Reading Log for Week of 3/9/12-3/15/12

                 Sunday 3/11/12 2 hours Pgs: 1-162            






* This is the newest edition and style for the books. I actually read from the older, original edition that you can see here .
* Here's the link to a 2 minute recap of all 9 books that was filmed right before the final (10th) book came out. It was made by Meg Cabot, the author, and goes past the book that I read, as this one Party Princess is the seventh. PRINCESS DIARIES SERIES 2 MIN RECAP
                                                                                                                                                                     
A pattern I've noticed in the past few books is that Mia discovers something about herself and her misgivings and faults in each book, but seems to forget about that by the time the next book starts. I mean she remembers it, but not as clearly and passionately as before.
                                                                                                                                                                    
" 'I'm really sorry, Michael,' I said. 'I hope things will work out for your parents. And, um, seriously...about what happened at your party...None of it will ever happen again'...'The truth is, Mia, I don't want a party girl. All I've ever wanted is you' (Cabot 276)."
                                                                                                                                                                      
This is one of the times when Mia finally realized that she was wrong to just assume and worry about what people expected of her, instead of telling them how she felt about what they were making her do. I am already predicting that she will have dismissed most of the lessons she learned (a bit of Changes Over Time) by the beginning of the next book, Princess on the Brink . This pattern is not fun at all and often pretty annoying because you want Mia to grow and mature, but she is limiting that by forgetting the importance of her life lessons.
                                                                                                                                                                      

From Grandmere's perspective, Mia's student council money problems and fear of Amber Cheeseman is the perfect combo to manipulate her into starring in the play that will win Grandmere her own island, the Genovian olive growers money, and (just maybe) a better future grandson! From Lily's persective, J.P. is a pretty interesting individual. Also, Fat Louie's Pink Butthole, her new magazine, is the perfect way to ensure that J.P. will end up with her. From Mia's perspective, the play is a blackmailing scheme of Grandmere's that just might work (at her expense of course). Also, Michael is expecting too much of her. From Michael's perspective, Mia has been acting super immature and he is having second thoughts about if she is right for him.
                                                                                                                                                                      
" ' And you were hoping John-Paul Reynolds Abernathy the Fourth (J.P.) would turn out to be my prince,' I said. 'Because, unlike Michael, his dad is rich...and also happened to be bidding against you for the faux island of Genovia.' 'The thought did cross my mind,' Grandmere said vaguely' (Cabot 281)."
                                                                                                                                                                     
In this quote, Mia is (for the first time) actually confronting Grandmere about her latest blackmailing scheme and forcing her to admit that it was, indeed, blackmail. She is goading Grandmere to admit the perspective that Mia suspected she had that she could find a better guy for Mia AND win her island. This quote is proof of Grandmere's perspective.

Reading Log for Week of 2/10/12-2/15/12

           Tuesday 2/14/12 1 hour Pgs: 11-66        











This is the most popular version for the series, it includes comparisons of characters to the book of people in real life, and shows you pictures of them. I'm reading from this one. For some background on the series, here's a YouTube video that a girl did on why she loves the Betsy-Tacy series and what they are about. Betsy Tacy Series Video
                                                                                                                                                                     
A pattern I have noticed throughout all the books is that a new adventure or topic is usually started every chapter, sometimes the climax of the event beginning at the start of the next chapter. The main pattern I have really noticed with this book in particular is that, in almost every chapter, two (occasionally 3 boys) will accompany her everywhere she goes. This pattern is semi-annoying because it is so repetitive and not really fresh/new.
                                                                                                                                                                       
"Curled and flushed, treading on air, a boy on either side, Betsy went out into the crisp September night (Lovelace 108)."
                                                                                                                                                                       
In this scene, Betsy is heading to a get-together of her Crowd, and two of her neighborhood boys are escorting her there. This was one of the main, more important times that these two boys {Caleb [Cab] Edwards and Herbert Humphreys (in real life Jab Lloyd and Helmus Andrews)} walked her somewhere. This is a pattern that is vital to the story to demonstrate Betsy's maturing and her love interests and advenures, but also a repetitive one.
                                                                                                                                                                       

 Wednesday 2/15/12 1 hour Pgs: 67-122                    

                                                                                                                                                                     
The big idea of this book is to show how much Betsy has matured since playing flying games on Hill Street Hill. This book's purpose is to describe Betsy's first year of high school, and what happened during that period of time that was a momentous occurence/event in her life. The goal of this book is to describe the sudden responsibilties Betsy has now that she is older, and help you see why they are important for Betsy to have.
                                                                                                                                                                      
" 'Look at you!' Tacy continued. 'Only in high school a month, and two boys on the string. You'll have this Tony too. See if you don't!' (Lovelace 134)"
                                                                                                                                                                      
In this quote, Tacy is talking about how much Betsy has accomplished already in high school, and how much more fun she's sure to have. "Tony" is a boy that's new in town who Betsy desperately wants to know better. Here, she is explaining what he's like to Tacy. In turn, Tacy is complimenting her talent for boys and encouraging her that she'll get the guy. This quote really sums up what the book is about for me. High school and the changes and challenges it brings and...boys. That's really it. This sentence made me pause and think, "Gee, that really is what this is about." The phrase "only in high school a month" hints to a sudden change or quick handling of a strange situation (which is exactly what Betsy did). Betsy now has to deal with trying to attract and keep boys as well as high school but, according to her friend Tacy, she's doing marvelously well and couldn't be faring better.



















Wednesday 2/15/12 1 hour Pgs: 67-122    

Reading Log Week of 1/20/12-1/26/12

        Saturday  1/21/12  1 hour
        Pgs: 147-252

                    





 Here's the link to a Anna and the French Kiss fan-made book trailer on YouTube:  Anna and the French Kiss Fan Book Trailer . P.S. I did not read this version with this kind of cover. In the book trailer, it shows the U.S. edition with a different cover, like I read. I just prefer this fan made cover because it focuses more on Anna in Paris and less on the romantic side of the book (which is most of it).
                                                                                                                                                                    
Metro- a rapid metro transit system in Paris, with 16 total lines; 14 major ones and two smaller ones.

Reading Log Week of 11/1/11 - 11/8/11

Here's the link to the series trailer by Disney-Hyperion: Percy Jackson and The Olympians Book Trailer
                                                                                     Tuesday 11/1/11   Pages: 1-40    30 min
 and
Wednesday 11/2/11 Pages: 41-74 30 min
                                                                                         
In the past, Kronos was alone in Tartarus, supported by no one, no hope of getting out. In the present, Kronos is building his army through Luke. In the future, Kronos hopes to bring war on Olympus.
                                                                                             
" 'They will cause death and destruction, the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all - the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!' " (Riordan 39)
                                                                                                                   
                                    One of Kronos's servants is describing Kronos's intentions for the future, after all of the pain and suffering he suffered in the past and present.
                                                                                                              

 
 Wednesday 11/2/11 / Pages: 104-135 / 30 min
and
Wednesday 11/2/11 / Pages: 136-168 / 30
min                           
                                                           
In every book, Percy wants to go on the quest that happens in each book.
                                                             
" 'Whoa, wait a sec,' (Percy) said. 'I want to go too' ''  (Riordan 99).
                                                                 
                                    Percy is asking, yet again, if he can go on the quest (which is a bit selfish of him as he's been twice before when some campers never get to go on one), and there's no room for him. He wants to go because a) he always goes b) the quest would fail without him and c) he wants to find Annabeth.