I want to apologize for my absence.
I apologize!

I am not going to list my excuses for why I haven't blogged since April, because that's all they would be...excuses. There are many reasons for neglecting my blog, but they are boring and I don't want to bore anyone.  I will say, I've neglected something that has been calling whispering my name everyday to get back to.  I have a lot of catching up to do and I intend to get started.

For starters, goals.

Writing goal #1: To produce something every day, good or bad.

Here's today's:
****************
On a Night Train


On a night train

making my way to a house

I never knew existed,

I struggle to find a seat.

Left standing,

the ride is bumpy,

jolted,

long.

At my destination

I realize my purse is gone.

I meander back

to where the train and I parted

but like my purse,

the train has disappeared.

I walk up narrow streets

passing cars,

trees

and creeks.

I follow curves of freeway,

beat up signs,

directional arrows,

all taking me where I don't want to go.

Foreign streets with dotted residence

hold no purse of mine.

Out of breath,

tired,

pissed,

purseless.

A million birds chirping

in the chilled air

seem to know more than I do.

They laugh at my misfortune.

I sit sprawled along a curb

confused,

disoriented,

sure that I will

wake up at any moment.

For only in dreams

can one lose a purse

on a night train,

making one's way

to a house

they never knew existed.

©Patricia Beline Barton

October 1, 2010

Top 100 Children's Novels

I love to read.  I really do.  Yet when I came across this list compiled by A Fuse #8 Production of the Top 100 Children's Novels, I realized how much work I have yet to do.  (I hate to admit it, but I'm actually a little embarrassed by some of the books on this list that I haven't read yet!)

I've bolded the ones I've read, and placed a * next to my faves.  I'm adding the rest to my TBR pile, which grows longer everyday!   How many of these have you read? 
[*To give credit where credit is due, I picked up this link from Amanda at A Patchwork of Books.  Thanks for the meme!] 

100. The Egypt Game - Snyder (1967)
99. The Indian in the Cupboard - Banks (1980)
98. Children of Green Knowe - Boston (1954)
97. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo (2006)
96. The Witches - Dahl (1983)
95. Pippi Longstocking - Lindgren (1950)
94. Swallows and Amazons - Ransome (1930)
93. Caddie Woodlawn - Brink (1935)
92. Ella Enchanted - Levine (1997)
91. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Sachar (1978)
90. Sarah, Plain and Tall - MacLachlan (1985)
89. Ramona and Her Father - Cleary (1977)
88. The High King - Alexander (1968)
87. The View from Saturday - Konigsburg (1996)
86. *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* - Rowling (1999)
85. On the Banks of Plum Creek - Wilder (1937)
84. The Little White Horse - Goudge (1946)
83. The Thief - Turner (1997)
82. The Book of Three - Alexander (1964)
81. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Lin (2009)
80. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (2008)
79. All-of-a-Kind-Family - Taylor (1951)
78. Johnny Tremain - Forbes (1943)
77. The City of Ember - DuPrau (2003)
76. Out of the Dust - Hesse (1997)
75. Love That Dog - Creech (2001)
74. The Borrowers - Norton (1953)
73. My Side of the Mountain - George (1959)
72. My Father's Dragon - Gannett (1948)
71. The Bad Beginning - Snicket (1999)
70. Betsy-Tacy - Lovelae (1940)
69. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart ( 2007)
68. *Walk Two Moons* - Creech (1994)
67. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher - Coville (1991)
66. Henry Huggins - Cleary (1950)
65. Ballet Shoes - Stratfeild (1936)
64. A Long Way from Chicago - Peck (1998)
63. Gone-Away Lake - Enright (1957)
62. The Secret of the Old Clock - Keene (1959)
61. Stargirl - Spinelli (2000)
60. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi (1990)
59. Inkheart - Funke (2003)
58. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken (1962)
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Cleary (1981)
56. Number the Stars - Lowry (1989)
55. The Great Gilly Hopkins - Paterson (1978)
54. *The BFG* - Dahl (1982)
53. Wind in the Willows - Grahame (1908)
52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
51. The Saturdays - Enright (1941)
50. Island of the Blue Dolphins - O'Dell (1960)
49. Frindle - Clements (1996)
48. The Penderwicks - Birdsall (2005)
47. Bud, Not Buddy - Curtis (1999)
46. *Where the Red Fern Grows* - Rawls (1961)
45. The Golden Compass - Pullman (1995)
44. *Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing* - Blume (1972)

