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.”

  • NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, Day 19: WORD CHOICE

    National Poetry Month in April. Poster with handwritten lettering. Poetry Festival in the United States and Canada. Literary events and celebration. Greeting card, invitation, poster, banner or background. Vector

    One thing I emphasize in my Advanced Writing classes is word choice, choosing the exact word to “get the job done’/convey the message one wants to send. Often the word choice (and the phrasing of those words) lends a poetic tone/sense to what the writer puts on paper.

    One of my favorite illustrations of this concept is the following poem by David McCord, “Take Sky.”

    “Take Sky”

    “Now think of words. Take sky

    And ask yourself just why–

    Like sun, moon, star, and cloud–

    It sounds so well out loud,

    And pleases so the sight

    When printed on black and white.

    Take syllable and thimble:

    The sound of them is nimble.

    Take balsam, fir, and pine:

    Your woodland smell and mine.

    Take kindle, blaze, and flicker–

    What lights the hearth fire quicker?

    Take bucket, spring, and dip

    Cold water to your lip.

    Three words we fear but form:

    Gale, twister, thunderstorm:

    Others that simply shake

    Are tremor, tremble, quake.

    But granite, stone, and rock:

    Too solid, they, to shock.

    Put honey, bee, flower

    With sunny, shade, and flower;

    Put wild with bird and wing

    Put bird with song and sing.

    Aren’t paddle, trail, and camp

    The cabin and the lamp?

    Now look at words of rest–

    Sleep, quiet, calm, and blest;

    At words we learn in youth–

    Grace, skill, ambitions, truth;

    At words of lifelong need–

    Faith, courage, strength, and deed;

    Deep-rooted words that say

    Love, hope, dream, yearn, and pray;

    Light-hearted words–girl, boy,

    Live, laugh, play, share, enjoy;

    October, April, June–

    Come late and gone too soon.

    Remember, words are life;

    Child, husband, mother, wife;

    Remember, and I’m done:

    Words taken one by one.

    Are poems as they stand–

    Shore, beacon, harbor, land;

    Brook, river, mountain, vale,

    Cow, rabbit, otter, quail;

    Oak, apple, water, snow,

    Wind, weather, flood and floe.

    Like light across the lawn

    Are morning, sea, and dawn;

    Words of the green earth growing–

    Seed, soil, and farmer sowing.

    Like wind upon the mouth

    Sad, summer, rain, and south.

    Amen. Put not asunder

    Man’s first word: wonder…wonder…

    (Copyright@1962 by David McCord)

    READ A POEM TODAY!

  • A novel told in a series of connected poems

    A creative/fun novel and a darned good read
    A wonderful debut novel by Sarah Jio

    Continuing to read daily

    BOOKS I STARTED THIS WEEK

    The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

    The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin–this is the third in the “Broken Earth” Series

    which I started a couple of years ago. My Better Half and I read the first book aloud to each other; I read the second on my own, and started the third. This week I dragged it out from my book closet in my office and re-started it.

    Mindfulness by Lisa Brooks and Marie D. Jones–a 2019 publication I found in Barnes and Noble’s “Book Annex” (markdowns) section on a recent visit.

    Dearly by Margaret Atwood–her latest collection of poems I hope to finish during National Poetry Month

    Searching for God…Knows What by Donald Miller–a hand-me-down from a friend

    DEFINITELY SOMETHING FROM THE CLASSIC CLUB

    I have until April 30th to read something from the jar (already set up) full of selections listed on strips that are considered classics.

    I have everything all set up, butI am sooooo busy with end of semester grading (6 of the 24 students worked ahead and have finished the semester); observing National Poetry Month on my blogs; throwing a “Celebration of Books” last Sunday outdoors where we gave away over 100 free books in two hours–attendance was poor, but many neighbors “saw” our Little Free Library for the first time, which led to more “stops” later in the week and two bagfuls of donated books; and being a “social butterfly” this week having another couple over for coffee and leftover cookies from the party; having a former student and her ten-year-old son over for supper Friday night; and having a children’s author from a nearby city and her nine-year-old daughter over for lunch (They brought then lunch from a local Mexican restaurant.) and a three hour visit today to talk about her writing career start and to receive her first kid’s novel for me to review soon. This is the first time I have received an advance copy . More on this later!

    Whew! I plan to do nothing but minimal grading, reading and resting on Sunday. It is supposed to be a day of rest anyway, and I need one. LOL

    HAPPY READING IN THE WEEK AHEAD,

  • POETRY AND PUNCTUATION

    Rae Longest's avatarLiteracy and Me

    Sometimes it is a simple matter of punctuation that turns a prose paragraph into a poem.

    For example, here is a brief paragraph about my cat, Freesia:

    She has a stubborn streak, this good-natured cat of mine. She plops down on the computer keyboard when she craves attention. She reclines on whatever I’m looking at, writing on, trying to read at the moment. Finally, I grab her middle, swoop her up, and deposit her firmly on the floor.

    Here are the same words arranged in poetic form, thanks to a few changes in line length and punctuation marks:

    Freesia

    She has a stubborn-streak,

    My good-natured cat.

    She plops down on my keyboard

    When she craves my attention.

    She reclines on whatever

    I’m looking at,

    Writing on,

    Trying to read

    Until I grab her “amidships,”

    Then sweep her up,

    And deposit her

    Firmly on the floor.

    I made a video for…

    View original post 20 more words

  • School daze

    bluebird of bitterness's avatarbluebird of bitterness

    Miss Carlson assigned her fifth graders to write an essay entitled “If I Were a Millionaire.”

