Mintaka - from Orion, the Hunter

A hunter has to run a lot... right?  sure... we'll go with that

I failed to post when I completed The Maze Runner - I wasn't really sure about it.  I had a lot of issues with the book as it neared completion... and I can't wait for more of my friends to read it so they can also talk to me about it. ;)

I'm not sure if it is more disturbing to read as an adult, understanding that the book is written mainly for young adult readers - sort of like Lord of the Flies style writing... I also wasn't sure going into the book how I was going to enjoy a male protagonist.  I'm not a huge fan of books with male protagonists, and I'm not entirely sure why.  But at the same time, I need a strong female, not a wimpy female... Either way, within the first chapter of the Maze Runner, I had been introduced to a boy who only knows that his name is "Thomas" - no surname that he can recall, and his companions immediately begin referring to him as "Greenbean."  So i figured the book couldn't be ALL bad.

I.  Tore.  Through.  It.

I think I completed The Maze Runner within 3-4 days... staying up late to read until I fell asleep after playing games online, reading it in the car, squeezing in a chapter during planning... It was very compelling, though very disturbing.  The chapters are short, and the author does an annoyingly good job of cliff-hanger chapter endings - similar to The Hunger Games.  And there was even a pleasant surprise of a girl being added to the characters!

I would NOT recommend The Maze Runner to my mother.  In fact, I have already explicitly said that she would NOT enjoy it, while I do think she would enjoy The Hunger Games.  It even scared me at times, and certainly some of the chapters that I tore through at 2 am were because I couldn't take the stress and tension of what was going on.  Being trapped in a maze with half beast, half mechanical monsters is SCARY... Knowing that people are watching you the entire time while you suffer is sick... It got at me multiple ways... like the movie "Se7en" (which i love, ps)

When I finished it... I just wasn't sure.  The book has an epilogue, and I knew, from reading other similar books, that if I read the epilogue, it was going to leave me hanging and immediately wanting more... so I hesitated... and then knew I couldn't handle not knowing.  I read ahead, and included in my copy were the first few chapters of The Scorch Trials.  And even, reading those... I didn't know how to feel about getting the next book... Maybe this time, I could just not read the whole series... Maybe this time...

By the way, The Death Cure comes out on the SAME day as The Son of Neptune which is Rick Riodan's book 2 of the Heroes series (Percy Jackson, part two, this time from a different perspective) OCTOBER 11 IF ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW :D :D

So I guess that answers the question of "did I keep reading The Maze Runner series"... if I already know when book 3 comes out... eh?

I'm almost done with The Scorch Trials now, though I do admit that I had a hard time wanting to get it... I consoled myself by getting it through Amazon, since it is only available in hardcover right now...

Now that I'm this far through - would I read it again?  Would I recommend it?

I'm not sure.  I am convinced that SOMEWHERE at the end of it all, there is a happy ending.  And I really hope that there is.  Things look bleak, things look rough... post-apocalyptic settings are tough for me to read in general - they play into my "invisible airborne illnesses are going to kill us all one day" fears

So I hope that for Thomas, the no-longer "Greenbean," there is a happy ending.

And I selfishly hope that book 3 answers my questions that are flying around right now.  Though I fear that instead, the author will actually create a parallel series to answer those questions.  Yep.  You heard me.  Just like The Lost Hero (Rick Riodan) did.  I'm seeing the same trend here.

Talk to me when you get there!! :D

This weekend, off to a wedding.  Lots of car travel time.  I'm going to be finishing The Scorch Trials and then am taking The Red Pyramid and I Like Him, He Likes Her.  (total.  drivel.  I've tried to get through it before... it's baaaaaaaad dippy)

Naos - from the constellation Puppis

I'm going to be honest... I picked the constellation mostly based on what I read when I clicked on it and discovered that Puppis comes from the Latin for "poop deck"

;)

Naos is the "ship" itself, and the constellation has roots back in Jason's time... that guy, with the argonauts

