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 is a meme started by The Purple Booker. Thank you to that blog for the image above.

    Tuesday Teaser’s originator, The Purple Booker, encourages readers to copy a couple of sentences at random from one’s current read to “tease ” others into reading the same book. My Tuesday Teaser is from John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down:

    Davis and Noah’s billionaire father has disappeared and Aza, the protagonist is trying to get a lead on him to collect the reward money for giving information to his whereabouts. Noah speaks of his fears and concerns for his non-involved parent: “Nobody wants to find him…It’s like I can’t think of anything else. I…it’s…Do you think he would really disappear and not even text us? Do you think maybe he’s trying and we just haven’t figured out how to listen?”

    I am at the point where Aza and her best friend, Daisy, are getting clues and have received a large sum of money from Davis and his lawyer NOT to give those clues to the police.

    What are you reading currently? What is happening? Copy a few sentences to “tease” us into wanting to read the book. What? You have no blog to post on? That’s ok. Use the reply box to post your “teaser.” Be sure to mention the title and author, and PLEASE, no spoiler alerts to the plot.

  • SUNDAY SUMMARY

    I had a good two weeks for reading. This second week has been rainy each day, so the weather was perfect for snuggling in and reading up a storm. (I guess that’s why the rain gauge had 5 inches in it.)

    Book selected for the Third Tuesday Book Club at the Alvin Library for May. We met face to face for the first time in over a year. It was so good to see everyone.
    Part of my Madeline L’Engle project
    I had this on my Kindle for some time. I finally got around to reading it.
    A tiny book which was a delightful collection of essays about the various things that make up a home
    My favorite kid-read so far this year
    I am using this to find an inspirational thought to begin each day.

    The grades are posted; the semester has ended, and I spent most of my time this past week writing my summer school course. As usual, I have changed the course entirely (as I end up doing every semester), which is a good thing because it keeps the course fresh to me, and also to my students. Summer school begins June 6th, so I had better get a hurry on finishing my online asynchronous (where students can work at their own pace) Advanced Writing Class. I am having a dear friend over for coffee this coming week, and visiting with two former students as well. It promises to be a busy week.

  • SATURDAY MORNINGS FOR KIDS ON SATURDAY NIGHT

    Thank you Carla of Carla Loves to Read for this fine illustration for this meme.

    I was feeling puny this morning, what with the current rain event which makes me ache from the nape of my neck to the soles of my feet, plus my arthritic fingers would not cooperate. I got off to a rocky start this morning with one bad thing happening after the other. It reminded me of Alexander’s no-good, horrible, bad day. LOL Because of this, I did not write my recommendation this a.m.

    Instead, please accept this excerpt from the best grades 5-8 book I have read since serving as a Cybil’s judge a couple of years ago.

    I met the author and even had her come to my house for lunch. It was a lovely afternoon discussing a lovely book.

    On her way to the United Sates during the Mexican Revolution, after meeting Pancho Villa’s soldiers, and meeting a woman general, Petra guides her family towards a bridge they need to cross. It stands between them and the town where they are to take a train to the international bridge separating Mexico and the United States–their destination. A huge storm threatens to ruin their plans.

    ” …we were at the start of the bridge.

    The harrowing winds blew so strong it seemed to be raining sideways. Gusts whipped our hair into our faces and bumped us against each other…Abuelita (her grandmother) tapped my shoulder…’We’re going to have to crawl,’ she said.”

    Petra puts her little sister on her back, tells her to hang on, and ties her baby brother to her grandmother’s back.

    “The bridge was a ladder of wooden crossties with gaps wide enough for a person to fall through. The splinters in them snagged my skirt and dug into my hands and knees…Amelia’s legs squeezed into my sides, and her arms, clamping around my neck, made it hard to breathe. Every time the wind threatened to push us over, I held on to the crosstie until my knuckles hurt. Slow as a snail, I crawled inch by inch, looking back every so often to make sure Abuelita was still behind me.”

    Scenes as scary as this one fill the book, and tell the story of how the author’s great grandmother came to the U.S. This is historical fiction at its very best.

  • MY FRIDAY FIRST LINER

    Hop over to Hoarding Books and see her first line Friday rules. In the meantime, read mine.

    Today’s first lines are from Home Body written by John Thorne and illustrated by Russell Christian:

    A tiny, but delightful collection of poetic essays, illustrated in a charming manner.

    From the first “chapter,” “The Keyhole”:

    “At the head of the corridor, a closed door led to other corridors, unfurnished rooms, stairways and attics. The chill of unknown things entered through the door’s keyhole.” (Golfredo Parise Abecedary)

    ” On my way from here to there, young and broke, I arrange to spend the night with a friend at his Manhattan apartment…My friend is not at home. “

    This is a delightful read with exquisite sketches and original word choice, word-images, and phrasing. I find myself reading some parts again and again. I definitely will want to keep this book.

  • attention

    attention

    This early afternoon…

    Annette Rochelle Aben's avatarAnnette Rochelle Aben

    The rain came down fast and fat

    Then stopped suddenly

    Thunder cleared its regal throat

    And the wind took a back seat

    ©2021 Annette Rochelle Aben

    View original post

  • Spring 2021 – A Colorful Poem

    Spring 2021 – A Colorful Poem

    aurorajeanalexander's avatarWriter's Treasure Chest

    Once again the sun is shining

    its beams are warming up the air.

    The warmth and nature touches plants

    Sprouting is the winter’s heir.

    **

    Trees and flowers are growing buds

    blossoms develop in all colors and sizes

    the air is filled with insects and bird songs

    nature is back growing and diversity arises.

    **

    We find sunshine yellow, orange, pink and red,

    water in springs are gargling cheerfully in blue.

