The Shady Glade: June 2007

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Library Meme

I found this meme on Becky's Book Reviews several days ago, but and I just couldn't resist.

1. How old were you when you got your first library card?
Let's see, I was in first grade, so I was... seven? Maybe six. THat card lasted me until I was ten, when I had to get a new one because the old had been worn out from too much use.

2. What's the first book you can remember reading from a library?
The first I can remember was the American Girls book. You know, Kirsten, Felicity, Samantha, and Molly. Anyway, I know I got tons of picture books from the library before that, but I don't really remember them.

3. Did you ever participate in a summer reading program or other kids' event at a library growing up?
Yup. All the time. One year, I was the only kid my age that finished all 50 books for the summer reading event.

4. Do you remember when card catalogues weren't computerized?
No. But I do remember when the card catalog was on a computer that's screen would only be black and yellow.

5. When was the last time you went to the library?
Honestly, it was yesterday.

6. How many books do you usually check out of the library at one time?
At least 4, usually about 8 or so, maybe more, depending on how many requests I have to pick up.

7. Name one great author you've discovered at your library.
Only one? Most new authors I discover at the library, becuase I usually don't buy a book by a new author until I've tried their work at the library first.

8. What was the librarian at your elementary school like?
I don't remember. Our school hardly ever let us visit the school library. We could only go with our whole class, and even then the teachers usually checked things out for us.

9. How many times a year do you go to the library?
A year? Um..... probably at least 60 times, since I usually go once a week. No idea.

10. If you could change on thing about your library, what would it be and why?
My library has selection issues, so I would like to change that. For a while they were doing an Inter-library loan program, which was awesome becuase we could get all sorts of books our library didn't have. But then they discontinued it, because our branch of libraries was getting way more stuff from the other two particpating libraries than vice versa. Which you think would have given our purchasing librarians a clue. But no, they still insist on buying 50 more copies of a book they already have than spending that same money on buying new books not already in the system. Yes, they have a suggestion for purchases form, but it takes (I kid you not) about a year for them to get to your request.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Reminder: June Contest

Just a reminder to sign up for our June 2007 contest. You have until Midnight PST on Saturday (June 30th) to qualify. See details at the original post here.

Good luck to everyone! Winners should be announced by July 2nd at the latest.

Another Challenge- Summer Reading

Yes, I found another one. Inksplasher has decided to help us occupy ourselves while we antcipate the return of the Fall Reading Challenge. It's just one more thing to keep me reading unitl Katrina at Callpidder Days is ready to start the Fall 2007 Challenge. So without further ado, here's my list (which is probably starting to look at little familar, since it has some of the books I didn't finish for spring on it)...

Series Books
The Magic Medallion (Cynthia's Attic) by Mary Cunningham
Night Shade (Daughters of the Moon #3) by Lynne Ewing
Secret Scroll (Daughters of the Moon #4) by Lynne Ewing
Missing Persons #1: Rose Queen by M. E. Rabb (Already Reading)
Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon by Lisa Papademetriou (Already Reading)
Vidia and the Fairy Crown by Laura Driscoll
In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow by Monique Peterson
Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace by Mary Janice Davidson and Anthony Alongi

Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) by Christopher Paolini (Already Reading)

Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mysteryby Peter Abrahams

Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow #1: The Coming Storm by Rob Kidd (Already Reading)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow #2: The Siren Song by Rob Kidd

Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow #3: The Pirate Chase by Rob Kidd

Grail Quest #1: The Camelot Spellby Laura Anne Gilman
Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Annette Laing

The Dark Dreamweaver (The Remin Chronicles) by Nick Ruth

Song of the Wanderer (The Unicorn Chronicles, Book 2)by Bruce Coville

Bras & Broomsticks (Bras & Broomsticks Trilogy) by Sarah Mlynowski

Don't Die, Dragonfly (Seer)by Linda Joy Singleton

The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5) by Eoin Colfer

Ninth Key (The Mediator, Book 2) by Meg Cabot

Kung Fu Klutz And Karate Cool 1 (Manga Chapters) by Mark Seidenberg

Everything Else
A Matter of Profit by Hilari Bell

The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
The Legend of Lady Ilena by Patricia Malone
May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson
My Alien Penfriend by Faiz Kermani
My Lady, Pocahontas by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
The Vampire Hunters Stalked by William Hill
Water Shaper by Laura Williams McCaffrey
The Whispering Road by Livi Michael
The Wizard Test by Hilari Bell

Ingo by Helen Dunmore

Drawing a Blank: Or How I Tried to Solve a Mystery, End a Feud, and Land the Girl of My Dreamsby Daniel Ehrenhaft

Fairyopolis by Cicely Mary Barker

Staying Lateby Helga Vern
The Walton Street Tycoons by Jim Lesczynski
Toaster Pond by Peter de Witt

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot (Already Reading)

How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Visit the Shady Glade Store for more recommended reads, movies, music and more!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Today's random subject is....

The random subject for today is Spy Gadgets! Wahoo! Okay, I know it’s a weird topic, but my brother made me watch the new Alex Rider movie last night, and it got me to thinking. Some of gadgets are cool, but they’re so…. boy-ish. What’s an average girl spy to use? :-) So I came up with these ideas:

Lipgloss- two-sided of course. One side has the perfect lipgloss, the other, a liquid that will eat through any substance.

Keychain- one that can pick any lock, of course.

Bracelet- complete with software to record/listen in on any conversation.

Minicomputer*- activated when you touch one of your earrings. The screen goes across your eyes like a see-through visor. Also good for scanning/computing.

Calculator- doubles as a communicator.

Smoke-bomb- one that you can actually leave behind without losing one of your cool gadgets. Disposable, in other words.

Anyway, that’s about all I came up with at this point. If you’ve got any cool ideas, let me know in the comments!

