“Families across the country come together to celebrate National Family Literacy day on November first…”
“Reading has many benefits and even more so when it comes to children.”
“Families have so much to gain from reading together.”
(Quotes found on Google.)
Activities and events that promote family literacy take place throughout the month of November, Family Literacy Month.
Plan something “bookish” for your family this month.
AND…
Celebrate books and reading today and all month long.
RAE
I remember hearing of Don Quixote in high school. The Advanced Spanish classes were having to read it in Spanish. I tried then to read it in English and did not finish; as a matter of fact, I barely started before becoming disenchanted and giving up. In college, I found it on my list of Outstanding Fiction for College Bound Students and tried again. Again, I failed.
Perhaps I should have watched an animated version; I believe there is one, but I never got around to reading this classic. This time I have checked out the audiobook and must admit I am not having much luck with it. I have only started, but it seems silly and pointless, and I have zero empathy for Quixote so far. I will give it a go, however, and report back in on my success or lack thereof.
I need to read some more poetry, both the novels in verse and children’s anthologies nominated for the Cybils awards and some of my blogging friends’ collections which I have purchased but not read at this point.
I need to read more non-fiction. I have been devouring novels and literary fiction like a starving man, but I need to have more variety, so that’s a short-term goal I’m setting as of this post.
I have my “work” cut out for me–LOTS of reading ahead. At least this is something enjoyable I WANT to do, not a chore or a task demanded of me for a job or assignment. I am blessed not to be teaching while I iron out my health issues, and while I miss my classes immensely, I am making good use of my time reading, learning, and challenging myself every day.
Thanks for listening to my random thoughts tonight.
RAE
I was engaged in a workshop at the university this morning and made some shopping stops while I was in Houston this afternoon, so I’m just getting to my post. Today’s recommendation is one I found for my Little Free Library at the Freeman branch of Harris County Library in Houston.
440 sayings involving animals are translated into plain English for kids who may have a tendency to take things literally. However, because of the hilarious illustrations, it is more of a fun thing instead of a chore. For example, the title expression is translated, “My throat is hoarse.”
It was the straw that broke the camel’s back translates to “It was the final bad event that ruined everything.”
I’m buffaloed becomes, “I’m baffled.”
There is a handy-dandy index in the back where you can determine the animal in the saying and look up the page or pages that animal occurs in a saying. It is a priceless resource, one you will want to buy and use often . (Not surprising, it is published by Scholastic.)
What a glorious day
Once you open your eyes
Take time to realize
You are so blessed
Each of your needs is met
Help everywhere you turn
Books to read, stuff to learn
Music playing
Life’s an amazing gift
To delight you daily
Celebrate it gaily
And be happy
©2021 Annette Rochelle Aben
Today’s Friday Firstliner comes from Shauna Niequiist. Her inspirational book Present Over Perfect is one I chose to read to accomplish my goal of reading seven inspirational books in 2021. I believe this is number six.
“This is a love story, like all my favorite stories… And it’s about the single most profound life change I’ve encountered.”
This book comes highly recommended by Brene Brown, one of my favorites, who wrote the Foreword.
I have seldom read a collection of short stories when I wasn’t tempted to skip or skim some stories. This group of short stories are simply amazing. The prose is almost poetic and each story is a little golden nugget of power.
The stories I liked best were “Heist” and “Walter John Harmon,” both stories dealing with “religion.”
“Heist” is charactered by a priest and a rabbi. Thieves break into a small, poor Catholic church and steal the only thing of value, the large crucifix at the head of the altar. As the priest frets and fumes, he receives a call from a rabbi in another neighborhood, asking the priest to come to his apartment. When the priest arrives, the rabbi takes him up to the roof where the men find the discarded crucifix. The priest, while glad to get the crucifix is more interested in the rabbi and his family. The two men talk philosophically about this man named “Jesus,” and become friends. They decide to investigate and solve the mystery of who stole the crucifix. At the end of the story, the case remains unsolved, as do the many questions the two men hold about the differences in their respective religions. The philosophical discussions by the two men make for good reading and many thought-provoking questions for the reader to consider.
