If you were paying attention, I attempted to record in my widgets the books the kids and I read this summer. I didn’t do such a great job. The kids read at night when it was too dark for me to see them and it is such a PITA (pain in the ass – via a Solar Rock pal) for them to speak to me, much less tell me what they read. I didn’t do much better recording the books I read. For example, I read a book from the Dear Dumb Diary series and thought it was hi-LAR-ious. Still, I neglected to list it. Nor did I list The Tale of Despereaux. So, I pretty much suck at record keeping. In this case, not such a big deal. In the case of immunization records, such a big deal.

By far our favorite was Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events series. I must admit, the books aren’t without drawbacks. It’s highly predictable and repetitive, and is critical of the Water Cycle. On the other hand, I enjoyed the Dantesque undertones and the cameos of Melville, Voltaire, Congreve, Woolf, Flaubert, Beckett, and many, many others. Also, the kids and I have been discussing what makes a villain or volunteer. Are you a bad guy if you tell a lie, commit a tiny bit of manslaughter (or at least assault), or neglect to care for your fingernails?

We have yet to read the final book — The End. We don’t have to overly savor that book. In 2012, when my kids insist the world will end in spite of my years, YEARS, of experience with such bogus predictions, all of which I survived, Lemony Snicket is scheduled to present a new four-book series. Between The End and the end (2012), I’ll be attempting to read through all the Newbery Award winners. Care to join me?

Summer reads that I managed to compile in a list-y, link-y format (will someone please return them to the bookshelf?):
The Invention of Hugo Cabret – 9 YO & Mom
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-12 – ALL
Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil – 7 & 9 YOs
The Trumpet of the Swan – ALL
Is That A Sick Cat In Your Backpack? – 9 YO
Sound Off! #1 (DANIEL BOOM AKA LOUD BOY) – 9 YO
Howtoons: The Possibilities Are Endless! – 9 YO
Coraline: The Graphic Novel – 7 YO
A.L.I.E.E.E.N. – 7 & 9 YOs
Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero – 7 YO
Sardine in Outer Space 2 – 9 YO
Babymouse #3: Beach Babe – 7 YO
Little Vampire – 9 YO
Babymouse #4: Rock Star – 7 YO Warriors Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest – 9 YO & Mom
Rapunzel’s Revenge – 7 YO
Animorphs #37: The Weakness – 9 YO
In FAIRYLAND. With the Text of The Princess Nobody. Edited & with a Foreword by Cary Wilkins. – 7 YO
Stink: Book 1 – 9 YO
The Twelve Dancing Princesses – 7 YO
Nasty Nature (Horrible Science) – 9 YO
Flat Stanley – 7 YO
Star Wars, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – 9 YO
Transformers: Beast Wars: The Gathering – 9 YO