Altair as Peeta

Altair, the second of the summer triangle that I'll be mentioning.  Altair comes into a Chinese story about a lowly cowherd being in love with a weaver princess - unfortunately a huge river (the milky way) separates the two lovers and except for one day, they aren't allowed to meet.  Altair comes from the constellation Aquilla - the eagle... so another appropriate bird reference...

So, because of naming it Altair, this is my Peeta post.  It is interesting to me - this is the first "dystopian" book that I have read that has a compelling male character, other than The Giver, of course.  Peeta is a character who I would love to meet in real life - and Collins again makes the reader actually CARE about the characters... What will happen with Gale?

Catching Fire finished, now only the final book remains.  I flew through both the first two books!  I am teaching about suspense in writing these days, and I wish my students were old enough that I could share the hooks that come at the end of each chapter.  You need to have a lot of time ready when you start up this series

Having heard that there is a movie coming out... I'm not really sure what to think.  With the idea of the games being televised all over the country, it seems weird to be watching a movie about a "movie" more or less... it's like a movie version of Survivor - with more death and kids.  The people who I have seen posting lists of "ideal casts" include actors and actresses I've rarely heard of, and I'm always picky about seeing characters in movies after getting to know them through books.

My first character on "that online game" was named Altaire - as I refused to play a dude character, so I added the e... again, one of the easiest asterisms for me to pick out.

Is it really only Monday?

Sgr (Ascella) - Sagittarius

Ah... the archer... Sagittarius, for all its well-knowness, has no actual named stars.  I don't count "Sgr" (Ascella) as a name, as it lacks vowels, even pretend ones like "w."  Of the 20 or so main stars that make it up, most have planets surrounding them... and have numbers or Greek letters to tell them apart from the other Sgr stars...

So... I am about midway through Catching Fire and have just discovered the new twist to the games for this year.  There is some relief, as I was afraid I was going to have to write my whole review of book 2 about star-crossed lovers, and how much it made me want to vomit. 

And at the same time, I am looking for ways I can have more independent reading time with my kids... because you know, students need for teachers to model everything that is expected of them in the classroom. :)

Algol - The Demon Star

From the constellation Perseus (who we will get to later FOR SURE) - representing for years the Gorgon Medusa's head.

Is anyone else reminded of Potentate Nicolae Carpathia from the Left Behind series when President Snow shows up in Catching Fire?

just wonderin'

Deneb: One down, two to go

Deneb is one of my personal favorite stars.  No, really.  Deneb is one of the few I can actually pick out.  It's in the constellation Cygnus, the swan, and is easiest seen in the summer, as it makes up one of the three stars in the asterism "The Summer Triangle."  Appropriate then, in many ways, as my first post to be on the first book in the trilogy: The Hunger Games.

Yes.  I just bought it yesterday.  Yes.  I'm already done with it.  No, I pretty much haven't done anything but read it since I got it.  I nearly fell asleep playing on my computer, then picked it up and managed to read until 1:15 this morning, then picked up again after work today, even after sneaking a few chapters during lunch and planning at work.

To those of you who have read Hunger Games, the bird tie-in should be obvious.  Thank you, Sagan, stars really are a part of everything. ;)  To those of you who haven't read Hunger Games - book three is called Mockingjay.  Nuff said.

HIGHLY recommend this book!  It falls under the category of books I enjoy all under the "dystopian society" theme.  Also, be prepared to have all three of the trilogy in hand, as book one will leave you hanging.

Written in three parts, Hunger Games takes on a society where, because of some historical rebellion, the country is divided into 12 districts.  Every year, each district must send a boy and a girl "tribute" to participate in the "hunger games."  The last one living wins.  Rules are highly involved about how your name gets submitted via lottery per district, and the whole shibang is broadcast like some awful version of Survivor across the country on huge screens.  The winner receives a life of luxury, and plenty of food for their district.

But then consider that it is "young adult" and you can't have young adult without some romance action... Thanks a lot, Twilight... so enter into the chaos of fighting to the death that you have some young lovers

To lovers of The Giver, you will recognize themes and enjoy these characters.  Suzanne Collins does a much more in depth job of character development, causing the reader to become emotionally attached, rooting for a winner.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have the biggest urge to locate some berries and start in on Catching Fire.

Polaris: The beginning

Seems like Polaris is an appropriate intro, as it's usually what we tell children to find first in the sky... whether or not it's ACTUALLY the easiest to find... debatable.  Confession?  Even while working at the Planetarium I couldn't locate Polaris in the night sky without someone pointing it out to me. 

Carl Sagan, astronomer, is famous for many things.  Among his work is a quote that has stuck with me since hearing it - "we are star stuff."  The idea that we are made of the same chemical material as the stars was fascinating to me, and still is. 

I started this blog because I wanted a place to post my ideas about books that I've been reading, books that I see, books that get recommended to me... I really do LIKE reading, even if I don't always have time for it.

As a fourth grade teacher, I often get into books that would be more appropriate for young adults than adults, because they're more interesting and more often I can relate them to the children I'm teaching.  Though, of late, I find that the books I'm more and more interested in are for middle school kids... is this an indication of a career change?  ;) 

So through each post, I will attempt to relate a book that I am reading to a star - and discuss my thoughts on it.  I promise to try and keep spoilers out. 

Let's see how long this can go!