Friday, April 3, 2009

What We're Reading for May 29th!


Who: Eastview Students
What: Memorial Day by Vince Flynn
When: Lunch - Friday, May 29th
Where: Room C234
Why: Because REAL MEN READ!!!

Students - our next book for RMR is Vince Flynn's, Memorial Day. Flynn is a local author who has written several NY Times best sellers which feature CIA agent, Mitch Rapp as the main character.

Vince Flynn grew up in Apple Valley and attended Valley Middle School and then went to high school at St. Thomas Academy. I've read all of his books and I'm really excited for you to experience at least one book from the Mitch Rapp series.

This past winter, I had a chance to listen to Mr. Flynn talk about his latest book, Extreme Measures at the Barnes & Noble at the Galleria in Edina. He is really an interesting person and was able to share some really interesting experiences which have come to him because of his engaging and extremely realistic albeit fictional writing.

The latest entry in Flynn's popular Mitch Rapp series (after 2003's Executive Power) offers a gripping look at what could transpire if a terrorist group were to sneak a nuclear weapon into the U.S. Rapp, the relentless, marble-hearted CIA assassin and terrorist hunter, would never let that happen, of course, and Flynn's description of the process of bringing a nuke ashore and the lengths to which the government's counterterrorism force will go to prevent harm to U.S. citizens add up to another page-flipping extravaganza.

Rapp, back in the field after a long stint on desk duty for insubordination, unearths the bomb plot during a daring commando raid on an al-Qaeda stronghold in Afghanistan. A U.S. strike force manages to intercept and disarm the nuke moments after it arrives by freighter in Charleston, S.C. Everyone, including series stalwart President Robert Hayes, congratulates themselves on a job well done, but Rapp isn't convinced; he believes al-Qaeda leader Mustafa al-Yamani has smuggled a second nuke into the country and plans to detonate it in Washington, D.C., during Memorial Day celebrations.

Rapp, a ruthless terrorist pursuer by temperament and training, turns it up several notches this time around, following al-Yamani's scent with feverish abandon. Flynn trots out his usual assortment of characters to keep the action tense-wishy-washy cabinet members, political climbers, invective-spewing terrorists and a selected assortment of ice queens who use sex as a weapon. Yet his skillful use of converging plots, particularly the panic created by having a nuke on the loose, is enough to keep Flynn's growing fan base more than willing to overlook the formulaic components. Agent, Sloan Harris. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

RMR Event this Friday!

Hi everyone! A reminder that our "Real Men Read" group will be meeting this Friday, April 3rd during all four lunches in Room C234 to discuss, Dune! If you are planning to attend, be sure to click on the comments on the post below (Sign-up NOW) and list your name and which lunch you're attending.

Also, if you plan to attend be sure to indicate your food choice using the "poll" on the sidebar so I know how much pizza to order.

See you on Friday!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Copies of "DUNE" are available!

Students - the media center was able to secure many copies of DUNE for you to check out! Go the media center today to check out your copy and begin reading this great novel and be sure to sign up for our event using the post below!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sign up NOW

Students interested in reading "Dune" and attending the April 3rd talk should click on "Comments" to this post...provide your name and which lunch you're attending!

Friday, February 13, 2009

What We're Currently Reading

  • Who: Eastview students
  • What: "Dune" by Frank Herbert
  • When: Lunch - Friday, April 3rd
  • Where: Room C234
  • Why: Because, REAL MEN READ!

Students - the last poll ended in a tie so today I flipped a coin during 3rd hour and the choice was made...we're reading "Dune" by Frank Herbert. We will most likely read the Vince Flynn book later this spring.

SIGN-UP to read this book and join the talk by clicking on "COMMENTS" (on this post) - provide your name and which lunch you will be attending the talk.

Check with the Media Center for copies of the book. You can also check the Dakota County libraries as well as the Half Price Book Store in Apple Valley. If you've exhausted those options, you may need to go to the local booksellers and pay ~$8.00 for a paperback copy.

LET DR. BEACH KNOW IF YOU NEED HELP GETTING A BOOK....don't let availability or money stop you from reading this great novel!

Here's a review which was written last month on the Barnes & Noble web site:

For anybody who is a fan of science fiction, or anybody who likes a good read, Dune is an absolute must. For sci-fy fans, you need to read this novel, since if you haven't, you have missed out on one of the greatest novel's of our time. This book should be required reading for schools everywhere. Dune is a great mix of political intrigue, philosophical musings, action, and morality. The story is of Paul's transformation from the son of a duke, to the hardened veteran of the desert, then to a messiah of the people of Dune, (the Freemen), the great Muad'Dib. We see Paul Muad'Dib rise in maturity as he comprehends the results of his actions, and sees how he can save the human universe from the tranquilizing drug of gradulism it had succumbed to. This all culimates into an ending that is so riviting you will not be able to put down the book, I know this from personal experince while reading Dune. When you are done, the questions, lingering from reading Dune will leave you questioning what humanity is truly capable of doing and achieving.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Last Chance to Vote for Our Next Book!

Students - the last poll was very close between the two books listed below. Please take a moment to examine the book links and then cast your vote using the poll on the right hand side. The next RMR event will be on Friday, April 3, 2009. We will announce which book we are reading by this Friday, Feb. 13th!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Next RMR Event Scheduled for April 3rd!

Students - our next 'Real Men Read' event will be on Friday, April 3, 2009. Below are the titles to consider for our next 'read.' Please click on the titles to read descriptions of the books and then "vote" for your choice using the poll to the right.