Book Review

I just finished listening to this book:



and I didn't think the writing or the reader of the audio book were very good, but I really liked it.  The author also wrote Pay It Forward, and this book is also hopeful and makes you feel good about how good people are.  I related to it in part because the main character is a teacher who can't help but help out a couple kids.  The characters travel through several national parks and it also made me want to visit Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Yellowstone early in the morning.  I want to camp in the parks so that we can be hiking and seeing sites at first light, before the crowds.  I want to read all the information in the visitor centers, go on tours with the park rangers, and learn a little about science.  I don't want to be on a schedule, just stay until we feel like leaving, and have plenty of time to just sit and be and soak it in.  

I wouldn't recommend this book to others, but I really liked it.  I'm trying to figure out why.

School Book Fair / Grandparents Day

This was the week that they turn our school library into a book store.  Kids shop during recesses and after school.  It's a big fund raiser where they earn $3000-$4000 for library books every year.  These are some of the books that were donated to our classroom by students or parents.  I'm so excited to get these read:

One Came Home- part mystery, part adventure, reads like an homage to True Grit.
A Long Walk to Water - dual stories, one in 2008 and one in 1985 in Sudan, based on a true story.

Inside Out & Back Again - based on the author's experiences, the story of a 10 year old girl leaving Saigon for America.
Navigating Early - How can Fred's daughter resist this cover? Reminiscent of Huck Finn, two boys set out for the Appalachian Trail on a quest for a great black bear.

I just started One Came Home and here's the first sentences: "So it comes to this, I remember thinking on Wednesday, June 7, 1871.  The date sticks in my mind because it was the day of my sister's first funeral, and I knew it wasn't her last - which is why I left."  I'm hooked already and will be reading all weekend.

Part of the great success of the book fair is the marketing plan.  This was also the week of kindergarten registration and all of the kids and their parents came through and bought. There was also a Bingo Night where you could escape the loud, hot gym and just browse through the book selection in the quiet library.  The best marketing ploy though is scheduling Grandparent's Day during the Book Fair.  Grandparents visit the child's classroom for 30 minutes of activities, bring lunches or eat school lunch, and then take their grandchild to the Book Fair.  For two and a half hours, they make bank!

I love having the grandparents visit our classroom.  I start a discussion and ask them to share some of their experiences in grade school, experiences in life, and wisdom they might want to share.  All the grandparents talk and share, and the students listen transfixed. There is always one or two that went to a small one or two room school, one who went to a strict Catholic school with nuns, and one that went to a big school in a big city.  This year, a grandparent had gone to school in Thailand.  Another grandparent had a band in high school and was the opening act to Paul Revere and the Raiders, at the fair in Portland. Grandparents talk about military service, travels, hobbies, and most of all, the importance of education as a means to a good life.  We had 27 grandparents visit this year.  Two came up from Roy, Utah, just to have lunch and go to the book fair one last time. It's a crazy day, but one of the best days.  

Charles Dickens

I always liked Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol, but I never thought I'd read David Copperfield.  It was way too long, but I ended up with a free Audible copy whispersinced to my free Kindle copy, and I gave it a listen.  I read parts of it at night, but most of it I listened to as I was getting ready in the morning.  The narration is 33 hours and 54 minutes!  That's a long book, and I loved every minute of it!  I guess I'll have to take on Oliver Twist and Great Expectations and Bleak House.

Book Club

The "no longer a Relief Society" book club met at my house on Tuesday to discuss Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman.  Only two of us had read the book, but we both really liked it.


                                   

It was published in 1952 and was very successful.  The Literary Guild chose it as a main selection. Reader's Digest condensed it. It appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and was translated into 27 languages.  Everyone was eager for a sequel, but they didn't write one for 50 years.  Instead they had a family, traveled, taught, and became grandparents.  Their second book was published in 2002.  I'm debating about getting it.

Mrs. Mike is the story of a 16 year old girl (based on a true story) that marries a Canadian Mountie and lives with the Indians, trappers, and miners in the far north of Alberta.  It takes place right at the beginning of the 1900s and lasts through the 1st World War and the flu epidemic.  It was so interesting to see how the people lived and survived in that environment, and that they loved it!  

