almost 2008 - new zealand time!!

next to read ...
Love games, by Charlotte Lamb, c. 1984 bc 5727396
Boobela and the worm, by Joe Friedman, c. 2007, wcl purple fiction
Palaces in the sky, by Ted Reynolds, c. 1997, wcl
Relative Love, by Amanda Brookfield, c. 2004 - petone ubs, bc 5728621

"Varoius Faerious," Jacqui Grantford, c. 2002


"Not all are so noble
or pretty of face;
The vain Hairy Faeries
have no faerie grace.
From top down to toe
they are covered with hair.
All day and all night they
comb it with care."

Wonderful. Love the rhyming words and the imagination.

"Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella," by Pamela Allen, c. 2006

Both Margaret and Anneke enjoyed reading this one with me. M is an emerging reader but it kept her attention. For me Christmas = the beach, so this was a seasonal read for me!

"Mrs Claus takes a vacation," by Linas Alsenas, c. 2006

Delightful kids book. I like the ending, too.

I have just gathered my next "to-be-read" pile ...

"My spy," by Christine Skye, c. 2002 -- bc 5433799
"When daylight comes," by Lyn Andrews, c. 2003 -- bc 5459605
"Prince of delights," by Renee Roszel," c. 1992 -- petone find -- bc 5727398
"Norton's Hut," by John Marsden and Peter Gouldthorpe, c. 1998 -- wcl - teens graphic novel -- snowy cover caught my eye
"Santaland diaries," by David Sedaris, c. 1999 -- reserved b/c of season -- from lcl
"After you've gone," by Joan Lingard, c. 2007 -- reserved -- newbie from ecl

"The Woman Who Won Things," by Allan Ahlberg, c. 2003

From blurb..
One lucky day .. Mrs Gaskitt gets a prize .. Mr Gaskitt gets a kiss .. And Gus and Gloria get a new teacher ... with a new suitcase!

This wasn't what I expected. Some kids may enjoy ... I shall gather some views.

Books next on my reading list: -- all chosen by random from my piles lol

Blackwater, by Kerstin Ekman, c. 1993 BC 545 9639
The Bad Girls Club, by Rhian Tracey, c. 2005 -- LCL - teen read
The Screaming Room, by Thomas O'Callaghan, c. 2007 -- WCL "new book"
The Marriage Adventure, by Hannah Bernard, c. 205 -- WCL rom

"A Little Peace," by Barbara Kerley, c. 2007

From blurb:
It doesn't take much to spread a little peace. Seeds of peace are all over the world - in a shared smile, a helping hand, a compassionate voice. From a soccer game in Iraq to children holding hands in New Mexico, from dancing monks in Bhutan to old friends laughing in Afghanistan, peace, powerful, infectious, is ready to grow.
Reach out your hand - and your heart. Help spread a little Peace.



for me: smiley faces; colored pictures of kids, families, meditation etc. beautiful book.

"The Sea Princess," by Katie Chase ... enjoyable read. Good use of pictures, too.

from blurb:
Rosie knows a very special secret. Hidden in her great-aunt's mysterious Scottish castle are lots of little princesses for her to find. And each one will whisk her away to another part of the world on a magical adventure!
Marissa, the Sea Princess, needs Rosie's help to find her crown and the Pearl of Wisdom that will restore order to the underwater kingdom of Aquatica. However, to find it, the girls must swim down to the bottom of the ocean and enter the cave of the Sea Hag ...

my notes -- mermaids -- courage -- treasure hunt -- adventures.

Reading for work - kids's books

A Little Peace, by Barbara Kerley, Nov 30, 2007
Grandpa and Thomas and the green umbrella, by Pamela Allen, Dec 23rd, 2007
Mrs. Claus takes a vacation, by Linas Alsenas, Dec 22nd, 2007
Sea Princesses, by Katie Chase, Nov 28, 2007
The Woman Who Won Things, by Allan Ahlberg, Dec 17th, 2007
Various Faerious, by Jacqui Grantford, Dec 30th, 2007

I'm in the process of reading Into the Wild, ed by Susan Fox Rogers, c.1999. An inspiring read ...

