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.”

  • A COUPLE OF REALLY GOOD READS

    Kiss Her Goodbye by Wendy Corsi Staub, the book I read for “K” in my Alphabet Challenge, has something for everyone: a thriller, crime, mystery, family and marriage relationships, family secrets–you name it, it’s in there. This was a paperback written in 2004 that was turned in to my Little Free Library after a neighbor read it. There is both a prologue and an epilogue, features I always appreciate.

    It opens with the approaching birthday of Jen Carmody, the fourteen year old who becomes the focus of mysterious speculations, stalkings, and secrets. Stella, for whom Jen babysits and her husband, Kurt (who is a possible suspect at one point) are having marital difficulties. The family secrets mentioned are revealed and explored which involve Jen’s father, Matt, her mother, Kathleen, and Kathleen’s father who is “confused” and in a nursing home. Her best friend, Erin’s mother, Maeve, is a single mom who is interested in each of the aforementioned men. The story begins in August with the disappearance of a young girl in town, and the story runs October through May. Several murders occur, and I challenge you to follow the clues and determine “who dun it.”

    The Baker’s Secret, a 2017 novel by Stephen P. Kierman is set in occupied France in the small village of Vergers. The book hooked me from the very first line: “All through those years of war, the bread tasted of humiliation.” It is spoken by the apprentice baker, a young woman named Emmanuelle, known in the village as Emma, who has secretly been adding straw to the flour for the mandatory loaves she bakes for the German Kommandant daily, so she can give the extra loaves to starving villagers. The story covers the period prior to and during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. The description of what Emma sees on Omaha Beach is vivid and heart wrenching. Her horrendous close calls and brutal beatings are told in a way that makes the reader hold his breath or ache all over his body as he reads.

    The story appeals to young adults (junior high and up) and adults as well. At the end, the publisher includes an interesting interview with the author and study questions for discussions. It is the perfect selection for a book club.

  • FRIDAY SMILES

  • Very funny!

    Rae Longest's avatarblogging807

    via Bug off

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  • Friday Book Funnies!

    Angela's avatar booksandopinions.com

    B&O 2 5-11-18 credit: http://thefunnybeaver.com/27-funny-images-book-lovers-know-well/

    B&O 5-11-18 credit: http://en.paperblog.com/funny-book-meme-friday-531839/

    B&O 3 5-11-18 credit: http://en.paperblog.com/funny-book-meme-friday-vol-13-771904/

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  • Me, when I Smell … Coffee Brewing!

    Me, when I Smell … Coffee Brewing!

  • JUST THINKING: A Review

    I read this collection of poems by blogger and author Colin Chappell as part of my celebration of National Poetry Month in April. As Colin describes his book, it is…

    “A little book

    for when

    you have

    a little time

    with some

    little writings,

    which may produce

    some little

    thoughts.”

    And producing thoughts based on his thoughts is exactly what Just Thinking did for me. I had already read and enjoyed, Who Said I Was Up for Adoption,? Chappell’s account of himself and Ray, his rescued dog, so I was not surprised to find Colin was a good writer, but his poetry is outstanding.

    Part 1, “My Friend, Ray,” describes many things I had read on Colin Chappell’s blog, meandray.com  ,  as Colin describes, it, it tells about “one calculating dog…and one unsuspecting human.”

    Part 2, “Relationships” was about just that, and my favorite poem in this section was one titled, “Adrift,” which I used with my Advanced Writing class.

    Part 3 was more miscellaneous and had some fine poems in it.

    Part 4, “Tina and Other Stories,” dealt with the heartbreak of “people on the street,” the title poem, “Tina,” a poem about a homeless woman selling flowers.

    Another thing that made this collection special was that all proceeds from the sale of the book went towards Colin’s daughter’s medical expenses. (Two poem by her are included with Colin’s.)

    It’s not too late to celebrate poetry even though the national recognition has ended for 2018. Purchase a copy of Just Thinking. Your life will be richer for it.

  • The Writer’s Daily Companion by Amy Peters: A Review

    This book was a gift from a student at the end of a semester, a gift that keeps on giving. This outstanding book has literally been an inspiration. It is not only for writers, but for readers as well. Mondays are “Writers on Writing,” quotes that are then discussed usually on one page. Tuesday deals with “Motivation,” topics that make suggestions on what to write and how to come up with subjects to write about. “Wednesday Writing Class” gives the writer an “assignment as well as practical advice .  Thursdays topics are “Editing,” extremely helpful for those who need to strengthen or refine their editing skills. “Biography” on Fridays deal with classics writers as well as recent writers, always giving interesting facts. Saturday suggests “Books to Read,” and Sunday gives a “Writing Prompt,” which I have used often for my Freshman Composition or Advanced Writing classes. I have received some excellent pieces using these prompts.

    Here is an example from a Saturday “Books to Read” listing:

    “Grimm’s Fairy Tales

    by The Brothers Grimm

    But iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped dead. (Jacob and William Grimm, from ‘Little Snow White.””

    The entry gives the history of the brothers, whose collection was published in 1812. Both brothers were students of history of folklore and did much research on their subject, often going out into the countryside and listening to and recording old folktales. Obviously, judging from the quoted excerpt, the brothers’ target readers were not children.  As writers, the stories teach us to “create a story with a truly compelling plot regardless of the simplicity of the theme.” Many times we see the theme of a conflict/battle between good and evil played out in The Brothers Grimm’s stories. The outcome is predictable; what attracts the reader is the journey to get there.

    Such entries (although I have shortened this one and paraphrased it drastically) are fun to read and to think about. A full-time writer could undertake one entry per day (There are 365 of them–enough for a year.), and  an in-depth study of this book would make an excellent course for writers.

    I highly recommend this book.

  • REPORT ON APRIL 2018 National Poetry Month

    Rae Longest's avatarLiteracy and Me

    I had five specific goals to accomplish regarding poetry during this year’s National Poetry Month. Read the descriptions below and judge how I did overall. I was satisfied for a first time celebrator of this special week, and intend to set more, higher goals in 2019.

    1. Buy a new poetry book.  The good news is, I did. I bought Evidence of Flossing by a fellow blogger.  The bad news is, I haven’t read it yet.
    2. Finish blogger friend, Colin Chappell’s Just Thinking, a collection of poems “for when you have time with some little writings, which may produce some little thoughts.”  I did finish the book even though I read it slowly to savor every poem. I plan to review it soon.
    3. Observe Poem-in-My-Pocket Day on April 26th. I did tell my students about it and asked them to observe it, but on the actual day, I did not feel…

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  • REVIEW OF SPECIAL BOOK

    How To Make a Flower! Out of One Paper! by Kayla at Stevenson Primary School is a wonderful book by a very young author/artist. Mrs. N. loaned me the book from the Stevenson library, and I took the book home and learned to make a flower by folding just one square of paper.

    Kayla has clearly explained and demonstrated just what the title promises, how to make a flower out of one paper.  It was easy to understand and very interesting.

    The cartoon on the back of the book was funny and good to look at.

    Congratulations, Kayla!

  • Ahhh

    elfkat's avatarAdventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess

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