One of the big take-aways for me was when the main character moved to a new village and met another white women who told her all of the trials and misfortunes in her life.  The woman had lived a very tragic life and lost several children.  She said, "You'll see, you'll come to understand.  These big things, these terrible things, are not the important ones.  If they were, how could one go on living?  No, it is the small, little things that make up a day, that bring fullness and happiness to a life.  Your Sergeant coming home, a good dinner, your little Mary laughing, the smell of the woods--oh, so many things, you know them yourself."  That's the part that I want to remember each day.  It's the little things that are important.

Literary Luncheon - 2015

Last Friday I took the day off work and went to the Literacy Luncheon.  It's a function that raises money for the Boise Learning Lab, and a couple of my friends are volunteer tutors there.  One of my friends speaks up and likes to be involved, so she is actually serving as president of the board this year.  She's the one who always invites me to be at her table.  The past four years we've been in charge of the table decorations, but this year we didn't have a job.  We just sat front and center and enjoyed every minute.

This is one of my favorite days of the year.  Here's why:

• I'm surrounded by friends and strangers that love books.
• There's always a student from the Learning Lab that shares their story and it's always inspirational.
• There's a silent auction with signed books and theme baskets that are donated by individuals and book clubs.  This year our yoga basket from the Rebel book club sold for $180.  
• I love to make a list of books that I might want to read.
• I love checking out the names of other book clubs.  (I like the name "Novel Women".)
• I always think that I might win a Kindle or i-pad air from the raffle.  Not this year.
• The guest author that speaks is always entertaining.  I love listening to authors speak.  They just have a way with words.

Lunch was good (with lemon cake).  I bought a centerpiece and three books from the author that spoke.  She signed all of them for me.  It was fun to see others from our table get their final bids for the book baskets that they wanted.  Two of them bought big baskets of books and toys for new grandbabies.  

Next year I want my RS book club to donate a basket.  I might even donate one of my own.  I'm sure I could get my dad to start looking for some books from the thrift store.  I'd like to do some old and new Nancy Drew books with a magnifying glass, or a Montana basket with some Ivan Doig books - maybe just a Whistling Season basket with a kazoo and a book about Halleys comet.  I have a year to figure out something good.   

Unlikely Favorite Author

The author that spoke at the Literacy Luncheon this year was sort of a last minute replacement.  In previous years we've heard from authors of adult fiction and non-fiction. This year's author, Leslie Patricelli, writes baby board books.  I was not excited.

Leslie lives in Hailey, Idaho with her husband (a professional drummer) and her three kids.  She started out her career as a graphic artist at Microsoft, and drew

this sometimes annoying dog that offered you help.  Her cubicle mate drew the paperclip helper.

They both went on to become authors and illustrators of children's books.

Leslie's inspiration comes from her kids.  She has titles like, Potty, Yucky, Yummy, Soft, Loud and No, No, Yes, Yes.  You can see why I wasn't that excited to hear her speak.  I was wrong!  She was absolutely delightful.  She had a power point that included videos of parents reading her books to their (darling) kids, and (adorable) kids reading the books.  (She's sold millions, by the way.)  She spoke of the importance of kids having their hands on books early, and reading to children. Early on her editor wanted her to use less words. Some of her books only have two words, but when the little kids read the books, they put in all the words that she edited out.  They also laugh hysterically.  I want my grandkids to read books and laugh hysterically, so I bought some of hers and had her sign them.
   

Favorite page

Favorite page - (poor kitty)

Jane Eyre Revisited

Book Club went with a classic and attendance was great.  We had a couple English Lit. teachers and a Canadian that has visited Charlotte Bronte's home in England.  There was a special Bronte table cloth and special cut-outs in our napkins, fruit, cookies, and a tart - just like having English tea.

I had read Jane Eyre in high school (on my own, not assigned) and loved it.  When I reread it, I could only remember the burning of the curtains, and the insane wife.  I didn't remember about Jane's childhood, the orphanage, her life after Rochester, or how the book ended!  I loved the book all over again.  I was also very impressed with myself as a teenager.  It wasn't a light read.

Literacy Luncheon for the Learning Lab

I have a friend on the board of the the Learning Lab, and for the last two years she has been in charge of the centerpieces.  I'm one of the people that she has recruited to help get everything set-up, which is fun, but better yet is our reward of having a table at the luncheon and getting to hear the speakers, participate in the auction, buy raffle tickets, and basically just spend the whole day with books and people who love books.

