AHHHH! The Smell of Books in the Morning…
Some books featuring strong female characters, except for the last one.:
Minli is a child driven by love for her family and a desire to change their fortune. Living a hardscrabble existence, Minli, goes on a journey to talk with the Old Man of the Moon. Along the way there is a kind dragon, an evil green tiger, mischievous monkeys, clever children, talking goldfish, and a kind boy, among other characters. This book reminded me of a Chinese version of The Wizard of Oz. She even had to follow the yellow road at one point. The book is made of short chapters with short folktales making perfect segues. The story was like a lovely woven tapestry. One of my favorite stories is when some of the villagers that Minli meets take fabric from each of their own clothes to create a warm jacket for her to continue her journey. These people where the exemplars of happiness and their selflessness in helping Minli brought tears to my eyes. The lessons in this book were ones that would be beneficial to all.
This was a decent beginning to a series about a young woman who is saved from the gallows to become a part of group of secret agents. I never felt immersed in this Victorian era mystery. It had a rather modern feel. That being said I liked the character of Mary Lang and had a desire to go along on her quest to find out information on a possible smuggler. There was nuance missing in this first book, so I'm curious how the next in the series compares.
This reads very much like a college paper, which is not surprising since Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is a scholar. She begins the book explaining how a short phrase from one of her early research became a phenomenon in the world of apparel and novelties. She goes on to discuss the impact made by woman such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Virginia Woolf, Christine de Pizan. She explains how these woman were acting within societies norms, but them came to something that they could not abide. This prior history gave the women more credibility when they finally chose to speak and act out to change. I had a bit of an issue with the information presented about Joan of Arc. I have read other scholarship that downplays the historical tales of her actions. I think what I would have preferred was explaining how the tales affected readers and listeners with out making Joan of Arc's actions coming across as having actually happened. Untrue events can have a concrete affect on behaviors. Overall it came off as a bit dry, but I do like reading about women who are willing to stand up for what they deem as right.
This biography has the feel of a rambling chat with a wizened grandmother. Mrs. Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson is a woman willing to admit mistakes and to have a dialogue with anyone with which she might have a disagreement. This attitude, I felt, was the most endearing and enduring message of her life's story. She has genuine compassion for others that was displayed by her career as a social worker. She wants people to take responsibility and be treated with dignity. The story is not told chronologically, so the out of sequence events can get a little muddled in the presentation. The author may have improved the presentation with a tighter narrative, but the book is an informational read. I appreciated getting Mrs. Johnson's perspective over her eventful life.
The tripods rule over the humans by using a metal cap placed on the head at the 14th birthday. Sometimes the capping doesn't go well and creates deranged behavior causing the person to be called a vagrant. Will and his cousin Henry are reluctant companions on an escape to The White Mountains were there are humans struggling to remain free from tripod control. Along the way they meet "Beanpole" who is their logical "Spock-like" friend who saves them from jail. The writing is rather halting and was a bit awkward for reading aloud, but the story is engaging and my 10 year-old remained eager throughout. I too wanted to know what would happen and I look forward to the sequels.
Friends and Books
It was so nice to get a call from my wonderful friend, Crystal P., inviting me out to lunch at the Blue Rooster. She also invited Virginia L. We had a great time talking and eating. Crystal wants to adopt my mother and vice versa. She was also Eve's preschool teacher.:::::::Book Reviews::::::
What a thoroughly endearing and funny man is Major Ernest Pettigrew of Edgecombe. His love of honor and civility is needled by a son who lives only for "The Deal" and keeping up with the proverbial Joneses. Major Pettigrew's strikes up a friendship with Mrs. Ali. Both he and Mrs. Ali are widowers with a love for literature. Other side characters give wonderful texture to this story that unfolds very nicely. The thread that ties the story from beginning to end is the pair of Churchill guns. The plausible storyline of the animosity between brothers over a separated pair of guns is brought to an odd conclusion at the end of the story. The contrived ending that included a psychotic, knitting needle wielding lady threw the tone of the book quite off for me. Don't get me wrong, this book is very well crafted with only a miss step in a side story line. The relationship that develops between Mrs. Ali and the Major is engaging. The devolving relationship between the Major's son, Roger and his fiancee is also interesting. The commentary on how different races treat each other and the rampant classicism is treated on just the right note. I also was very fond of Gertrude who is a wonderful friend to the major.
