Mrs. Loy's English Class

Comments

• Mrs. Loy

  Recently Read:
  I just finished up a book my daughter recommended, Poison Study. It was a lot better than I originally thought. Set in an alternate history (for some reason, I pictured England, since I think all good historical fantasies just sound better with an English accent - can you imagine Lord of the Rings with a southern accent? exactly...)
  So - Yelena (about 20 years old) has been sentenced to death for the brutal murder of a general's son - and she's not sorry one bit. (you find out why) After languishing in a dank dungeon for a year, her time is up; only, not quite so fast. See, the High Commander's food taster was poisoned & died - and, according to law, the next in line for execution must fill that position. Yelena has the choice to either die quickly (execution) or eventually (and possibly painfully) by poisoning. Obviously, she chooses to become the food taster - otherwise the book would only be a few pages long.
  As she endures the tortures of learning the effects of every poison out there, she also is granted access to the inner workings of the political system (since she has to be on hand to taste/drink everything at all meetings)
  The story has some really good plot twists and is adult enough to keep from sliding into cliche/predictable plot devices. Recommended for fun, easy reading.
  If you like this one - but want to step it up a notch - try Mistress of the Art of Death...medieval forensic study...very cool idea. (autopsy to help track down a child-killer)
  
  Best Read:
  The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak. Hands down - one of the best books I've ever read. Period. Follows a young German girl during WWII - and truly shows the devastating effects the Nazi Party had on average German citizens. The twist - and what makes it poetic and haunting - the narrator of the book is Death. This book is sold in the teen section, but it will change the way you think about things - no matter what your age. I've never had a book make me openly sob...it was a little embarrassing, actually.
  
  Trying to Read:
  A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf. Apparently, I read it once before since my margin notes are throughout - but I honestly don't remember it. It's a smarty-pants book - but fantastic when you're ready to tackle something challenging and thought-provoking. Woolf was simply asked to be a keynote speaker on the topic "Women and Fiction" and she slips into this brilliantly fuelled RANT. She plays with the idea that if Shakespeare had had an equally talented sister, she would end up taking her own life out of frustration and artistic repression. Woolf brings up so many feminist thoughts, I lost count after a while.

  8/30/2009 12:19:12 PM
• Matt Allare

  I read the book the History of the World in 6 glasses by Tom Stantage. It is about how different beverages contributed to cultural change throughout the course of history. I recomend this book to history lovers.

  9/9/2009 8:52:01 AM
• Robert Leahey

  I would have to recomend "Beyond Band of Brothers" It is the story of Dick Winters the Co. of Easy Company of the 101st Airbourne.

  9/9/2009 10:24:13 AM
• Katie Simmons

  hello mrs. loy were in the library right nowyour talking about stephen king. well... I was in fifth grade when i read my first stephen king book. i could not read it it was about this girl that had like telepathy i could not understand it at all. but maybe i will try and read another one this year! class is almost over bye!!!!

  9/9/2009 10:34:35 AM
• Alex Baron

  An excellent book I would rcomend would be "The Three Musketeers" written by Alexandre Dumas and translated by Richard Pvear. Once you get used to the way its written it's an extremely intresting and exciting book.

  9/13/2009 1:07:50 PM
• MrsLoy

  I'll have to check out the History in 6 Drinks book - I love reading about history from different perspectives. One book I read (can't remember the title) it was the history of makeup. Sounds wierd - but it was cool to read what women (and men!) used throughout history.
  Robert: My husband's Uncle Bud was in the 101st Airborne in WWII - don't know which company, but he parachuted behind enemy lines and they all were separated or killed. Germans got hold of their "crickets" and used them to send false signals.
  Alex! That's soo cool that you've read Three Musketeers! If you liked that one - read "Count of Monte Christo" it was amazing! (also by Dumas...) The years of plotting revenge...
  Keep up with the book recommendations - I'm always looking for the "next" book to read!

  9/14/2009 7:33:08 PM
• Nick Martin

  last year i read "The Kite Runner" it was awesome! its about a kid who grows up in the middle east during the beginning of the taliban. he struggles to fight his own battles while his country is in turmoil. BEWARE.. its a tear-jerker

  9/16/2009 5:59:12 PM
• Sarah Beauchamp

  I would recomend the book "Interveiw with a vampire" it is a story about a vampire living in modern times, finally comming out and telling his story about his life. The vampire tells his story to an eager reporter who is shocked to find out the true horrors of his past. I would recomend this book to anyone in for a good laugh, some horror, and a bit of sarcasm from a mad, bloodthirsty vampire...

  9/17/2009 5:29:16 PM
• Hunter Harridge

  A book that I have recently read,called sidhartha It is about a boy from ancient india who tried to find a religion that would explain his life, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Eastern history.

  9/26/2009 11:53:35 AM
• MrsLoy

  Read "Kite Runer" and "Interview" - both fantastic! Yes - Kite Runner was very tragic - it really opened my eyes to the struggles of that area. I felt the same way after viewing "Slumdog Millionaire" (about India) - it just made me very grateful for the life I've had. (My "struggles" are nothing in comparison.)
  "Interview" - now...that's simply a guilty pleasure. I didn't think that anything could top that when i was in high school - but "Vampire Lestat" did - you'll really enjoy it. I really do like the struggles Louis goes through to maintain a sense of his soul, even when he has none. Lestat, on the other hand, appears to relish in his position - but the second book "Vampire Lestat" gives us more insight.
  I'll have to pick up Sidhartha! That sounds like a great book too!

  9/28/2009 8:51:12 AM
• Michael Truckenbrod

  I would reccommend Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows. It was a fun read that kept me addicted and I gotta admit, i had never read a Harry Potter before this, even book 6, and had only seen the movies up to 5. It was still easy to understand and I hardly felt lost.

  10/4/2009 5:44:18 PM