The centerpieces are mostly books (workbooks for a new language, GED help, children's books) with ribbons and colorful doodads that add interest.  People buy the centerpieces, then donate them back to the Learning Lab.  We collect the ribbons and doodads to use again next year.  Last year we had 72 tables, this year 84.  I'm sure the fundraiser was a big success.  I was outbid on all my baskets and books, but I brought home a list that I'm ordering from Amazon, and plenty of ideas for auction baskets for BEA or Trail Wind.

I saw several nice outfits - not like what I usually see when I'm with a group of school teachers or church ladies.  Our chicken dish was surprisingly very good.  The speakers were both excellent.  They always have a student from the Learning Lab and an author.  I found out the they're changing the GED at the end of the year and if you haven't completed all of the tests, then you have to start over.  That doesn't seem fair.  And I had a very enjoyable day off work. 

The student speaker had dropped out of Capital High in 1996, just a few months before graduating.  She was pregnant and thought it would be easy to pick up her GED.  It wasn't.  She had tried to study on her own, and enrolled in another program that didn't work, before she found her way to the Learning Lab.  She's now passed four of the five tests with honors, and is learning algebra and geometry so that she can take her final test this summer.  I was so struck when she said that since 2009, when she started, she's read 13 books - and she liked them!  Imagine the difference it makes in the lives of her children, when she succeeds and reads.

The author grew up in Boise and I knew her mom as a school board member.  Alyssa Harad has written a memoir that deals with her study of scents and perfume.  She told a story of a time when she was working with young people in the mental hospital here in Boise.  A boy of ten who couldn't read or write attended her poetry writing classes and was a rock star among the others because of his poetry.  She would start the class by reading a few poems, then the students would write and share their own.  This boy would pretend to write, but really only drew big loopy scribbles.  He "read" his poems and others were wowed.  Once at the beginning of class she stopped reading because she thought this boy was getting upset.  He told her not to stop, because he found his poems in the poetry that she was reading.  She then encouraged us to not stop reading, because others find their poems or their stories through our reading.  It was very powerful in a room full of book lovers.

 

Wrong Reading

Next Tuesday we're getting together for book club, and I'm leading the discussion.  For the past two months I've been previewing the book at our meetings, and telling everyone how much they'll enjoy it.  Yesterday my friend returned the book to me, and as we talking about it, I realized that I have never read the book!  I read the second book in the series.  I told everyone that I wanted to have breakfast with the badgers....and there aren't any badgers in the first book.  Now I have a week to read the book, and some explaining to do that night.

Potluck and Prose Society

Book Club was at my house last night.  We were few in number (4), and even fewer had read the book (1).  I had looked up some information on the internet, and Terry had shared with me information from when he heard the author speak once.  We had a good discussion, and it's a good book.  I'd like to get it and read it sometime. 

Fore refreshments I had tried three different recipes from Pinterest, but I'll only make one of them again.  I'd been looking forward to these peanut butter brownies with pretzels on top.  They weren't very good.  But the pumpkin fudge...was fabulous!  As soon as I polish off the first 2 pounds I made, I'm going to make some more.

The Ladies Auxiliary

That's the title of our latest book club read.  I didn't finish it, but we had a great discussion last night in Sue Ann's back yard.  I always love sitting out there.  It's very inviting and she was born to be a hostess.  We had a good turn out.  The book is about a free-spirited woman that has converted to Judaism, and moves from New York into a close-knit Orthodox community in Memphis.  We made a lot of comparisons to Relief Society, and small town communities.  It was an insightful book, and an insightful discussion. 

Since the book dealt in part with teenage daughters that rebelled against rigid society, one of the new mothers asked how you can keep your children from rebelling.  That brought on quite a long discussion.  In the end, you can't.  I personally always liked Ty's determination to be independent.  It drives me a little crazy sometimes, but I want to love and support him as he finds his own way.  We had a lot to talk and think about that night.  We also had some very good carrot cake made by Mary Jo.

Love Story

My reading time is usually just before I go to bed.  It makes me sleepy, so it's difficult to get through too many books.  I try to read one a month, usually the one for my book club, but even those are often half finished.  Even really good books take me forever to read.  Last weekend I devoured one.

