I could not have asked for a better pick for our first discussion!!

Last, but not least on the reading front, I thought I would share a few thoughts on my current reading challenges.  Let's first take a peak at where I stand on the five that I have signed up for this year:

1. 2012 Audio Book Challenge (0 of 12)
2. 2012 Fairy Tale Challenge (4 of 12)
3. 2012 Off the Shelf Challenge (6 of 30)
4. 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge (17 of 70)
5. What's In A Name Challenge (2 of 6)

I am doing horribly with the audio book challenge, but am hoping to turn that around soon.  I check audios out from the library and never seem to finish them before they are due back without the possibility of renewal (because of a request or max amount of renewals).  Other than that and the overall amount of reading I have done this year, I am completely happy with where I am at.  Goodreads says that I am five books behind my goal for the year, but I think it is still within reach!

ON WRITING

As mentioned previously, I have signed up for participation in the 10-Week Writer's Challenge and today marks the first week down.  How has it gone?  Not bad for the first week and I only hope that it gets better.  Here's a quick peak at what writing was actually accomplished, all of which was for the site this week:

• Monday, April 23rd:  Wrote Monday Maunder
• Tuesday, April 24th:  None
• Wednesday, April 25th:  Wrote two reviews AND scheduled two reviews!  (Please note that many of my reviews I write out long-hand first, then type them up and schedule them.)
• Thursday, April 26th:  None
• Friday, April 27th:  None
• Saturday, April 28th:  None
• Sunday, April 29th:  Started writing Monday Maunder

My goal is to write a minimum of five days a week and go beyond words for the blog and freelancing.  I did not quite make it this week, but I consider this my baseline and look forward to improving from here!

ON LIFE

For life, I am simply going to remind you about two big things going on here right now:

• Spreading Literary Love:  Book Drive for Shriners Hospital for Children
• Giveaway:  The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth

And, I will leave you with pictures of my loot from a library book sale and a city-wide used book fair.  Can you believe these treasures that will be added to my shelves and used as giveaways for my book club as well as right here on this site?!?  (For my birthday this year, I asked that I have a certain amount of money and two nights at these sales!  What more could a book girl want?!?)

Do you want to guess how much money I spent on all these treasures?!?  Which ones caught your eye and why?  What were the treasures of your week?