Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Loser by Jerry Spinelli. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Loser by Jerry Spinelli. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

I've been a huge fan of Jerry Spinelli's novels/writing ever since reading 'Stargirl' in 2010. I was introduced to Spinelli's writing from a former college professor of mine and am glad I was because I've been a fan ever since.

Last weekend, I finished reading Loser by Jerry Spinelli and loved this novel!! Loser is the seventh novel written by Jerry Spinelli that I've read to date and it's a fabulous novel to read and savor!! The writing by Spinelli is phenomenal for Loser. I loved the main character of Donald Zinkoff!!! Donald Zinkoff is such a fun, lovable character... I love Zinkoff's attitude and wonderful spirit. Spinelli always creates unique and interesting main characters for each of his novels that makes it fun to read them... So, I'm happy that I discovered the character of Donald Zinkoff. Sure Zinkoff is portrayed as a loser, but he doesn't realize he's a loser. In fact, I'm not even sure I consider him a loser because of his wonderful spirit towards life. He just keeps on loving life and doing his own thing.


Here's an overview of Loser from Barnes and Noble's website:
Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like "Jabip." 
Other kids have their own word to describe him, but Zinkoff is too busy to hear it. He doesn't know he's not like everyone else. And one winter night, Zinkoff's differences show that any name can someday become "hero."
Even though his classmates from first grade on have considered him strange and a loser, Donald Zinkoff's optimism and exuberance and the support of his loving family do not allow him to feel that way about himself.
 I'm rating Loser 9 stars out of 10 stars!! Until my next post, happy reading!! 

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - Books With One Word Titles That Are Worth Reading!!


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Below is a list of books with one word book titles that are worth the read! I've listed the books alphabetically. The links provided below are to my reviews of each book.

1. Becoming by Michelle Obama -I loved reading Michelle Obama's memoir. It's well organized and flows smoothly through the various facets of her life. I listened to the unabridged audio version and enjoyed hearing Ms. Obama narrate her own memoir.

2. Drama by Raina Telgemeier - I read this graphic novel in 2018 during Banned Book Week. Drama had been banned due to LBGQT characters in the book.

3. Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi - I love this graphic novel about the lives of Iranian women. It's worth the read!

4. Flight by Sherman Alexie - I read and reviewed this novel in 2016. I gave it 5 stars out of 5 stars. Great read!

5. George by Alex Gino - I love this novel. I read it last year during Banned Books Week. George has been the number one banned book the past few years. I gave it 5 stars out of 5 stars.

6. Loser by Jerry Spinelli - I was introduced to Jerry Spinelli by one of my former college professor. I've read at least 8 of Spinelli's novels and enjoyed them a lot.

7. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli - This is the 1st novel I ever read that was written by Jerry Spinelli back in 2011 and it is a phenomenal novel! I read this book prior to starting my book blog, so I do not have a  review of it. Maybe it's time for a reread and a review.

8. Tangerine by Christine Mangan - Do you love fiction novels with unreliable narrators, toxic female relationships, and/or set in an exotic locale? Then Tangerine maybe just the book for you!

9. Wringer by Jerry Spinnelli - This is another novel I really enjoyed reading before I started my book blog. Maybe it's time for a reread and a review.

10. Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates - This is a short novel and a fast read!! This book is creepy and reads like reading someone's journal/diary. 
Zombie takes the reader into the mind of serial killer, Quentin P., a fictional character based on the life of Jeffrey Dahmer (according to what I discovered through Wikipedia.) The plot is truly chilling and not for the squeamish at heart.

11. Brass by Xhenet Aliu - I recently listened to this novel and really enjoyed it!

Have you read any of the books from my top ten list this week?

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - Books I’m Worried I Might Not Love as Much the Second Time Around

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Occasionally, I reread books. Sometimes I still love the books when I reread them, but other books I've reread, not so much. It's a crapshoot.

There are several books I've absolutely LOVED reading and have considered rereading... BUT, will I still love them as much as I did the first time around? 

Below are ten books I'm worried I might not love as much the second time around.

1. The Master & Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
2. Queenie by Michael Korda
3. Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell
4. The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
5. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
6. All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
7. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
8. Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
9. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
10. And Then There Was None by Agatha Christie

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 End of the Year Reading Wrap Up Post!!!

2014 has been a wonderful year in both reading and blogging for me!! 

Today marks the end of my third year of book blogging. I have had much happiness and joy from reading books and reviewing books here on my book blog... Sharing my reviews of indie bookstores I've visited, sharing interesting book quotes I've discovered along the way... As well as participating in weekly book memes, read-a-thons, and sharing book related news and other fun book related ideas with other like minded readers like you!! I've really enjoyed interacting with other readers and book bloggers. Additionally, I've also enjoyed reading and responding to comments left on my blog posts by the online community at large and am also grateful for those of you who've decided to follow my blog. So, I'm giving a big heartfelt thank you to all of you that have helped me make my book blog a success!!

