Bedtime Stories: Battle Bunny

I couldn't resist checking out Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett from the library. This is an ingenious book...well, two books really. The idea is that Alex modifies his Birthday Bunny book into the Battle Bunny book. Two stories and two sets of illustrations in one book. Super clever--with illustrations by Matthew Myers.

Summer Reading: Master and Margarita

Last month after reading Morphine, I checked out Mikhail Bulgakov's novel Master and Margarita from the library. I feel like such a grown up--reading a novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale about the Dark Lord, Pontius Pilate, and a slew of Muskovites.

Mikhail Bulgakov, whom I think looks like Daniel Craig in this photo, wrote a thrilling masterpiece. Again, I really enjoy Russian literature--descriptive, dark, and a bit creepy. I feel I have to credit the translator, Michael Glenny--I certainly couldn't have read this novel in Russian!

I think my favorite character was Behemoth, a big, black, talking cat.

Reading actual literature makes me want to write. I will write. I don't know if I'll ever publish, but I will write.

Summer Reading: The Chronicles of Harris Burdick

I didn't know anything about Harris Burdick, his illustrations, or their strange captions until Valerie told me about them and this book. The book has the illustrations along with stories by different authors to match each illustration.This weekend I read five of the stories aloud to Ross. We definitely have our favorite. There was only one story that we really didn't like at all.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately. I have started a novel by a Russian author, I have been reading a book of Russian gothic tales, and then this book of short stories. I need to keep at it. I want to finish all 3 books, and I have another book on hold at the library. I guess I'm having my own little Summer reading program.

Morphine

On my last visit to the library I picked up an adult-level book to read. I was attracted to the cover, sprinkled with hexes, the title, Morphine, and the size of the book--small. The publisher calls this 55 page book a pearl, but I think of it rather as a nugget. Mikhail Bulgakov, briefly a morphine addict himself, reveals via a diary, the downward spiral of a doctor who becomes addicted to morphine.

It isn't a new story, or particularly revealing, but Russian literature is so distinct in its style that I found it quite engaging. I have a hold on Buglakov's book The Master and Margarita. This little nugget of Morphine led me to a full-fledged novel.

The publisher has a whole series of pearl nuggets. I might just have to check out a couple more.

Reading

On Tuesday I signed up for the library's winter reading program. When I signed up I asked the lady if I had to read adult books. I don't think she knew what to say.

After reading so much for school, children's books are just right for me. They are uncomplicated, nontechnical, and short. I'm talking picture books here. No chapter books for me. Ross and I read the books as bedtime stories. My favorite is still Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner.

I did check out some adult books. Maybe I'll finish the Steven King book I started a few months ago. It was checked out when we were at the library. The reason I didn't finish it wasn't because it wasn't good--it was because I already read that part in the graphic novel series, so I already know what is going to happen--it kind of wrecks it. Five books in two months really isn't that much to read. We'll see.