Cesar's Way : The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

One of the few tv shows I make a point of viewing is "The Dog Whisperer" (Fridays on National Geographic Channel). We've been dog folks for quite a while. I really appreciate his outlook on working with dogs (that means I agree). Barnes & Noble is running a book discussion group about the book after this in October. So--I'm sort of lurking in the discussion and reading the first book.

We have miniature Australian Shepherds at home. I've been using some of Cesar's techniques to get them to stop harrassing the mail carrier.

On a side light. My children are making me watch the South Park episode in which Cesar comes to help a single mom learn to discipline her child. Very funny--but sad at the end.

Bekka Cooper: terrier by Tamora Pierce

Set in a fantasy world, country Tortall this is a first book in a new series. Pierce is a proficient writer who is a good story teller. In this book a young woman trains to be a "dog" (policeman). You learn the social structure of the town and solve 2 criminal cases. There is some magic included in the story--but not a lot. This series gradually links to Pierce's "Circle of Magic" series. She is creating an entire world that young adult readers can explore and learn about the relationships between people and friends.

God Emperor of Dune, Frank Herbert

This is the "paper" reading I'm doing this week. I've read the other Dune books and somehow missed this one. It's not new--1981 . You really would need to have read the others. Dune has a fanatic following. Many consider it philosophy instead of just fiction. I am interested in the philosophy part, but sometimes think either Herbert was much smarter than me, or he is a bubble-off-plumb. I really get confused when Lord Leto is talking with the Bene Gesserit witches/reverend mothers. Maybe I need a Sparks Notes for the "code" on this one. I keep thinking I'll give up on this book. I have 3 historical fiction books in the wings. But for some reason I keep picking this one up instead. I guess that says something for it.

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie, by Holly Black

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black

9/23 I'm on CD #3. This book was selected as a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and the YALSA Tenns' Top Ten Books. It has been translated into 9 lnaguages. It's a pretty good story, but you need some background knowledge of the history and myth of Faerie to read understand all that's going on. Holly Black is one of the co-authors of the Spiderwick Chronicles--a runaway best seller among younger students. So far Valerie Russell, a senior in high school, has run away from home because she finds her mother and her (Valerie's) boyfriend making-out in the living room when they think she has gone on into New York for a hockey match (she and her boyfriend were to attend together). So--we have teen angst and fantasy. It's interesting if only for what makes kids interested.

Vanishing Act, by John Feinstein

I'm very glad that Feinstein has started writing YA fiction. (See excerpt from the NPR Biography below)

Vanishing Act is about women's tennis. Set at the US Open the book not only shows the "inside" of tennis but also deals with the issues of sport "agents" and the PR tricks they play. You don't need to be a sports fan to enjoy these books (his first was about basketball) however a little knowledge will enrich your pleasure. I think I liked this one better because I know much more about tennis than basketball.

Feinstein is the sports commentator for NPR. He has also contributed to The Washington Post and Sporting News Radio since 1992, America Online since 2000 and Golf Digest and Gold World since 2003. Feinstein began his career in 1977, writing about politics and sports for The Washington Post. After an 11-year stint, he left the Post and became a special contributor to Sports Illustrated from 1988-90, and National Sports Daily from 1990-91. He returned to the Post as a contributor the following year. Feinstein first gained national attention when his book, A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers, topped The New York Times best-seller list for 16 consecutive weeks, from January - August 1987. (National Public Radio)

New York Stories, Edith Wharton

I've always like Edith Wharton. I have read most of her novels. While I was in the New York Public Library I picked up this collection of short stories. I've read some, but will save most of it for break. Wharton is a wonderful story teller. Now that I've spent a week in New York City proper, walking around and visiting landmarks, I can visualize her settings much better. Her look at Victorian "society" in New York with its hypocrisies and high stakes is complex and enlightening.

Ursula Blanchard Mysteries, Fiona Buckley

Great historical fiction about the Elizabethan period. Ursula is a "Lady of the Presence Chamber" in Queen Elizabeth the 1st's court. She ends up being a sort of spy. I've now read the first 3 of these books. They are all worthy of recommending to students. "Queens Ransom," my latest read,takes you into France during the Hueguenot and Catholic conflicts 1562. Buckley is a good historian and documents her sources. Good modeling for students.

Swantown: The Secret Journal of Susanna Shakespeare, by Micahel J. Ortiz

This gives a rich sense of everyday life in Elizabethean England. The plot is really quite gripping. Susanna want to be a "player" and "writer" like her father, the famous William Shakespeare. But, on the way her uncle gets in trouble with the "censor" and Suzanna needs to help save him.I'm not so certain that the historical facts about William's relationship with his family are accurate. But, it is motivating me to go back and confirm what I thought I knew about Shakespeare's relationship with his wife and children.Good read!

