Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Happy Tuesday

The students are testing today, and since I've been like a mad woman with preparing two novels to teach in class (which is why I haven't had a chance to read much on my own), revising my AP audit, grading new things for my online course (English 12...reading a DeFoe novel, which I've never read before), and trying to read AP & English 11 essay have all just about done my personal time in completely. Actually though, believe it or not, I'm enjoying teaching still, and I have liked being overly busy so that I don't have too much free, nutty time!

Well, I am reading a great book for fun though, in the midst of everything, called A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans. I'll review it later, but this 500+ page novel feels like a walk down a flower-strewn lane in the lake country. Okay, so it's not, but it feels that way to me whenever I get a chance to read it! I'll review later, but so far, I'm really loving the escape.

I did finish reading a novel this weekend that I've renewed TWICE and was finally overdue but had a million holds. The novel was Asking for Trouble by Elizabeth Young, and is the British novel that the movie "Wedding Date" with Debra Messing played in a year or to ago. (I'm not really sure why they chose underwear for the cover...it makes no sense and nothing to do with anything in the novel!)
I usually really love Brit writers, but this particular novel, really seemed to drag in places and detailed too many people at times. To be quite honest, I've already lost some of the plot in with my new novel (also set in England), but I can say that it's about a woman who has to pay an escort to go with her to her sister's wedding so that they think she has a boyfriend. (Man, I ought to try that one!) As with any good chick lit., there end up being a lot of misunderstandings, lies told out of embarrassment at one's life circumstances (i.e. single status, job, etc.), and a cute romance in the end. It wasn't my top pick, as the middle dragged along a bit, but I still liked the way it turned out.


As for my Library Loot...I picked up a number of books this week. I had read a review about a YA novel called How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier, and picked it up to try out. I'm sure it will be awhile, but it looks really cute. I also got the audio book Sleeping Arrangements, by Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella). I'm not as big a fan of the Wickham novels, but I so loved everything Kinsella wrote (i.e. Shopaholic series), that I wanted to hear her newest novel on my drive to and from work. I also picked up King of Queens, Season 3. SO FUN! Kevin James is just so stinking funny, and I love the old grandpa living with them. While doing a bit of grading last night, I watched an episode where Kevin's character is laid off and decides to substitute teach at a high school for some extra work. HILARIOUS!!! The kids eat him alive, and he flips out on them. He's actually not exaggerating the environment at all, especially if not handled correctly. I've grown to love teaching again, but if you're at all unprepared or not dedicated, it will swallow you and then spit you out again! :)

Well, I must go circulate among the test takers, and then write a couple of quizzes for later today. All my best, and Mahalo!

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