This wasn't the best book I've ever read, and it's not the kind of book I usually read, but the planets just aligned.  I couldn't put it down and I've been thinking about it ever since.  It's written by Ree Drummond, a long time blogger.  I had visited her blog a few times, but now I want to keep up with her even more.  The book is The Pioneer Woman Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

It's the story of meeting, falling in love, courting, getting married, and having a baby.  It's a love story.  She's funny and it's a feel good book.  It reminds you what falling in love feels like, and how you should feel about your man.  Besides, it's a cowboy story.

I hadn't heard about the Black Heels book, but just a couple weeks ago I had bought her cookbook for my friend's birthday present.  Before I gave it too her, I had tried a couple recipes.  They were very good.  I've been told though, that I tried the wrong ones.  Her cinnamon roll recipe is suppose to be life changing.  My friend took them to a church event and was asked to give up her job and just make cinnamon rolls for a living.  I'll have to give them a try.

Monday of Spring Break

I still feel crumby today, but I had signed-up to deliver milk to the women's shelter, so I ventured out.  Of course it started hailing.  What kind of spring break is this!  Actually it only lasted a few minutes and it made me feel good to donate milk.  It also made me feel good to buy all healthy, fresh vegetables and tofu at Winco.  I'm going to be making purees and using them in my sneaky recipes.  The sun came out with some blue skies.  My pansies are happy, and Terry is taking me to Blue Cow - medicine for my sore throat.  I've finished 4 books that I've been reading since Christmas.  I have my sewing machine out.  I've ordered the crochet patterns, and cleaned one room.  I think everything will be good.

The Tale of Holly How

I've been reading ahead of my book group.  Our November selection is a mystery from a series call The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.  I love Beatrix Potter and English cottages.  I've decided to spend a good deal of my summer reading this series, out on a patio swing, with lemonade, and maybe even cucumber sandwiches.  It's like a cross between the books of James Herriot and The First Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana.  The animals talk and help solve the mysteries and it works.  I've been delighted.

We were watching the basketball tournament this week and one of the teams were the badgers - maybe Wisconsin.  I've always thought of badgers as being mean and stinky, but now that I've read about Bosworth Badger, I really like them.  Bosworth keeps the history and genealogy of the badgers.  He has a beautiful library in The Brockery.  I like him better than Professor Galileo Newton Owl, and I've always loved owls.

This morning I was reading a chapter that started at breakfast in The Brockery.  There are a variety of animals at the table since the badgers take in permanent and temporary lodgers.  They were all rested and full of exuberant energy and interesting plans for the day--always a wonderful day, because animals rarely worry or imagine the worst of what is to come, as people do.  They are generally planning a picnic, or a foraging expedition, or just loafing on a quiet river bank.  I thought wouldn't it be great to have toast and marmalade with them.  What a way to start the day.

Tuesday's Doings

My father-in-law came home from the hospital on Monday.  He'd had two small strokes, H1N1, and rehabilitation, all in one week.  For an 88 year old, I think he probably set some kind of record.  Family from SLC came up today for a visit and to lend a hand.  I sent some food over, but went to my book group for our February discussion.

I love my book group.  I always love being around women of all ages; talking, sharing, laughing, learning, and usually eating.  I also love reading and sharing book thoughts with each other.  This book was so interesting.  You can check it out here.  Between reading The Journey Takers and watching the DVD A Celebration of Family History I'm a changed person.  I might not get started on genealogy until summer, but I'm blogging right now.

Amazon Arrival

My two books arrived!  The first is The Journey Takers which is for my book club.  It's part memoir, part family history book.  I think I'll really like it, but I'm lending it to a friend first since she has to lead the discussion and I won't get it finished in time anyway.

The second is The Death and Life of the Great American School System -How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education.  Sounds dry, but I think it will just get me all fire-up.  Tom Luna, State Superintendent of Idaho Public Schools, has me all fire-up, and the legislature, and the Statesman, and the Katherine Albertson Foundation, but I'm really too busy teaching to attend all the hearings, town hall meetings, and forums.  I'll just read, pray, and e-mail my new senator, Mitch Toryanski.  Hopefully after reading the book, I'll be able to write an intelligent and persuasive e-mail, instead of just a hot one.