I am excited for second semester! I hope that you are as well. Last semester I read 26 books - I hope to beat out that margin this semester.
To begin I have just finished reading The Lost Books, a six book series written by Ted Dekker, and have really enjoyed them. I started during exam week and am 3/4 of the way through book six. The books tell the behind the scenes story to the Circle Trilogy. In fact, the tell the story of the 15 years between book one and book two (black and red).
My hope this semester is that you can find a book or two (hopefully more) that you really can dive into and get lost in. I am always searching for the "next great read." Read great things this semester and share. Share with me, with your friends, with your parents. I got into Ted Dekker through Mr. Sportel and I am so very thankful.
Enjoy reading. God gave us incredibly creative and imaginative minds that He desires us to use.
Love ya,
Friday, January 23, 2015
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Circle Trilogy
I finished book three, WHITE, last night at 12:15 am. Sometimes trilogies can leave you disappointed in the sense they book one starts off so wonderful and they go downhill from there. I can honestly say that each book got better as the series went on. What a joy to read such an amazing author, Ted Dekker. I have just picked up GREEN, book 0 in this same trilogy and am excited to read what happened before before one.
A bit about the story...without giving away too much.
Thomas Hunter is a 24 year old kid who is living in the U.S. in 2010. Every time he falls asleep he wakes up in a separate reality, one where good and evil are visible and separated from one another. Early on in book one that separation is broken by the selfish actions of Tanis, the first man created. The rest of the series is the struggle of good verses evil both in Thomas's reality and in the 2010 reality where a deadly virus is released to the entire world.
Thomas uses information from each reality to help in the what he faces in the opposite reality. It sounds very confusing, but it is beautiful and incredibly biblical.
The way Dekker describes God's love in this series is beyond beautiful. I walk away feel in a profound love for God and a desire to love Him with all that I am. Any book that can evoke this in me, I will highly recommend.
Enjoy the series - it is amazing.
A bit about the story...without giving away too much.
Thomas Hunter is a 24 year old kid who is living in the U.S. in 2010. Every time he falls asleep he wakes up in a separate reality, one where good and evil are visible and separated from one another. Early on in book one that separation is broken by the selfish actions of Tanis, the first man created. The rest of the series is the struggle of good verses evil both in Thomas's reality and in the 2010 reality where a deadly virus is released to the entire world.
Thomas uses information from each reality to help in the what he faces in the opposite reality. It sounds very confusing, but it is beautiful and incredibly biblical.
The way Dekker describes God's love in this series is beyond beautiful. I walk away feel in a profound love for God and a desire to love Him with all that I am. Any book that can evoke this in me, I will highly recommend.
Enjoy the series - it is amazing.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Mr. Sportel
I entered into a new trilogy this week - The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker. Book one is titled Black. Book two is titled Red. Book three is titled White.
I started reading this new series because of a good friend. Mr. Sportel and I were talking in the hallway the other day after school and the subject of reading came up...shocking I know. He asked me if I had ever read Ted Dekker. I replied, "no." He went on and on about how this trilogy is one of the only book series that he owns...not just read but owns. He highly recommended it to me and I, of course, went to our library and checked out all three books.
This is my favorite way to read. I love reading a book that is recommended to me by a friend that I love and trust. Do you have these people in your life? Do you have people who not only recommend books to you, but also who shepherd you through life? My good friend Tim told me a piece of advice that I will never forget. He said, "Koeman, surround yourself with people who push you to be better than you already are."
Today, I want to be the best version of the man that God created. A big part of that is choosing my friends with wisdom. I want people in my life who will love and encourage me, even if it means confronting me from time to time.
I am 211 pages into book one. It is good. Real good. I am not surprised. Mr. Sportel recommended it after all :)
I started reading this new series because of a good friend. Mr. Sportel and I were talking in the hallway the other day after school and the subject of reading came up...shocking I know. He asked me if I had ever read Ted Dekker. I replied, "no." He went on and on about how this trilogy is one of the only book series that he owns...not just read but owns. He highly recommended it to me and I, of course, went to our library and checked out all three books.
This is my favorite way to read. I love reading a book that is recommended to me by a friend that I love and trust. Do you have these people in your life? Do you have people who not only recommend books to you, but also who shepherd you through life? My good friend Tim told me a piece of advice that I will never forget. He said, "Koeman, surround yourself with people who push you to be better than you already are."
Today, I want to be the best version of the man that God created. A big part of that is choosing my friends with wisdom. I want people in my life who will love and encourage me, even if it means confronting me from time to time.
I am 211 pages into book one. It is good. Real good. I am not surprised. Mr. Sportel recommended it after all :)
Monday, November 10, 2014
Be awhile...
So it's been awhile since I last posted. Seems like it has been one of those weeks (literally). Since the break, I have been in two different series: The Maze Runner and Matched.
The Maze Runner Series - What a fun and crazy series all in one. The series is three books: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure. The story is Futuristic and is basically about what happen to earth after solar flares hit the surface. I will not say anymore about the plot as I do not want to give ANYTHING away. I highly recommend the series and even the bonus 4th book The Kill Order - which goes back in time to before the 1st book.
Matched Series - Another Dystopian set of books. I am enjoying the storyline. Currently, I am in the third and final book, Reached. The second book is called Crossed. In this world a group called "The Society" makes all the decision and so humans live a perfect life but have no real choices. Like all Dystopian novels (Hunger Games, Divergent, Chosen) a group steps up and challenges this way of life.
