Showing posts with label Reading Corner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Corner. Show all posts
0.4 by Mike A Lancaster
It's a brave new world. 'My name is Kyle Straker. And I don't exist anymore.'
If I told you what 0.4 referred to it would spoil the story.
If I told you who Mike Lancaster it may spoil the story, too.
Suffice to say that 0.4 is aimed at the teen reader market but is well worth reading even beyond, is science fiction… or science fact depending on your point of view.
It is the story of Kyle Straker a messed up kid from as messed up home… some weird stuff happens which either makes the family less or more messed up depending on your point of view. Whichever your opinion regarding the family there is no denying the fact that Kyle Straker ends up even MORE messed up.
But then, in the end, it all works out for the best… or it doesn’t. Depending on your point of view.
Now that I’ve thoroughly confused you I need to say it is well worth reading, whether you are a teen or a not-so teen it is definitely worth reading. It’ll blow your mind, in a good way or a bad way, depending on your point of view.
Purchase:
New Zealand
Everywhere else
Useful Links:
http://www.mikealancaster.com/
http://www.egmont.co.uk/
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blog: http://educatingthedragon.blogspot.com/ Tweet
Readit1st
I'm not saying I'm a 'see it before you read it' kinda guy, I'll let you be the judge. But I have yet to watch any of the Harry Potter movies because I was waiting to have read them all before I see any of the movies. Also I've finished 'The Lincoln Lawyer' as you may know already if you follow my vlog and am currently hanging out for a couple of friends to finish reading before we buy the movie and find the biggest, HDTV we can and watch it. As I said; I'll let you judge.
Hank Green is one half of the Vlogbrothers, a hugely popular youtube community commonly referred to as Nerdfighters.
Just recently Hank shared in his vlog the ‘Readit1st’ pledge.
As he mentions many successful movies are adaptations of novels. With millions more viewing compared to those reading something needs to happen.
With ‘reading for pleasure’ in the US, and I would argue here in New Zealand too, is being limited to one or two novels a year some would argue that ‘the joy of reading’ is dying out.
The ‘Readit1st’ is a simple sign up to a newsletter and the opportunity share your commitment my sharing a badge, as in figure 1, on your blog or website.
The newsletter available to pledgers is written by John Green and feature the upcoming movies that are based on novels with the urge to ‘Readit1st’.
One of the featured articles reads:
Set in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, Stockett’s novel has three different narrators—two African American maids and one white woman. If you’re one of the 6.91 billion people who haven’t read it, readit1st!
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Hank Green is one half of the Vlogbrothers, a hugely popular youtube community commonly referred to as Nerdfighters.
Just recently Hank shared in his vlog the ‘Readit1st’ pledge. As he mentions many successful movies are adaptations of novels. With millions more viewing compared to those reading something needs to happen.
With ‘reading for pleasure’ in the US, and I would argue here in New Zealand too, is being limited to one or two novels a year some would argue that ‘the joy of reading’ is dying out.
The ‘Readit1st’ is a simple sign up to a newsletter and the opportunity share your commitment my sharing a badge, as in figure 1, on your blog or website.
The newsletter available to pledgers is written by John Green and feature the upcoming movies that are based on novels with the urge to ‘Readit1st’.
One of the featured articles reads:
The Help
In theaters now you’ll find The Help, an adaptation of Katherine Stockett’s first novel, which has now sold more than five million copies in the U.S. (…he wrote, betraying no trace of jealousy). Even so, the movie has been seen by more than twice that many people in just a few weeks.Set in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, Stockett’s novel has three different narrators—two African American maids and one white woman. If you’re one of the 6.91 billion people who haven’t read it, readit1st!
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The Great Gatsby Chapter 2 and beyond...
The top comment beneath this Youtube video states:
"Honestly, John. You would be the best English teacher. Ever. End of story."
Is it?
- The acquisition of 'stuff', so much stuff in the persuit of happiness and fulfillment. There being sufficient money to throw such parties with such a carefree ease.
- The constant yearning for simpler, easier times, where life was good.
- The heroic endeavours of Gatsby. The sense of mission and destiny.
- Or all of the above.
Is Gatsby's quest truly heroic or is it the fact that Nick, the narrator, sees it as such and therefore is rallied to his cause?
Heroism is in the perception, surely. Fine line between hero and nutter...
Select the playlist to view all of the other book reviews and videos.
What do you see as the Great New Zealand novel?
What do you see as the Great English novel?
What do you see as the Great {insert country of chose} novel?
Previous post:
The Great Gatsby: Extraordinary gift for hopeTweet
Reading for pleasure has value, right?
Some time ago Michael Connelly, the author, visited New Zealand for a one off book reading and a promotion of the movie “The Lincoln Lawyer”. Watch the video below to discover my thoughts and feelings about the show – or there lack of – and the book too.
I am an avid reader but few books can be classified in the ‘can’t put down’ pile.
Others include:
Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
Moneymakers by Harry Bingham
The Partner by John Grisham
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
24 hours by Greg Iles
Talking in Whispers by James Watson
None of these novels can be classified as ‘classic’ or ‘masterpieces’ but is there anything wrong with that?
Story development, character growth and dealing with weightier issues of the day are surely not limited to the realm of ‘the classics’.
And even if they were. Is there no argument for simply reading for pleasure?
Educating the Dragon youtube channel will be running a Book Review competition in October so why not start rereading your favourite novel and go subscribe to be to win.
Further things to do:
Watch as I explain why Patriot Games plays such a key role in growth and development as a reader.
Further information about the video:
Talking about 'Lincoln Lawyer' by Michael Connelly
Useful links:
The Film details
The Book details
Michael Connelly on the web
Buying in New Zealand
If you've read this book and want to offer an option, leave a comment.
