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

Tuesday Teaser, brought to you by the Purple Booker asks that you grab a book you are reading and copy a few lines in order to “tease” someone else into looking into that book for further reads. Here is my teaser for Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come, a non-fiction look at an introvert exploring extrovert territory, by Jessica Pan.

Summing up the results of her one year experiment, Pan writes, “It was more than I ever could have hoped for when I started. I feel more in control of my life because I can extrovert.” She goes on to describe the many new things she can “handle” which she couldn’t before as a result of saying “yes” to things that were definitely out of her comfort zone before as a dyed-in-the-wool introvert.

This has been the best non-fiction read of 2020 for me. I highly recommend it.

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14 responses to “TUESDAY TEASER”

  1. Jee Wan Avatar
    Jee Wan

    Kudos to the author for getting out of her comfort zone! I must KIV this book. I, once in awhile try to ‘extrovert’ too and it can be so exhausting…haha I’d love to read about this author’s experience! Thank you for sharing, Rae!

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  2. BelovédAmy Avatar
    BelovédAmy

    Wow! This sounds fun…. does it have a specific age group which can read it? I am 100% introvert…. so this might be a perfect book!

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      This book is aimed at YA around 20 or early 20s, but the ideas are helpful to any introvert. There are no graphic sex scenes (LOL) or drinking binges or anything, so I don’t think your mom would disapprove of your reading it. The seminal (most important and first) book on introverts came out a few years ago and is titled Quiet. It however is a serious study and not much fun. Reading about Pann’s panic attacks trying to do stand up comedy and other things that were out of her comfort zone is much better. Her efforts at making REAL friends and talking DEEP to people (as opposed to superficial chatter about the wether etc.) is a great part of the book and would give you some good ideas for making friends and making meaningful conversations, no matter how far out of your comfort zone that might be.
      You can probably tell from the length of this email that I am not only very much an extrovert, but a teacher. I NEVER stop teaching. Sorry, but this is something I cannot control! LOL

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      1. BelovédAmy Avatar
        BelovédAmy

        Wow…. ok that was alot!! But the more…. the better!! Great to hesr this!! I might try reading it sometime!! I love the way you clear out all the dangers!! You must have been (and still are) an AMAZING and caring teacher!! I read from your profile that you taught 12-13 year olds for a really long time!! I am 12😊 and you seem like a teacher I would have loved to have!!
        Love, Amy

        Liked by 1 person

  3. BelovédAmy Avatar
    BelovédAmy

    P.S. I love your ‘Tuesday Teaser’…. so creative!💕

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Borrowed idea from “The Purple Booker.”

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. BelovédAmy Avatar
        BelovédAmy

        Ok!! My bad!😬💖

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      My favorite time of my 51 years in the classroom were 1979-1984 when I taught 6th grade Language Arts bloc. I had a ball, and some of my students (some of whom I taught again at Alvin Community College or University of Houston, Clear Lake in later years) some of them still keep in touch. Some of them have grown children and are ready to retire. A couple of them are school teachers.

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      1. BelovédAmy Avatar
        BelovédAmy

        Wow!! Intersting!! I love Language Arts!! You taught for 51 years!?! You must be such an amazing and experianced teacher!!
        Ummm.. a little question…. How should I call you? I feel abit disrespectful if I call you by your name….

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Rae Longest Avatar
        Rae Longest

        My youngest friends address me as Ms. Rae

        Liked by 2 people

      3. BelovédAmy Avatar
        BelovédAmy

        Ok !! I will too Ms. Rae!

        Liked by 2 people

  4. Rae Longest Avatar
    Rae Longest

    Perfect!

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    I finished this book yesterday. It was a wonderful read. Here’s my review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3492881578

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Enjoyed the review.

      Liked by 1 person

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