RAE’S READS

recent posts

about

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.”

SUNDAY (EVENING) POST

This has been an “off week”, and I took advantage of it by making it a reading week. Tuesday through today (Sunday) my main activity has been reading.

I have finished:

Who Is the Human? by Gary Pegoda — Reviewed recently on this blog.  Good sci-fi action.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald–Reviewed recently on this blog.

Setting Free the Kites by Alex George–a recent library impulse selection chosen because it was large print and thoroughly enjoyed.  To be reviewed on this blog soon.

The Devil’s Highway by Alberto Urrea–Reviewed recently on this blog.

Continuing to Read:

Set aside temporarily, Garth Stein’s A Sudden Light

My non-fiction attempt to expand my genre preferences, bell hooks’s Feminism is For Everybody: Passionate Politics  I have barely begun, but I feel I should read bel hooks.

A book recommended by a fellow blogger at Brainfluff, The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
A Kindle Purchase written by a blogging friend Notes from a Small Dog by Ani

Watched:

The rest of the TV series, “Genius”, the story of Albert Einstein’s life and work

Rick Steves’ Europe on PBS, Went to Germany, twice; Scotland; parts of England.  I never get tired of him as a tour guide nor his show.  We often watch during meals since they are only thirty minutes long.

Movie, “The  Magdalene Sisters–brutal! A true story from Ireland.

Next week brings doctor’s visits and a few fun things as well, and of course, LOTS of reading!

 

Posted in

7 responses to “SUNDAY (EVENING) POST”

  1. readerbuzz Avatar
    readerbuzz

    You can always take along a book for the doctor visits, I think. I was called for jury duty tomorrow and I plan to take along a provocative book, maybe All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island or Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. You could take an Atul Gawande book.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Hopefully I’m not that bad off! LOL

      Like

      Reply
  2. James J. Cudney IV Avatar
    James J. Cudney IV

    I love the variety of your reads. And the travel shows on PBS. I need to give them a chance. But that movie on the Magdalene sisters sounds great!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      It was hard to watch the Magdalene sisters movie but gave me a lot to think about and be thankful for.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Herminia Chow Avatar
    Herminia Chow

    That is a lot of reading. Nicely done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Many thanks! Today is Monday and I read for a total of thirty minutes today. Boooooo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    Nice to know that you can occasionally take it easy Rae:). Many thanks for the shout-out and I’m delighted that you enjoyed Keeper so much. I hope you’re having a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to readerbuzz Cancel reply