Karen's Book Nook

I actually read quite a bit this month, thanks to NOT having to spend every waking hour on the assessment for work and also because I listened to some audio books (instead of just podcasts) while getting things done around the house.

This post is also is part of the Weekly Geek assignment, Catching Up, for Week 6. Since I don’t post reviews on my site, rather just give a few anecdotal notes with each entry in my Now Reading Library, I’m wrapping up my reading list for the month here and catching up. This is what I read in May: (Best part is… school’s almost out so there will be even more time for reading coming up!!)

• The Messenger by Lois Lowry
• Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
  
• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
• Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
• A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
• Making Autism A Gift by Robert Evert Cimera
• The Elements of Organic Gardening by HRH Prince Charles of Wales
• Mac OS X Leopard for Dummies
• A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
• Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire
• Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
• The 6th Target by James Patterson
• Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
• The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve

I’m not sure where I heard about this book or if the cover just caught my eye in the new section of the library, but I’m reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. It’s all about thinking positively and living the life of your dreams.

The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve is one of Oprah’s Book Club selections that has been in my TBR pile for awhile. I just finished Bud, Not Buddy and The 6th Target this week but with the end of the school year just around the corner, I’ve got TONS of paperwork, meetings and commitments taking up my time. I hope to get more reading done but it may be slow going for the next few weeks.

Making my way through the Newbery Medal winners, I came across this one, Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis in the online audio book section of my library. I’m hoping to get through the 5+ hours of listening before it expires while I’m away for the weekend.

I’ve been reading quite a bit over the last couple of weeks, most especially since I’ve been turning on an audio book while working around the house rather than listening to podcasts on my ipod. (I listen to those during my walks to work.) Now that the assessment for work is finished I’ve also had more time to read. As always, I could care less about TV so reading is my past time of choice most days. Since I’ve made some brief comments in the library entries themselves I’ll leave it at that. You can read them with each book description.

So far this month I’ve read 5 audio books, with most of them being children’s literature by Newbery Medal winning authors: The Messenger and Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry, companion books to Newbery book, The Giver; The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, both Newbery medal winners. I also read a memoir, A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel via audio book this month. Some people are not auditory folks so listening to a novel while doing another task is not enjoyable or doable for them but I thoroughly enjoy it. I think that one of the reasons is that I love to listen to different dialects and love to hear the narrators’ voices when they tell me the stories.

I also read a few non-fiction books as well: Making Autism a Gift: Inspiring Children to Believe in Themselves and Live Happy, Fulfilling Lives by Robert Evert Cimera, The Elements of Organic Gardening by HRH Prince Charles, Mac OS X Leopard for Dummies, and I finished Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth and Frank McCourt’s Teacher Man.

As for fiction, I finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire (finally!) and read Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen. I’m currently reading The 6th Target by James Patterson and will probably finish it by the weekend.

I’m currently reading this 2007 Newbery Medal winner via mp3 while working around the house. This one is The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I love to read good children’s/young adult literature and they can usually be quick reads. This week is all about making preparations for the Rendezvous so I’ll listen in while sewing.

I always read all of James Patterson‘s books and I’ve had this one for awhile. I’ll be able to blow through it in one or two sittings though since his work is usually a super quick read. The 6th Target is part of the Women’s Murder Club series.

Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Marlene J. Cohen and Donna L. Sloan is chock full of examples of graphic organizers and tools for visual learners. People with Autism benefit greatly from picture supports and as a special educator I’m always looking for more ideas.

The Elements of Organic Gardening by HRH The Prince of Wales this is a full color coffee table style book that I’m anxious to read and peruse. I’ve already planted my garden and look forward to its nice organic bounty this summer.

I downloaded The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo via audio book as part of my quest to make it through all of the remaining Newbery Medal winners on my TBR list. I’ve got some sewing to do this weekend and I’ll listen while I work.