I think I have an illness

I haven't finished any books this week, but I did start two more. I just can't stand to read one book at a time. I really don't understand how people can do it. I even wanted to start another book today, but refrained myself. I wonder if there is a support group for this type of reading?

Changes

So, you may have noticed that I am no longer writing every day. I have other things that I have to do with my time during the week, so I will catch you up on the weekend. This week I finished Redwall and read three more Magic Tree House books. I am also no longer reading every book, I own, but only the ones I haven't read before. This still leaves me with a lot of books.

They all fall down

I stopped today in a very dramatic spot. It seems everyone is falling off of the roof. I know I've read the book before, but for the life of me I can't remember what happens next, and I'm kind of going nuts waiting to get to the part where the great fall ends. That's the sign of a good book, one that you can read over and over, and even though you remember the big details, like who lives or dies, you still read it completely enthralled by every step the characters make.

And the Plot Thickens

Everything seems in order in Redwall until Jess and Basil decided to take action. I love the fact that they don't tell anyone what they are doing. It seems odd that no one would question the fact that the two of them keep going off by themselves. At least they are trying to help.

King Bull Spara

I never really think of sparrows as evil, but in Redwall the sparrows are kind of crazy. King Bull Spara needs to be taken down a peg or two. He has to be scizophrenic or something. At least Matthias has friends like Warbeak to look out for him.

Magic Tree House

Like I said earlier, I can't stand reading one book at a time, therefore I have been reading The Magic Tree House books at night. I read these in elementary school, and now own the first 40, that's right, 40. Last night I finished the first two.

So Close and yet...

I was reading Redwall during lunch today, and marvelled at how complicated the mysteries are within the novel. Just because the characters figure out a riddle doesn't mean they actually find what they are looking for. It couldn't be that simple. Brian Jacques is a genius to figure out how to make everything come together.

Silent Sam

Silent Sam is one of those characters you can't help but love. Okay, so I'm sure you could help it if you don't have a heart, but I do have a heart, so therefore, I think he is absolutely adorable. He says so much without ever actually saying a word. I guess staying silent your whole life is one way to avoid sticking your foot in your mouth. I am now more than half way through with Redwall, and like always I am completely entranced by the riddles Brian Jacques uses to guide his characters.

Bring in the Hares

I love the hares in the Redwall books. This first book introduces us to Basil Stag Hare, a fast talking, fast moving hare. I would not recomend reading parts with this character in a public place, you might just burst out laughing.

I saw it in a dream!

Where would the story lines of the Redwall books be without dreams? The answer...NOWHERE! The great thing about it is that the dreams in the books are like dreams in real life, you wake up going, "what the heck?" It seems though that the creatures of Redwall are able to remember their dreams better than us mere humans can. I would say dreams are one of Brian Jacques favorite motifs, along with poems and riddles.

One Down

I have officially finished one book, although it was one of them that I was partially through before this year started. The book I finished was book eleven of the Tennis Shoes Adventure series. It is LDS fiction, which might cause some people to have no desire to read it, but I like them. 

Doubles, Finishes and Skips

So, there is no way I can read one book at a time. I usually have to be reading three or more. So, I will not be reading one book at a time, and will therefore have to tell you about each book I am reading. There are some books that I was reading before the year began, and do not feel like reading them so soon after. I haven't finished these books, but am close to the end. I am counting these as read this year. Finally, I have some books that I will not be reading or counting. These include Bathroom books, and quote books.

Character Writing

I love the way Brian Jacques changes the tone of his writing when he introduces the villain in Redwall. The tempo of the writing is pretty calm until the appearance of Cluny. I have to say, even though I am much bigger than  a rat, if I were to see one with one eye, walking around with a ferret's skull on a stick, I would be running for the hills. In the Redwall books, rats are almost always bad, while mice are good. This of course does not always happen, but most of the time. I guess it's just because mice are smaller, and do not seem as menacing as a big ugly rat.

Brian Jacques

Brian Jacques, author of my current read Redwall is one of my go to authors. If I am ever at a loss as to what to read, I go to the go to authors, and can always find something I'm in the mood for.
Right now with Redwall I am reminded just how cute Matthias was when the books started. He has personality plus.
“I suppose there's a child inside me who wants to get out, ... A little baldy child with a beard. Ha!”
-Brian Jacques

New Year's Resolution

Last year my mother challenged me to read every book I own before buying more. I of course failed miserably, but decided to give it another try in 2011. I am starting with one bookshelf and moving on until I have finished the challenge and can once again buy a book. I may have a melt down if I find a book that I really want to buy, but I am going to give it my best effort.
I am starting this journey with the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. I don't have the whole series, but I do have most of it, and will be starting with Redwall. Day one is beginning, who knows where I will be by day 365.
Let the journey begin!!