Books read in 2011

February 2011
Maigret and the Man On the Boulevard-Georges Simonen-very good
The Innocent Mrs. Duff- put off till summer
The Cambridge Theorem- Tony Cape-didn't finish
The Poisoned Chocolates Case-Anthony Berkeley-interesting
The Becket Factor-Michael David Anthony-very well written
Midnight Come-Michael David Anthony-sequel, well done, better than the first one!
A Most Contagious Crime-Catherine Aird-pretty good, interesting history

March 2011
Dark Provenance-Michael David Anthony-good
Inspector Cadaver-Georges Simonen-ok
Kristin Landvatter-Sigrid Unset- tried, didn't like
The Fabric of Sin-Phil Rickman-good, addictive
Death in a Strange Country- Donna Leon-very good
A Going Concern- Catherine Aird-witty, humorous, a good mystery with abrupt ending
Little Knell-Catherine Aird-ok, confusing

April 2011
The Cure of Souls-Phil Rickman-some good writing
Dressed for Death-Donna Leon-excellent
Losing Ground-Catherine Aird-didn't care for
Death and Judgement- Donna Leon-good

May 2011
Quietly in Their Sleep-Donna Leon-Very good
Keeper of the Doves-Betsy Byars-meh
Listening for Lions-Gloria Whelan-good
Niccolo Rising-Dorothy Dunnett-tried

June 2011
The September Society-Charles Finch-ok
Goody Hall-Natalie Babbitt-good
Missing-Karin Alvtegen-not my kind of book
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand-Helen Simonsen-LOVED
Uniform Justice-Donna Leon-stunning,well written
Blood from a Stone-Donna Leon-good
Suffer the Children-Donna Leon-good
About Face-Donna Leon-ok
State of Wonder-Anne Patchett- WONDERFUL

July 2011
A Question of Belief-Donna Leon-difficult end
Tom's Midnight Garden-Phillippa Pearce-good, old fashioned
The Last American Man-Elizabeth Gilbert-ok
Eat, Pray, Love-Elizabeth Gilbert-ok
Jayber Crow-Wendell Berry-beautiful writing
Hannah Coulter-Wendell Berry-beautiful, poignant
The Midas Murders-Margot Arnold-good
Death of a Hollow Man-Caroline Graham-good
Octagon House-Phoebe Atwood- good but dated
Toby's Folly-Margot Atwood-good,fun
The Book Thief-good but depressing
The Catacomb Conspiracy-Margot Arnold-disappointing

August 2011
Dirge for the Dorset Druid-Margot Arnold-interesting
Scent of Water-Elizabeth Goudge-beautifully written
Cape Cod Caper-Margot Arnold-ok
Trustee from the Toolroom-Neville Shute-good in parts
Fellowship of Fear-Aaron Elkins-ok,didn't finish
Cape Cod Conundrum-Margot Arnold-ok
Old Herbaceous-Reginald Arkell-LOVED
Any Shape or Form-Elizabeth Daly

September 2011
A Town Like Alice-Neville Shute-good but odd
The Pied Piper-Neville Shute

October 2011
The Last Detective-Leslie Thompson-couldn't finish
The Life of Charlotte Bronte-Elizabeth Gaskell-started
The Marx Sisters-Barry Maitland-good
The Chalon Heads-Barry Maitland-Excellent

November 2011
Malcontenta-Barry Maitland-ok
The Chief Inspector's Daughter-Sheila Radley-didn't care for
Naming the Bones-Louise Welsh-not my kind of book
Landscape of Lies-Peter Watson-less than ok

December 2011
A Back Room in Somers Town-John Malcolm-nope
Death's Bright Angel-Janet Neel-disliked 2 timing heroine

Slice of Life Challenge

I originally created this blog to track my reading habits, but now take on the challenge of writing daily in the month of March.  I'm going to have my students do it too.  Today I am celebrating a snowstorm that will allow me to work at home.  I am completing an online course Understanding by Design and will be designing  a lesson for next week on bats using Bat Loves the Night, a beautiful literary nonfiction by Nicola Davies and Bats by Gail Gibbons.  Can't wait to get started!

