Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sunday Blogging...The Hunger Games & I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Allan Bradley



We've been enjoying some wonderful weather this week, it's spring and we've had summer temps in the 80's. This is highly unusual for Ohio and it feels like summer in March. We really did not have much of a winter so we are not sure what summer will be like. I'm enjoying the sunshine and it's definitely lifted the spirits with my health challenges. Thanks to all who commented last week and were so supportive and I have had some great chats by email with several great women who shared some insights and ideas with me. 



My son is on spring break this week and we are looking forward to some fun, sun and rest. I had hoped that he would want to see The Hunger Games movie with me but he saw the trailer and didn't care for the kids fighting scenes. I  understand as that is one of my concerns with the books. I bought him a copy of the first book, The Hunger Games and he has not read it yet. He read The Giver by Louis Lowry this year in English class (7th grade) and I read it along with him. It is a fabulous novel, thought provoking and not obviously violent. My son did like this book and expanded his reading into dystopian novels. So, for those with teenagers are your kids reading The Hunger Games...going to see the movie...what are your thoughts?

On the reading front, I have been reading but am still struggling with focusing on writing book reviews. I just finished the audio book of I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley the 4th book in the Flavia De Luce series. This last one was not a favorite, it could be that I listened to the last three books on audio back to back. I found that this last book did not hold my interest as the other books had and I am finding that the stories are starting to become a rehash of the same plot lines....family strife, sibling rivalry with the sisters, detective investigations are similar and this one was a bit boring. Flavia is an 11 year old detective sleuth and I feel that she should start getting older in this the 4th book. I think that most 11 year old girls do not have the maturity and insights that Flavia is depicted as having. It is a bit unrealistic to me, even though this is the 1950's in England. I do love the setting and English touches and the narrator Jayne Entwistle is a fabulous narrator capturing the tone of the language and characters. 





5 comments:

  1. We've had our air conditioner on for a couple of weeks. We're warmer than you, but it's generally not THIS warm. I'm afraid it means a scorching summer.

    I've only read the first Flavia book and I did enjoy it. I guess it's hard to keep a serious fresh.

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  2. We're back to a little above average temps (50s and 60s). I keep waiting for winter to have a last laugh with another snow storm.
    My daughters (25 & 31) both read and enjoyed THG but they're much older than your son. Maybe once he hears classmates talking about the movie he'll be more interested.
    I'm glad you got supportive feedback last week, Bonnie. I know you've faced a lot of challenges. Sending you good wishes.

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  3. Hasn't this weather been glorious??? But this week we will be having a cool down!! My youngest and friends are watching The Hunger Games right now. I'm going to see it next weekend. I understand your son not wanting to see it. I loved The Giver too, that is certainly a book that gives one much to think about!!! I'm glad that the weather has lifted your spirits!!!!

    I haven't read this one yet....hmmm....not sure that I will now seeing how you had such a hard time getting into it! But I wil look for other books that Entwistle has narrated.

    Have a great week!!

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  4. I have been trying to encourage my non-reader son to read The Hunger Games. He liked the movie but I am not sure if he will actually do the book thing in the end which is disappointing.

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