    All of the students began writing, except for one girl who sat at her desk with her arms folded.

    “What’s the matter, Chloe?” asked the teacher. “Why aren’t you writing?”

    “I’m waiting for my secretary,” said Chloe.

    Miss Carlson gave her an A+.

    ❧  ❧  ❧  ❧  ❧

    My sister’s son flunked out of college. I asked her if the kid had flunked out because of a lack of brains. “Yes,” she said. “Alack and a lass.”

    ❧  ❧  ❧  ❧  ❧

    At seven o’clock in the morning, Billy’s mother called to him, “Billy, get up — it’s time to get ready for school.”  

    There was no answer. Billy’s mother called again, ”Billy, get up! It’s time to get ready for school!”  

    Still there was no answer. Billy’s mother went to his…

    View original post 78 more words

  • WORLD ART DAY: April 15, 2021

    Today celebrates the arts, worldwide.

    Today the world celebrates Art, but until recently, I had no solid foundation as to what was classified as “Art.” ( See review on PWR of book, But Is It Art.) According to those in charge of World Art Day, art is “something that is created in visual form.” This includes painting, sculpture, music, writing, performance art, films, and many creative things.

    I am celebrating “art” by listening to an audiobook about an art-restoration specialist, A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay. It is an interesting novel which gives much information about painting and art in many forms.

    What are you doing to celebrate World Art Day?

  • THE VIOLETS OF MARCH by Sarah Jio: A Review

    A fascinating page turner–her debut novel

    Although I read this “out of turn–” I’d read several of Jio’s novels before reading her debut novel, this was an amazing book. It had something for everyone: lovely description, fine characterization, a stunning twisty plot, mystery and romance.

    Jio’s main character, Emily Wilson, author of a best selling novel, is dumped by her husband. Stunned with this turn of events, she decides to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington state, with her elderly aunt, supposedly seeking material for her next novel. This one, she promises herself will be “one from the heart” not a formulaic crowd pleaser like her bestseller. When she reaches her elderly aunt’s beach home, she discovers in the drawer of her bed-side table a red velvet diary from 1943, written by an unknown woman. From here on in, Jio develops a dual story line.

    Emily, during her stay, meets two love interests, one of whom is related to the mysterious senior citizen, whom her aunt carefully avoids. How the trip to the island affects her, yet heals her is the basis for Emily’s story and makes this novel a darned good read.

  • NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, Day 14

    I have enjoyed reading poetry each day this month, finding new poems and revisiting old, beloved ones.
    A lovely collection of poems and drawings.

    Today’s poems are by Asmita Rajiv and are found in her collection, Unsaid.

    “Being Perfect”

    “I am not trying to be perfect. I gave that up a long time back. But what I am trying to be good at, is to let my uniqueness shine trough.

    Now that’s an art worth perfecting.”

    “Acceptance”

    “The more we accept each fallen piece, the less broken we are.”

    (both by Asmita Rajiv)

  • NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, DAY 12

    Blogging friend, Ritu Bhathal, author of blog, But I Smile Anyway

    brings today’s poem from her first publication, Poetic Rituals

    An outstanding collection of poetry I turn to time and time again

    “But I Smile Anyway”

    “When a cloud appears

    In my sky,

    I ask and wonder,

    I ask God why.

    Still, I smile anyway.

    It all happens

    For a reason, they say.

    And I think

    We’ll find a way.

    So I smile anyway.

    Negative thoughts

    Then try to push through,

    Trying their hardest

    To make me feel blue,

    But I smile anyway

    Then I think about

    All that is mine.

    Things are great,

    I’m feeling fine

    And I smile anyway.”

    For a fun, fun read, get Ritu’s Marriage Unarranged, her first novel. You’ll love it. I did.

  • NATIONAL D.E.A.R. DAY

    Whatever plans you have for today, drop them and read instead.

    Today I need a day of quiet reading, so along with many schoolchildren, homeschoolers, and individuals who celebrate this day, at some time today, I will Drop Everything and Read. The celebration of reading’s purpose is to “…encourage families to…’drop everything and read’ at home…Take at least 30 minutes to put aside all distractions and enjoy books together.”

    Pick your own time, but spend at least 30 minutes of your busy day reading

    What do you plan to read today? Here’s what’s on my 30 minutes agenda:

    Some kind of poetry by Maya Angela in honor of National Poetry Month

    my daily “devotional”

    Student papers on Zinsser’s sixth chapter of On Writing Well

  • MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND by Matthew Dicks: A Review

    (This book was recommended on the cover by Jodi Picoult)

    an exciting, heart-warming, sometimes humorous read

    Autistic eight-year-old Max Delaney has help in coping with school, bullies, and life in general–an imaginary friend named Budo, who has existed for five years since Max imagined him to have someone to play with. Budo is the narrator of this novel, and he tells us when Max stops believing in him, Budo will disappear. Budo loves Max unconditionally, and the story deals with love, friendship, and life. The author is an elementary school teacher, and he knows his students well–even the autistic ones like Max, his creation.

    School is a challenge for Max. Some of this teachers like Mrs. G like him unconditionally like his mother does. Others, like the paraprofessional, Mrs. Patterson, not only don’t understand him, but she causes a crisis in his young life that is life threatening.

    Budo and a team of imaginary friends Budo met at the hospital are the only hope for Max. Because of his desire to rescue Max, Budo must choose between “Max’s happiness and his own existence.” The” heartwarming and heartbreaking conclusion” is an action-packed scene where Max’s father literally “takes out” Max’s attacker.

    This novel is definitely “different,” making it a darned good read.