Florence Reads!

A celebration of summer and books. For directions, hashtag list, etc, see the overview at http://goo.gl/oxMtk. Posting challenges: #covershot: Post a shot of the cover of a book you’re reading. In the caption, explain why you chose this book, or what you’re hoping to get from it. #quoted: Post a quote you liked from what you’re reading. #mereading: Post a picture of yourself reading. #bookvacation: Take your book “on vacation”--that is, post a picture of your book in an exciting vacation destination (a coffee shop? the beach? a sporting event? amid art?). #connection: Post an image (your own, or someone else’s with a citation) that somehow connects to what you’re reading. In the caption, explain the connection. #IMHO: Post an opinion on your book--are you liking it? Why or why not? (IMHO = In my humble opinion)

[florencereads]

[florencereads]

Kurt Vonnegut (#ronim)

I read a couple of books this winter break, but I just got the overwhelming urge to talk about Kurt Vonnegut (I'm in the middle of Slaughterhouse Five to be honest; I haven't finished it). I read Cat's Cradle the week before finals and fell in love with it--can I actually convert to Bokonon? But this is about a book I read during break so I should talk about Slaughterhouse Five. Tralfamadorians sound like an interesting species. Anyway, Kurt Vonnegut writes in such an honest way. In both Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five he writes as an author writing a novel, which I find really interesting. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.

[florencereads]

A different book! (#ronim)

Second post! Is it all right if I only do texts or must I post pictures? Okay so this book wasn't on the list but I'd like to talk about it anyway. Ms. Tompkins actually suggested it to me last year but I only got around to reading it now. It's called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Not only is the name adorable but the book is adorable. It's really just letters back and forth to and from people but there is so much character development and each of the characters have a different voice; it's simply enjoyable. The story is about a writer right after World War II who wants to write about this group of people from one of the Channel Islands. The characters felt human, but they were also extremely likeable. I enjoyed it and squealed when good things happened (the dramatic irony--good god). It was nice to curl up in my chair, put fake rain on, and pretend I was in 1944.

The only downside to falling in love with characters in a book is that you cannot hug them.

[florencereads]

More Kurt Vonnegut! (#ronim)

(Tardis BBC Television Center, Wikipedia) This is the Doctor's Tardis with which he time travels. Billy Pilgrim time travels! (So does Marty McFly, but that's beside the point) Like the Tralfamadorians, the Doctor is an alien that takes human companions to time travel. "Takes" is too strong of a word--he offers for people to time travel with him. Unlike Billy Pilgrim, the companions don't accidentally time travel from the war to their optometrists office and back to the same moment.

[florencereads]

Franny and Zooey

“It’s like being in a lunatic asylum and having another patient all dressed up as a doctor come over to you and start taking your pulse or something.” (Salinger 191)

[florencereads]

I chose this book because I wanted to read J. D. Salinger's style, so when we read Catcher in the Rye I will already know it. Also if I read more by him I could make more connections and find more patterns through his different works.

[florencereads]

[florencereads]

[florencereads]

Franny and Zooey

I really like the book. The story, to me, is not very plot driven, and there isn’t that much figurative language, but the writing itself is very enticing.  The book makes you want keep reading, because it is so well written and the author likes to slowly explain things. The reader has to keep reading to understand what a conversation is referring to. The book has many complicated words, but it is also an easy read because the book goes by so quickly and it’s hard to stop reading. I would suggest this book for people who want a good read that poses intellectual discussion.

[florencereads]

"I didn't call the business men sons of bitches," Kennedy once complained about being misquoted in the New York Times. "I called them pricks." Sorry Ms. Press for inappropriate language. I thought this quote was important because it symbolized the new generation of Americans that Kennedy represented and how society was changing. It showed the contrast from Eisenhower's generation and the change that Kennedy brought. Also I thought it was funny.

Killing Kennedy

[florencereads]

New book

[florencereads]

Big fishies at cayote point museum!

[florencereads]

I finally learned how to read! Now I can finish the series that everyone read in third grade.

[florencereads]

The Fault in Our Stars

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green is an absolutely amazing book that I had the honor of reading this summer.  I am so thrilled that I came across this book because it is simply an incredible piece.  TFIOS opens your eyes to a beautiful love story dealing with emotion, passion, devotion, and tragedy.  John Green is completely genius and an incredible writer that created one of the greatest books I've read.     

[florencereads]

"Highway" Added by Rain (weheartit.com) 

This picture reminds me of all of Quentin's road trips to find Margo, especially the last one he shares with Radar, Ben, and Lacey all the way to Agloe, New York.  You don't know where the car is going, but you know that it is going somewhere.  I think that is how Q felt while he was searching for Margo.  

[florencereads]

A Farewell to Arms was a great book and I can see clearly why Ernest Hemingway is one of the greatest authors of the last century. It an interesting take on the classic war novel and the whole book was merely a buildup to the end that shocked me. I hate mysterious endings, but this one left nothing to the imagination. Great book!

[florencereads]

I liked The Color Purple because it reinforced the idea to me of just because life is like this now - it can change completely tomorrow so be thankful for everything you have everyday.