#IMWAYR April 20, 2015

Well, if it's Monday, then #IMWAYR time again. Check in with fabulous hosts, Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie from Unleashing Readers to discover what others are reading and blogging about.




My mind has been numbed by the frenetic fury of managing a book fair this week. I admit to finding comfort at the end of the day watching Inspector Lynley and imbibing a glass of wine instead of reading or listening to a book. 

I've been doing some online reading and two articles have stuck with me. Mark Follman et al's article in Mother Jones, The True Cost of Gun Violence in America is both dark and enlightening. They estimate that gun violence costs Americans $229 billion a year. The other article by Laura Miller from Salon, is Heroin is a white-people problem. It discusses how and why heroin addiction has crept into small towns across the United States. (I wonder if this is applicable here in Canada) 



I read too many picture books to keep track of at the book fair, but I did purchase I Want to Be a Ballerina written by Anna Membrino and illustrated by Smiljana Coh, for my great niece as a belated birthday gift. There is so much love in the relationship between the two sisters. I loved the counterbalance between the pink of the cover and the muted tones inside the book. You need to look closely at the pictures of Mia in her first dance class to fully understand her comment "Boy, that was hard!" on the following page.  



Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, is just absolutely stunning. Reading it was like falling into a dream. A pervasive quality of magical uncertainty left me wondering where it would take me next. It's a mixed up tale of abduction, love, beauty, and how we see who others really are. This is one of the finest books I've read this year.  


The Ocean at the End of the Lane
 by Neil Gaiman
I suspect this is one of the few books that could hold its own after Bone Gap. It's an odd duck of a book in some ways as it could enthral my younger readers, as well as more sophisticated adults (an honour I make no real claim to.) The narrator is a middle aged man who returns to his childhood home and revisits events that took place when he was seven. And what events these were! The family at the end of the lane, Old Mrs Hempstock, young Mrs Hempstock, and eleven year old Lettie Hempstock are some kind of ancient beings who act as guardians to this part of the earth. When someone commits suicide in the boy's family car, it unleashes an evil creature whose misguided goal is to ensure that people get what they want. Lettie takes the child with her when she goes to send it back from where it came. Unfortunately there is a mishap and unknownst to both of them, the boy brings it back with him. Shortly after that his world became a nightmare. It's up to the Hempstocks to save him. 

I've just finished The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. I haven't quite decided if I like it or not. While I felt compelled to keep reading, I'm filled with ambivalence. Come to think of it, this is how I felt about I'll Give You the Sun.


Currently I'm listening to Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fforde. All I'm prepared to say now is that it certainly has been different from anything else I've read in a while. 

Up next for sure is Greenglass House. I'm in trouble if I don't get it read soon. 


My partner and I took a trip to Bellingham today to peruse used book stores. The border guard, after learning of our intentions, proceeded to tell us that there were two bookshops in Fairhaven we might like to checkout. Readers are always happy to help other readers out.


18 comments:

  1. Book fairs are so much work. Since we earn more through General Mills Box Tops for Education program, I may not have any more. Few of my students can afford to buy books.

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    1. They sure are!! I've never heard of the General Mills program. I'll have to see if it is in Canada. Our demographics have changed considerably over time to where we now have a much more affluent base. I'm certain that even if your students can't purchase books, you make sure they are readers!

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  2. I almost bought Bone Gap yesterday, but have so many on the stacks, decided to wait. Now you've made me regret it. I have it on my list. I still haven't read the Gaiman book, but will someday. He is such a good writer. Thanks, hope you had fun at your bookstores!

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    1. We did! Both Bone Gap and Gaiman's book are stellar reads. You will enjoy both of them.

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  3. I'm listening to the audio of Bone Gap right now and I am rapt.

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    1. I look forward to hearing your comments next week. It is such a powerful read!

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  4. Happy book fair week!

    Everyone is reading Bone Gap! I don't know much about it, but it is getting major love. I'll have to look for it. Ocean at the End of the Lane is a special book. I loved the audiobook (read by Neil Gaiman!). He is one of the best narrators :)

    Happy reading this week! :)

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    1. I agree about Gaiman as narrator. It is an amazing book, made even better by his voice.

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  5. I have hear a lot about Bone Gap so am excited to add it to my list. Gaiman's book was hard for me to get into. I need to go back and start again. I have liked his other work but this one just left me confused for some reason. I will try again when I can stay with it - I was reading it at a time when I could only read a small amount at a time. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Bone Gap is so worth reading! You might try listening to the Gaiman book. It kept me doing housework and anything else I could think of, just so I could keep listening.

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  6. I like Bone Gap and Ocean. Greenglass House is fun too. The others I haven't read, but I've liked some of Jasper Fforde's other books. I haven't read any in a while. Might watch for that one.

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    1. This is my first of his work. It was my niece who turned me on to Fforde I think. She also turned me onto Philip Reeve who I love. I can see commonality in the style, but prefer Reeves. I'm looking forward to Greenglass.

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  7. I've heard book love and book not so much love for Bone Gap. I have it, I'm more and more intrigued! Will be interested to see your thoughts on Greenglass House. I liked it, but did not love it.

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    1. I hope you love Bone Gap as much as I do. We shall see about Greenglass House. I'm off to start reading as soon as I'm done with these Monday posts!

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  8. I love those book stores in Fairhaven! Way to go border guard! Bone Gap is my current read - just started it and hooked already.

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    1. Oh Carrie, Bone Gap is just so amazing! Can't wait to hear what you have to say about it!

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  9. Great to read your thoughts about The Sky Is Everywhere - I like the inclusion of poetry there most of all, but I get what you mean about the ambivalence. I need to find Bone Gap soonest!

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  10. I agree about the poetry. Hope youlove Bone Gap as much as I did!

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