What a gem of a book!
This book is a well prepared recipe of characters. The separate chapters that explain each character in the cooking class is intriguing. Each character acts as the just the right ingredient that combines into a superb final dish. In a brief book there is so much depth. A delightful read!
::::::::::::Drama Club:::::::
Rachel was excited to tell us that she was selected to be a member of the middle school Drama Club. She said there are about 20 members. I think she also said that some of her friends are members too. Julia, Sabrina and Brenna are the names I can think of now.
Later!
Reading, Reading, and More Reading…
***Edited Post: See correction before Dracula and Frankenstein book reviews.The meaning of "Friend" has a ton of definitions. One of the ones I subscribe to explains a friend who politely tells you when you have goofed up and straightens you out, or reminds you of what really happened. You might think the absence of drug use in my life might limit my need for memory correction, but that is not the case. I have to go over things several times to remember things and try to get them right, and you can tell me the same joke repeatedly because I forget them. My brain is magnetized to collect trivial and inane information, which I find perplexing (and Michael finds mildly disturbing). I do think that I can be taught, you just have to keep saying it sometimes. This was my loooonnnnggg winded way to tell Teacherninga, Jim, that I appreciate his kindly correction.
Well, school has started back. Okay, so it was a few weeks ago, but we are starting to settle into our routine of homework, not doing homework, grumbling, stern glares, stern talking to, remembering to do school work...well most of it, as least. The one shining thing has been unexpected. Aaron and Rachel want to be in Drama Club in their respective schools. Rachel is waiting to hear if she will be allowed in her club, but Aaron just has to show up and help out at his school. The director of the Drama program has a genuine love for all of the kids. Aaron wants to help in stage designing and set up. He has already liberated six dollars from my purse, with permission, to support the bake sale for the drama program. Michael and I see that this is a positive avenue for him so we signed up to be Gold Sponsors of the club. Rachel already is familiar with the teacher through drama summer camps each year, so we figure why not support Aaron and the program now. He told us that he wishes he had started in his freshman year. He came home with names of drama club folks on his arm to add them to his Facebook friend list. I would have used paper, but he often goes a different route.
Comfort Snowberger's "Life Notices" made me laugh and I agreed with her that "Death Notices" are too boring. My own maternal grandmother, Mama Doris, would read the obituaries in the newspaper each day to see if her name showed up. I would read them out of curiosity and always wondered about those who died...well really, about the life they lived. People intrigue me. My maternal grandfather's family had run the Harris' Funeral Home in Phenix City, Alabama, so when my friend Kim told me about this book I checked it out from the library. I loved Comfort's family and her dog Dismay. I really loved Great, Great Aunt Florentine and I agreed with her that there can never be too many brownies. The advice for how to act at a funeral and what food to bring is practical and should be taken to heart. My heart was broken in the last chapters, so just be warned to grab some tissues. This was a great read.
***Great set of books! I need to correct one thing, though. Mary Shelly did in fact write Frankenstein after the summer of 1816 which she spent in Geneva with Percy Shelly, Lord Byron, and Dr. John Polidori. They all told fantastic tales to each other and hers went on to become Frankenstein. Polidori came up with the only other published piece, "The Vampyre" which features, as far as I know, the first aristocratic vampire. This was an influence on Bram Sroker's book, I'm sure, but since he wasn't even born until 1847 and Mary Shelly died in 1851, I don't think they ever got a chance to tell each other any stories in person. Sorry, I wrote a paper on this once!
