Sunday 21 February 2010

Sunday Salon


Firstly be gentle with me this morning, I am nursing a slight hangover after having a night out without the children. My parents had the girls for me and hubby and I went out with our friends for a meal. It was bliss to have a night out without worrying about what the girls were up to.
My reading started off really slowly this week. I finally managed to finish Fallen by Lauren Kate, which took me a while to get into. I also finished Jackdaw Summer by David Almond, which I believe is called Raven Summer in America. It was a fabulous book, but I am beginning to think everything Almond writes is just fabulous.
I also read a graphic version of Maximum Ride by James Patterson. I didn't like it very much, but as the girls saw me reading it,they both wanted to read it too. Both girls absolutely loved it and finished it in a couple of hours, which resulted in them finally picking up one of their own books to read. I was astounded as they have never been able to grasp my love of reading and it was lovely to sit with them whilst we all read.
I am interested to know if anyone has any good recommendations for graphic novels suitable for ten year old girls. They really want to read more of them, however, the ones I have read so far would not be suitable. So if you know any, then please leave a comment with your suggestions.
I am presently reading The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech and I have to say it is a delightful find. I hope to finish it later today. I have also started reading The Little House on the Prairie, another classic from my childhood to go towards the Flashback Challenge.
I have only a few chapters left to read of Pride and Prejudice, which I have loved. I love Mr Darcy and will not hear a bad word said against him. I can't wait to finish this one.
I am still reading The Mists of Avalon, by Maria Zimmer Bradley. I am enjoying taking my time with this book. I love the story and have found it is one that needs to be slowly savoured.
I am not sure what I will read next as I have some lovely new books to drool over. I hope to have a nice quiet day as the girls go back to school tomorrow and I want them to chill out before the early mornings start again.
Have a fabulous Sunday.

21 comments:

  1. Hi, Vivienne! Have your girls read Tintin? The publishers have reissued the novels in beautiful editions. I think your girls are gonna love those!

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  2. How nice to have a night alone.
    Looks like you had a great week too. Enjoy your reading!

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  3. The only graphic novels I know for that age group are the Bone ones, sorry!

    You know, I have an ARC of Raven Summer on my shelf but when I went through my purge back in December I decided to get rid of it. It's on the giveaway pile for the GLBT Challenge. I keep hearing these good things, but i wans't able to get into it when I tried to read the first 20 pages. I'm still not convinced to pull it off the giveaway pile...

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  4. Yep, I have the same suspicion about Almond. I hope you have a great Sunday too!

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  5. It sounds like a fun night out even despite the hangover. (It sounds like it was worth it).

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  6. Glad you had fun with yourchildren! I read the Mists of Avalon a long time ago and remember loving the fantasy and mythology, and the storytelling. Enjoy!

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  7. Ooh Peter mentioning Tin Tin, I still love Asterix :P More comic style than graphic novel but they did make me laugh.

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  8. I couldn't think of any suggestions, but after reading the other comments, I think Tintin and Bone are both great ideas for them. I hope your hangover doesn't last too long!

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  9. Those nights out are worth the hangover, I do believe! LOL.

    I think my daughter probably has one today, as I had her son for a sleepover while she and hubby had "party night."

    Great reading week! I always enjoy reading "companionably" with kids. My granddaughter was here one night and we did just that!

    Mine is here:

    http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/02/sunday-salon_21.html

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  10. I will try to type softly :) Hope the hangover is slowly disappearing.

    I am so glad to hear that you like Mr. Darcy. I have always thought that the man was more misunderstood than anything.

    Have a great week, Vivienne!

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  11. *whispering* Have you tried aspirin and some fruit juice for your hangover? It usually works.

    For graphic novels for your girls try the Bone series by Jeff Smith, Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, the Babymouse series by Jennifer L. Holm, or the Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi. Have a great week. :-)

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  12. I love Almond's writing. After I read Skelig, I was like you reading other books he wrote.
    Also...Mists of Avalon was one of those books I wanted to read forever. I loved it. Glad you are too.

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  13. PS....Sharon Creech is one of my favorite children's authors. I have read almost everything she wrote. Walk Two Moons is my favorite!!! I'll never forget the first time I read it.

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  14. I would love to have time for me and my husband, but with the baby I can forget about it:)

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  15. Peter - No they haven't read the Tintin books. I shall look into getting those.

    Mary - it is so rare we get a night to ourselves and it was lovely.

    Amanda - I shall add the Bones books to my list. What a shame you didn't like Raven Summer. I thought it was a good storyline.

    Nymeth - great minds, think alike.

    Diane - thanks

    Book Dilettante - The Mists of Avalon is such a beautiful book.

    Carmen - I had forgotten about Asterix. I used to read those growing up.

    Bermudaonion - thanks, it didn't last too long.

    Laurel - I hope your daughter didn't feel too bad.

    Molly - I think Mr Darcy is just wonderful. He would have been the type of character I would have been attracted too.

    Vasilly - thank you for lovely choice of graphic books. I will look into these ones too.

    Wisteria - I really am enjoying David Almond. I have The FireEaters to read next. I have Walk Two Moons upstairs, so I will try and read that too. The Unfinished Angel was beautiful.

    Andreea - I imagine at the moment, you are thinking that you will never get any time to yourself again, but trust me, you will.

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  16. Sounds like you had a nice week. I'm glad you were able to get a night out.

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  17. Its always nice to have a night out. It sounds like you got some good reading in.
    I love Mr Darcy! He's fantastic.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  18. I'm glad you got some fun time out with your husband. I was going to recommend the Bone books also. I haven't read them yet (thought I have the first one checked out from the library). My mother-in-law recommended them - she uses them to encourage kids to read (she's kind of like an in-class tutor for slow learners at the grade school).

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  19. Vivienne, you read a lot this weekend! I need to follow your example and open up my book soon.

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  20. I am typing quietly....LOL (I mean lol)

    Sorry to hear that Fallen is a slow go.... I am so looking forward to this read.

    Have a good rest of your day! :)

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  21. Boy, your reading is all over the place, genre-wise. I'm so impressed! And I'm glad you had a night out with hubby and overindulged. How fun. Do it more often. (Well, maybe not the drinking too much, but going out and having fun.)

    And I loved how you said you wouldn't hear a word against Mr. Darcy. I am not a person who loves, loves, loves tht book, but my 22-year-old sure does! She wouldn't hear a word against him either. If she weren't at school I would ask her about graphic novels. She used to love those. How about your library? Ours has a whole section of graphic novels.

    Reading wise, I finished "The Treasure Hunt" by John Lescroart. It features Wyatt Hunt, and not the Dismas Hardy group, for anyone familiar with the author/series. I enjoyed it. For non-fiction, I'm reading a great self-help book, "The Objective is Happiness." It helps you transform failure (we all have them, sadly) into success. It's a really good route from self-help to understanding the results (and getting results!).

    Busy day, still -- have to go out to finish the shoveling. Not much left, but I find I have lost interest...

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