The Magician's Nephew

I haven't read a full novel to my kids yet. We read plenty of books, but never a long chapter book. I wanted to revisit one of my favorites and thought reading it to my girls was a good way to go.

They were captivated from page one.

I love C.S. Lewis and his sense of humor and imagination.

It's very satisfying reading out loud to my kids. I feel like I'm part of an age old tradition.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 2

This gave me chills...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Trailer

I CANNOT WAIT.

Plus, the midnight show will be on my birthday. I really scored on that one!

A Ferris Wheel in August

Sometimes at the end of a crap day you just need to read something that makes you feel like you're somewhere else. Reading is therapy. I don't know how I haven't read the entire planet by now...

I was just staring at my pile of books on the nightstand beforing picking up "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbitt. I bought it for my oldest daughter for Christmas. For some reason it hasn't made it to her shelf. Anyway, I love the first paragraph of the prologue.

"The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the hightest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from the balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white danws and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. There is no thunder, no relieving rain. These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after."

Don't you just love that? So beautifully written.

How I long for it to be the first week of August, sitting on the highest seat of the Ferris wheel at the Beach Boardwalk. To have my back to the ocean, looking down at all the people with their friends or families, and sitting next to one of my kids who's just eaten pink cotton candy.

I'm going to read...

Jane Eyre has been on my "must read this before I die" list for quite awhile now. I'd successfully avoided all movie adaptations because I wanted to read the book first.

Well.

My friend Amy asked me to see the lastest version a couple of weeks ago. I caved and said yes. This is also the girl who told me she wouldn't be my friend anymore if I didn't read Harry Potter. She's very persuasive. I also needed a night out :)

I really enjoyed the movie. Seeing it has finally motivated to me read the book and I'm quite taken with it.

Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think? Do you have a version you like better?

And more importantly--Have you read the book?