Every Thing on It by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein is my favorite author. I love all of his poems. My favorite one is NO! from Falling Up, so when I heard that Every Thing on It was coming out. I freaked out! When I saw it come into work, I was even more happy! It's currently on my counter. I've read it, and it's just as amazing. My favorite one so far is How Hungry is Polly?

"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse,"
Said Polly in the park.
Ol' Dobbin, grazin' nearby,
Overheard her rude remark.
He shook his mane and pawed the ground,
He raised his noble head,
He snorted and looked down at her,
And this is what he said:
"I've been ridden, I've been driven,
I've been raced around a track,
I've been photographed with little
Whiny kiddies on my back.
I've pulled wagons through the winter,
I've pulled sleighs and I've pulled sleds,
I've pulled plows in sticky summers
With flies buzzin' 'round my head.
I've been whipped and I've been beaten,
I've been called a such-and-such---
But to think of being eaten,
Well, that is really too much!
And when I get insulted,
My appetite runs wild,
And now I feel so hungry,
I could eat a child."

As a person who works with horses, I loved this. I shared this with my barn director. I also, love the one Every Thing On It, the poem that the book is named after!

I asked for a hot dog
With everything on it,
'Cause it came with a parrot,

A bee in a bonnet,
A wristwatch, a wrench, and a rake.
A flag, and a fiddle,
A frog, and a front porch swing,
And a mouse in a mask----
That's the last time I ask
For a hot dog with everything.
The first poem in the book is Years From Now, as I read this I thought of Shel, dead for 12 years. Read this poem, and tell me what you think.
Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing---and I smile.

The last poem is called When I am Gone. It is just as amazing as the first poem.

When I am gone what will you do?
Who will write and draw for you?
Someone smarter---someone new?
Someone better----maybe YOU!

This is a wonderful book to add to your person library, or your public library stacks. Every Thing On It, is worth it, and you will bring smiles to your family, or your patrons, for many years to come!

Cae

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar, author of Holes, is about Alton, a teenage boy, who is forced to play bridge with his blind, dying, uncle in attempt to get Uncle Trapp Lester, to add his family into his will so all of Alton's family's money problems would disappear. Alton slowly starts to fall in love with the game of bridge while being Trapp's cardturner. Alton starts playing at home attempting to understand the game and become a better bridge player. When Trapp dies Alton doesn't let the game go, and neither does Trapp. Trapp and his first bridge play, Annabell channel there bridge experience through the children. Trapp talks to Alton, while Annabell talks to her granddaughter Toni. The Cardturner is wonderfully written and not only follow's Alton's life and how he's feeling, but also adds in a little bridge. This is a must read book for all genders, and I highly recommend it!

Cae

James Grippando

Jame Grippando is an author of suspense novels. I have only read two book by James Grippando, but I have fallen in love with him as an author. Grippando writes in a fashion, where you don't want to put the book down, and you could sit and read his books from cover to cover! The two books that I have read, Money to Burn and Intent to Kill, the person who you think did it, didn't do it and then you need to recalculate who really committed the murder or what not. Reading Grippando isn't just suspenseful but it's exciting, with his books you want no interruptions, because it is just that good.

Grippando was a book that one of the members on my library board checked in and said that I should read it, I said okay, and I had to be true to my word and now I can't get enough of Grippando and will be reading every book he's written.

Books by James Grippando

• Money to Burn
• Intent to Kill
• Born to Run
• When Darkness Falls
• The Pardon
• The Informant
• Last to Die
• Got the Look
• A King's Ransom
• Beyond Suspicion
• Last Call
• Lying with Strangers
• Found Money
• Hear No Evil
• Under Cover of Darkness
• The Abduction
• Leapholes

Cae ♥

Book Review "Before I Fall"

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is a young adult book, which follows Samantha Kingston being a senior in a Connecticut high school. Sam and her posse enjoy Cupid Day, and later go to a part at Kent's place. No one knows what will happen on that car ride back. The car in which Sam and her friends are in hits something or someone, and Sam dies, but the next day Sam is reliving Cupid Day, you follow Sam for a whole week of reliving the day in which she dies, she tries to figure out why she is stuck on Cupid Day, and does just about everything. It takes her seven days to make everything right, and when she does, she isn't afraid of dying (for the third time at least).

This novel is Oliver's first but is well written and when you start it, you won't want to put it down! I would highly recommend this book to any teenager or young adult. Oliver does a great job playing Sam, you almost feel as if you are one of Sam's friends and know and feel what is going on in the book. I hope that this book is just mark the beginning of Oliver's books and I hope to see another one just as good as this one within the upcoming years!

Lots of Love,
Cae

What is a steaming cup of coffee that is left stranded on the counter?

"What is a steaming cup of coffee that is left stranded on the counter? Within minutes it is nothing but a cold, orphaned beverage. A cup of coffee isn't experienced and enjoyed until you participate with it. You don't go to Starbucks look at coffee, to admire its deep hue, and to comment on its robust appearance. You go to Starbucks to drink it in, to participate in the experience of great coffee.