"I've come a long way from that solo hiker who nearly welcomed the cold as an appropriate companion to fill ou the emptiness of my first Appalachian hike without Maude. I had spent many lonesome nights huddled in a sleeping bag on a shelf floor, a water bottle full of hot water held tight to my body. Now I've learned that we must fill our internal wilderness with people, and that sharing something - experiences, thoughts, food, care - with others is a truer, warmer way to live. p68

Today, though, the land is a backward-moving conveyor belt of charred brown tundra. The red sun has broiled the sky white. I fish Diet Cokes and a few Tim Tams - a richer, more chocolately version of the Oreo that's very popular in this car - from the mini-cooler we keep shoved behind the driver's seat. I read aloud from the guidebook, which says that in Aborigine culture, the land is considered a huge, detailed road map of the mind. p9


Next books on my to-be-read list:

Death by Meeting, by Patrick Lencioni, c. 2004 - from shelf at LCL
Friday Night Cocktails by Allison Rushby, c. 2004 - reserved; copy is from LCL
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, c. 2007 - reserved; copy is from Naenae

I just finished "Goodnight, Mister Tom," by Michelle Magorian. Great read ... highly recommend. I guess that's why they call it a Puffin Modern Classic.

Will swallowed a few mouthfuls of tea and put some fresh coke on the range. As he observed it tumble and fall between the wood and hot coke, it occurred to him that strength was quite different from toughness and that being vulnerable wasn't the same as being weak. p429

"Can we go down the river?"
Will looked surprised. 'Ent you got no more chores?"
She shook her head and grinned. "I climbed out the window. It was the only way. As soon as I finish one job she finds me another one. If she sees me with so much as my fingers on a book she jes gets hoppin' mad."
"I thought she was better now."
"She is, but she stil thinks readin' is being idle."
She squatted down beside him and stared intently into his eyes.
"If I don't need a book soon I think I'll explode."
Will laughed. "Well, don't do it over me plantin'."
"Have you another trowel? ..." p417

Recently finished
Stormbound Surgeon by Marion Lennox, c. 2003
Falling Stars by V.C. Andrews, c. 2001
Out Of My Depth by Emily Barr, c. 2006
Love Falls by Esther Freud, c. 2007
The Right to Write by Julia Cameron, c. 1988
Four Blondes by Candace Bushnell, c. 2000
The Capture by Kathyrn Lasky, c. 2003
Beach of Dreams by Sergio Bambaren, c. 1996
Footloose by Kate Cann, c. 1999
From the Diary of a Snail by Gunter Grass, c. 1972
Having the Boss's Babies by Barbara Hannay, c. 2005
The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris, c. 2007
Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon, c. 1987
Crazy As Chocolate by Elisabeth Hyde, c. 2002
Suburban Shaman by Cecil Helman, c. 2007
The Damaris Woman by Grace Green, c. 1994
Wedding Belles by Zoe Barnes, c. 2006
Better Than This by Stuart Harrison, c. 2001
Longshore Drift by Karen Gillece, c. 2006
The Diary of Peter Ginz edited by Chava Pressburger, c. 2004 (part of)
The Lazarus Child by Robert Mawson, c. 1998


*****************************************************
Order of the new few books on my TBR list...

Goodnight Mister Tom -- from LCL
A Bride at Birralee -- from BC -- 5578881
Here comes Santa Claus -- from BC -- 5578890
Two in the wild -- from LCL
On angel wings -- from WCL
Just between us -- from BC -- 5336470

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian, c. 1981 -- borrowed from LCL system, this book is from Stokes Valley Library. Recommended by family members - Lisa & Frances. Just finished "Stormbound surgeon," ... bookcrossing book.

"When old friends get together it's supposed to be a laugh - but not when you've got something to hide..." from front cover Out of My Depth by Emily Barr, c. 2006 -- tis my current read

Thoughts on current books or ones just read ...

4 Blondes by Candace Bushnell ... I don't think this lead up to the hype. Perhaps I was expecting more from it.

The Right To Write by Julia Cameron .. Inspirational! I am rereading this one.

Love Falls by Esther Freud ... I wouldn't pick this as a YA read as it is a good read for "grown ups" too. lol

Notes on current read

"Beach of Dreams," by Sergio Bambaren

Passages from:

Just for an instant I understood. "I have to believe again. I have to understand that magic happens." p65

"We have placed so much pressure on ourselves to succeed that we have turned happiness into one more thing we have to have. So we chase it and equate to it wealth and success without realising that the people who already have these things are not necessarily happy." p50

Notes on last read: Having the Boss's Babies by Barbara Hannay c. 200?