My second favorite story, “Walter John Harmon,” is set in a cult. Jim and Betty, newlyweds, have joined this cult founded by John Harmon, a Christ-figure, who takes the sins of his followers on himself so they might be freed and cleansed. Part of this cleansing is the rite of “purification” which most of the men’s wives and daughters undergo at the hands of John Harmon. Followers have lost count of the number of women and girls Harmon has slept with. At first when Betty is “purified,” Jim is “honored” his wife has been chosen, and the act only strengthens their marriage and bond. It only makes him love her more. However, as the years go by, and Jim works as a lawyer on behalf of the cullt’s many lawsuits and legal battles, his profession before entering the cult, and Betty teaches pre-schoolers, Jim becomes disenchanted by the number of times Betty requires “purification.” When John Harmon leaves unexpectedly and takes Betty with him, Jim takes things all in stride and becomes a figure of respect to the followers. How he takes over as leader and changes the cult makes for an interesting ending to the strange story.
Both stories are not your usual norm of short story, and interspersed with the interesting plots are philosophical questions and thoughts that make the reader think. Although this sounds “deep,” the stories are written in such an engaging way that the reader is caught up in them and literally can’t put this collection down except between stories so he/she can ruminate on the thoughts they present. This 2016 publication is reading at its very best.
RAE
From an email sent by a friend:
Now, go make your own and post them!
While it’s still in the high 80s and low 90s down here in the Land of Sunshine, I’m in the mood to celebrate fall and Halloween, so here’s an offering from my book, Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love. Hope you enjoy October Siege!
~~~
October.
The siege begins.
Enemies among us
Everywhere!
With evil grins,
They lurk,
They skulk,
They glare,
Sharp fangs bared.
October.
Hide inside.
Nighttime danger
Everywhere!
With shining eyes,
They menace,
They taunt,
They torment,
Mouths opened wide.
See how they glow!
Deadly, gap-toothed grins
Midst curves of vivid orange!
Silently screaming with devilish glee,
They lounge on nighttime porches,
And march up darkened drives.
Casting yellow light from watchful eyes,
They search for unwary victims,
For slow and easy prey.
Big ones, tall ones,
Skinny ones, or round.
Colored like the fiery sun,
Or the moonlight pallor of alien visitors.
They line…
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(2019)
Inventory: of possessions and through the possessions of our memories, our life. Inventories are lists of “what matters.”
Judith Kratt’s life is defined by the fact she is “Daddy Kratt’s” daughter. The eldest of the Kratt children, she has a love-hate relationship with her siblings, brother Quincy, a snoop who makes it his business to know everyone’s dirty secrets; and sister Rosemarie, her “wayward younger sister” who fled their town of Bound “that fateful evening in 1929.” Olva, companion to Judith rounds out the cast of this character-driven story.
As with many Southern stories, Last List deals with family secrets, race issues, and interpersonal relationships. The plot unravels bit by bit through flashbacks until the reader has the whole truth. Filled with subplots and the metaphor of an inventory list of the family’s possessions, the novel is a darned good read.
RAE
Let’s see how I did…
TO READ CYBILS NOMINEES AS A FIRST ROUND PANELIST I read the following:
Hello Earth! Poems to Our Planet by Joyce Sidman
Ninos by Maria Jose Ferrada
Reckless, Glorious Girl by Ellen Hagen
TO READ BOOKS CHECKED OUT FROM THE LIBRARY Since all those books listed above were from the library, I did ok in this category too.
TO MAKE A DENT IN MY TBR SHELF Here I did quite well, I read:
Anne Lamott’s Some Assembly Required This is a book I ordered online because one day I hope to have read all of Lamott’s books.
I finished Molly’s Song This is a historical novel from my Kindle.
I finished Doctorow’s Doctorow: Collected Stories Here I discovered the master of short stories and an author I had heard of but had never read. It did not disappoint.
I began an Oprah’s Book Club selection, Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie Mac Donald which was donated to my LFL.
I read three chapters in the book I was most looking forward to reading, Jamisin’s The City We Became. It is wonderful!
So long, 2021 Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon until April when another for 2022 will occur.
I leave you with a photo of my mottled pumpkin. When I planted some of my succulents in the top of this grey-green pumpkin, copying something I’d seen in a magazine, how was I to know if you watered it, it would cause whitish water blisters on the pumpkin? What a mess! I need to take care of this today.
RAE
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