Lately, I am finding that I am enjoying being caught up in a series. It simply feels like one book cannot possibly tell everything. I think your story is much like that as well. Keep reading - it is so very god for you nd it is great fun especially if you connect with that great book.
The Maze Runner Series - What a fun and crazy series all in one. The series is three books: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure. The story is Futuristic and is basically about what happen to earth after solar flares hit the surface. I will not say anymore about the plot as I do not want to give ANYTHING away. I highly recommend the series and even the bonus 4th book The Kill Order - which goes back in time to before the 1st book.
Matched Series - Another Dystopian set of books. I am enjoying the storyline. Currently, I am in the third and final book, Reached. The second book is called Crossed. In this world a group called "The Society" makes all the decision and so humans live a perfect life but have no real choices. Like all Dystopian novels (Hunger Games, Divergent, Chosen) a group steps up and challenges this way of life.
Lately, I am finding that I am enjoying being caught up in a series. It simply feels like one book cannot possibly tell everything. I think your story is much like that as well. Keep reading - it is so very god for you nd it is great fun especially if you connect with that great book.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Frustrated...
I am bummed out. Yep, bummed. This past week I read three books in the Lorien Legacies series. I was under the impression that the last book, The Revenge of Seven was the last book in the series and that I would find out how things "end". I was wrong. Apparently there are two more books to come. Oh, and I have to wait two more YEARS for the last one to be released. AGHHHH...
I guess that that is how it goes sometimes. I live in a world that wants INSTANT GRATIFICATION. I get mad if the person in front of me is driving the speed limit. I get frustrated if I have to wait in line at McDonalds and the person in front of me takes a long time to order. I get miffed if the spiny pinwheel comes on my computer because the internet is slow.
I am reminded that there are many times where slower is better. I wish that watching the sunset into Lake Michigan could last for an hour, instead of minutes. I wish that playing golf on a beautiful day in the fall would not be over after 18 holes. I wish that our week at the cottage would not go by so fast.
So I will wait. I will wait in anticipation. I will wait for the next book. And maybe even perhaps re-read the first 5 books. If I enjoyed them the first time, I am sure I will enjoy them the second time as well...Right? I mean I never get sick of watching that sun set.
I guess that that is how it goes sometimes. I live in a world that wants INSTANT GRATIFICATION. I get mad if the person in front of me is driving the speed limit. I get frustrated if I have to wait in line at McDonalds and the person in front of me takes a long time to order. I get miffed if the spiny pinwheel comes on my computer because the internet is slow.
I am reminded that there are many times where slower is better. I wish that watching the sunset into Lake Michigan could last for an hour, instead of minutes. I wish that playing golf on a beautiful day in the fall would not be over after 18 holes. I wish that our week at the cottage would not go by so fast.
So I will wait. I will wait in anticipation. I will wait for the next book. And maybe even perhaps re-read the first 5 books. If I enjoyed them the first time, I am sure I will enjoy them the second time as well...Right? I mean I never get sick of watching that sun set.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Lorien Legacies
So....I'm reading a Sci-Fi series....Never thought I'd say that :)
I was encouraged to read I am Number Four by a student in my 8th hour class. She loved it and highly recommended it to me. Being interested in what my students are reading, I check out the book form the library and in 2 days had it finished. It's one of those books that I just couldn't put down. The story is about an alien race that is being attacked by an enemy planet. To try and preserve their race, they send 9 children to earth in the hopes that they will grow their powers and someday be able to fight back and reclaim there home planet (Lorien).
There is so much action in the book and it was so intriguing to me that I am already 3/4 of the way through book #2 titled, The Power of Six. Although I am not a science fiction person...the characters and the story is what has really gotten a hold of me. I just checked out book #3, The Rise of Nine for the weekend. If you are looking for an action packed series...I recommend the Lorien Legacies.
I was encouraged to read I am Number Four by a student in my 8th hour class. She loved it and highly recommended it to me. Being interested in what my students are reading, I check out the book form the library and in 2 days had it finished. It's one of those books that I just couldn't put down. The story is about an alien race that is being attacked by an enemy planet. To try and preserve their race, they send 9 children to earth in the hopes that they will grow their powers and someday be able to fight back and reclaim there home planet (Lorien).
There is so much action in the book and it was so intriguing to me that I am already 3/4 of the way through book #2 titled, The Power of Six. Although I am not a science fiction person...the characters and the story is what has really gotten a hold of me. I just checked out book #3, The Rise of Nine for the weekend. If you are looking for an action packed series...I recommend the Lorien Legacies.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Smiles to Go
Over the weekend, I read Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli. He also wrote Wringer, Stargirl, Maniac Magee, Crash and many other young adult books.
Sometimes you just need a bit of a break. I had been reading some difficult material and wanted nothing more than to get "lost" in a simple story. If you are searching for easy reads that are engaging and FUN - read Spinelli. His stories are all about high schoolers: the joys and trials of being a teen. They are very fun and very real.
ENJOY!
Sometimes you just need a bit of a break. I had been reading some difficult material and wanted nothing more than to get "lost" in a simple story. If you are searching for easy reads that are engaging and FUN - read Spinelli. His stories are all about high schoolers: the joys and trials of being a teen. They are very fun and very real.
ENJOY!
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