Books Read in 2010

January 2010
Swan Song-Edmund Crispin- reread, excellent
When You Reach Me- Rebecca Stead- Newbery Winner- really enjoyed, want to read again
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon- Grace Lin- Good in the end, but took forever to read

February 2010
The Bronze Bow- Elizabeth George Speare- very good
Ginnie and the Cooking Contest- Catherine Wooley- reread of a childhood favorite-Loved
The Witch of Blackbird Pond- Elizabeth George Speare- Good
Evidence of Things Seen- Elizabeth Daly- good

March 2010
Thimble Summer- Elizabeth Enright- good
Connecting Sinai to Calvary- John Jeske - very good

April 2010
Murder in Volume 2-Elizabeth Daly-excellent
The House Without a Door- Elizabeth Daly-good
Worth-Tim LaHaye-very good
Arrow Pointing Nowhere- Elizabeth Daly-good
The Neopolitan Streak- Tim Holme-very good

May 2010
A Funeral of Gondolas-Tim Holme- very good
The Book of the Dead- Elizabeth Daly-riveting read

June 2010
Death in the Garden-Elizabeth Ironside-ok
Because of the Cats-Nicolas Freeling-good
Gun Before Butter-Nicolas Freeling-intense, well-written, especially first half
Free Reign-Rosemary Aubert- ok
The Rainaldi Quartet-Paul Adam-ok
Death at the President's Lodging-Michael Innes-intelligent, complicated
Lament for a Maker- Michael Innes- romantic
Stop Press-Michael Innes-good

July 2010
There Came Both Mist and Snow-Innes-pretty good
Appleby on Ararat-Innes-just crazy!
I, Keturah-Ruth Wolff- reread, a favorite
Pyrotechnics on the Page-Ralph Fletcher-wordplay
Operation Pax-Innes-good, really enjoyed
Appleby's End-entertaining and complex
Still Learning to Read-Franki Sibberson-excellent
The Accomplice-Elizabeth Enright-ok
The Smoke- Tony Broadbent-crime fiction, not really my kind of book
The Mistress of Alderly-Robert Barnard-good, light read
The Corpse at the Haworth Tandoori-Robert Barnard-good
The Murder at Mayfair- Robert Barnard-good
Cherry Blossom Corpse-Robert Barnard-humorous beginning, then ok
Silence Observed-Innes-excellent

August 2010
The Bloody Wood-Innes-good
Picture of Guilt-Innes-good
Tuesdays with Morrie-Mitch Album-ok
Change of Heir-Innes-good, fun
Appleby and Honeybath-Innes-good, disappointing end
Ex Libris-Anne Fadiman-excellent and enjoyable
The Long Farewell-Innes-excellent, references Rome, Verona, Shakespeare...
Death at the Chase-Innes-ok
Appleby's Answer-Innes-fun, entertaining
Appleby's Other Story-Innes- good, intelligent

September 2010
Fen Country-Edmund Crispin-always good
The Open House-Innes-surreal
Little Bee-Chris Cleave- couldn't finish
Castle in the Classroom-loved absolutely

October 2010
The Appleby File-Innes-short stories
The Journeying Boy-Innes-excellent
The Mysterious Commission-Innes-twists and turns
Sheiks and Adders-Innes- entertaining, fun, good read

November 2010
Carson's Conspiracy-Innes-surprise ending
The Case of Sonia Wayward-Innes-amazing, clever
Going It Alone-Innes-ok
The Hare with Amber Eyes-DeWaal- didn't finish
The Long Divorce-Edmund Crispin-good, but odd

December 2010
Books To Go-Nancy Pearl-book recommendations
A Night of Errors-Innes-mesmerizing, but sad ending
A Private View-Innes-art theft, murder, complex
Maigret and the Bar on the Seine-Georges Simonen-very good, but sad

January 2011

A Man's Head- Georges Simonen-excellent
The Yellow Dog- Georges Simonen-excellent
Lock 14- Georges Simonen-Very good
The Hotel Majestic- Georges Simonen-excellent, with a happy ending this time
My Friend Maigret- Georges Simonen-very good, island off the coast of France
The Friend of Madame Maigret-Georges Simonen-excellent, suspenseful
Moon Over Manifest- Clare Vanderpool- loved most of it, thought it could be better...

