Reading spectacular

About 2 weeks ago Ian said he was bored.  I told him to go read a book. After commenting there was nothing new he wanted to read, I suggested "The Hunger Games".  I downloaded the first book to his Kindle app and away he went to give it a go.

Ian devoured the first book (all 387 pages) and read it in record time.  The 2nd book (403 pages!) went even quicker.  Ian is now nearing the end of the 3rd book (404 pages) and is loving it.  I knew he would enjoy the books, but I am most impressed with how fast he is reading them.   His comprehension of what he read is impressive. We've had some interesting discussions as to why he thinks President Snow does what he does and how smart Katniss is in how she plays the game.

The books are designed for ages 12 and up, 7th grade and higher.  I was a bit hesitant to suggest them to Ian given the content, but I believe Ian can handle it.  I feel better in knowing there are a few kids in his class who had already read the books.

When I read these books 4 years ago, it didn't occur to me back then I would have a child who would want to read them.  Boy, was  I wrong!  Over the years, Ian has turned into an avid reader.  I love that he wants nothing more than to spend a few hours reading a good book.  While Jeff and I have never put a limit on how much time the kids spend playing on their iPads, video games or watching tv, it's nice to know that Ian chooses reading a good book first and foremost. 

Next up:  Watching the movies with Ian these books were based on.  The best of both worlds! 

My kind of reading

My love of reading started with Judy Blume, when my mom gave me as a little girl a boxed set of her books.  It opened a new world to me and I've been a voracious reader ever since.  It dawned on me that while I've been counting down the years to introduce Sam to Judy Blume, there is no reason I can't share it with Ian too.  Don't worry, I am not going to traumatize him with "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret".  But Judy Blume has so many other wonderful books that I think he would like. 

Since I read all her books in the late 70's/early 80's, she has turned the Fudge books into an official series.  The first one is "Tales of a fourth grade nothing."  I downloaded this on Ian's iPad kindle app and told him it was there waiting for him.  He started it right away and read it within 5 days.  He told me he liked it very much and was ready for the next book, "Otherwise known as Sheila the great".  Again, back in the day, this was just another book, now there is an order to reading them. 

It makes my heart swell that Ian is enjoying these books.  There is something about Judy Blume that is magical and for Ian to recognize this too, makes me a proud mama.  Judy Blume gets adolescence.  She gets it.  It's that simple.

So here is the really, really cool ending to this story.  Ian's teacher reads to the class at the end of every day.  They just finished one book and then started another the next day.  The next book she picked to read to the class?  "Tales of a fourth grade nothing."  No way!  Way!  Ian had just finished reading it the day before.  How's that for timing!?!?  I could not believe it when he came home and told me.   I've never felt more hip with the 4th grade mentality until that moment.

There is nothing greater than introducing a new generation to one of my most favorite authors.  And Sam's personal signed copy of "Are you there God?  It's me, Margaret" is on her bookshelves waiting for her to discover in a few years.

Books

I just got done reading a great book, "Orphan Train".  Thanks to Heather's mom for the recommendation.  It was the kind of ending that had me in tears with happiness.  I didn't want it to end.  I had fallen in love with these characters and I wanted the story to go on forever.  It was the kind of book that I woke up at 5:00am on Saturday morning (with 50% finished) and was not getting out of bed until I was at 100%.  It's so funny how with kindles you no longer think in terms of pages read, but with percentages.

After I was done with "Orphan Train" I consulted my list of what I wanted to read next and picked "The Interestings."  However, here's the thing; this book doesn't stand a chance.  I can't bring myself to start it.  The thought of having to get to know new characters right now is making me cringe.  This book has to start off with a bang to get me to keep reading.  It's almost a curse when I read I book I really, really, really love. 

With other books when this happens I quickly dive in to EVERYTHING the author has ever written.  I did this with Jodi Piccoult ("My Sister's Keeper" started that off).  I did this with Chris Bohjalian (Hello "Midwives"!), Jonathon Tropper ("This is where I leave you") and would've done it with Wally Lamb if it wasn't his first book that got released was when I discovered how great he was.  It's like I keep reading until I get burned out on their particular style of writing and have gotten my fix.