    Leaves in forests are showing wonderful green

    all the colors together are a breathtaking view.

    **

    Purple and turquoise, aqua and hot pink

    bright yellow, burgundy, navy and brown

    the flowers are opening, blossoms are seen

    the growing trees are proudly carrying their crown.

    **

    Spring is the time when nature awakens

    It’s picking up growth, it’s humming with love

    life is back, showing the eternal life circle

    thanks to the courtesy of our Creator above.

    *****

    (Copyright Aurora…

    View original post 8 more words

  • SEARCHING FOR GOD KNOWS WHAT by Donald Miller: A Review

    This is a book I read during Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon and finished the next day.

    In an effort to read more non-fiction this year, I turned to inspirational books.

    This author lists seven inspirational .books they enjoyed, and I thought I’d do the same.

    Searching is the first of seven books I hope to read by the end of 2021 that could be classified as “inspirational.” The author declares that “…small-minded, boxed-in formulas of modern religion…” may not be the TRUTH. In a dozen-to-earth, frank manner, Miller addresses the reader who may have “felt that Jesus is someone you respect and admire–but Christianity is something that repels you.” Using strong words as “repel,” and sometimes outrageous language, Miller’s creativity in presenting his version of Christianity mirrors that of Anne Lamott or other non-traditional inspirational writers. The book has been called “one of the evangelical book market’s most creative works” by Christianity Today.

    My favorite chapter (as a Lit major) is “The Gospel of Jesus: Why William Shakespeare Was a Prophet.” Miller presents the concept of salvation through a careful analysis and comparison to the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet. His parallels are outstanding and his originality of thought and pen are amazing. This is definitely an author I’ll read again!

  • A NEW CHALLENGE: More New York Interest

    MY MARCH (VIRTUAL) TRIP TO NYC CAUSED ME TO FALL IN LIVE WITH THE BIG APPLE.

    Many thanks to those of you who went along on my virtual four-day-trip to NYC (Virginia, that means you, dear.) and to Jay of This is My Truth Now, one of my favorite bloggers, who “played along” and met me at the New York Public Library one of those days. I had a glorious time taking virtual tours and looking at pictures of all New York has to offer.

    The Big Apple

    Specifically, I fell in love with the city and my delight with it was enhanced by reading a gift book from Deb Nance of Readerbuzz, who lives in the same town as I and started me on the path to blogging back in 2016.

    This tiny book contains the “…finest portrait ever painted of the city at the height of its glory,” according to Russell Baker.
    E.B. White, one of my writing gurus, whose writing manual, Elements of Style, I have used over the past 50 years as a textbook, both for myself and for my students.

    This tiny volume has a big impact on understanding New Yorkers and what New York means to them. It covers the summer of 1948 and is a “perceptive, funny, nostalgic” essay that speaks “eloquently about what lasts and really matters…” The New York Times awarded it the honor of being “one of the 10 best books ever written about [NYC].” This edition was published on the 100th anniversary of E.B.White’s birth, 1999. His style is AMAZING, something I, as a writing teacher, have often attempted to emulate. The introduction by Roger Angell is, alone, worth the cost of the book for anyone interested in New York.

    Reading Here is New York made me want to read more about the fabulous city, so this summer, I will take on the “New York Summer Challenge”, attempting to read four books either set in or about New York. This may turn out to be a real feat considering that I will be teaching summer school (online) and the regular fall semester begins after the middle of August. I am excited and hope you are too. Join in with me; agree to read four New York Books by August 31st.

  • THE BOOK CHARMER by Karen Hawkins: A Review

    This 2019 publication is an “unforgettable story about a sleepy southern town, two fiercely independent women, and a truly magical friendship.” When I saw this “teaser,” I definitely wanted to read the book. Anything that is about the magic of books is right up my alley.

    Sarah Dove is the librarian of Dove Pond, North Carolina’s public library, a member of the town’s founding family, The Doves, and the “charmer” mentioned in the title. Dove Pond “has seen better days,” in fact, is dying, and Sarah is looking for someone to save it. The books, who have “spoken” to her since childhood, tell her that savior has arrived.

    Enter Grace Wheeler, a “displaced city girl.” Is she the savior that Dove Pond so desperately needs? Can Grace rescue Dove Pond? Does she even want to? Known to some as “The Dragon Lady,” Grace moves into town with her foster mother, “Mama G” and her niece, Daisy in tow, on the same block as Sarah, and right next door to Trav, an unlikely love interest. With this mix and the town’s resentment of Grace as city manager, fireworks are bound to happen!

  • LISTENING FOR MADELINE by Leonard S. Marcus: A Review

    In January, 2021, I started a personal project to read “all things by and related to Madeline L’Engle. So far I have reread and reviewed on PWR what I thought of as “the Wrinkle in Time trilogy,” only to discover there were two more books about the Wallace family. Also I read a biography by L’Engle’s granddaughters and reviewed it as well (Becoming Madeline).

    Recently, I finished Listening for Madeline, which was written in a format I’d not encountered before, a collection of interviews.

    People’s thoughts about children’s writer Madeline Engle

    Marcus has gathered a “series of incisive interviews with people who know her most intimately…family, colleagues, and friends.” Subtitled “A Portrait of Madeline L’Engle in Many Voices,” this unusual book helps the reader understand the many facets of this outstanding woman/writer. After reading all the comments about her from those who knew her and dealt with her every day, I determined she was a strong woman, somewhat larger-than-life, and one who had her own eccentricities. The people quoted in Listening to Madeline knew her as ” an inspiring mentor, a strong-willed matriarch, a spiritual guide, and a rare friend.” How one woman could be so many things to such diverse individuals is a conundrum I wish to solve as I continue my “project.”