43. *Ramona the Pest* - Cleary (1968)
42. Little House on the Prairie - Wilder (1935)
41. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare (1958)
40. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Baum (1900)
39. When You Reach Me - Stead (2009)
38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling (2003)
37. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Taylor (1976)
36. Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret - Blume (1970)
35. HP and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling (2000)
34. The Watson's Go to Birmingham - Curtis (1995)
33. *James and the Giant Peach* - Dahl (1961)
32. *Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH* - O'Brian (1971)
31. Half Magic - Eager (1954)
30. Winnie-the-Pooh - Milne (1926)
29. The Dark Is Rising - Cooper (1973)
28. A Little Princess - Burnett (1905)
27. Alice I and II - Carroll (1865/72)
26. Hatchet - Paulsen (1989)
25. Little Women - Alcott (1868/9)
24. HP and the Deathly Hallows - Rowling (2007)
23. Little House in the Big Woods - Wilder (1932)
22. The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo (2003)
21. The Lightening Thief - Riordan (2005)
20. Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt (1975)

19. *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* - Dahl (1964)
18. Matilda - Dahl (1988)
17. Maniac Magee - Spinelli (1990)
16. *Harriet the Spy* - Fitzhugh (1964)
15. Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo (2000)
14. *HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban* - Rowling (1999)
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson (1977)
12. The Hobbit - Tolkien (1938)
11. The Westing Game - Raskin (1978)

10. *The Phantom Tollbooth* - Juster (1961)
9. Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery (1908)
8. The Secret Garden - Burnett (1911)
7. The Giver -Lowry (1993)
6. Holes - Sachar (1998)
5. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Koningsburg (1967)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Lewis (1950)

3. *Harry Potter #1* - Rowling (1997)
2.* A Wrinkle in Time* - L'Engle (1962)
1. *Charlotte's Web* - White (1952)

Twelve by Twelve Reading Challenge: April

What better way to tackle my new stack of library books - along with the leftover books not read in the read-a-thon - than with another reading challenge? 

Am I crazy?  Nah, I just love to read.

This one is a month by month challenge.  This month's challenge is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.  The challenge?  Whatever rules I set for myself.  Pretty cool, huh? 

So for April's challenge, even though I'm somewhat of a late starter and there are only seventeen days left in the month, I will attempt to read through the library books I checked out so I can return them on time without renewing.  I am usually a chronic renewer!  I see all those books and just go crazy.  You should've seen me hefting my stack up the stairs to my place last night!  Can you say book nerd?

If you are curious what books I will be reading, please see my earlier post. (*minus Cracking Creativity because that is considered a non-fiction book and all books must be fiction!)

Join me with your own April reading challenge!

Musings in the Morning: Read-A-Thon Wrap Up & To Be Read Pile

Well, I made it 21 hours in the 24 hour read-a-thon. 

I read through 1-3/4 books in that time period and finished another book, Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech, the following morning. 

I read a lot less than I thought I would, but for me it wasn't about how many books I could read, or trying to outdo anyone else.  It was about trying something new, spending some time with my daughters doing what I love, and having fun - which I definitely did.  I look forward to October's Read-A-Thon.

If anyone is interested in joining me in October, let me know.  I would love to do this with you!

Went to the library last night with the girls.  Here's what I picked up:

• Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor [for Laini's blog click here.  Such a creative and inspiring woman!]
• Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice
• The Siren Song (Book 2 in The Cronus Chronicles) by Anne Ursu
• When You Reach Me by Rebeccca Stead
• The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
• Possessed by Kate Cann
• Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius by Michael Michalko [for my hopes to become a more creative person]

I am going to start with Laini's book first, and go from there.  Have you read any of these books yet?  If so, what did you think?

Read-A-Thon Update: Slap Happy but Still Reading

So we're entering into hour number 19 and I am really starting to show signs of wear.  There are deep, dark circles under my bloodshot eyes and I spent a good portion of the time I'm supposed to be reading, trying to predict how The Master Puppeteer ends.  My exhaustion prevented me from just reading and finding out sooner that way.  Instead I entered into a delirium with my 12-year old and we erupted into slap happy laughter over nothing.  I eventually recollected myself and FINALLY finished the book!  Woo Hoo!  Almost 2 books down.  Really.  What was I thinking? 15 books?  Never try to attempt to read that many books in a 24-hour period on 3 hours of sleep.  Never. 

First of all, the brain does not function correctly or with any amount of speed whatsoever; and as much as you try, it can't seem to make the connection from the words on the page to the part of the brain that comprehends those words.  I have read many sentences over.  Numerous times.  Unfortunately, that means lots of time spent "reading" equals itty bitty number of pages read.  Ah well.  I read on with happiness.

Since I last updated, Randi finished another book, Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary.  I'm sure she's read it before, but it's been a while.  As she giggled throughout the book, I remembered how much fun it is to read about Ramona.  So, that's 2 books down for Randi.  I'm pretty sure that's it for her tonight.  She's so tired that she's not feeling so great.  She wants to read more, but it's just not happening.  She's off to bed!

