July 21, 2007
OHMyGAWD!
AWESOME AWESOME!! I love the way Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was wrapped up in the end!!!!!!!!
Oy - I need a drink!
::edited at 5pm to add a couple spoilers in extended entry::
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
harry potter and the deathly hallows
Ok - not too many spoilers here but I **loved** when Mrs. Weasley kicked Bellatrix's ass. Neville - he's my new hero. I loved when Hermione and Ron finally got hooked up and I actually sighed out loud when they kissed. I am such a dork!
Posted by Cate at 02:33 PM | Comments (1)
The book!!!!!!!!!
It's SO GOOD!!!
:::going back to read some more:::
harry potter and the deathly hallows
Posted by Cate at 10:39 AM | Comments (1)
July 20, 2007
Heading Out
I'll be leaving in about an hour to pick up my reserved copy of the final Harry Potter book. Hooray! I will be ripping into my copy as soon as I get home. And, I promise, I won't post any spoilers without major warnings.
Ciao!
harry potter and the deathly hallows
Posted by Cate at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 09, 2007
Harry Madness
I cannot WAIT until 12:01am on July 21st. I will be at my local bookstore, picking up my Harry Potter - the final Harry Potter book ever. Eldest wants to come along with me and that's a big NO. I am going to crack that book open the second I get home and read until I am finished.
Posted by Cate at 11:00 PM | Comments (6)
July 10, 2006
Book Review
About two months ago, I was contacted to review a book "Peanut Butter, Playdates, & Prozac: Tales from a Modern Mom" written by Arlene Schusteff.
It is a highly amusing and very well written, easy read. I found myself outright laughing, especially when I read "Never in a million years did I think I would ever..." and "My Porn". I too obsess over enjoy perusing through decorating catalogs. I have little piles of them stacked around my house, hoping to one day be able to think to myself "What would happen if I had a need for overly priced and completely outrageous and unnecessary bedding set with optional bed pillows and matching curtains! If only I had a decorating catalog (or twelve) available!"
Heh. Right.
Like I always say, Nordstrom taste on a Walmart budget.
And, in Schusteff's chapter on "Mommy Speak", I have personally said at least six out of the nine sentences, and meant it. Of course "He has so much energy" (usually accompanied with a weak smile) translates into "He's such a wild animal".
So, I am strongly suggesting that all you parents get out there and purchase this book. It's a great read. Thank you Arlene for the opportunity to preview this book. I truly enjoyed it!
Posted by Cate at 09:42 PM | Comments (4)
September 30, 2005
Banned books
I can't believe I forgot about Banned Book Week. Michele wrote a great entry about it. Here's a list of the most challenged authors:
2004 Most Challenged Authors
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of the Alice series
Robert Cormier, author of The Chocolate War and We All Fall Down
Judy Blume, author of Blubber, Forever, and Deenie
Toni Morrison, author of The Bluest Eye, Beloved and Song of Solomon
Chris Lynch, author of Extreme Elvin and Iceman
Barbara Park, author of the Junie P. Jones series
Gary Husbandsen, author of Nightjohn and The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer
Dav Pilkey, author of The Captain Underpants series
Maurice Sendak, author of In the Night Kitchen
Sonya Sones, author of What My Mother Doesn’t Know
I also included the top 100 challenged books. I've bolded the ones that I have read and I plan on reading some of the ones that I have not bolded, including Captain Underpants. My nine year old LOVED Captain Underpants. Oooh - maybe little Johnny shouldn't read this book because it mentions farts and underwear. ::eyeroll:: Youshould hear my dainty little daughters fart. Good LORD - it's toxic! But, that's the way it is - people fart. Some are just better at it than others.
So - here's my list already and I want to send a shout out to my Mom who actually bought me all of my Judy Blume books. Thanks Mom.
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Husband Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Posted by Cate at 07:41 AM | Comments (1)
September 19, 2005
One For The Money
Go on over to BookBlog and participate in a discussion about Janet Evanovich's book One For The Money
Posted by Cate at 10:31 PM | Comments (4)
August 29, 2005
Calling All SuperMoms!
