Clearly, any field trip involving manure is not right for a bunch of fourteen-year-olds. But manure wasn't even the worst part of the stupid field trip. The worst part was that the farmer grows pigs. And pigs are also called hogs. And there's this poor guy in our class called Dan Hogg who everybody hated.
The first activity of the read-a-thon is an Introduction Meme, created by Darcie a few read-a-thons ago. Here goes:
Where are you reading from today?
For the most part, I'll be sitting on the love seat in my family room, with my feet on the ottoman and my laptop computer sitting on a folding chair nearby.
Three facts about me:
Here We Go!
It was a struggle to get out of bed this morning. It's still dark outside, although I can hear some birds singing. Everyone else in the house is still asleep. I'm very rarely the first one up on a Saturday morning; sleeping in on weekends is the norm for me, and I didn't get to bed as early as I had hoped last night.
I'm excited about participating in my fourth read-a-thon, though - and a bit melancholy thinking about Dewey. She'd be pleased to see all the participation today!
Bookmarks to help me stay connected and "in the know" all through the event:
Published in 2008. 406 pages.
I'm a big fan of the Alex Cross series. For some reason I didn't find this one as quick and compelling a read as usual - but Alex Cross is still my hero:
I needed to do this, to help in some way if I could. I knew this about myself: it was my nature. [page 225]
Published in 2009. 373 pages.
I loved Justina Chen Headley's first young adult novel Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies). For some reason I haven't yet read her second, Girl Overboard, but I was eager to read North of Beautiful anyway.
What North of Beautiful is about: This ambitious novel is partly about map-making and geocaching. It's also about art and China - and about relationships. More than that, it's about what constitutes beauty. Most of all, it's about finding out who you are.
An overview of the plot: High school student Terra Copper was born with a facial port-wine stain. That has affected her relationships with her parents, her interactions with friends of both sexes, her dreams for the future, her entire life. But everything she believes about herself and her place in the world will come into question when she quite literally runs into Chinese-born Goth-guy Jacob Fremont.
First line: Not to brag or anything, but if you saw me from behind, you'd probably think I was perfect.
Last line: "Here I am."
What I thought: I really liked North of Beautiful when I read it. In particular I loved the characters, especially Terra, Jacob, and their mothers. In the month since I read the book - since I'm nearly hopelessly behind on posting reviews - I've come to love it even more, as I've pondered about the symbolism and the interconnectedness of the themes. I highly recommend this book!
Interesting trivia about the cover: As reported by Publishers Weekly, the image on the cover was used on another recent release, Evermore.
For more information about Justina Chen Headley's work: Visit her website and her blog.
Other book bloggers' reviews of North of Beautiful:
If you have read and reviewed this book, I would love to link your review here. Please leave me a comment or email me your link!
Published in 2009. 477 pages.
Just over two years ago, I read my first Jodi Picoult novel, My Sister's Keeper. Since then I've read twelve others - there are just three still on my to-read list - and I was eager to read her latest novel, Handle with Care. Here's the book trailer:
