Reading Update

The kids have been challenged to beat me at pages read.  As of now, I have read approximately 2200 pages.  I am sharing book trailers with the kids of the books I am reading, so they have an idea of the variety of books that are out there.  Here are some of the trailers we have seen so far.  The first one is from the Book Thief.  This is an excellent book about how reading helps us escape our struggles and survive hard times.  It is set in World War II Germany and is told in 3rd person omniscient from the point of view of Death.  The first few chapters can be a bit confusing at first, so give yourself some time to start the book.  After that, it is a great read.  The second video is the Official movie trailer for The Book Thief.

The last book trailer is from Fallen by Lauren Kate.  This book is another love triangle style book that fits the Twilight formula and the first in a series of four.  I did not particularly like the writing style of this author, as I felt she skipped big chunks of time.  Overall though it is a good story.  The main character, Luce, has been sentenced to reform school after being suspected in a suspicious fire that resulted in the death of a friend.  At reform school, she meets several fellow students and connects with them quickly since they are all there due to some sort of injustice.  In fact, she feels a very strong connection to Daniel who regards her in very confusing ways.  At times he seems repulsed by her and tries to keep a distance and at others he is very kind and tender, as if they have known each other for a long time.  The problems begin when Cam, another boy at the school gives her a necklace and asks her out time and again.  Which boy will she choose?  Will she ever escape the shadows that haunt her?  Will the mysterious behaviors Luce keeps observing ever be explained?  Not until a long battle rooted in history can be fought.