Books read in 2009

January 2009
A Tale of Two Cities...Charles Dickens...excellent, romantic
The Scarlet Pimpernel...Baroness ...good
I decided to read the entire series of Thrush Green by Miss Read, I enjoyed it years ago:
Thrush Green...Miss Read...loved
Winter in Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
News From Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
Gossip From Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
Affairs in Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
Friends at Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
Battles at Thrush Green...Miss Read...good

February 2009
Return to Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
At Home in Thrush Green...Miss Read...good
The School at Thrush Green...Miss Read...okay, not great
Celebrations at Thrush Green...Miss Read...okay, not great
The Year at Thrush Green...Miss Read...pretty good

March 2009
Village School...Miss Read..started, not as good
Children's Literature:
The Bat Poet...Randall Jarrett...interesting
My Father's Dragon..too whimsical
Professional Reading:
What Struggling Readers Need Most...Richard Allington, excellent, research based

April 2009
Professional Reading:
Choice Literacy and The Daily Cafe archives online

May 2009
Wallander's First Case...Henning Mankell...excellent short stories, my favorite Mankell so far

June 2009
The Dogs of Riga...Henning Mankell...good
Jellicoe Road...tried, Jordan liked
Hunger Games...Suzanne Collins...good in parts
Thornyhold...Mary Stewart...reread, loved again
I, Keturah...Ruth Wolff, reread. loved absolutely
Faceless Killers...Henning Mankell, pretty good
Hamlet, Revenge...Michael Innes...complicated, but good
Short Stories of Marjorie Rawlings...excellent
Professional Reading:
Mosaic of Thought...Keene and Zimmerman...good

July 2009
Inkheart...Cornelia Funke...very good
The House at Riverton...tried, boring
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday...Alexander McCall Smith...good
Professional Reading:
Why Students Don't Like School...Daniel T.  Willingham
Hamlet...Shakespeare...adapted by Bruce Coville
Midsummer Night's Dream...Shakespeare...adapted by Bruce Coville
Twelfth Night...Shakespeare...adapted by Bruce Coville
The Five Love Languages...Gary Chapman...good
The World According to Bertie...Alexander McCall Smith
Professional Reading:
The Complete Four...Pam Allyn..good

August 2009
My Life in France...Julia Child...fascinating

September 2009
Catching Fire...Suzanne Collins...not as good as Hunger Games
The Brutal Telling...Louise Penny,  mesmerizing
Professional Reading:
Teaching Wonder...Georgia Heard...good ideas
Literacy Cafe...Boushey and Moser

October 2009
The Case of the Gilded Fly...Edmund Crispin...rereading
Holy Disorders...Edmund Crispin...rereading

November 2009
Professional Reading:
How to Ignite a Passion for Reading...Steven Layne...online...different book choices than I would make

December 2009
Buried for Pleasure...Edmund Crispin...complicated!
The Elegance of the Hedgehog...Muriel Barbery....translated from the French, okay

Books read in 2008

January 2008

Nothing Can Rescue Me...Elizabeth Daly...very good
Holy Disorders...Edmund Crispin...excellent
The House Without the Door...Elizabeth Daly...okay
In A Lonely Place...Dorothy Hughes...didn't finish...written from the murderers point of view
Swan Song...Edmund Crispin...good
Love Lies Bleeding...Edmund Crispin...excellent

February 2008

Sudden Vengeance...Edmund Crispin...good
Fen Country...Edmund Crispin...good
The Silver Bough...Lisa Tuttle...didn't finish
Love Over Scotland...Alexander McCall Smith...ok
Glimpses of the Moon...Edmund Crispin

March 2008

The Case of the Gilded Fly...Edmund Crispin...
Appleby and the Ospreys...Michael Innes...good
Thou Shell of Death...Nicholas Blake...excellent
The Beast Must Die...Nicholas Blake...intriguing
The Corpse in the Snowman...Nicholas Blake

April 2008

Hamlet Revenge...Michael Innes...complex
A Thousand Days in Venice...DeBlasi...inspiring, eccentric
Rose Cottage...Mary Stewart
A Thousand Days in Tuscany...DeBlasi

May 2008

Windy City...Scott Simon...didn't finish
Thornyhold...Mary Stewart...good old-fashioned read
The Lady in the Palazzo...DeBlasi

