2024 Book Chat

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Welcome to 2024!! What are you reading now?

[DivaDiane]

I just finished reading the Giver. It was very good. A fast read and lots to think about. The film is so faithful as to be exactly the same, if I remember correctly.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I plan to read The Giver soon. The library loan came in, and it's sitting in my que. I needed to finish my 2023 challenges which I did. Caraval was my last book of the year, which I did enjoy more than I thought I would.

[DivaDiane]

I plan to read Small Spaces, by Katherine Arden in January. I do love Middle Grade.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I *LOVED* that whole series!! I hope you do too.

[Amy]

Oooh, The Giver and Small Spaces series were both great!

Right now, I finished Ruthless Vows (by Rebecca Ross) yesterday, and am currently about a third of a way through Ryan and Avery (by David Levithan).

I'm most excited for House of Fire and Shadows to come out later this month, though!

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Question of the Week (January 5):
What required reading books from school are memorable to you (in either a good or bad way)?


Trying something new...let me know if it is welcome or annoying.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

While I'm thinking of my own answer to the question, this week I started The Giver. I've read it before, but forgot enough of the books that I am being surprised by it all over again.

I am also reading Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (an MG scifi book) and The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future (a short story collection. The first story was a bit emo, but good.

[DivaDiane]

My first unpleasant experience with a book for school was Lord of the Flies. Because I scored high on reading tests I was put in a special group and given the book to read in 6th grade. I was a sensitive little girl and it was too hard a book and pretty traumatic reading. I still haven’t read it as an adult, but I did buy a copy about 4 years ago.

Otherwise, my experience of books for school was always positive. I enjoyed all of them and got a lot out of the discussions. Perhaps the ones that impacted me most were the short story of Flowers for Algernon and the novels Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck) and To Kill a Mockingbird.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Positive:
Elementary: Charlie and the great Glass Elevator. Really engaged as the class listened to it read aloud a chapter at a time.

Middle School: The Odyssey. Made me think about the main character who was the "hero" but made really stupid choices (ie. taunting a cyclops)

HS: Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare). Made feel smart once I acclimated to the language.

Negative:
HS: Ethan Frome and The Great Gatsby. I just didn't like the main characters and when a story is first person POV, your stuck in their head.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

This weekend I listened to In the Hand of the Goddess. It is book 2 of a series.

[DivaDiane]

I am listening to Small Spaces , which I’m enjoying quite a bit.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Question of the Week: You've had time to reflect ... what was you favorite book from 2023?

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

The Labors of Hercules Beal.
MG fiction and it was amazing.

[DivaDiane]

I’d have to say my favorite 2023 book with a Middle Grade character, and maybe even if any type, was The Book Thief, but I’m fairly sure it doesn’t count as MG or YA even.

My actual fave middle grade/Ya novel would probably be The Mirrorwood (MG) and Across the Universe (YA)

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Book Thief is considered YA. It was one of our BOTM.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I didn't cry when I read it .... (lies)

[Ashley]

Melanie wrote: "Question of the Week (January 5):
What required reading books from school are memorable to you (in either a good or bad way)?


Trying something new...let me know if it is welcome or annoying."

My elementary school read books out loud every week. And we read Bridge to Terabithia in third or fourth grade. And I very vividly remember being read the ending. I've always been a reader, but I think that's when I realized how powerful books can actually be.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I am reading Equipping Space Cadets: Primary Science Fiction for Young Children as a nonfiction book and picked up Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor because it was mentioned in the book. The NF one will take me a while to finish, but this cute MG robot book was delightful.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Question of the Week: When you finish a book, how do you chose what book to read next??

[DivaDiane]

It’s gotten a bit out of hand, but I have a Note on my phone (OK a couple of them) relating to my bookish plans. I have a list of books I want to read grouped by month. I’m in way too many groups that schedule monthly reads. I usually can’t read them all, but I make a good stab at it. There are usually enough books that I can mood read well enough. Sometimes I get distracted by shiny new books though.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I am completely moody when it comes to reading, but I also take part in a team reading challenge through one of the groups here on goodreads. Those 2 things account for most of my reading choices. This group is the only group where I commit to reading the book-of-the-month. The other groups I try, but don't let it stress me.

[Hank]

For the first 10 months of the year I do the combination of monthly club books and challenges. I try to read 20 books I already own every year.

Nov and Dec, I get to read whatever floats by, sort of a treat for doing the challenges, which of course are also fairly rewarding

[Jennifer]

My next read seems to be going more and more by my mood lately. I used to be able to just queue up a bunch of books and go through the list one by one. Now it seems that I have to be in the mood to read particular books.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Question of the Week: What are your favorite book genres?