By the way, I think the disease book is the creepiest one of the bunch!
I finally got around to reading the books that came out of a rainy night ghost story challenge. Written in the form of letters back and forth was a great vehicle for telling this story. Dracula, not surprisingly, is one creepy dude. He has had quite a lot of time to make some devious plans that take him to England. He enlists the help of a lawyer, Jonathon Harker, who thinks he is only brokering a simple land deal to find himself trapped in Dracula's castle. Harker eventually escapes back to London where Dracula has already ensconced and putting his plans into action. One of the first victims is Lucy Westenra who is the best friend of Harker's fiance Mina.
Overall, I thought the mixture of superstition, pseudo-science, and science interesting. There was one character I wanted to beat with a stick and that was Lucy Westenra's mother. Weak female characters drive me to distraction. I got pretty perturbed when the character of Mina Harker puts the various threads together and figures out what Dracula is doing, then the men in the story put her in a room to keep her "safe", which allows Dracula to get to her. I have always disagreed with the mentality of a victim being filthy because they were violated. I would argue that this has been prevalent for centuries in most cultures. In Dracula, the person bitten becomes immediately filthy and could not go to heaven unless the vampire that bit them has been destroyed, which can be compared to how victims of rape are perceived. I think this parallel is something that is worth discussion.
The book was a great "ghost story" with the devious machinations of a centuries old nut job, a handful of loyal friends, damsels in distress, some fly and bird eating, a bit of dismemberment, a ship voyage, a lot of superstition, and a smidge of suspense. It was worth the read and a good baseline for the pop culture that I have grown up watching.
Another of the ghost stories that came from the rainy night challenge. I prefer this one over Dracula. It was nice to read this after growing up watching different movie versions of the Frankenstein monster. The format for telling the story is initially letters, then it turns in to a manuscript, then back to letters. What happens when you have the ability to reanimate parts in to a whole, especially one that you created to be larger than life. Victor Frankenstein immediately flees from his odious creation leaving that creation to fend for itself. The monster's realization of what he is coupled with the reaction he gets when he seeks kindness from those around him drive him to hatred of his creator and humanity. Victor Frankenstein abhors what he has done and it leads him to a mental and physical breakdown as he constantly berates his actions. The monster wants Frankenstein to build him a companion, which leads to more emotional and physical turmoil. A great book for discussing how humans treat those with physical differences and the "godlike" powers of some scientific endeavors.
I have to read about the same subject repeatedly because my ability to retain information is abysmal. This book touching on the subjects of smallpox, leprosy, cholera, AIDS, plague, and malaria. The section on leprosy explaining how research figured out what was going on, which allowed for the idea of the illness being a disease, not a curse was really amazing stuff. The fact the the microorganism that causes leprosy likes the cooler parts of the body, then multiplies in the nerves making them thick and rope-like. This thickening makes the nerves numb, which leads to injury.
The section on Tuberculosis was a must read since a student at our elementary school was diagnosed with the disease and it lead to some students and staff being tested. Tuberculosis can hide out and wait for the immune system to be compromised and then attack the tissues. The author listed some of the treatments people tried throughout the centuries to fight this disease. None of them pleasant.
The section on Malaria explained some of the unintended consequences of using DDT. Houses sprayed to kill mosquitoes would leave the chemical to also be ingested by the roaches, which would be eaten by the lizards. The weakened lizards would be caught and eaten by the cats. The cats would die, which allowed the rat population to burgeon and the risk of plague to replace the malaria.
Cholera is just plain nasty. If you are able to replace the massive lose of fluids you can survive, but outbreaks usually strain the ability of health care workers to give aid. Make sure your water source is clean. I thought it was fascinating that people that live in India could use Saris folded over eight times as filters. The older cloth would actually work better. A practical solution for rural people.
Overall, a fascinating book and one great for teens to adult.