If you have any thoughts around books and reading... guess what? ... leave a comment.
Music care of STEEP- 'Let me Go' (Jamendo)
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Paper Plus Takapuna Presents an Evening with Jeffery Deaver
Paper Plus Takapuna invite you to hear Jeffery Deaver talk about writing the new James Bond novel Carte Blanche.
This is the only public event that Jeffery will be attending on his tour of New Zealand and will be sure to sell out - so get in quick!
Thursday 21st July, 5.30pm
Tickets:
$10 Available from Paper Plus Takapuna
Ph 09 486 7472 or email takapuna@paperplus.co.nz
Venue:
Paper Plus Takapuna
20 Hurstmere Road
Takapuna Tweet
Internet access drives up digital literacy
- Access to computers at home,
- Having higher scores in digital-reading,
- Browsing the internet for fun,
- And email, chatting online and downloading music, films, games or software.
"Lynne Whitney, a senior research manager at the Ministry of Education, said Kiwi students did well in both kinds of reading but the overall average digital scores were significantly higher than the print ones."
I wonder, though how those statistics will play out in the workplace. Perhaps we need to revisit those 15-year olds five years from now to see what has become of those with ‘quality’ digital literacy.
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Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World
I have finally got to a book that I’d been waiting a while for Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World. HRH Prince of Wales puts together a touching account for the need for change on a global scale. Some aspects of the book are heavy, other somewhat pithy. There certainly is a need for this consideration of the weighty things and who better to put his mind, and heart, into this project than His Royal Highness. ‘Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World’ seems to get the balance right especially when you consider the opinions vary from ‘[He’s] completely off the wall’ to ‘is he radical enough[?]’
Prince Charles is right to speak up on climate change, but some of his ideas are completely off the wall says Rowan Moore.
Prince Charles is calling for a revolution – but is he radical enough, asks Terry Eagleton
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Prince Charles is right to speak up on climate change, but some of his ideas are completely off the wall says Rowan Moore.
Prince Charles is calling for a revolution – but is he radical enough, asks Terry Eagleton
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Have you read 0.4?
This is probably the best read for Y5 + out there at the moment and I need your help...
Thanks one and all.
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Thanks one and all.
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Writers Get Together
Wednesday 15th June 2011
7pm
Beattie & Forbes Booksellers
- Children's Fiction
- Teen Fiction
- Picture Books
- Non Fiction
- Poetry
- Short Stories
- Adult Fiction
- Screen Writing
- Journal Writing
Are you serious about your writing?
Do you need someone to bounce ideas off?
Is it hard to find other writers in your genre?
Do you just want someone to talk to about writing?
Now is the time to find that person or build that group - We would like to get you all together so you can find like minded writers to do just that!
Because after all - Only a writer understands a writer
We are very honoured to have Award Winning local author Anna Mackenzie as a guest speaker
to help launch our get together and then we can chat about what local writers really need.
Published and Unpublished Writers all Welcome Tweet
"Espresso Tales" by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the second interview for Book Corner.
Carolyn talks about 'Espresso Tales' by Alexander McCall Smith. He returns home to Edinburgh and the glorious cast of his own tales of the city, the residents of 44 Scotland Street, with a new set of challenges for each one of them.
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Stieg Larsson- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
This has been an international bestseller, turned into a hugely successful film series and is rumoured to be undergoing the Hollywood treatment even as I type.
Emma shares a little about what captivated her about this book and encourages you to take another look.
Useful links:
Get the book in New Zealand
Get the book from outside New Zealand
Emma shares a little about what captivated her about this book and encourages you to take another look.
Useful links:
Get the book in New Zealand
Get the book from outside New Zealand
Connect with me:
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Vlogging is not as easy as people make out
It all very well knowing what equipment you need to begin your vlog.
Those that follow this blog regularly are familiar with my first attempt at a vlog post which sort to lay out what I had in mind.
To reiterate it there are three main components:
The great thing about these holidays is that I get a chance to go shopping and find what I think I need.
Referring to the above list it appears I need:
One of the highlights this week was helping put together a Grammar quiz. It is designed for a class of Year 6 students, identified as ‘Kauri 3’. However, the content is appropriate for any class to share on their blog as the embed code is regularly available. Try the quiz out below and see how you go.Good Luck!
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- A camera
- Some editing software
- A Gmail account
Those that follow this blog regularly are familiar with my first attempt at a vlog post which sort to lay out what I had in mind.
To reiterate it there are three main components:
- The ‘online diary’ vlog posting – which I suspect to be weekly
- What I am referring to as ‘Book Corner’ (unless someone comes up with a cooler title and leaves it in the comments) which is basically a smattering of regular people I happen to come across talking about their favourite book and why they like it.
- Finally there is the production side (which is proving had to get off the ground) But it basically focuses on a new book that has an engaging beginning and would make a nice short clip to enthuse us about stepping out of our usual reading pattern and trying something different.
- The Software editing lost the picture but inserted the sound.
- The file type camera B used was not accepted by said software.
- Backup software tool saved file type in a stupidly pixelated resolution.
The great thing about these holidays is that I get a chance to go shopping and find what I think I need.
Referring to the above list it appears I need:
- A new Camera with decent mic
- Decent spec computer – I’m not too keen to go the MAC way but if needs must.
- Movie Editing software Am leaning towards Sony Vegas or Adobe.
One of the highlights this week was helping put together a Grammar quiz. It is designed for a class of Year 6 students, identified as ‘Kauri 3’. However, the content is appropriate for any class to share on their blog as the embed code is regularly available. Try the quiz out below and see how you go.Good Luck!
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