I got a copy of this book last week and, once I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down! Melanie has written a very funny account of a mom who, not unlike Peter Parker, ends up with super powers. Not only that, her son, who just happens to be her sidekick, designed her superhero mom costume for her. Now, I won't tell you how she uses those powers nor will I ruin the (fantastic) ending but I highly suggest that you pick up a copy of this book. It's a must read that's dedicated to all supermoms out there in the world.
Visit her blog - Refrigerator Door and you can ever read the first chapter of the book.
Posted by Cate at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
Buzz Aldrin
Tonight, the four of us will be driving to the Barnes and Noble in Paramus, NJ to meet Buzz Aldrin. He just recently released a childrens book and will be signing copies of them at the store. I was thrilled discover the information about the book signing on his website. It's going to be so incredibly fascinating to meet a man who actually walked on the moon! The girls are excited too. Husband met Mr. Aldrin many years ago and got an autograph and his photograph taken with him. I haven't seen the photograph but we still have the autograph. I am thrilled that the girls will be able to meet an American hero like Mr. Aldrin.
Posted by Cate at 12:09 PM | Comments (2)
July 17, 2005
Harry Potter Spoiler
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince spoiler below.
::edited to add -looks like someone else isn't too thrilled with this particular book either::
I have to honestly say that I did not like this book as much as the others. I didn't like the way it was written. Somehow, it seems like it was written by someone else. Rowling's style seems to have changed. Another thing I didn't like was the use of stronger language - I was a bit surprised when I came across the word slut while reading this book. I know that it isn't a BAD word but a lot of young kids (9-12) are reading this book. Also, a lot more romance (aka "snogging") in this book. I guess the hormone fairy showed up at Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny? Please, cut me a break. ::edited to add:: I forgot all about the throwing of "the finger" until Susan mentioned it in her comment below. Again, was that really necessary?
I totally didn't see Snap as the Half-Blood Prince. Rowling really surprised me on that one. I knew he was obviously going to be main antagonist but I was pleasantly surprised to see him take such a supportive role in turning back to the Dark Lord. I like Snape - he's such a wad.
As for Dumbledore dying, well, there was enough foreshadowing about that throughout the entire story. I particularly did not like the scene with him and Harry down at the lake. Major creep factor to read about Dumbledore writhing, screaming and crying on the ground. Perhaps it was the five previous novels that made him seem immortal?
When I was discussing the book with Husband, he suggested to me that it sounded like Rowling took a page from George Lucas and what happened with Star Wars. She needed to go back and write the how and why Vader... err .. Voldemort became the way he is today. So, in that case, is The Half-Blood Price is Episode 2 and 3?
I did like the fact that Luna was back and even commentating at one of the Quidditch matches. She is quite an enjoyable character and I can't wait to read about her in the next book. Plus, I am also looking forward to Bill and Phlegm's Fleur's wedding.
Overall - I think I was a bit disappointed in this book. It wasn't what I expected at all.
Posted by Cate at 02:11 AM | Comments (17)
July 16, 2005
YAY!
It's here!
See ya tomorrow with a review!
Posted by Cate at 03:18 PM | Comments (1)
July 12, 2005
T minus three days
I can't wait for...
THIS!!
What can I say? I love the Harry Potter series. I am going to barricade myself in the bedroom for the weekend just so I can rip into this book. I decided I am not going to the store to buy one and I will have my very own copy delivered via FedEx from Amazon.
I just finished reading "Eleven on Top" by Janet Evanovitch. WHile i enjoyed and giggled my way through it, I didn't like it as much as I liked "Ten Big Ones". Still, it was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a light and funny book.
Posted by Cate at 06:11 PM | Comments (7)
April 26, 2005
Thank you!
Thanks for the great book suggestions. I already made it to the library this morning and managed to grab a few titles that were suggested. Keep 'em coming!
Posted by Cate at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2005
Break time
I'm looking for some interesting books to read.
Any suggestions?
