Foxtrot Has Hunger Games Fever

This comic was in Sunday's paper. Enjoy!

M.I.A.

     It’s been more than a couple of weeks since I’ve given you an actual review here on Apocalypse Reads, and although this may sound like it’s an apology, it’s really not. Luckily, my partner in crime has as least kept you updated on the happenings in the reading world and is actively reading herself and posting new reviews. I, on the other hand, have reached a stalemate with my old nemesis, “Literacy Depression”. In short, I have not had the motivation to write my increasingly long list of reviews which then affects my desire to read anything new. Don’t get me wrong, I have many books on my TBR list, but I end up putting down whatever I pick up. So, tonight as I write this seemingly unimportant post about nothing, it’s really me giving my nemesis a punch to the gut. And, a promise that you’ll be seeing reviews for The Night Circus, Hourglass (Opposition Rising style), and A Million Suns soon.

Watch out nemesis, I’m about to channel my inner Jackie Chan.

How many lives will you live? Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Just the Facts:

Overall Rating: 4 stars

Addiction Level: I ignored the hubby and puppy and stayed up late to read!

Believe-ability: I daydream about the created world and wonder how I fit in.

Dystopia Factor: The world is starting to disintegrate.

~~~

I enjoyed Incarnate, because I wanted Ana to succeed. No one wanted to help, love, or friend her, because she was new. No one thought she was worthy of anything.

I also enjoyed it, because after I finished reading sections the story would stay with me. Is reincarnation possible? Do soul mates exist? How would I live my life differently? How real is faith? Can you believe because you have been told to?

All the souls in Incarnate are 5000 years old, and they are continually reincarnated. They come back in different bodies, but their souls remain the same. Ana, the protagonist, is a new soul. No one knows if she will be reincarnated when she dies.

In essence this society, Range, is immortal. They do not fear dying, because they will come back. I am not sure what I would do if I was immortal. Would I live right every time, or would I allow myself the freedom to explore new things and make mistakes? What would most people choose? I think it would be awesome to master so many trades, but I think I would grow weary continually living without a purpose.

Their god, Janan, says he created them for a purpose and that he will protect them. However, Janan is a very silent god. He does not seem to communicate or act. Most people do not believe in him. It is hard to blame them, because Range has to protect itself from dragons, centaurs, and other mysterious, dangerous creatures. Janan built the city, Heart, where the people of Range live. Its walls and buildings protect them from the previous mentioned dangers.

Meadows makes an interesting commentary on religion and faith. Only a few believe. Janan has provided shelter and protection but does not communicate otherwise. He seems to be a god who demands worship but does not interact with his people. Is religion only for those who need it? What kind of god is he? What happens if you do not worship god? What if you desire more?

Like many of the Range inhabitants, I want more. “I know Whom I have believèd.” I know who my God is, what He is capable of doing, and that He lives. I understand the lack of faith in Janan. On the other hand I also understand faith is a gift. Without faith one does not believe, and that is a gift of God.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. Meadows thoughts on immortality and faith are different but thought provoking. The romance was believable, because it was not Insta!Love. (Yes, I just said I enjoyed the romance.) I enjoyed Ana’s journey, and I look forward to what is next.

Classroom Library Part 2

I will beg, borrow, and steal work for books. Books are more important than food. However, if you ask my husband, he will disagree. As far as I am concerned, it is all open for negotiation… Who needs to eat? Certainly not me…

I believe it is important to have books readily available for students. As a result, my library has grown. Two years ago I only have two and a half shelves. Last year I had six shelves. As you can see this year I have nine shelves with a bag of donated books stored elsewhere. If you notice on the left shorter bookcase, the top is filled with red and blue books. Those are copies of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Actually they are the second set of 10 I have checked out for my students.

They are reading, enjoying literature, and discussing it. What more could a teacher fellow reader ask for? Except for more books.

Sprint to the End

It’s Tuesday, and I’m already tired. Actually I was tired yesterday. Why am I tired at the beginning of the week, you ask? We have had several shortened work weeks, testing, and Spring Break, so maybe I am tired of breaks or devastated that there are no more breaks until Summer! That’s right folks…reality has set in! Twelve week grades are due next week, and then we sprint to the end of the school year. (Our semesters are broken into three six week grading periods as opposed to two nine week grading periods.) I certainly hope I can cram everything I need to in the next few weeks. Ah!

Do you know why else I am tired? I am sitting in my classroom at 3:20 in the afternoon instead of enjoying the nice lovely day. It is 77° inside and outside, and my swamp cooler is doing nothing with the warm air except swishing it around the room. They might make the heater to cooler conversion at the end of April…hopefully. In the meantime we will turn off the lights, open the windows, and pretend we are cool.

Speaking of being cool…us Apocalypse Reads people are reading some pretty cool books. I am reading Legend by Marie Lu and Partials by Dan Wells. Esso has lent me the first and the library the latter. I am hoping I can bribe coerce convince the library to extend my loan. In any event, we are reading, but life has gotten in the well. Happy reading! May the odds be ever in your favor!

P.S. We are looking for guest bloggers, so if you want publish a review, give us a holler!