I started keeping track last year, and then forgot to keep adding to the list and now it’s June! This is what I can remember off the top of my head. I haven’t been able to read much since school let out. Crazy how that works.

 

January

 

The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

Very adult, wordy. Interesting. A man pretending to be another man pretends to be another man… met Paul Auster. Very metefictional. Tough to get through. I actually didn’t finish the last book in the series. I appreciate the books, but find them to be rather boring.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Loved it, couldn’t put it down. Futuristic society. Katniss tells the story of her participation in the hunger games and the overthrow of a tyrannical President and society. Appropriate for High School/mature Jr. High. Could be controversial issues on the level of violence. If they make the movie exactly like the book it will be rated R for violence, but I doubt they’ll show it all. Not descriptive gruesome, but stated as more as fact.

 

February

 

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

11th book in the Wheel of Time Series

Great! Things are really starting to come together.

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson

12 book in the Wheel of Time Series. Amazing! One of the best so far. Rand begins to have a dark side and almost turns to the shadow.

The Vampire Diaries 1-4 by L.J. Smith

The first book is good. Was published years before Twilight, yet has a very similar characters and storyline. The CW series is much better than the books. Toward the end of the series the supernatural world plays a much stronger role. Books are not just vampires and werewolves. Also spirits, and a whole spirit realm. I do not recommend these books to anyone. Too many random happenings that do not seem to flow together very well. For mature readers only.

 

March

 

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson

13th book in the Wheel of Tim series. Of course, amazing. Many “happy” things in this one, which was a change

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Terrible book. It starts out well enough, but then seems to really drag and then randomly gets extremely supernatural in the last few chapters. Luce is destined to relive her life every time she is reincarnated and finds her soul mate in Daniel (literally) who is a fallen angel. It seems to be saying that God threw so many angels out of heaven because they didn’t love him enough, and then cursed them on earth. It seemed to be making God out to be one of the bad guys. I suppose reading the rest of the series might clear things up, but it wouldn’t be worth it. Luce and Daniel’s love wasn’t believable–it was one of those books that insists that they must be together and the world would stop spinning if they were separated. It over romanticises to the point of ridiculousness–worse than Twilight romance, or any other romance novel I’ve read.

 

April

 

The Vampire Diaries 5-6 by L.J. Smith

Only continued to read them because my friend FORCED them onto me. The first few covered the story of Klaus, the original vampire, these next ones introduce another slew of supernatural beings. Too far-fetched, scary and random.

Uglies  by Scott Westerfield

Futuristic society where at 16 everyone goes into surgery to be turned into a “pretty” to even out the playing field, keep out prejudices and keep peace in the world. Tally Youngblood finds “The Smokies” a secret village of people who have chosen not to participate in the surgery. Turns out the surgery also puts lesions on your brain that keep you calm, and “bubbly” basically turns you into a yes-man for everyone. Very exciting, intriguing series. It does have a strong political message: Keep the earth clean, and humans are wasteful creatures, but the story is well written and fun. Appropriate for Jr. High through H.School.

Pretties      ” “

Specials    ” “

Extras        ” “

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

A 15-year-old’s father is murdered in his convenience store. Her mother moves her and her brother to New Mexico to live with an Aunt while dealing with the grief. Very touching, sweet book. Can be controversial–her friend is an alcoholic and she brings alcohol into school and becomes intoxicated.  I would recommend this book to any teenager, mostly girls.

Deenie by Judy Blume

Insecure, worldly 7th grader with a controlling mother who wants her to be a model is diagnosed with scoliosis and has to wear a body brace for the next 4 years. Can be controversial–students discuss masturbation in gym class. Deals with looking at “handicapped” people as real people.

The Strange Proposal by Grace Livingston Hill

Didn’t finish the book. I enjoyed the first couple chapter and then I didn’t really care what was going to happen. Guy meets girl and it’s love at first sight, then they go their own ways and each on their own begin networking to find out more about the other person. I’ve got so many other books that I could read, I find it difficult to force myself through a novel that doesn’t interest me. So, I apologize to Grace Livingston Hill fans, her books don’t make the cut… at least this one didn’t.

 

Currently reading:
Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
So far so good! It is appropriate for a Jr. High reader down to 4th or 5th grade. But High school and older will still find it entertaining, just more predictable. The star is only twelve years old. Clever writing of old myths in a modern world. My husband picked it up and then finished the whole series in about a week!

 

What books are you reading?

I love this picture because I look kinda crazy, but definitally someone you could be friends with, right?

I have officially graduated. I have not been hired as a full-time English teacher, but I have been substituting in a few local schools. It’s interesting. It is not bad. I get sent a paycheck–so that’s good. 

But I’ve been thinking that I would really love to start my own private school in my home. I would call it “Hackett’s House” or something catchy…

I’ve looked into the Nebraska regulations for Homeschooling and Private schools and they are pretty relaxed. Parents have to notify the school board that their children are in fact attending school–either at home or private. Students must attend school for 1,080 hours a year (equals 6 hours a day, five days a week, 36 weeks), and the five core subjects of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Health must be covered.

I’ve been dreadfully excited about this idea and have not been able to get it out of my head.  I haven’t quite worked out tuition yet. I want to make it affordable for the average Joe, but I also would like to make some money–and I want few enough students that I wouldn’t needs to hire assistants, at least in the beginning.

This school would be for 9-12 grade, or 7-12 grade. The students would set monthly/weekly/daily goals based on a semester requirement. They would work on their own for many of the core subjects–and of course I would offer assistance and guidance when required.  I’m particularly excited about all the “extras” that I would be able to offer. Students would learn nutrition, budgeting, and culinary skills by planning out the lunch menu, purchasing groceries on a budget and preparing the meals on a rotating schedule.

I will post more information on this as the ideas form more clearly in my mind…

… it could work. I just need to find some willing parents who want a quality education for their children, but who are willing to think outside of the box.

Please, by all means share you ideas and opinions with me.