I felt it appropriate to my journey through a SEA of books bwhaha

Borders bookstores are going out of business, so I picked up a few books there today - 20% off -

Ender's Game - I read it a few years ago, but SOME people I know can't stop talking about how good it is - and honestly I can't remember half of it... so I guess it's back at it!
Ender's Shadow - I remember liking Ender, and I remember liking Bean, and I think this is the only sequel I'm interested in
Wrinkle in Time - One of my kids is currently reading it, and I read it back in the day - as one of my favorites - worth picking up at 20% and rereading
Golden Compass - Since Ms. R tells me this is a more "safe" book to read than previously considered, I figured I may as well grab this - but leave the sequels to later...
Maze Runner - Yeah I'm excited!  But bummed that the 3rd book isn't out yet... I have a hard time being patient and waiting... This is why I've put off reading Red Pyramid also...

Adhil - from the constellation Andromeda

Andromeda's a strong lady, right?  I'd categorize her as such at least...

Last weekend, the boy and I took a road trip to Charlotte to visit some friends who are getting married soon.  I had Savvy in the car to read, and have LOVED looking at the cover for some time!  It's GORGEOUS! 

It has some award of some kind... Newberry?  Something... It also ended up on the North Carolina book awards... is that because the author is from NC?  I have no idea...

In the book, the main character (Mississippi, who gains the unforunate nick name of "missy pissy" which is why i can only assume the book gets a lexile of 1070... it is NOT HARD) is 2 days away from turning 13.  Upon turning 13, the people in her family discover what their "savvy" is.  Now, if you can get through the book without hearing Johnny Depp saying "savvvvy" every 5 seconds, good for you! 

The cover was the best part.  I think kids would enjoy it - my fourth graders have... I was kind of bummed about Mississippi's "savvy" and would like to hear about one of the boys instead - the girls' savvies are kind of lame, like "always does stuff perfectly" and "can grab radio waves out of the air" while the boys have cool talents like "when angry, causes storms and rain" and "catches things on electrical fire"

Maybe this is what has inspired my latest book purchase... but that's for a slightly different entry ;)

Vega - brightest star in Lyra

Vega, the female in the Chinese legend, the one separated from her lover by the giant river (the milky way), the third star in the Summer Triangle - this is what goes to discuss Katniss and the final pages of Mockingjay. 

Whoa.  Whoa.  Whoa.

That being AFTER I had to skip ahead and read to make sure some people's fate a night ago - because I couldn't SLEEP without finding out what happened, and couldn't possibly make it through the book.

I'll tell you now - all I want to do is find the next book of a similar nature and dive right back in, total bookworm style... Did I used to do things other than devour books?  Unfortunately, I think I want to hit up Maze Runner next, and my library is OUT of those, all copies checked OUT

This book is INTENSE - Mrs. R totally hits it on the head when she said it was like reading a nightmare chase sequence - definitely the sort of book you feel like you need a drink beside you to read

Katniss is such a strong character, developed well through three books - overall it really feels like one complete story, because of the way the author chose to put the breaks in the books and the different parts to each book. 

Next up?  Maybe something lighter while I wait for Maze Runner...

Sheliak - from Lyra

Lyra, the harp, holds the final star to the summer triangle, though it sure itn's Sheliak ;)

So I have to admit, last night when I realized there was NO way I could pour through the entire book before passing out and STILL make it to school sometime, I flipped through to the end, scanning for character names of particular people in Mockingjay to see their fate because I could not SLEEP until I knew...

It's at THAT point that I know I'm hooked.  A total nerd.  And I'm okay with it ;)

I'm about 2/3 through the book - the folks are scheming on how to "crack the nut" for those of you who know

I plan to whip through it later today, with rave reviews!  I have been recommending this book to everyone I see - while trying not to give anything away.  I can't get enough of this dystopian type stuff...

Mrs. R - YOU have a list of books posted much earlier in your blog... is the maze runner along these same lines?  Are there others you have found?  You've been my guide ot the Uglies, and now Hunger Games, so I trust your judgement...

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. :)