Posted by Cate at 02:44 PM | Comments (18)
March 11, 2004
The Giving Tree
I read <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060256656/ref=sib_rdr_dp/103-7112127-2389426?%5Fencoding=UTF8&no=283155&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&st=books">The Giving Tree</a></i> by Shel Silverstein to O and M the other day and I found myself crying while reading. I literally could not get through each page without choking up. I don't know if the kids knew that I was crying - I was hoping they didn't because I did not know how I could explain that such a simple and beautifully written story could make me cry. I could have discussed with them the many sacrifices that the tree made or the apparent selfishness of the boy.. but I couldn't bring myself to bring it up. I wanted to finish the book as fast as I possibly could. Why? It's a beautiful story. I think it reminded me of my selfishness from when I was growing up, taking everything for granted, assuming I could take take take and not have to give give give.
My girls had completely changed my life. Now, I give give give and they take, as they should. They are a part of me and I will always give to them, until I have no more left to give.
Posted by Cate at 09:54 AM | Comments (6)
October 02, 2003
Coooool!
I just bought the npremier issue of <a href="http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/GreatGifts_SimplyCreativeCrochet_09292003.xml&catref=cat840009">Simply Creative Crochet</a>. Woohoo!
I am such a dork.
Posted by Cate at 05:01 PM | Comments (3)
September 27, 2003
Harry Potter
Oooh! Harry Potter is on HBO.
Posted by Cate at 05:45 PM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2003
Book Blog Discussion of Harry Potter
A big welcome to my fellow <a href="http://www.bookblog.net">BookBlog </a>members and anyone who would like to participate in the discussion. The topic is "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". I'd love to hear from anyone who read this book and would like to discuss it.
Questions below in extended entry.
Besides Harry Potter himself, who was your favorite character in the book? Or which character did you find most interesting? Why? What details did Rowling provide that made that character come alive in your mind in all his or her complexity? Did you learn more about the character from their words, their appearance, or their actions? Did your first impressions of the character remain unaltered, or did you change your opinion of the character as the story went on? Do any of the characters remind you of someone you know?
Sometimes, the very qualities that seem to make a person disagreeable to you, as Hermione was to Harry and his friends at first, become assets to you once that person becomes you friend. What qualities did Hermione bring to the group? What does her integration into the group tell you about the nature of friendship?
Posted by Cate at 07:00 PM | Comments (3)
September 22, 2003
Book Blog Discussion
Head on over to the <a href="http://www.bookblog.net">BookBlog</a> and join in on the Harry Potter discussion. I am the moderator for <a href="http://www.bookblog.net/bbarchives/000257.html#000257">this month's discussion</a>. I chose "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Anyone who has read the book (like you <a href="http://www.javamama.net">Allison</a>) can participate in the discussion. C'mon over!
Posted by Cate at 08:10 PM | Comments (2)
June 22, 2003
I finished it
MAN! What a good ending. Ok - someone else finish it so we can talk about it!
Posted by Cate at 11:53 AM | Comments (7)
Harry Potter Spoiler
I know who dies! But - I'm not telling!!!
::heading back to the book::
::edited 7/17/05::
Click here to read my review of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Posted by Cate at 01:08 AM | Comments (10)
June 21, 2003
Good book
I am SO hooked on this new book. Maybe I will post more later.
:::running back to book:::
Posted by Cate at 09:24 PM | Comments (1)
I'm just wild about Harry
Potter that is..
Oh yeah...uh huh..oh yeah.. got my book.. uh huh..
<img alt="Harry Potter" src="http://sugar-plum.net/kate/archives/P6210027.JPG" width="444" height="384" border="0" />
Posted by Cate at 02:20 PM | Comments (5)
June 20, 2003
IT'S SHIPPED!!!
YEAH baaaybeeeeeee!
I also got a complimentary upgrade to FedEx shipping. I will have it tomorrow by 130pm. Hoooha!
<img alt="smallhp.JPG" src="http://sugar-plum.net/kate/archives/smallhp.JPG" width="501" height="422" border="0" />
Posted by Cate at 07:43 PM | Comments (5)
April 01, 2003
Good In Bed
I just finished reading <i>Good In Bed</i> by <a href="http://www.jenniferweiner.com/"target=_blank>Jennifer Weiner</a>, who also has a <a href="http://jenniferweiner.blogspot.com/"target=_blank>weblog</a>. It is truly one of the best best books I have read. I laughed through a lot of it and cried my eyes out towards the end... I highly recommend it!
Posted by Cate at 09:44 PM | Comments (3)