This was a quick Harlequin read. It did have a few fun bits of humour which I cherish. -- random choice

Notes on current read: From the Diary of a Snail by Gunter Grass c. 1972

Inspiration for book, family in ChCh read it last month. This is certainly a different read from the one above.

A couple of fun/thought provoking quotes from my current read, "The Lollipop Shoes," by Joanne Harris, c. 2007

"As if she could see it in the air around me like candyfloss gathering on a spindle." p219

"All the same I can't help feeling uneasy. Rarely does anything ever come free - there's not a gift or a kindness that doesn't have to be paid for in full in the end. Life has taught me that, at least. That's why I am more cautious now. That's why I keep the wind-chimes over my door, to warn me of the Kindly Ones, those messengers of credit due -" p356

"You choose your family," Mother said. As I chose you and you chose me. That girl - she wouldn't have cherished you. She wouldn't have known how to take care for you: how to slice the apple widthways to show the star inside, how to tie a medicine bag, how to banish demons by banging on a tin pan, how to sing the wind to sleep. She wouldn't have taught you any of that - p102

-- I would recommend this title. It had a good sense of setting.

(last updated Jan 13th, 2008)

Running index of books mentioned here April 2006 to Jan 2008

"24-Karat Kids," Mar 2nd, 2007
"A Carol for Christmas," Jan 7th, 2007
"A Country Practice," Aug 6th, 2006
"A Day With A Perfect Stranger," Jan 19th, 2007
"A Familiar Feeling," Mar 11th, 2007
"A Fistful of Sky," July 8th, 2007
"A Match Made in Heaven," June 4th, 2006
"About Adam," Aug 12th, 2006
"All Because of You," Jan 4th, 2008
"All Night Long," May 28th, 2007
"Almost Like Being In Love," Jan 23rd, 2007
"Amy's Honeymoon," Jan 13th, 2008
"Angels Fall," Aug 25th, 2006
"At the Scent of Water," Jul 13th, 2007
"Baby Father," Jan 13th, 2008
"Backpack," Jul 29th, 2007
"Beach Girls," Sep 4th, 2006
"Beach of Dreams, Sep 21st, 2007
"Boobela and the worm," dec 31st, 2007
"Brimstone," Apr 23rd, 2007
"Buffalo Before Breakfast," Jan 16th, 2007
"Burning Road," July 18th, 2006
"Cage of Stars," Feb 17th, 2007
"Can you keep a secret," Apr 26th, 2006
"Caroline's Journal," Dec 17th, 2006
"Cell," July 31st 2006
"Chasing the dime," May 4th, 2006
"Chocolate Kisses," Dec 13th, 2006
"City of Truth," May 8th, 2006
"Crazy as Chocolate," Aug 30th, 2007
"Dance of the Gods," Nov 7th, 2006
"Dance With Me," Dec 8th, 2006
"Death by Meeting," Nov 16th, 2007
"Dirty Blonde," Mar 16th, 2007
"Dying To Sing," Nov 13th, 2006
"Escape from Cabriz," July 31st, 2006
"Fairy Dust and the Quest For The Egg," Aug 24th, 2006
"For Love and Family," Sept 7th, 2006
"Forty Stories," July 6th, 2006
"Four Blondes," Oct 4th, 2007
"Friday Night Cocktails," Nov 16th, 2007
"From the Diary of a Snail," Sept 21st, 2007
"Ghosts of Boyfriends Past," Feb 2nd, 2007
"Goodnight Mister Tom," Nov 4th, 2007
"Hard Truth," May 28th, 2007
"Having the Boss's Babies," Sept 15th, 2007
"Home, Where the Wild Roses Grow," A0r 12th, 2007
"I Heard The Owl Call My Name," Jan 14th, 2007
"If The Shoe Fits," Feb 2nd, 2007
"In My Mother's House," Apr 30th, 2007
"Into the wild," Nov 4th, 2007