Me: fantasy, sci-fi and YA. I try to read a little bit of everything though so I can recommend books to students.

[DivaDiane]

I love SF, Fantasy, Middle Grade and YA, Historical Fiction (not Romance!) and Classics.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

January Recap
YA: The Giver (reread), In the Hand of the Goddess, The Angel Experiment, For the Wolf

MG: Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor
MA: The Case of the Felonious Faire, Recursion, The Fifth Season, Fuzzy Nation, Musical Tables: Poems, The Sandbox

I liked them all, so no duds this month. My favorite is The Sandbox because it was good mix of character, action, and philosophy. I am likely to finish The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future (ya short stories) and Hour of the Red God: A Detective Mollel Novel (1st matter of perspective book of the year) before the month officially ends.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Question of the Week:
In the US, we have a groundhog that 'predicts' whether we will have a short or long winter. Which would you prefer (long or short winter season)?

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Not going to lie. I like snow! But I'd most prefer the weather be consistent. There are a few years with a false spring that plays havoc on the agriculture and our psyches. ... One more good snow storm would be awesome though.

[DivaDiane]

Well, regardless of if it’s winter or summer, I prefer it to be a proper season. The UK has 50 weeks per year of variations on a particularly dreary Fall, which I’m not fond of. Maybe one week in Summer and Winter is all would deign to actually call by that name!

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

The mammal says early spring: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/02/122854....

But: "On average, Phil has gotten it right 30% of the time over the past 10 years."

[Ashley]

Melanie wrote: "Question of the Week: What are your favorite book genres?


Me: fantasy, sci-fi and YA. I try to read a little bit of everything though so I can recommend books to students."


I read a little bit of everything, but I tend to go through phases, I’ll read nothing but mystery thrillers for a couple of months, and then go on an urban fantasy kick, then cozies, and just around and around

[Joanna]

Hi Guys,
I hear what you're saying about 'Phil', but this year he might actually be right. A warm, slushy Winter where the 'Winter' has hardly happened! Reading plans for 2024 include historical fiction and plenty YA/ MG crossover! Wish me luck!

[DivaDiane]

Good luck, Joanne!

Yeah, my reading plans have already gotten out of hand!

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I finally finished Equipping Space Cadets: Primary Science Fiction for Young Children which is an academic book that discusses science fiction books on an elementary level. It was incredible informative and insightful.

I've started The Merciless Ones for the perspective challenge. Book 1 in the series was a group read.

I am in love with graphic novel upgrades to the Sweet Valley Twins book. Book 3 came out recently and I am reading it digitally through a library loan (Choosing Sides). The OG series was one of the first books series I fell in love with.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I started Beauty Queens as a quick read for a February challenge book (different group) that has queen in the title. I wasn't expecting it to be so delightful. It is not like the other Libba Bray books I've read. It is funny / satirical but has honest character development and a good plot premise. It may turn into a favorite book. I'm loving it.

[Jennifer]

Melanie, I completely fell in love with Sweet Valley Twins as a kid as well. I will have to check out the graphic novel versions.

[Jennifer]

I have recently restarted the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews(adult). I read it probably a decade or so ago when it was first released. I'm really enjoying the reread. I've been pretty hooked on that genre lately.

[DivaDiane]

I read the Last Cuentista, which was really great.

Now I’m reading Dead Voices, by Katherine Arden which is the sequel to Small Spaces. I liked Small Spaces a lot and this one is turning out to be just as good.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I did a quick listen to Iron Widow. I liked it better than I thought I would and suspect some of y'all may like it too.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I finished the BOTM, The Scarlet Alchemist. It counts for all the things: BOTM, Asian inspired for the Matter of Perspective Challenge, and Scarlet is a synonym for red so it counts for the Read the Rainbow Challenge too.

...Plus it was a good book, so I am quite happy.

Currently also reading The Wild Robot with my 7th graders and Romeo and Juliet with my 9th graders. Lastly finishing the Dark Profit trilogy for fun with Dragonfired.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I finally finished this series! Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality

[Ashley]

Melanie wrote: "I finally finished this series! Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality
"

I need to read that series. I feel like every time I try to start it, something happens and I end up having to return it unread.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I've started Killer Instinct which was recommended to me by a student. It's not my natural genre preference, but it has a strong opening and I'm pretty confident I'm going to like it.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

I paused listening to The Companion so I could binge the end of The Will of the Many which was a slow burn for most of the book but ramped up for an epic ending.

[Melanie, place holding for a future mod]

Quite a few YA and MG reads from October:
Fox Snare, Ambush at Sorato, Wrath of the Triple Goddess were all continuing series for me.

Plus The Reappearance of Rachel Price.