June 2008

The Moonspinners...Mary Stewart...good
Nine Coaches...Mary Stewart
The Miracle at Speedy Motors...Alexander McCall Smith...good
Wildfires at Midnight...Mary Stewart...ok
People of the Book...Geraldine Brooks...tried, didn't finish
My Brother Micbael...Mary Stewart...dum
The Ivy Tree...Mary Stewart...suspenseful

July 2008

Madame, Will You Talk...Mary Stewart...no more!
The Man Who Was Thursday...G.K.Chesterton
Precious Bane...Mary Webb...good, but sad
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek...Annie Dillard...interesting but odd
Gilead...Marilynne Robinson...loved
Mystery Compliations
Over the Moon...Elissa Haden Church...dated
The Spotted Cat...Christianna Brand

August 2008

Green for Danger...Christianna Brand
The Bedquilt....Dorothy Canfield Fisher...excellent
Two Old Women...Velma Wallis...interesting

September 2008

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle...didn't finish
The Complete Four...Pam Allyn...professional reading
The Artist's Way...Julia Cameron...

October 2008

Cordouroy Mansions...Alexander McCall Smith...serial read online
Poppy...Avi...child's book
Fantastic Mr. Fox...Roald Dahl...fun
Good Masters, Sweet Ladies...L.A.Schlitz...Newbery Winner

November 2008

Death of a Gossip...didn't care for

December 2008

Inkheart...Cornelia Funke...good
The Guernsey Literary Society...part good

Books Read in 2007

January
Woman in White...Wilkie Collins...a new favorite

February

March
Unnatural Death...Dorothy Sayers...good mystery

April
Why Do They Act That Way...Walsh...a book trying to explain teen brain function, somewhat helpful
Five Red Herrings...Dorothy Sayers... good mystery

May
Clouds of Witness...Dorothy Sayers...another good mystery
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club...Dorothy Sayers...good

June
Slaughterhouse Five...Kurt Vonnegut Jr.... tried, bluk!
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive...Alexander McCall Smith...good as always
Suite Francaise...Irene Nemirovsky...mesmerizing, heartbreaking stories of the Nazi occupation in France
Sempster's Tale...Margaret Frazer...medieval mystery series, good
The Kite Runner...Khalid Houssini...well written, heartbreaking
Read With Me...Thomas Costrain...anthology of good fiction

July
Little, Big...John Crowley...started, didn't like
Housekeeping...Marianne Robinson...well written, very depressing
Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight...lame writing
The Secret History...Donna Tartt, captivating at first, then lame
The Janissary Tree...Jason Goodwin....didn't finish
I Capture the Castle...Dodie Smith...shallow and silly

August
Tell Me a Riddle...Tillie Olson...sad, beautiful writing
China Governess...Margery Allingham...reread a favorite...complex, romantic mystery
The Careful Use of Compliments...Alexander McCall Smith...good
The Beckoning Lady...Margery Allingham...so complex I had to start it several times
The Franchise Affair...Josephine Tey...reread a favorite of all time...loved it!
Death of a Ghost...Margery Allingham...good mystery
Flowers for a Judge...Margery Allingham...very good mystery
Dancers in Mourning...Margery Allingham...Wow! surprise ending
The Case of the Late Pig...Margery Allingham...okay

September
Bee Season...Myra Goldbery...tried, didn't finish
Cry the Beloved Country...Alan Paton...didn't finish
The Moonstone...Wilkie Collins... reread a beautiful, romantic, favorite mystery...loved it!
Traitor's Purse...Margery Allingham...good mystery
No Love Lost...Margery Allingham...good mystery
More Work for the Undertaker...Margery Allingham...good mystery

October
The Mind Readers...Margery Allingham...reread...futuristic sci fi mystery, okay
The Beckoning Lady...Margery Allingham...finished it this time!
A Beautiful Blue Death...pedestrian writing...cool title though
A Killing at Badger's Drift...Caroline Graham...good, but racy
A Crime at the Black Dudley...Margery Allingham...good mystery, fun to read
Look to the Lady....Margery Allingham...good mystery

November

December
The Moving Toyshop...Edmund Crispin...classic mystery, kind of crazy
Deadly Nightshade...Elizabeth Daly...classic mystery, good
Coroner's Pidgin...Margery Allingham...mystery, good
Tether's End...Margery Allingham...mystery...excellent, very suspenseful