My next books will be mostly from books I will be reading for Book Club. I am excited about the choices.
Smiles!
Fahgettaboudit!
That was the title in my head when I was thinking about the history stories in this first book review:
I had a good laugh along with learning some changes to history as researched by Graeme Donald. There always seems to be a caveat to any historical story, so I am even skeptical about these changes, but they are plausible. I was intrigued by the theory that many of the presumed bubonic plague cases might have actually been anthrax. For those who love to learn about history, but think it a bit dry this book is up your alley.
This book brought back a bit of nostalgia. The main character's mother is practicing for her appearance on the Twenty-Five Thousand Dollar Pyramid. That was one of the many t.v. game shows that I loved to watch. Miranda is a 6th grader who is a latch key kid who can't figure out what is going on with her best friend Sal. New York City is the setting and Miranda begins to get mysterious notes that spook her. A thread that runs through the book is the time traveling, science fictions story by Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle Time.
This book combined layered characters, science fiction, friendship, growing up and questioning how far you might go to right a wrong. A fantastic book for tweens to adults.
The setting for this book is Adenville, Utah where only a few towns folk are not Mormons. Tom, The Great Brain, and is brothers and mom and dad are part of the non-Mormon contingent. Tom and his brothers hold their own in the hard scrabble life of kids growing up at the end of the 1800's. In this town you have to show your strong, so you won't get beat up. Tom is always looking for a way to make a penny and his family keep him, somewhat, in check...but not much.
This book was recommended to me by a friend with the review that it was a lot of fun. I would have to say that there are, indeed, many adventures that the boys get into throughout the book, but the undertones maintained a mean-spiritedness that Rachel and I found distasteful reminding us of how we felt while reading The Diary of A Wimpy Kid. I felt that the entire book was a set up for the last page, which surprisingly delivers. Unfortunately, there are the rest of the pages that led up to that last one that you have to read. Simply not a fun book for our family read.
As I read this book absentmindedly, then more nervously scratching at a couple of mosquito bites on my neck, I was drawn in with the clear and engaging prose of Sonia Shah. She presented the history of Malaria and the mosquito as the vector for it's spread in a fascinating way. She explains the health consequences of malaria and how quickly and easily it can be transmitted throughout the world. She explains the political and economic ramifications of this plasmodium parasite and doesn't genuflect to deep pocket backers of malaria research who throw money at the problem in the genuine effort to fix the problem without listening to and looking at other more realistic scientific options. The plasmodium parasite has an ability to quickly adapt to the changing environment and pesticides while researchers continue to seek a way to defeat it's transmission.
Grab a hankie my friends! This book plucks all the heart strings. Petey is born with a severe case of cerebral palsy and also given the diagnosis of "Idiot" though he doesn't have a mental deficit. His mother and father are unprepared or able to take care of Petey's physical needs and those of their older children who feel neglected by all of the care required by Petey. At the age of 2 Petey goes to a state asylum. Over the years Petey's natural good nature helps him make friends, but most move on. Finally a young boy befriends Petey and learns that family can be more than biological. Petey also teaches those around him to appreciate things that are taken for granted.
Mo Willems can make Naked Mole Rats look great. This book was a fun read about being an individual...with style.
A rather clinical approach, not surprising, for the history of the Epidemic Intelligence Service. The evolution of this program to help locate the vectors and origins of epidemics. They can upset people because they are not on the scene as health care providers. They are masters at asking pertinent questions to find the source of the outbreaks through interviews and on sight detective work. There was a lot of information to present, which I'm sure was daunting. Though I found the subject fascinating I kept comparing this work to the writing of the development of forensics in the U.S. by Deborah Blum titled, The Poisoner's Handbook. Blum's prose is captivating, while Pendergast is a bit dry. I still found the characters and the development of the E.I.S. worth the read.
Learning to say "it's my fault" and "I'm sorry" is a hard lesson for many of us. This gooey mess of a book brings it home in a creative, eye-catching way. A Dr. Seuss I should have read eons ago. A simple message that can accomplish great things.
