Judging a book by it's cover

This is the book that Gus chose.  I assume that no explanation is necessary.  Look at the bloody cover.

Read Allowed (or not)

It could be MY fault for picking SUCH a long book, but I cannot seem to get through a chapter without Gus raising his hand with a question.  (Usually an inane question...)  After I exasperatedly explained to them agAIN how much energy reading aloud takes Gus offered me this advice:  "Mrs Curtin does THIS when we are supposed to put our hand down" and he made a kind of slashing motion.  I said "GUS!!!  You had BETTER not be interrupting your TEACHER with as many questions as you are asking me!!!!"

We are more than halfway through this great book, but it IS a 480 pager... and I might have been a little too zealous.  It's a book called "The Mysterious Benedict Soceity".... and there IS lots of mystery... and secrets... and cunning....  It's very good.  (I know this because I sneakily read ahead.... I couldn't help myself... the boys were slowing me down too much....)

The Family That Reads Together (is mostly doing it under duress)

As an experiment, we are reading My Friend Flicka as a family.  YES, that includes Gene.  I'm reading it aloud, a chapter or two a night, no ipods allowed, no texting.  Gene has not balked too much.  It's a great story (Gus's favorite).  I would like to find something that would appeal more to Gene but Gus has wanted me to reread Flicka for six months now. 

We have a great library here.  It's one of Bay's favorite places to go (mainly because there is a great little wooden kitchen which she pops into and brings me tea), but she also likes it because the boys (the little bastards) showed her the movie section.  We had a long talk in the car about the whole "point" of the library.... the REASON for the library... but the damage was done.  Our rule is that after she plays in the house, we find books and only then can she pick out ONE movie.