"Killer Takes All," May 14th, 2006
"Light Readings," Aug 30th, 2007; postponed for now; sept 13, 2007
"Lie By Moonlight," May 31st, 2006
"Love Falls," Oct 13th, 2007
"Old Bones," Jan 13th, 2008
"On Angel Wings," Nov 4th, 2007
"Out of My Depth," Oct 20th, 2007
"Palaces in the sky," Dec 31st, 2007
"Please Mr. Einstein," Jan 30th, 2007
"Point Blank," Feb 5th, 2007
"Ready for Love," Dec 24th, 2006
"Reunion," Nov 5th, 2006
"Ride the Wind," Oct 6th, 2006
"River Angel," Jul 27th, 2007
"Round the Clock Temptation," July 24th, 2006
"Sam's Letters to Jennifer," July 31st, 2006
"Second Opinion," Oct 21st 2006
"Stargirl," May 26th, 2007
"Stories To Excite You," Feb 10th, 2007
"Strange Bedpersons," Aug 15th, 2006
"Suburban Shaman," Aug 30th, 2007
"Take Me," Mar 16th, 2007
"The Bad Girls' Club," Dec 1st, 2007
"The Big Love," Dec 17th, 2006
"The Borrowed Ring," Mar 31st, 2007
"The Boy Next Door," Jan 23rd 2007
"The Capture," Apr 2nd, 2007 & Oct 13th, 2007
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time," Feb 17th, 2007
"The Diary of Petr Ginz," Aug 12th, 2007
"The Dream-Hunter," Feb 20th, 2007
"The English Breakfast Murder," July 11th, 2006
"The Friday Night Knitting Club," Nov 16th, 2007
"The Hotel Everest," July 3rd, 2007
"The House Guest," July 8th, 2007
"The Husband," July 21st, 2006
"The Jury," June 27th, 2006
"The Last Days of Dogtown," Feb 26th, 2007
"The Lollipop Shoes," Sept 14th, 2007
"The Marriage Adventure," Dec 1st, 2007
"The Mediterranean Tycoon," Apr 12th, 2007
"The Orange Outlaw," Feb 10th, 2007
"The Owl & Moon Cafe," Mar 16th, 2007
"The Playboy and Plain Jane," Sept 25th, 2006
"The Quest for the End of the Tail," July 22nd, 2007
"The Rescue," June 28th, 2006
"The Right to Write," Oct 4th, 2007
"The Rule of Four," March 5th, 2007
"The Scarecrow Room," Jan 13th, 2008
"The Screaming Room," Dec 1st, 2007
"The Sledding Hill," Jan 13th, 2008
"The Stories of Eva Luna," March 31st, 2007
"The Summer I Dared," Apr 19th, 2007
"The Unbelievably True Fairy Tale," Jan 25th, 2007
"The Way It Is," Oct 20th, 2006
"The Worry Tree," Jan 4th, 2008
"Timeline," Jan 3rd, 2007
"Twins Too. Run Girls, Run," Jan 13th, 2007
"Velocity," July 12th, 2006
"Wedding Belles," Sep 1, 2007
"Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?" May 12th, 2007

Format
title of book -- date -- read after

from Wainuiomata Library

"The Lollipop Shoes," by Joanne Harris, c. 2007 -- Sept 14th, 2007 -- "Crazy for Chocolate," see below

"Having the Boss's Babies," by Barbara Hannay, c. 2005 -- Sept 14th, 2007 -- "Windmills of the Gods," bookcrossing 5417989

"From the Diary of a Snail," by Gunter Grass, c. 1972 -- "Having the Boss's Babies," see above

"Four Blondes," by Candace Bushnell, c. 2000 --

"The Right to Write," by Julia Cameron, c. 1998 -- "Four Blondes," see above

from Lower Hutt Library
"Love Falls," by Esther Freud, c. 2007 -- Oct 13th, 2007 -- "The Capture," see below

"Out of My Depth," by Emily Barr, c. 2006 -- Oct 20th, 2007 -- "Love Falls," see above

from Petone Library
"The Capture," by Kathryn Lasky, c. 2003 -- Oct 13th, 2007 --"Footloose," bookcrossing 5481325

from Nathans Bookshop on Queen St
"Beach of Dreams," by Sergio Bambaren, c. 1996 -- Sept 21st, 2007 -- "From the Diary of a Snail," see above