Absolutely Phenomenal

I turned my computer BACK on right now at 11:30 to write this post. I just finished the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I stopped reading Harry Potter for two days to read this and I do not regret it. It is a book written in letters, telling the story of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands during WW II and I was absolutely enthralled. It was funny (I even laughed out loud a couple of times,) it was clever, it was utterly original, and I didn't want it to be over. Like everyone that reads it, I want to be a part of the Society. I want to be their friend. I really really do want to visit Guernsey. I am absolutely enchanted.
As I was reflecting on the genius of the author (it was the brainchild and work of Shaffer but when her health declined her niece, Barrows, took over,) I thought about how lucky I have been to love reading. For as long as I can remember, I have loved books. From the Babysitter's Club, Sweet Valley High and Christopher Pike to Toni Morrison and John Grisham, I love to drink it all in. While I was in school, I would often talk about how I was excited to graduate so I could read books that I wanted to read, not required (and often boring) texts. This summer has been one where I found myself with a lot of time, and I got to read a lot. I think I will start a running log on the side of my blog with books that I love. It will be right under Tracie's weekly self-portrait. (PS watch for that tomorrow). Here are the top five books I've read so far this year:
(in no particular order)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
So so so good. Inspiration for post.

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
(This book is the reason the list isn't about books I read this summer: Tracie read it to me on our way to Arizona right before New Years.)
The next book comes out in September, I believe, and I can't wait. I can't describe it, so I let someone on Amazon.com:
In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

The Giver
by Lois Lowery
Can you believe I'd never read this? It really made me think. I can't wait to teach it someday.

The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
I read this because the movie trailer looked so good and I wanted to read it before it hit the theaters. . . amazing. I do warn that there is some pretty harsh profanity and vulgar slang, as well as some pretty intense sexual moments. Not the reason I liked it. I think it was worth it, but working with junior high kids sometimes makes one desensitized to the f-bomb. As much as I loathe it. This book is so original, with a crazy twist and amazing detail. Let me know if you want to borrow it.

My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult
Same reason: wanted to read it before I saw it. It was heart-wrenching, very sad and moving. That said, the movie had the same basic concept and that is all. The book is so so so much better than the movie. Although Cameron Diaz and the two little girls did a great job, I really missed the character development of the other people in the book, especially the teenage brother. What a hellion. Also a huge twist, never saw it coming.
Last but certainly not least. . .

Harry Potter. . .books one through 6.5. I am in the middle of the Half-Blood Prince and we all know (or you should know by now) that J.K. Rowling has a gift. One that has enthralled billions all over the world and inspired kids to read. I nominate her for a the nobel prize. She has even impacted my dreams, a very disturbing one with Snape. I do have to say that one of the only good things about the movies is that I can always hear Alan Rickman's voice when I read Snape. And the british accent in my head is getting better every day. Tracie informed me that I have to watch the movies as a completely different entity than the books or it will make me mad, and since I saw the movie of the half-blood prince before I started the book, I was truly entertained. But T has told me that I can't go see it again because I wouldn't like it.

Wow. I can't believe how strongly I felt about all of these. I could write more, I'm sure. I love that I will have the opportunity to spend the next nine months helping students find that other world, where you get completely wrapped up in the text and time no longer exists. Like when I finished book five at 3:08 am and hadn't looked at the clock in three hours.