National Poetry Month (30/30!!): Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

True story about
The crossed paths of a mad man
And an inventor.

(Fascinating!!)

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

And thus ends National Poetry Month this year!  I’m out of town at the moment, but when I return, I will be selecting and reposting some of my favorite reader contributions (from the blog and from Facebook).  And THEN!  I will pick a WINNER!  That that WINNER will win a PRIZE!

Oh, I know.  It’s VERY exciting.

So, see you all in May, when I will be back to post the winning haiku and, GET THIS, a new Boyfriend of the Week at long, long last!  Get ready, people.  May is going to be the rulingest month of all.

National Poetry Month (29/30): Sorcery & Cecelia in 5-7-5

Sorcery & Cecelia OR The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Steverner

“Epistolary”
Means written in letter form.
“YAY!” means I liked it.

(This is a super-fun book and the best part is that the two authors, close friends,  started this project by pretending to be the two main characters, actually writing letters to each other just for fun.  When they were done, they knew they were onto something clever, so they spruced it all up and published the letters as a novel.  I love that idea so much!  And though this isn’t heavy, brilliant literature, it’s a VERY entertaining little adventure!)

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (28/30): A Vow of Silence in 5-7-5

A Vow of Silence by Veronica Black

The Sister Joan books
Are wonderful mysteries
I dig clever nuns.

[Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (27/30): In a Sunburned Country in 5-7-5

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Australia houses
The world’s deadliest spiders
AND snakes. No thanks, mates!

(Note, I pronounce it “Aus-trail-ya” not “Aus-trail-i-ya.”  Just so’s you know.  Though, in real life, I just call it “Oz,” because my brother-in-law is from there and he talks funny like that.  By the way, this book is hilarious.)

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (26/30): Little House on the Prairie in 5-7-5

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Even before the show,
I always pictured Ma as
Looking like MY Ma:

Long, dark, wavy hair,
Beautiful face with kind eyes.
Smart, loving, and fun.

(Love you,  Ma Wood.)

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (25/30): Catch-22 in 5-7-5

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Major Major is
The ultimate symbol of
Total nothingness.

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (24/30): My Family and Other Animals in 5-7-5

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

My mother read this
To us when we were all kids.
I’ll never forget.

Bonus haiku!

Memorable scene:
The scorpion mother writhes,
Covered in babies.

(EEP!)

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (23/30): Howards End in 5-7-5

Howards End by E. M. Forster

I loved the movie,
But the book has such power.
“Only connect”: yes.

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (22/30): Into Thin Air in 5-7-5

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

Books about climbers
Are riveting and also
Make me roll my eyes.

(YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)

National Poetry Month (21/30): Potshot in 5-7-5

Potshot by Robert B. Parker

I loved all of these,
But this one had the whole gang.
When Parker died:  tears.

(Potshot is an homage to The Magnificent Seven, and brought back lots of familiar characters from previous installments in the Spenser series.  I read every one of Parker’s Spenser novels, and when I heard he had died (Parker, not Spenser), I really did cry. I had been reading the series since high school — almost 20 years — and the gang felt like family.  The series has been continued by other authors, but I haven’t read any of the 2-3 that have been published so far.  I’ll get around to it at some point, I’m sure.  But it won’t be the same.)

[Buy from Indiebound | Buy from Amazon]

(Participate in National Poetry Month! Add your own haiku in the comments, and I’ll post my favorite reader contributions in May!)