Go Ask Alice - Anonymous

I was at the bookstore the other day, trying to find something to read. I went to the front of the store, where employees have their pick of the week. And Shauna picked Go Ask Alice. Granted I have no idea who Shauna is, but I remember reading this as a preteen, and since I've been revisiting books and characters, I thought why not.

When I read it the first time, I was intrigued. The idea of this diary being found and published freaked me out. Would anyone ever find my diaries? And if so, what would happen. Ok, so my diaries weren't filled with drugs and sex, but still.

This time around, I still enjoyed it. However, I wonder how much is, in fact a real diary, and how much is fiction. Some of the entries are written when she's supposedly high, and I know when I've had a glass or two of wine, my writing changes, so how was she so eloquent when stonned?

You can tell it was written in the 70s. And it's quite funny to take a trip back to pre-CDs and DVDs. Whether fiction, or not, it is moving, and a quick read.

Raziel (The Fallen #1) - Kristina Douglas

So, the first couple of chapters were hard to get into, but once you get past chapter 3, you get into this. It's written from the perspective of each character, and it begins with the idea you know what's going on. I didn't. I kept checking that this was infact book one, and I wasn't missing anything.

Raziel is an angel. A fallen one. God has washed his hands of the humans and left them under the control of his "head" angel, Uriel. Uriel is a cold, unforgiving and scary angel who regards humans as a mistake. He doesn't like the fallen and plans to make their lives miserable. One way is to have the fallen escort some humans from the living world to their afterlife.

Raziel is told to escort Allie. He believes she's going to heaven, but then sees fire, realizes she's going to hell and something inside him provokes him to pull her out. Allie is stunned to learn, not only is she dead, but there's an extremely hot angel who saved her from hell, yet doesn't want anything to do with her. 

Both are attracted to each other, but Raziel has sworn off all women, and Allie's not sure what to make of an angel that lives off blood. (Hmmm...maybe my attraction to the book is the slight hint to vampires). While reading the book from their perspectives is confusing at first, it worked. It's almost like a conversation.

Best part, book 2 is already out. No waiting for the next one! :)

The Daily 5 - Gail Boushey & Joan Moser

I was not happy with the way I conducted my literacy this last year. I really liked how I had done it the year before, and I'm not sure why this year was so different. But as I head to a new school, I want to make sure, I don't feel bad about the way it's done. I need inspiration.

A colleague of mine is a huge Daily 5 fan. And I liked the way her classroom worked, so I picked up the book, and did some reading, and am now inspired and looking forward to the new school year.

The Daily 5 is not a curriculum, but a management system. It's well organized and teaches students to be independent, allowing you, the teacher, to spend time with small groups or individuals. And isn't that what we all aspire to do?

Bring on the new school year. I feel motivated!

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 19

I have a huge family.

Tons of cousins.

Too many to count.

When I was young, 

 we lived in Ottawa.

One summer, 

we were going to Toronto.

But this was a different visit.

My mum's brother was moving there,

from East Africa,

bringing along his 3 children.

They were all older than I,

but the youngest, Karima,

was pnly a couple of years older.

My mother worried I would be a bad influence.

LOL

Karima taught me about

makeup, clothes and boys.

As we grew older, 

we grew apart.

For the past 9 years,

while I've been in Tanzania,

Karima has been in Kenya.

And yet we've never gotten together.

Shame.

Last week, one of my aunt's called.

Karima and her kids were here,

She was having them over for dinner

and would Ethan and I like to join?

It turned out to be a whole family event.

Ethan got to meet more cousins

he's never met before.

Ethan is, 

slowly,

learning he also has a large family.

Happiness is meeting, and spending time with family.

Sweet Valley Confidential - Francine Pascal

I was such a fan of Sweet Valley High. I have no idea how many I read in the series, but I loved them. Elizabeth and Todd. Sweet. I'd get angry in the books where they'd broken up and she was dating someone new. I loved Jessica. Well, loved to hate her. I drooled over Todd, and thought Bruce was an arse. But I loved my Sweet Valley High, and no one could convince me otherwise.

A few months back, I heard Francine Pascal was re-visiting them. Ten years later. I thought it was a book I'd need to read. Re-visit some old friends. And then I forgot about them.

Until yesterday. I ran out of books to read, and made my way to the bookstore, and found Sweet Valley Confidential sitting there. I just had to get it.

Note to self; read reviews before spending money on a book.

I was utterly disappointed.

Ok, so in Sisterhood Everlasting I wasn't happy with how the characters hadn't seemed to really change over the course of 10 years. Well here, they were unrecognizable.

The book begins with Elizabeth living in New York. She and Jessica had a falling out 8 months ago. Jessica betrayed Elizabeth (no surprise here) but it was so hurtful, that it forced Elizabeth to leave Sweet Valley and she hasn't spoken to Jessica since. The book is written in a series of flashbacks to show the reader what happened, and shows the perspective of the different characters involoved.

Granted, I don't remember much about the characters, but I do know they all made a 180.

Elizabeth isn't just hurt. She's devastated. Fair enough. But she can't let go. Eight months later, and she's still dreaming of revenge and even goes so far to plan her revenge. Elizabeth? Vengeful? 

Jessica is the innocent one. Again, huh? Yes what she did was horrible, but Francine makes her likeable. And while that's great, where's the Jessica I love to hate?

Then there's Bruce. He's suppose to be an arrogant snob! Fine, he grew up. Fine he changed. But he's an utter wuss!!!!! 

Have you ever read a book that made you mad? And I don't mean just mad at the book, but you can feel that anger inside you, and you think you need to send your child on a playdate otherwise you'll blow up at him for not good reason? Well, that's happened to me. I'm so disappointed, that I'm actually angry.

Let's just hope I'm better than Elizabeth and don't take 8 months to calm down!

Raising Your Spirited Child - Mary Kurcinka

Ethan's an odd fella.

We love him dearly,

but his moods are everywhere.

I picked up Raising Your Spirited Child some time ago, hoping for some insights on what makes Ethan tick. Upon beginning the book, it appeared that Ethan was not what the author considers a spirited child. He's normal. Whatever that is. lol

But even though Ethan didn't fit into this cut out, I still really liked her insights. She gave me great ideas on how to handle Ethan's tantrums, and even how to spot them and deal with them before they actually occur.

I'm not one to read books on raising children. We all have our own approach, but it was good to get a few new ideas.

Divergent - Veronica Roth

I was told about this book, by one of my mates. She said if you loved The Hunger Games you'd love this one. And she was right!

I've read some recent reviews that compares the two, and while they are both futuristic dystopias, Divergent is unique in it's own right.

In Divergent, Chicago is now split into 5 factions;Candor (the honest), Abnegation (selfishness), Dauntless (daring), Erudite (knowledgeable) and Amity (peaceful). Beatrice grew up in the Abnegation faction, and has found it a struggle. She doesn't know if this is where she belongs.

At the age of 16, all students take an aptitude test to show what faction their character relates to. The following day, is the choosing ceremony, where you can choose to remain with your faction, or leave it and join another. Leaving your faction also means leaving your family. After all it's "faction before blood".

Beatrice's test are inconclusive. Something that is viewed as dangerous and she must not share it with others. At the choosing ceremony, she chooses to leave her family and join the Dauntless. Once there, it's a 30 day intensive initiation program, intent on weeding out the weak.

Like Katniss, Tris (she changes her name) knows she needs to fight to stay alive. She questions authority, and wonders why things are the way they are.

The only thing that I truly disliked about this book, is I have to wait a year for the next installment to be released!