Unlocking Books discussion

I have this as an audiobook from the library. Can't wait to read it!

Have you read it yet? What do you think of it?

I've read this book twice! It's SO good! It was, of course, best the first time but very enjoyable the second. I absolutely love Seth.

Stephanie, I'm not who normally reads books a second time as I don't often have extra time, but recently, I've discovered that reading favorites (I really love the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs--NOT YA thought) is very rewarding. All the dialog and characters and favorite moments were more savory the second time around.

Do you ever feel that way about re-reading a book?

I do like how I pick up things I didn't the first or sometimes even the second time I read a book so yes, I suppose so. The only reason I like the first time the best is because the story is fresh, new, and even more magical to me. I sometimes have a hard finding books that I'm interested in but are different from what I usually read, which is actually why I'm reading Jurassic Park.

I thoroughly enjoyed Books one and two of the Fablehaven series.

Moved on to other things (too many books, too little time)...but book three is back somewhere in the stacks, waiting to be read.

On re-reading: There are some YA authors I can re-read and never tire of. Among them: Tamora Pierce, Terry Pratchett and Alison Croggon.

I don't know if you would consider Michelle Sagara West Cast In... series as YA, but I would.

Any title written by by Patricia Wrede.

...and the K.E. Mills Accidental Wizard series has been fun. I'd re-read them again as well.

Oh, I've read Alison Croggon. She wrote The Books of Pellinor. Great books. The third Fablehaven book is even better than the second! One of the few authors I can reread over and over again is John Flanagan.

So I am at the point in the story where they drank the milk for the first time and Grampa is explaining what Fablehaven really is.

What did you all think of the old witch in the forest? She only lived in a shack, but the way she was described, I thought it should be a gingerbread house. I have this crazy theory that the witch in the forest is their missing grandmother.

At first my kids thought she was really scary--to the point that we stopped reading for a month until my 3rd child felt ready to read again. Now he laughs at how scared he was of that old woman gnawing on the knots. I did wonder that too about who she was, Rita, but all will be explained soon... muahaha!

I remember the first time I read that part. It was dark out and I was the only one in the living room. There weren't many lights on and almost everyone had gone to bed. It was creepy. I wasn't scared but at the same time, walking down stairs to bed was creepy. I absolutely LOVED that part! After I read that part, I could hardly put the book down.

So would you have put your hand in the box? I definitely would NOT, but I'm wondering what is inside. Maybe a snake or maybe his hand would just get stuck. Or maybe something that seems nice like candy--poisoned, of course.

Oh know! No way would I put my hand in that box. That's just crazy. I imagine it was probably something horrible.

I got to the point where Seth captures the fairy and then gets his retribution for it. I wavered between rooting for the fairies (he tried to capture them after all) and cringing at what they did to him.

So whose side were you on?

Um, I'm on Seth's side but that's only because I like him better. Haha

I guess his refusal to follow the rules drove me crazy. I have to take this personality test for work called DISC.

Based on what I've read of this personality test, Seth would be a "D". D stands for Dominant, Driver, Determined. They are the self-starters and the risk takers.

That sounds like him....

His behavior makes me nervous. He's going to cause so much trouble! And what frustrates me the most is that he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes.

And his sister is a "C"--Conscientious, Compliant, Correct, Cautious. And my test scores gave me a "C", so I identify with her the most. C's are analytical, accurate, precise, and systematic.

Oh, and I found out who Gram is! I so did not see that coming.

That sure does sounds like Kendra. Oooooo! Gram was surprising right?

Gram was definitely surprising. And to think, she'd been right there all along.

And about Seth...I think I like him much more now that his "Dominant" personality has an outlet. Rather than using it to break the rules, he's using it to save the day. Rather than rebellion, it's courage.

I love Seth. I actually preferred Kendra over Seth until I finished the fifth book, then I changed my mind. :D

Rita, if it helps, over the course of the book, he does learn his lesson and becomes a very responsible, valuable part of their team.

SO overall, did you enjoy it?

I did enjoy it very much. I did this one as an audiobook for my car drive to work, and since we just drove 6 hours this weekend to vist my in-laws, I shared the audiobook with my kids. We pulled into Memaw and Papa's drive as the Kendra and Seth were milking the cow, and my kids laughed so hard at that scene!

It's so much more fun to share a book with my family. TJ and I always share a smile and a laugh at the good lines, and I love talking about the events and the characters with the kids.

And I learned a very important parenting lesson from Seth. Kids like Seth need more "Do this" than "Don't do this" kind of lectures or rules. His strengths became a weakness because he had no outlet for his imagination and energy and curiosity.

My middle daughter is more like Kendra--quiet, analytical, and conscientious of the rules. My oldest daughter is more like Seth and needs a constructive outlet.

Ah yes, the full bodied grab a teet and slide down into a pile of milk, scene. THat was impressive.

Yep. I think a few more "Do this" woudl have been helpful for Seth. :)

Are you going to borrow the rest of the series from the library?

Oh yes, definitely! And I gave my kids homework assignments on Fablehaven. They have to write stories on meeting fairies just like when Kendra and Seth met fairies for the first time. My youngest Kaylee is only 5, so she gets to draw pictures and then tell me her story rather than write it.

THat sounds like such fun. Your kids are lucky to have you.

Giving them writing assignments based on books they've read is my way of keeping track of what we've read for the sake of reporting back to the schoolboard at the end of the year.

Are they lucky? I've written the assignment on the board, but I haven't heard what they think of it yet. Usually I get grumped at for assignments like this. This time though they get to do it anytime during the week rather than on the day I assign it. That way it's on their schedule rather than mine.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the book, Rita! I found Kendra and Seth milking the cow a little weird. :) Lucky kids- at least they get to write about a book they liked. All of my younger brothers had to do a bookreport on Fablehaven after they read it.

It was weird and yet funny at the same time. It was weirder the first time and funnier the second time through the book.

"Weirder" isn't a word, is it? Well, saying "more weird" sounds weird.

I'm weirder than you.

You can be weirder than me, but I'm the weirdest of them all.

I think it's weirder. Or is it more weird? Ugh, I don't know.

We could all be weirdies...

All right, I'm totally weirded out now.

(Sorry, I just had to turn it into a verb. Wendy's fault. She made it into a noun.)

This is weirdly entertaining...
(To complete the picture noun+adjective+verb)

I've tried to post a comment here twice already, but goodreads said there was trouble saving it. So I'm trying again.

We went on a trip this weekend (halfway across the state for a graduation party), and so we picked up Rise of the Evening Star (sequel to Fablehaven) as an audiobook.

I have to say that I'm enjoying the second book even better than the first. Knowing the characters makes all the difference.

My favorite part was Kendra's dilemma at the beginning of the book: go to the movies with a goblin-like creature or leave her friends alone with a monster.

Haha- ah yes. The dilemma...

What would you have chosen if you were Kendra?

I would've tried to tell my friend about the danger. If she wouldn't listen, then I'd probably leave.

So we have now listed to the Fablehaven audiobooks for #3 & #4, and we just started #5.

You were right, Stephanie... Seth really changes, and he's becoming my favorite.

So disappointed about the twist at the end of #4. When we first discovered the truth, my mind worked hard to find a way that it wasn't true. I had really liked him! (Is that vague enough to not give anything away while still allowing those who have read it to know what I am talking about?)

Oh, I know! That was a unpredictable twist! Yes, you're being vague enough. I was kind of disappointed that Seth wasn't more developed at the end of the series.

I'm going to be disappointed that the series ends. I don't really want the story to end.

I know, I felt the same way!