Slice of Life Story Challenge and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - What I Know For Sure - Being a Bibliophile

     It's Day 23 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, started by Two Writing Teachers.  I am writing around the theme topic of "What I Know For Sure." (See Day 1 for a full explanation.)



These are memes started by Teach Mentor Texts and Book Journey, and I'm excited to participate, along with many other bloggers, in reviewing books I read the previous week.  I'll be reviewing picture books through adult books.

 

 

 

     A student came up to me last week and said, "Mrs. Mueller - I learned a new word, and I think it describes you." 

 

     This caught my attention.  I chuckled and said, "Hmmm...dare I ask?"

 

     She laughed.  "Yes!  You're a bibliophile!"

 

     Relieved, I replied, "Oh, you are SO right!"

 

     On Mondays, a community of bibliophiles share what they are reading.  I used to be a faithful #IMWAYR participant, but I have to admit, I've dropped off lately.  Because of a very busy life right now, my reading has severely suffered.  I've met my Goodreads annual goal of reading at least 350 books in 2013 and 2014.  I made a slightly lower goal - 250 - for 2015 for various reasons, and to be honest, I'm worried about not attaining it.

 

     Now, there are a few things going on in my life right now.  First and foremost, we have a wedding fast approaching in June.  Libby was engaged in October, and preparations started right away.  We'll be addressing invitations over Easter weekend.  Planning has not been stressful - it's been fun.  However, on top of that, we decided to move and downsize because the perfect place became available.  I wrote about that on Saturday.  We closed on the condo in a nearby town.  It's a renovation project, and demolition has already begun.  Design plans need to be made.  Purging and organizing our house to get it ready for market is imminent.  Meanwhile, there are papers to grade, lessons to be planned, blogs to be written (WHY am I participating in this SOLSC you might ask?!  Ha - that may be one of my blog posts this week), and friends and family to hang out with.  Ed's job keeps him extremely busy, too.  Fortunately, he's working in town right now, so that helps a lot! 

 

     I realize I can't do everything I'd like to do, so my reading time has taken a beating.  I should be reading my book club book right now since our dinner is Tuesday, and I'm only halfway through The Nightingale.  There is also a pile of laundry on the floor and paperwork to sort through on the counter.  I need to approve over 200 comments on Kidblog and comment on some of my students' posts.  (I'm AMAZED at the number of my students who are blogging and commenting every day as a result of the SOLCC!)  And I need to call my mom.  At least I already walked today because that sometimes takes a backseat, too, and that's not good!  Oh, and THANK YOU to Ed for grocery shopping this evening!  I'm so lucky that he actually understands this blogging thing and is a faithful reader. ;-)

 

     With all that being said, I do have several books to review.  Thank God for audio books because I can listen to them on my walks and commute to school!

 

 

   

 

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and Me Talk Pretty One Day

by David Sedaris

 

I had never read David Sedaris before, and I don't know why!  I was missing out.  I listened to both of these on audio (narrated by Sedaris himself) because he was coming to Cincinnati, and a friend had mentioned she wanted to go.  Out of curiosity, I got Dress Your Family...and was hooked, laughing out loud every time I listened.  We got tickets for April 13th. I can't wait! 

 

 

Five, Six, Seven, Nate by Tim Federle

 

I think a lot of people liked this sequel to Better Nate Than Ever even better than the first.  I'm not sure I agree.  I loved the first one, a story of Nate Foster's pursuit of his dreams of Broadway and ending at his casting in E.T.: The Musical.  This one picks up where it left off.  It was still funny and entertaining, but I missed some of the more poignant moments in Better Nate Than Ever and more interactions with his best friend, Libby.  However, it's still a must read after the first one!

 

That's it for this week!  I'm hoping I'll be able to do lots of reading on spring break next week!

 

      What I Know For Sure:  I am a bibliophile through and through.  I have piles and piles of books everywhere in my house (which Ed says might have to be purged a bit as we downsize - sigh) and at school.  I believe in language arts teachers being avid readers themselves so they can recommend current and "just right" books to kids.  My favorite people are readers because we speak the same language, and I'm so thankful my family reads.  When I'm not reading, I feel a little out of sorts.  Even though I'm giving myself permission not to read my usual amount of books right now, they are imperative to my well-being, and I will get back to them ASAP!