RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

TUESDAY TEASER

Open what you’re reading now, pick a random couple of sentences and post them (scroll way down until you see the words “Leave a Reply” and enter your sentences, title and author in the box) as your Tuesday Teaser to tempt us to add your book to our TBR list. Here’s mine from The Bone People, truly a classic by Keri Hulme, the 1985 winner of the Booker Prize:

A father holding his son in his arms says, “You are still too thin, but you”ve always been slight ..and it’s been better since Kerewin (the female protagonist) arrived. Well, not so much arrived as you discovered her…I wonder what she really thinks of us.”

This is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read–both horrible and beautiful at the same time.  I am only on page 172 out of 437 pages, but I am anticipating the ending with awe and almost fear.  It is a strong book dealing with a strong issue and peopled by strong characters.  Anything could happen.

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9 responses to “TUESDAY TEASER”

  1. readerbuzz Avatar
    readerbuzz

    From Letters of Note, Vol. 2:

    Husband Until Death
    Abream Scriven to His Wife

    Savannah Sept the 19, 1858

    Dinah Jones

    My Dear Wife

    I take the pleasure of writing you these few lines with much regret to inform you that I am Sold to a man by the name of Peterson a treader and Stays in New Orleans. I am here yet But I expect to go before long but when I get there I will write and let you know where I am. My Dear I want to Send you Some things but I donot know who to Send them By but I will try to get them to you and my children. Give my love to my father & mother and tell them good Bye for me and if we Shall not meet in this world I hope to meet in heaven. My Dear wif for you and my Children my pen cannot Express the griffe I feel to be parted from you all. I remain your truly
    Husband until death
    Abream Scriven

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      I don’t know if i could read the book if all the letters were this sad!

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  2. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    How heartbreaking… This sounds a riveting and unsettling read – I hope the ending isn’t too shocking.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Heartbreaking is exactly the word for it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Johanna Hume Avatar
    Johanna Hume

    From “The Incarnations” by Susan Barker.

    One of the main characters is a taxi driver in China. “In nearly a decade he has stolen only one thing: a self-assembly kite in a box, the frame slotting together to make a magnificent dragon with a one-metre wingspan. Wang saw the forgotten kite in the back seat…That weekend Wang and Echo (his daughter) flew the kite together in Chaoyang Park, the crimson dragon fluttering its tail as it darted over the lakes and trees. As he watched Echo that day, smiling and gazing up to the kite in the sky, Wang thought of the old man’s kite and tried not to feel bad. What’s the good of one person clinging to his morals when everyone else is so corrupt? What’s the good of that?”

    I’m only 25 pages in and already quite swept up in the story. It promises to be quite a ride! I got it for my son for Christmas and then promptly went to the library and got myself a copy.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Title and author, please. I want to get it from the library next.

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      1. Rae Longest Avatar
        Rae Longest

        Obviously I missed the first line the first time around. Humblest apologies.

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  4. Rae Longest Avatar
    Rae Longest

    Gary Pegoda sent in this Tuesday Teaser from The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers:
    “Very proper indeed, ma’am. Now tell me whether on any occasion when you visited the graves, the wreaths presented the appearance of having been disturbed or the earth shifted about, or anything of that kind?”

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    I LOVE The Nine Tailors – Dorothy L. Sayers is awesome:)

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