summer reading plans

I told a friend we were reading Magician's Nephew and she said, "You have to listen to it on tape. Kenneth Branagh does the reading and it's excellent!"
So...we did. And it was delightful.

Now we're on to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

I always have big plans for lots of summer reading, but I'm off to a slow start. Still reading Jane Eyre. I'm enjoying it, but for some reason I have a short attention span right now.

I kinda wanna re-read Deathly Hallows before the movie. Can I just say...again...I cannot wait for this movie!!

What are you going to read this summer?

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?

Reading Rut

I'm having a hard time finding a book to read. This difficulty does not come from a lack of choices, mind you. I have a grand total of 25 books sitting on my night stand.

That's just dumb.

You'd think I could pick one and just read it for crying out loud. I've started several different books, but I just can't seem to committ. I have reading ADD or RADD for acronym's sake!

Jane Eyre is coming to the theater downtown tomorrow. You'd think that would motivate me to read Bronte's classic. Nope. Started it. But I haven't picked it up in a week.

In other news, have you seen these lovelies? My husband purchased them for me for Christmas (after I emailed him links from the bookstore ;) I'm a fan of pretty books. And a fan of receiving them from the hubster. Back in 1997ish he gave me a beautiful anthology of Jane Austen's works. I've been a fan of his ever since. So, every year he buys me a beautifully bound, classic book. I think these are my faves so far.

Also, check out this fun shirt I found at our local bookshop. It makes me happy. But I get annoyed when I look in the mirror and it says daer. So I took a picture so I could see it properly :) So what should I read next? Do you have any ideas? Something that will pull me in right away. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I need that outlet right now. Ya know what I mean?

Lark Rise to Candleford

Have you seen this BBC series? I just finished season 1 and it was fantastic.

It's an adaptation of Flora Thompson's autobiographical novel "Lark Rise To Candleford". Sixteen year old, Laura (pictured below), is sent to Candleford to begin an apprenticeship with her mother's cousin, Miss Lane, who is the town's postmistress. Laura picks up her responsibilities quickly, meats a handsome game keeper, and learns a great deal from her mentor and new friends. Miss Lane is played by Julia Sawalha, who was Lydia on the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice. It took me awhile to make the connection. Actually, it was the hubby who eventually figured it out ;) She's great in this series.

(Look kids--it's Nicholas from North & South!)

Check it out and let me know what you think!