Maybe at some point I will go back and read other things the author of "Orphan Train" has done.  But right now there are so many other books I want to get to.  It's an interesting conundrum.  I love to read, but I want all the books to be as good as what I just finished or feel like I shouldn't even bother and start watching mindless tv.  Let's hope "The Interestings" is well, interesting.  :)

Breaking news!

This just in!  We have a reader in our midst.  The switch has been flipped.  Ian enjoys reading.  He is now reading for pleasure and not because he has to log a minimum of 20 minutes each day for school.  He is sailing through series of books.

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid (as of now all 7 books)
• Big Nate (as of now all 5 books)
• I Survived.... (as of now all 8 books)
• Play Ball (finished the first 3 books, waiting for the next 2 to be published.)
• Origami Yoda (currently reading the 4th in the series)

I note "as of now" because these authors are still coming out with more books.

It's quite exciting that Ian is choosing to read and loves it.  He no longer uses the traditional hardcover/paperback book, but reads on his iPad's Kindle app.  It makes it super easy to download books and have them available to read lickety-split. 

I think the coolest thing is when Ian goes to bed for the night and decides to read for 20 minutes or so before falling asleep.  I have no problem with him blowing his bedtime if it means he is reading. 

The other night, Ian knocks on our bedroom door at 9:30pm.  This is a good 1/2 hour to 45 minutes past his bedtime.  He is so excited he finished "District Double Header" (from the Play Ball series) and wanted to share the news.  His enthusiasm announcing his accomplishment was priceless.  I told him we'd download the next book in the morning.  For the first time ever, he chose starting the book and reading over playing wii or watching tv before school.  Whoa, baby!  He finished this next book, "State Showdown" (169 pages!) in 4 days.

There is nothing better than losing yourself in a good book.  :)

Where there is a will, there is a way

Once I have my mind set on something, there is very little getting in the way of seeing it happen.

A few days before I left for my Girl's Weekend, I heard that Judy Blume was going to be at the National Book Festival. Instantly I had visions of getting the book "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret" signed for my sweet little girl, Samantha. My mom gave me a box set of Judy Blume's books when I turned 9 or 10 and they forever changed my life. Judy Blume started my love affair with books. I absolutely love to read and owe this all to the wonderful books Blume wrote about being an adolescent.

One of the girls I was enjoying the weekend with is the wife of a good friend, John. Dana told me that her husband was taking their girls (ages 5 and 3) to the Book Festival and would be more than happy to get me a signed copy of the book. How wonderful!!

John made a valiant effort, but the line was more than 300 deep and not something that would be realistic to stand in and wait. I very much appreciated the effort and planned to come up with another way to accomplish my goal. Now that I had this in my head I wanted to do it, there was nothing going to stop me. Although, my back-up plan was to wait for her to come back to town and camp out if needed to get to the front of the line. I had 8 years to see this through.

John (determined to get me a signed copy too) and I must've come up with the same thought, because we both found an email address for Judy Blume and wrote her.

And to my delight, here is her reply:

Hi Robyn,

Thanks for your email. Judy feels terrible that so many readers waited so long and then were turned away. It was really a problem of the organizers, most of whom were volunteers and so had no experience dealing with long lines at a book signing. They should have cut the line off but they didn't until it was way too late. Of course Judy will sign a book for your daughter. If you send it to the address below with these emails and your daughter's name we'll get it back to you ASAP.

Very best regards,
Pippa Mills
Assistant to Judy Blume

How incredibly cool is this!?!?!? I've always greatly admired Judy Blume as an author, but have now taken my love for her to a whole new level. It is so refreshing when you put someone you admire up on a pedestal and they don't disappoint.

I am most excited that when Samantha turns 9, I'll be able to give her a personalized, signed copy of "Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret". This means more to me than Samantha will probably ever know. However, if she is anything like me (and so far, indications strongly point us to being 'cut from the same cloth'), I know one day she'll appreciate the gesture and look forward to handing down the copy to her daughter.