Austen-lite: The Dashwood Sisters Secrets of Love

Ok, so this books sounds like fluff, and it is -- since it parallels Sense and Sensibility, it is alas utterly predictable, but... well, it is sort of like that movie you watch over and over or that book you re-read, or the fact that Godfather's pizza is still the best thing ever even after 20 years passed from the days of making Barbie tables out of the plastic box hoister-thingy in the middle. I read it in about 2 hours total, here and there, and did not have to think too hard. Sometimes that is a good thing. They are rather unfair to the Abby/Marianne character -- she was a bit more snob and less helplessly romantic innocent than Austen's middle sister, but the Georgie/margaret was spot on. Ellie/Elinor was a bit 2-dimensional, to say the least, which upsets me since I am the Elinor in my own life story, minus the waiting around for Edward bit. (more the frugal, must take care of everyone bit, really.)

It was a nice bit of sugar-coated summer to partake of before diving into materials to liven up my grammar lessons this fall. I don't think I can make my students like grammar, but I might get them to not hate it.
You'll have to let me know how I am doing, cherubs.

Stephenie Meyer and Twilight

On Thomas Maltman's recommendation, I read Meyer's Twilight saga this summer, mostly in August while my daughter was learning to swim. It took all of a week and a half to read all four books -- I luckily timed reading it with the release of book 4 -- a good sign, as poor reads I won't stick with.

What I liked: The first two books are PG, the last two PG-13 but not horrifically so. They are well written and have a moral undercurrent. Girls everywhere will read these books and start to form an Edward in their minds as an ideal suitor, and that's not a bad thing at all -- a gorgeous, attentive, smart, romantic 17-year-old who wants to wait? Find one of those on TV or MOVIES anywhere, I dare you.
Aside from the mom/teacher thoughts, the characters ARE interesting (We all need a Jacob for a best bud, right?) I would recommend them to anyone interested, with parental approval, especially on the last two books, as they get heavy duty at times.