Sooo, the title might speak for itself....



After being raised in a household with one older sister and no brothers, I felt like I needed to refer to this book LOTS lately!!!

I have always had a passion for boys education... maybe that's why God gave me three boys with a two for one deal thrown in!!!!

I have been reading about the 3 stages of boyhood and I must admit that I am really finding lots of Steve's advice really valuable. On 'those days' when I find myself tested by parenting three wonderful boys, this book has given me greater insight into what 'they' and 'we'(hubbie and I) need.

A good read and reference,
Deb

Hi everyone, as you be able to tell my reading focuses primarily on Sci-fi, Fantasy and anything with supernatural themes.  During the Holidays I was finally able to finish 'Running with the Demon' by Terry Brooks, who is one of my favourite authors. It is a classic supernatural thriller, told from multiple perspectives and set in smalltown America, with a devilish (literally) villain who sows seeds of discord among the local populace. I am currently searching for the sequels.
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From a more recent writer, I was able to complete the third compendium of "The Walking Dead" which is a very compelling and gritty graphic novel following the aftermath of a (guess what!) zombie apocalypse. What sets this series apart is the focus on the characters and their relationships as they struggle over years of narrative. I would recommend this if you have seen the television series and would say it has more to offer.

I've just finished this book recommended to me by Jo, "Running With Scissors".  It is a rites of passage story from the point of view of a twelve year old boy Augusten.  

Augusten's family and adopted family are truly disfunctional!

This is a really "cringe-worthy" story and if it wasn't for the fact that it is a memoir it could almost be considered to be something bordering on science fiction.  

When Augusten's mum, who has a mental illness, gives him away to her psychiatrist, he finds himself in a family which could be considered a parallel universe. It is filthy, full of cockroaches, mice and rats, uncleaned dishes and the Christmas trees left up all year because no one will take responsibility to take it down. There are no boundaries or expectations set, behaviourally, emotionally and physically. 

An interesting and sad read.

Picture books you and your kids will love!

I bought 4 new picture books today. Two of them I absolutely Loooovvvee.
Piranhas dont'eat bananas and.  Pig the Fibber - both by Aaron Blabey.  They are very funny and made me LOL.
I'm sure your kids would love them. I'm going to share them With year 6 this week. I think they'll love them too.

Holiday Reading

There's nothing quite like a great novel during school holidays. I'm loving Liane Moriarty right now. She's an Aussie writer and is most famous for Big Little Lies, which is set to become a motion picture in the near future. An interesting and entertaining read that entwines the lives of a group of school mums in a small beach town. Gossip, jealousy, friendship and a murder, it's got all the elements of a perfect holiday read. 'What Alice Forgot' is another of her novels. When a 39 yr old woman in the middle of a bitter divorce wakes from an accident to find that the past 10 years have been erased from her memory, there's bound to be twists and turns. After all, in her mind, she's 29, pregnant and still madly in love with her soon to be ex-husband.

How 'Pokemon Go' Can Teach Social Skills To Children And Young People With Autism

Both my children - yes in their 20s - have gone nuts for this game/app the current Pokemon Go craze.  This article  has an interesting perspective on how it can assist those living with Autism with their social skills. http://www.gizmodo.com.au/…/pokemon-go-can-teach-social-sk…/ 

This church in Nebraska is pleased too as it is a pokestop and more people are visiting the church. http://cathnews.com/cathnews/25944-pokemon-people-go-to-church   

Can you believe shares in Nintendo have gone up 60%!!!

Read this article in the Cath News this morning.
http://cathnews.com/cathnews/25972-cardinal-nichols-welcomes-theresa-may-s-appointment
It was good to read and gives me hope, to find out that the new prime minister in England has a strong sense of social justice.  Short read - worth a look.

Read a Marathon

"The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth..."
Yes, you guessed it, Bram Stoker's Dracula. I started it a while back and have just gotten back into the dark, gothic novel set in Transylvania. If you are up for a thriller, it's an intriguing, suspenseful (and somewhat lengthy) read. Much more entertaining than the 1992 movie, 'Dracula' starring Wynona Ryder.

Day 1 of the Read-a-marathon! Let the Games begin.
Grey and drizzly outside. Perfect weather to sit around in my loungewear with a coffee, reading The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante. This is the second book in a series of 4. First book is My  Brilliant Friend. The first book was very good but the second is awesome. More of a girly read.
The author is an Italian author. The books have been translated. I recommend them!