::::::::::::::::Conversations with Noah and Eve
On our return from the dentist office Noah and Eve got into a discussion about children and marriage.
Noah: I'm never getting married. I'm going to adopt.
me: You don't want any one who can help you?
Noah: No. I can do it.
Eve: Are you going to adopt a boy or a girl?
Noah: It will probably be a dude.
me: Will you make him wear a belt and get a haircut? (This is a reference to our discussion on Sunday about wearing a belt and getting his hair cut.)
Noah: Yeah, I'll make him wear a belt sometimes, but no ties. I hate ties.
Eve: Why not adopt a girl they don't wear belts.
Noah: I don't understand girls. I don't get them at all.
:::::::::::::Michael and Rachel Circulating the Room:::::::
Rachel requested a room makeover. She firmly stated that she had outgrown pink and lavender along time ago (this did not take into account that Eve was 7 and still liked it). We went to the home improvement stores to get paint samples. She did get final approval with Eve, since they share the room. She chose "Aegean Blue" and "Blue Suede". The lighter color matched exactly to the sample, but the darker bottom color came out greener, but it still looked good so we went with it. I cut it everything and Michael did a couple of coats of the lighter top color before leaving for Philmont, NM with Aaron. Eve cried that the castle Michael painted would be gone, but Michael assured her it would be okay and that we would take a photo.
Bye, our Castle in the Sky...
I patched all the little nail and pin holes.
I finished touch ups on the top, painted the bottom and the chair rail:
When Michael got home he helped Rachel put up her repositionable vinyl circles in chocolate brown and white:
I had already hung the Japanese paper lantern I found at Kohl's department store:
The company sent a complimentary pair of chocolate brown butterflies:
Michael found a salvaged cork board for some of the girls' artwork:
Rachel loves her Photo booth pics with her brother Noah:
Rachel displays a letter and magazine photo from her friend Julia (apparently there is some inside joke about llamas). She also has her detailed map of "Rachovia" (a town from her imagination...or is it? The photo of the crazy, long curly fry was a keeper too.
:::::::::::::Next post should have Philmont photos from Michael and Aaron's trip.
Smiles and thank you to Michael for fixing the computer!
What’s Up?
:::::::Zoo Trip from Last Week:::::
:::Book Reviews::::
Some bizarre and interesting facts mixed with some conjecture about creatures we live with on Earth. Some amazing adaptations and some that are rather freaky make me think that being human is not to shabby.
A sad, but necessary cautionary tale of human intervention in Florida has to do with people putting an abundance of bird seed out to encourage birds to visit their gardens, but it causes the birds to produce young too early. The adults can eat the seeds, but the hatchlings need grubs and larvae, so they often die of malnutrition.
One of my favorite stories was about the male lyrebird from Australia. The lyrebird's ability to mimic sound has me in awe!
Another great story is about sheep not being all that dumb. There are sheep in Yorkshire, England who would run and then tuck and roll to get over the cattle grates to raid the farmers gardens.
Another interesting fact that no eels have been witnessing reproducing in captivity. Eels...who would have thought they would be the masters of restraint?
A quick and enjoyable read.
::::::
Paul Yeager injects a lot of personality along with his informative book about weather. He dispels many weather inspired myths and clears up many queries on why the weather does what it does. He explains that though we Southerners perceive humid air as heavy it is actually lighter than dry air. He states, "It just feels heavier because we feel warm, clammy, and disgusting." (He speaks the truth about that perception, indeed). He also dispels the myth about "heat lightning"...(hint: there is no such thing). A great gardening tip from p. 198, "water the garden after it rains". This promotes deep root growth and conserves water. Yeager states that if you are certain on a light rain will fall you can water while it is still raining, "Ont only will it have the same effect on the garden, but it will give the neighbors something to talk about." A wonderful book for understanding our world.