Lightening, Dean Koontz

This is a Dean Koontz novel. I started listening to it on Sunday 9/16. It really grabbed me. So--in order to keep listening I had to start sorting through my mom's boxes of photos to divide them up. (I've had these since she passed away 5 years ago). The main character in this book has a "guardian" who begins work the day she was born--preventing an inibreated doctor from delivering her. The story continue through her life in foster care and into adulthood. I don't want to spoil the book.

This genre is a realy popular one among adults as well as young adults. For years I avoided Koontz thinking it was another "Stephen King" kind of predictable horror. Koontz is much more sophisticated. I think the writing is of slightly better quality. He make the main characters interesting and probably more complex than most popular thrillers. I can see using this to let my 8-12 graders enjoy something with "mass popularity." It also reinforces the value of fiction in exploring the world and other people's lives.

Set in California it will also appeal to our "western" oriented students. For so many years it seemed as if writers only lived on the east coast (okay--big generalization--I know Steinbeck, Fisher, etc.).It makes me a little nervous saying I like this with as many English majors as we have in the class. Where do you all stand on Koontz?Finished. I give this a moderate review. Good for doing housework and gardening, but not something that I'm going to necessarily recommend.

Dark of the Moon, John Sanford

I read every Sanford book as it comes out. Having grown up 3 hours south of Minneapolis this is regional fiction for me. These are adult books--I would let HS students know that I read them, but probably not use them in class or recommend them. I read this sort of popular fiction to relieve stress. As my stress level rises the quality of my reading declines. The way I'm feeling this week (still with vertigo and conference and newsletter deadlines looming) I'm probably going to have to try some romance (just kidding!!). I'm hoping the libarary with call me with my hold for the next Stephanie Myers book. That would be a good read for me right now.

By the Light of the Moon, Dean Koontz

I'm amazed by the different characters Koontz is able to dream up and flesh out. In this book a mad scientist type injects our 3 heroes (including an autistic man) with nanobots that give each extraordinary powers. One of the heroes is a radio talk show host who interviews lots of "crazies." Good read (by the way, the main character is an artist).

Killer Weekend, Ridley Pearson

I got to seen Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson speak at NCTE (my New York trip). They were great. I found their discussion of the writing process amazing. Anyway--this is Pearson's first mystery set in Idaho. He does have a vacation home in Sun Valley. He usually sets his novels in Seattle, but this is a nice alternative. I hope he writes a second book. He is a meticulous researcher. Barry told a very funny annecdote about the differences in their writing style, particularly their planning. Barry sort of doesn't plan, in fact he admits that there often isn't a theme to be found. Meanwhile he claims Pearson works from a spreadsheet over his desk which is taller that Pearson (bigger than 6 feet). In each row, column, and cell he tracks what every character in his book does each hour of the novel. He does this even when the character is not in the plot at the moment.

Chill of Fear, Kay Hooper

Author: Lee Dubert
Posted Date: December 4, 2007 9:54 AMLast Modified Date: December 8, 2007 9:38 PMStatus: Published
I listened to this while traveling. My new smart phone lets me down load audio books from the public library site. Cool!!! Hooper is sort of a Iris Johansen "knock off." I don't know if this is part of a series. The main character is part of an FBI unit that uses detectives with extrasensory abilities to research crimes. I'll listen to another when I can't find something better, but Johansen does it better!

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, Marta Acosta

I'm a vampire reader from way back. I bought Interview with the Vampire in it's first edition and have read all of Anne Rice except for her most recent book. I have looked at Happy Hour several times and finally purchased it. I'm going out this afternoon to purchase the next. It isn't great literature (hmmm--I hate to condemn a book like that, but I think others would agree with me), but it is lots of fun and exactly what I need at this point in the semester. It reminds me of Janet Evanovich but with a Latina heroine and set in California instead of Jersey.

Is it readable by teens--yes. There is "sex" but nothing particularly graphic. Some drinking but no drugs. Two elements that I like--Milagro (the main character) is a graduate of a "fancy university" and has lots of strong female friends. They also have some flaws so unrealistic expectations aren't raised. An aspect that is a little more perplexing is the portrayal of a "goth" teen who ends up the willing victim of a "bad" vampire and ends up running away to Las Vegas and training to become a card dealer.

Overall--It was just what I needed Saturday after a really long, hard, stressful week. Look out book store, here I come for the next title.