Here are some highlights of 2014 are as follows:

* 2014 is the year I've made the most blog posts thus far. 
* I've also listened to more audiobooks this year than in previous years... In fact, I listened to a total of 48 audiobooks just in case you were wondering! 
* I've also read a total of 52 books in 2014!! 
* The total number of books read and/or listened in 2014 comes to he grand total of 100 books.

I participated in following fun filled book related events in 2014:

Best of 2013 Audiobook Blog Hop
2014 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon

The following are some of my favorite posts I wrote about on my book blog for 2014:

Tips on How to Keep Your Paperbacks in Good Condition!!

Classic Reactions Book-Lovers Have to People Who Don't Read
15 Teen Feminist Books to Read!
Quirky Conundrums Book Lovers Understand
Read Books About Banned & Dangerous Books
25 Websites For Literature Lovers
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Us!!

I've read a total of 100 books this year. Which one is my favorite read for 2014?? Wow, that's a difficult question to answer as I enjoyed reading several books in 2014.

Here are the audiobooks I enjoyed listening to the most in 2014:

1. The Soloist by Steve Lopez
2. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
3. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss
4. Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz
5. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert.
6. Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee
7. Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James
8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
9. Scent of a Mate by Milly Taiden
10. The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson


The following is a short list of my favorite books read during 2014:

1. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
3. Larger Than Life by Jodi Picoult
4. Swan Song by Lee Hanson
5. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
6. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
7. Pure Sex by Lucinda Betts, Bonnie Edwards, & Sasha White
8. The Love Thief by Daisy Jerico
9. Macaron Murder by Harper Lin
10. Press One For Yes by Falafel Jones
11. Firegirl by Tony Abbott

So, how was your year in reading?? I hope you had an awesome year in terms of reading. Please share some of your reading highlights with me!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Happy International Men's Day!!!

Happy International Men's Day to all the men out there who Rock the World!!! 

Since my blog is primarily about books, I'm including my list of favorite books I've read this year that were written by men as follows:

1. The Soloist by Steve Lopez
2. The Professor & the Madman by Simon Winchester
3. The Playground by Ray Bradbury
4. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
5. The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson
6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
7. Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee
8. True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

9. The Asylum by John Harwood
10. Blockade Billy by Stephen King

Celebrate International Men's Day!! Share with me your favorite books by men that you've enjoyed reading this year! 

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Friday, August 1, 2014

Friday Finds #44

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I had a great week in terms of buying books!! I purchased eight books in all.

I purchased four books for a dollar each at a used bookstore in Dublin, California as follows:

Loser by Jerry Spinelli
Firegirl by Tony Abbot
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
White is For Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz

I also purchased two used books for a dollar each from the local library summer book sale this past weekend as well:

The Black Box by Michael Connelly
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

And, lastly, two used paperback novels at another indie bookstore in town called Bay Books as follows:

Dr. Nightingale Rides the Elephant by Lydia Adamson
Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis

Which books have you added to your reading list?

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

2014 Third Quarter Reading Update!

Wow, time for another quarterly reading update... Where has the time gone?? It seems like the older you grow the faster it goes!!

Lots of stuff has been going on this year for me including a big move from the Santa Barbara, California area earlier this year to San Ramon, California with my husband in mid-May. Four and a half months later, we've pretty much settled in, but are still growing use to our new environment.

Of course, reading books and listening to audiobooks has continued to play a big part of my life as always. Here's a quick recap of the past three months. I've read or listened to a total of 24 books this quarter!! This puts me at a total of 80 reads for 2014 so far. 

My favorite reads during the past quarter are as follows:

The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss
Pure Sex by Lucinda Betts, Bonnie Edwards, & Sasha White
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Larger Than Life by Jodi Picoult

How is your year in reading going?

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday --- Top Ten Book Characters That Would Be Sitting At My Lunch Table



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


The following characters are the ones that I'd want sitting with me at my lunch table at school!!

1. Susan "Stargirl" Caraway from Jerry Spinelli's novel Stargirl
2. Donald Zinkoff from Jerry Spinelli's novel Loser
3. Palmer LaRue from Jerry Spinelli's novel Wringer
4. Scout Finch from Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird
5. Hermione Granger from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series
6. Harry Potter -- Same as above!
7. Ismae from Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers
8. Augustus Waters from John Green's novel The Fault in Our Stars
9. Hazel Grace Lancaster --- Same as above!
10. Arnold Spirit Jr. from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Which characters would you want sitting with you at the lunch table at school?