:::::::::Piano Lessons:::
Eve is enjoying her piano lessons. She is experiencing some frustration with reading the notes consistently. The pattern is the same as we see with her with reading books. I have taken to sitting with her during her practices and trying some different strategies. I have her tell me what note she sees. I have her tell me what notes to play. Then she plays the piece. She goes through it about 3 times to play it consistently. Part of her reading problem has her recognizing the note immediately, then forgetting the same note a few measures over. I think it is part confidence part developmental delay. She gets claps, hugs and kisses with each success. I am having to remember the lessons I had as a kid. I could never get my left hand to play staccato correctly with my right, so I gave up lessons. Michael is our fallback since he reads music.
Eve also picks up Aaron's guitar... (it is a lonely guitar and likes the gentle stroking). Michael and I plan to trade it in and get a 3/4th size guitar for Eve as a Christmas present.
:::::::::::Dr. Who::::::::
Just wanted to give a shout out to Matt Smith for being, yet another, enjoyable Dr. Who. His take on the Dr. is pretty cool. Our entire family like his portrayal. We also like his companion, Amy Pond. Their was a collective sigh of sadness when Rory was absorbed into the crack in space.
Later, gators!
Save the Drama for Your Mama…
...at least this kind is fun!
::::::::Drama Camp:::
The theme for this year was Myths, Legend, Monsters & Heros. The title of Rachel's skit was, "The Golden Apple".
It's Basically a mixed up version of the Story of the Golden Apple. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite are attending their friend Thereus's wedding when Eris the Goddess of Discord throws an apple at Thereus's head. Written in it's skin are the words: For the Fairest. The three Goddesses fight over the apple and turn to Zeus. Zeus doesn't want to be given the responsibility of choosing the fairest amongst his family so he gives the burden to a handsome sheep herder named Paris. Who is tricked by Eris to pick her as the fairest causing Aphrodite the one with the biggest ego of the three stays behind crying. Thereus comes in and tells Aphrodite that life isn't fair.
~Rachel Taylor
Rachel T.:Hera, Julia B.: Narrator, Thereus, Brenna M., Charles: Paris, Camille G.: Eris, Sabrina F.: Athena, Lydia P.: Aphrodite, Lauren S.: Jupiter. Counselors: John Fiscian, Alexis Osenga.
Rachel, Alexis, and Brenna:
Rachel and Lydia:
Julia and Rachel:
Sabrina, Rachel, Lydia, Lauren, and Brenna:
The finale:
Aaron congratulates Alexis on a good performance:
Michael having fun behind Rachel's back:
Alexis teases Noah:
We drove to Steak and Shake for a celebratory lunch. Rachel got chili cheese fries. Noah loved his chicken tenders and wanted to order more, but we said no. On the way home he was playing his dsi in the back seat. When we pulled into the driveway he got out of the car went up on the porch, turned around a puked over the railing. He had gotten car sick. He is so calm when he is sick. My other kids cry out, not Noah. He is rather matter of fact about things. He was able to rest up before cub scout camp. He had a great time. Lesson learned for the day...Noah can't read or play games in the car without it making him sick.
I love reading this series out loud to my family. It is a great one to read to yourself, as well. Michael Buckley's flawed heroines and hero, two young girls and a funky (I mean smelly) boy fairy take the reader on quite a bumpy ride through the Book of Everafter to save the girls' baby brother. There are fairytales familiar and unfamiliar, but different characters are called on to explain each tale so no one is left in the proverbial dark. There is even a scrapbooking reference that I found hilarious. The dialogue is quick and clever and the descriptions of the settings and characters are rich. I was so happy to see the phrase "...to be continued" at the end of the book. YEAH!
::::::::::Plans for Saturday:::::::
I hope to be able to give blood tomorrow. If you would like to donate and live near Tucker send me an e-mail and I can get you the details to donate too.
Smiles!