The same is true of spirituality, of course. You can read a book about prayer or worship. The words might inspire you, even challenge you. The ideas might intrigue you to the extent that you invest time in thinking about a particular spiritual discipline. But if you don't go ahead and pray or worship, the words written about these subjects are nothing more than dry ink. They are lifeless symbols of language that describe a spiritual experience that is impotent and useless until you choose to participate in it."- The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet

I've been reading this book daily, and it's very good. I've been filled with quotes, and have started a book filled with these quotes. I just read the above this afternoon after I was lathered up in suntan lotion and was sitting out on an old sheet out in the sun/shade (I can't deal with another sun burn this early in the season!). Since starting this book Sweet has made me question what I believe in. I know I believe in God, Jesus, The Trinity, The Church, and the beliefs of UCC, but where in my belief is EPIC (Experience, Participation, Image-rich, Connection)? Sweet has since moved me to re-start reading the Bible daily (a goal that I've started last year). I've also realized that I need to live my life on an EPIC scale, and not just a normal scale. Sweet does a wonderful job of combining church with Starbucks, two of my favorite subjects.

I chose this book at random, I was making my Amazon Widget for my Starbucks Fettish post. I figured if I'm going to reccomend to my reader's to read this, then I might as well read it! Although I have yet to finish The Gospel According to Starbucks, it is a must read and I highly recommend it to either Christians or to Starbucks lovers, or to both!

Cae ♥

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante


This book is about, friendship, love, and religion. Two girls are best of friends, and in this world on religion, you need to be careful for what you do, because it just might be a sin, and you don't want to know what happens when you sin. The Patron Saint of Butterflies, is a great book, very easy read, and I couldn't put it down. It deals with 'real life' issues, but puts the issues into a twist.

Are you ready to test a friendship?

Ex-mas by Kate Brian

Ex-mas by Kate Brian

Ex-mas by Kate Brian, is a book about a teenage girl, dating the freshman in college, her little brothers decide to go save Santa, but don't tell her sister. Lila has to spend a road trip with her ex-boyfriend Beau, she learns that maybe she's dating the wrong person.

Are you read to save Santa?

Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis

Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis

Boys are Dogs is a comical book. A middle school girl, Annabel, moves from her town into a new town, to live with her mom's boyfriend. Annabel get a new puppy and starts training her dog, Pepper. At Annabel's new school she gets made fun of daily, and finally figures out that boys are like dogs, and she starts training the boys. This book was very good. I have to say, I did not read this book, I was testing out the digital audio-books, that the company my library uses just launched. If you do go for the Book on CD way, the book is read very well.

Are you ready for some training?

TMI by Sarah Quigley

TMI by Sarah Quigley

TMI is about Becca, and see Becca has a little issue, her issue is TMI, she always does it, and she only has one true friend that put up with it 24/7. Then the "new kid" comes in to town, Jai (jay) is really nice, and he also puts up with Becca's constant TMI stories. Becca's life as a high school sophmore, isn't that bad, well untill her freshman boyfriend breaks up with her, well he doesn't, he asks his friend to do it for him. Since the breakup Becca starts her blog called TMI, she thinks this could help her problem.

Does it?

The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a book based off of a dogs point of view of his master's, Denny, life. The book is full of love, heartbreak, in-laws, death, and of course the relationship between a dog and a man.

I have to say at the end, I was crying, and I do not cry when I read books, it is actually the first book that I cried while reading!

Do you have a box of tissues next to you?

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Is a adventure packed novel. Dan Brown has a way with his books to make everything fit in one day, and add in fact. The book is based off of a conspiracy during a presidential election! The book goes deep into the spending that NASA wastes, and the result of political affairs, and crossing the battle lines.

Are you ready for the next election?

God is Dead by Ron Currie Jr.

God is Dead by Ron Currie Jr. is about God dies in human form, and the chapters after God dies, is showing what would happen to the world, and what happens in different people's lives. One chapter they interview the feral dog that eats God's remains. This book is well written, and I couldn't put it down.

News Alert: God is Dead

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Just listen by Sarah Dessen, is a book about friendships in highschool, and how one day you'll have a friend, and the next you don't. The book deals with rumors, eating disorders, and the pressure a teenage model has, when she doesn't want to model, but it's the only thing keeping her mother sane.

It is all about heartbreaks, hardships, and friendships.
It's your Senior Year, are you ready?

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler is a story that involves friendships, boyfriends, parents, and family. It's a summer vacation right after two best friends Anna and Franky lose Matt. This story is a story about how secrets can hurt a friendship, you never know when your loved one won't be with you the next day, and of course dating Twenty boys in twenty days.

It's summer vacation, you're in California with your best friend

What can go wrong?

Book Reviews-A Dog's Life

Okay, I figured if I'm going to read so many books, why not write reviews for the people who read the blog. I'm going to post a review after every book, or try to at least, that I read.

A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin


A Dog's Life is an autobiography of a stray, this books is written by the dog, Squirell, and her life as a stray. It was a quick read for me, only about 182 pages long, but it is powerful. Ann M. Martin wrote this book very well, I couldn't put the book down! The thought of this being a book of fiction is imaginable. Ann M. Martin does a great job making you feel the emotions and pain that the dog goes through in her life. I highly reccomend this book.


Did you read this book? Tell me what you thought about it!