*Okay, so I stole this idea from an old anime cartoon I loved as a kid. Bonus points if you can guess which one correctly….

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

No Worries Here

Attention all audience members

Though it got mad at me because I've used the word "kill" somehow, somewhere in my blog at somepoint. Ppph. I'm all for keeping it clean, but don't you think that's taking it out of context just a bit?

Thanks to Heather for the link.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Harry Potter Tag

This was just too fun! Thanks to Miss Erin for the tag.

1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?

Pumpkin juice. I would hope it would taste like Pumpkin Pie. Plus, I really like juice.

2. What House would you most likely (or want to) be in in Hogwarts?

I would want to be in Gryffindor, but I would probably end up in Ravenclaw. I'm just too good at school stuff, and I am a chicken at heart. I have no backbone...

3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into?

A cat. Or a unicorn. But probably a cat.

4. What character do you empathize with, or resemble best?

Which HP Kid Are You?

Yeah, I'm a know-it-all. I admit it. Besides who else could I be when I read so much? :-)

5. What position do you play at Quidditch?

Anything but Keeper. I'd be hopeless. Though come to think of it, I'm horribly unobservant as well, so I probably wouldn't be a very good Seeker either.

6. Which teacher is your favorite?

Professor McGonagal. But I really like Lupin too. And Lockheart's just too fun to read about.

7. Any Harry Potter 7 predictions?

Snape redeems himself though I'm not sure how at this point. He'd better anyway, or I'll hunt him down with a pointed stick for killing Dumbledore! (Yes, I am aware he's a fictional character and my hunt wouldn't be very sucessful....)

I tag Shelia, Kim, and Jocelyn, and anyone else who hasn't done this fun post yet!

Sunday, June 24, 2007

My Favorites: Dealing with Dragons

I’ve decided to start a feature where I review some of my absolute favorite books. These are usually ones that have been out for awhile, and most people have heard of them. This is my chance to convince you just what you’re missing if you don’t read these. So first up, here’s

Dealing with Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book One by Patricia C. Wrede

Cimorene isn’t your normal princess. In fact, she doesn’t look, talk, or behave like any normal self-respecting princess. So when Cimorene runs away and volunteers to be a dragon’s princess, it’s not completely unexpected. Well, for the reader anyway. But Cimorene’s parents refuse to believe anyone would choose to be a dragon’s princess.

But Cimorene has much more important things to think about than her parents. She’s too busy cooking Cherries Jubilee, sorting treasure, and learning the history of the dragons from her new dragon friend, Kazul. So when knights start showing up to “rescue” her, Cimorene is more than a little annoyed. Little does she know, things are about to get a lot more interesting, and pesky knights are the least of her problems!

For those of you who read this blog regularly, you know how much I adore retold fairy tales. This book turns them all on their heads! Think of every stereotype possible in traditional fairytales and be prepared to toss them all out the window while reading this one. In addition to the great new perspective caused by breaking these stereotypes, this book has the perfect blend of humor, adventure, and just enough suspense to keep you going. Everyone I’ve ever recommend this book to LOVES it, and it’s been one of my favorites for many years.

Shady Glade Rating: 10/10 (Were you really surprised?)

Read the continuation of Cimorene’s adventures in the rest of the series:
Searching for Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book Two
Calling on Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book Three (my personal favorite of the series)
Talking to Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book Four

Visit the Shady Glade Store for these (and more) recommended reads, movies, music and more!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Sping Reading Challenge: Final Report

It's the final report for the Spring Reading Challenge posted over at Callapidder Days. I didn't finish my entire list, but I did get a lot more done than I thought I would, especially when I got an unexpected full-time job. But that's okay, since I'm finishing my list during the Summer Reading Challenge (more on that later). So without further ado, here's my final and last wrap-up on Spring.

What was the best book you read this spring?
To be honest, this is a HARD one for me to choose. I read so many good books, and choosing one is like choosing a favorite child. However, that aside, I'd have to choose Terrier (Beka Cooper) by Tamora Pierce. She's still one of my favorite authors.

What book could you have done without?
Hmmm... probably Flight Volume 1. It just wasn't as good as the third volume, which is why I decided to read it in the first place.

Did you try out a new author this spring? If so, which one, and will you be reading that author again?
Actually, there were quite a few new authors in there, mostly because I choose books mostly (though not entirely) based on content, not the author. I think the one I probably will read again based entirely on author was Arina Tanemura, who wrote the Full Moon O Sagashite series (which was amazing, by the way).
If there were books you didn't finish, tell us why. Did you run out of time? Realize those books weren't worth it?
There were only about 3 books I didn't finish because I decided I had more important (and exciting) things to read. I also ran out of time, but I think that was mostly because my list was so long in the first place. To tell the truth, I didn't really expect to get everything done as soon as I started adding all those books in May. :-)

Did you come across a book or two on other participants' lists that you're planning to add to your own to-be-read pile? Which ones?
Unfortunately, I've been so busy I haven't had time to keep up with most other's blogs. There's been a few I definately want to look at, but I need more time to look through everyone's posts still.

What did you learn -- about anything -- through this challenge? Maybe you learned something about yourself or your reading style, maybe you learned not to pick so many nonfiction books for a challenge, maybe you learned something from a book you read. Whatever it is, share!
I did get much more reading than I thought I would done, which really surprised me. I think I proved I can read as much as my brother now! :-)

What was the best part of the Spring Reading Thing?
Honestly, it gave me a fair excuse to read. "Can't do the dishes Mom, I'm in the middle of a Challenge..." Okay, so maybe not, but I did enjoy the goal, even if I didn't make it all the way.

Would you be interested in participating in another reading challenge this fall?
You bet! Can't wait for it... to the point that I'm doing one for summer too.