Sydney is back to reading again after a lengthy break.  She is reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney. As much as I love to see her reading, it is late and I will be prompting her to bed soon. 

It's been so awesome reading with my girls today.  That has been the best part of this challenge - our time spent together.

Randi and Sydney on the last leg of their reading tour

Mini Challenge:
Hosted by Literarily Speaking

This was a fun one because it asks readers to ponder the first book they ever loved.  For me, that was the Little Golden book entitled The Monster at The End of This Book starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover.  Not only was Sesame Street the show I watched on a daily basis transfixed to the television set, but Grover was my favorite character.  He was bumbly, furry, blue and silly.  I loved his antics and finding him at the end of the book instead of the scary, ferocious monster he prepared readers for....well, it made me want to hug him at the last turn of the page.  I still do.

Number of books read since started: almost 2 
Pages read since last update: 79 pgs
Running total of pages since started: 253 pgs 
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 3 hour 5 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since started: 8 hours 35 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 7
Other participants visited: none at this time
Prize you've won: none
What I've eaten/drank: Dinner at Islands...2 Baja tacos and an iced tea. 
What I've been doing when not reading:

• having a nice dinner with my family
• laughing hysterically
• trying to read but not computing
• helping Sydney rinse her hair

 

Read-A-Thon Update: Halfway Point

Mid-Event Survey:


1. What are you reading right now? The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson (which I am throughly enjoying!)


2. How many books have you read so far?  2, not all the way through either yet 


3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech


4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Not really.  It's a nice Saturday for reading! 


5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  The only interruptions I've had are those from my kids which aren't bothersome at all to me.  In fact, I need interruptions to give me some breaks from reading. 


6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? First, how little I've read.  I thought I would be much farther along by now.  I'm normally a fast reader but am moving at a snail's pace today.  I am also surprised how involved some of the mini challenges are.  I think if I spent less time on some of them, I could be reading more.  They are so great though and hard to pass up!  I've had to pass up a few that I would've really liked to do.


7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  For those relatively new to blogging, as I am, it is rather cumbersome to orchestrate the posts, the links, visit different readers and post and link successfully in time for the deadlines.  I think if there was some sort of "pre read-a-thon" (with some instruction on how to handle some of the bloggy stuff), to prepare those who need it, it might make the process go smoother for us newbies!  :)  I also feel that some of the challenges are great, but shouldn't be a  part of the read-a-thon, but rather outside posts for daily interest, because they are rather involved and take up a lot of precious reading time.


8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I would get a full night's sleep the night before!  I would set up templates days before the Read-a-thon so I could spend less time typing and more time reading.


9. Are you getting tired yet?  Oh yes!  But I can't tell if it's from reading, or not getting enough sleep the previous night!


10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?  Pick a physical reading buddy, whether it be your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, a neighbor, whatever.  It really makes it fun to have someone who is reading alongside you. 

Read-A-Thon Update: Hour 11 & 12

I am so confused on the hours now.  Time seems to be moving so fast!

 

What's new:

• Sydney finally joined us!  She slept so much she still feels tired!  She managed, however, to complete The Little Prince and read with me for a bit from The Witches of Worm.
• Randi completed Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
• I entered another mini challenge with Nomad Reader.  This was a fun one!  It required going to Google Maps and placing a pin on the map where our current book's setting happens to take place.  The Master Puppeteer takes place in Feudal Osaka, Japan (12c. 19c.)  I didn't notice any other pins in that area on the map.
• I also entered a Mini Challenge for Reading is Fundamental.  Although I missed the deadline, I thought this one was worthy whether I'm up for a prize or not.  I chose to spend some time reading with my 9-year old daughter.  I always love the chance to spend time reading together.  So this was a no-brainer.  We are reading The Witches of Worm.  It is a rather frightening, eerie tale, but we enjoy it nonetheless!  Reading with our kids is important!

Number of books read since started: still only partial of 2 books!  I will finish one soon.
Pages read since last update: 41 pgs
Running total of pages since started: 174 pgs
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1 hour 15 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since started: 5 hours 30 minutes
Mini-challenges completed:  6
Other participants visited:  Reading with Tequila (A blog title after my own heart)

Prize you've won: Zip.  Zilcha.  Nada.  I'm loving the read-a-thon regardless!

What I've eaten/drank: Clementines and some water.

What I've been doing when not reading:

• talking to my girls
• showing Sydney my blog and how to become my follower
• talking about Witches of Worm with Sydney 
• seeing off Randy and Randi as they go off on a fabric/design hunt for Randi's puppet costume