Rachel Kovaciny's Blog, page 72

"The Case of the Very Bad Cat" by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.  This is such a cute book!

How cute?  I totally just ordered a copy of it AND the first three books in the series in paperback for my daughter for Christmas.  She is obsessed with cats and starting to dig mysteries, and she is gonnna love these books.

Why?  Because they're mysteries narrated by a talking, reading, cat detective named Mia.  Cute and adorable and cat-like and... yeah, this is gonna be the perfect series for her.

Also, I totally want to r...

2018 Tolkien Giveaway WINNERS

Congratulations to the nine lucky winners of the giveaway!  Check your email for a message from me later today asking for a shipping address and so on.

6 Tolkien-themed bookmarks -- Gabby A.
6 Tolkien-themed bookmarks -- Lydia B.
4 Tolkien-themed stickers -- Rose Marie
4 Tolkien-themed stickers -- Abby J.
"Not all those who wander..." bookmark -- Kendra Lynne
Tiny hobbit door -- Jenelle Leanne
The Children of Hurin -- Cordy
Hobbit-hole notebook/journal -- E.F.B.
Middle-earth Puzzles&nbs...

Answers to Middle-earth Weaponry Quiz

Here are the answers to the weaponry quiz!  Everyone's scores are below as well.

1. f (Aeglos belongs to Gil-galad)
2. a (Anduril belongs to Aragorn)
3. h (Aranruth belongs to Thingol)
4. j (Dramborleg belongs to Tuor)
5. e (Glamdring belongs to Gandalf)
6. c (Guthwine belongs to Eomer)
7. g (Herugrum belongs to Theoden)
8. i  (Orcrist belongs to Thorin Oakenshield)
9. d (Ringil belongs to Fingolfin)
10. b (Sting belongs to Bilbo Baggins)


Scores

Beth -- 10
MiddleEarthMusician -- 10
Jenelle Leanne...

Answers to the LOTR Name Scramble

Here are the answers to
1. Airfarm = Faramir
2. Algierlad = Galadriel
3. Andflag = Gandalf
4. Angaror = Aragorn
5. Blobi = Bilbo
6. Bolenerc = Celeborn
7. Comradie = Meriadoc
8. Dolern = Elrond
9. Doorf = Frodo
10. Glumlo = Gollum
11. Gripneer = Peregrin
12. Leoslag = Legolas
13. Maurans = Saruman
14. Milgi = Gimli
15. Nothdeer = Denethor
16. Othneed = Theoden
17. Ribroom = Boromir
18. Swimsea = Samwise
19. Wrean = Arwen
20. Wyneo = Eowyn

Score...

"A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War" by Joseph Laconte

Oh. My. Goodness.

You know how sometimes, lots of people tell you to read a book because they're sure you would love it, and so you find the book, and then you put off reading it for like a year because you're afraid you might not like it as much as they expect you to like it?

Or is that just me?

Anyway, that happened for me with this book, and it just goes to show you how foolish I can be sometimes.  Because this is a great book.

I've been gravitating toward books about WWI lately, I think....

LOTR Name Scramble

Here's the second party game for the 2018 Tolkien Blog Party!  I've scrambled up the names of twenty characters from The Lord of the Rings.  These are all characters who are in the book AND the movies --  I didn't get all tricky and throw in obscure people like Ghan-Buri-Ghan or anything.

It's your job to unscramble them and post your answers in the comments.  I'll reveal the answers and everyone's scores on Saturday!

1. Airfarm
2. Algierlad
3. Andflag
4. Angaror
5. Blobi
6. Bole...

Middle-earth Weaponry Quiz

Ahhh, those nice, shiny daggers.  Who among us doesn't want one?  Maybe you even own a replica?  I don't actually have any replica weaponry from Middle-earth, but wow, I would love to.

(Note: not all weapons shown are on this list.)
Your challenge is to match up the names of the famous weapons (first list) with the name of the person who wielded them (second list).  Some of these are easy.  Some are very hard.  I admit that I looked a bunch up on the Lotr Wiki beca...

A Tolkien Blog Party -- 2018

Greetings, my very dear Bagginses and Boffins, Bracegirdles and Tooks, Hornblowers and Brandybucks, Cottons and Proudfoots.  
(PROUDFEET!)
Today is Bilbo and Frodo's birthday!!!  And that means my sixth annual Tolkien Blog Party shall now commence.

If you are indeed here on party business, then pour yourself a cup of Old Winyards, Entdraught, or even beer from the Green Dragon if you so desire, and get busy filling out the latest blog tag.  Copy these questions to your own b...

Giveaway for the 2018 Tolkien Blog Party

YES!  Time to unveil this year's giveaway prizes! 

This year, I will give away NINE prizes.  Why nine?  Nine companions in the Fellowship of the Ring... nine Nazgul... 9x9=81, and it's the 81st anniversary of The Hobbit being released... why not nine prizes?


TWO winners will EACH receive a set of 6 Tolkien-themed bookmarks, as pictured above.
TWO winners will EACH receive a set of 4 Tolkien-themed stickers, as pictured above.
ONE winner will receive a bookmark that say...

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl

I hadn't read this book in more than twenty years.  Man, is it ever still really funny.

I'm teaching literature for our local homeschool group this year.  Three different age groups: preschool through first grade, third through sixth grade, and high school.  It's been GREAT so far!  I teach twice a month, and we have been having a blast.  Yesterday, the third-through-sixth-graders discussed this book, and their enthusiasm was awesome!  And I'm not just saying that...