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.”

  • SATURDAY MORNINGS FOR KIDS

    Like Saturday mornings in the 50s and 60s when 6:30-10:00 a.m. TV programming was reserved for kids, this blog reserves Saturday mornings for kids and for those young-at-heart enough to enjoy kids and tweens’ books.

    Today’s offering is one that was donated to my LFL (Little Free Library) in my yard.

    Business is booming during the pandemic.

    It is a delightful read which I enjoyed as an adult and will appeal to kids, especially girls who are advanced readers and enjoy such classics as Jane Eyre.

    This 1980 book gives a peek into the complicated life of Franny Dillman who feels she lives a dull life and decides to add a little excitement. Her excitement comes from reading and rereading Jane Eyre. She decides to keep a journal, and in it, she records her imaginary thoughts about her older sister, Grace and her brother, Wilson. When she shares this journal with her teacher at school, rumors fly and Franny’s whole family becomes involved in miscommunications and misunderstandings within the family and within the community.

    Described on the cover as a “funny, telling spoof” about Franny’s secret life and her coming of age, this one is a “must read.”

  • Castellan the Black and his Wise Draconic Musings on Life in General #BrainfluffCastellanthe Black #WiseDragonicMusingsonLifeinGeneral #PickyEaters

    sjhigbee's avatarBrainfluff

    As the oldest dragon alive today, I know the answers to all those questions that bothered me as a youngster. Trouble is, the wretches have now gone and changed the questions…

    Castellan the Black, mighty dragon warrior, or Casta the Grey as he used to be known as, features in my short story Picky Eaters, written to provide a humorous escape from all the stuff that isn’t happening on Wyvern Peak… All proceeds for the duration of its publishing life are donated to mental health charities.

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  • WHOOOEEEOO: FIRST LINE FRIDAYS

    My first liner for today comes from fellow blogger and author, Teagan Riordian Geneviene’s Atonement, Tennessee. From the prologue:

    “Dawn’s light cast shadows that shifted amid branches of magnolias and mountain laurel, and danced upon statuary and grave stones.”

    This mysterious cemetery which “came with the house” that protagonist, Esmerelda bought for a steal is an integral part of the mystery, suspense, and supernatural of this 2012 publication. It is a real page-turner and a book I am currently reading on my Kindle. My biggest question today is, “Why didn’t I discover this author’s storytelling talent sooner”? EERIE AND SPOOKY AND GOOD!

  • When Your Mum Speaks – Mum Chats about My Book!

    When Your Mum Speaks – Mum Chats about My Book!

    From my blogging friend, poet and author, Ritu Bhathal:

    Ritu's avatarRitu Bhathal

    This month marks my debut novel, Marriage Unarranged’s six month birthday. And I am excited that it has sold almost 200 copies, and gained nearly 50 reviews on Amazon.

    Each comment from a reader is so important, to me. In fact, I recently had an unofficial Book Club meet with some friends of mine, who had read it, and wanted to chat book. That wsa exciting!

    But one of the biggies for me, was knowing what my mother thought.

    I attribute my love of words and books to my mum. She surrounded us with books and stories from such a young age. So, when she told me she was reading it, I sat, waiting for her feedback.

    I didn’t hold my breath until she finished, because I would have been dead.

    One thing my mum isn’t nowadays, is a fast reader, so, it was with great pomp and circumstance that…

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  • TUESDAY TEASER

    Today’s Tuesday Teaser is from The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard. The novel is set between WWI and WWII and tells the saga of the Cazalet family. It is well written, as this teaser from where my bookmark lies will prove.

    ” Every morning when she woke up , Angela stood by the window [of the] bedroom she now had to herself. By leaning out she could just see the blue smoke that came out of the kitchen chimney of Home Place (her grandmother’s summer home) three hundred yards up the hill…” Both the descriptions and the characterization in this novel are admirably handled. I plan to use this book with its red color in my upcoming “Celebration of Color challenge…stay tuned.

  • No key – a poem

    robertawrites235681907's avatar

    michael-dziedzic-1bjsASjhfkE-unsplash

    There is no key

    Secret or otherwise

    To unlock a mind

    That has gone awry

    Stretched to breaking point

    By three wretched visitors

    Stress, the spirit suppressor

    Anxiety, the spirit disabler

    Fear, the spirit destroyer

    There’s no front door

    No easy access

    You need to delve

    Take the time to explore

    To test and experiment

    Following the clues

    Traveling the paths

    Half formed and rutted

    With your tiny hammer to hand

    Built of unconditional love

    You must chip away

    At the filters and barriers

    Unraveling the maze

    Breaking down the walls

    Removing the debris

    It could take months

    Or even years

    There is no way of measuring

    Its unfathomable presence

    You have to persist

    Until you find your way in

    And the healing can begin

    By Roberta Eaton Cheadle

    I haven’t written any poetry for months. The spirit just has not moved me so I was pleased when the idea…

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  • A Monster in the House

    A great poem with a surprise ending by a young blogging friend.

    capablechloe1's avatarChloe's Thoughts Blog

    Lately, I haven’t been writing the best poems, so I worked really hard on this one.

    This is based on a true story.

    one step at a time
    up stairs together we go
    my hands are shaking

    heart thumping crazy
    scared is no reason not to
    walk down the hallway

    we glance at eachother
    are we sure we should do this?
    there’s no going back

    every step we walk,
    closer to death we become
    one last, final turn

    there we are, front door
    hesitating, we conclude
    at it’s habitat

    we lift our hands up
    and we knock, then knock, then knock
    “WHAT?!” she shrieks at us

    “do you” then i pause
    “want to play volleyball?” gulp
    “NO!” she screams to us

    what could’ve been bonding,
    is turned down by our sister
    she is a monster

    What’s the difference?

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  • Wednesday weirdness

  • SATURDAY MORNINGS FOR KIDS

    Just like TV back in the 50s and 60s, Saturday mornings are reserved for kids. In that respect, here is a recommendation of a kids’ book:

    Today’s book, Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women, which was originally in my classroom library back in the 70s, now resides in my LFL (Little Free Library) in my yard. Unfortunately, probably no one will “borrow” her because her cover is torn off (thus, no picture of the cover LOL).

    Cornelia Meigs’ biography of Louisa May Alcott answers our questions about Louisa’s life: Did “Beth” die? Was there a Laurie?What happened to Louisa after she published her book?

    This is the true story of the famous authoress and the book that was reportedly based on her family and her life. it is good reading.

  • Never try to outsmart a woman unless you are one

    Never underestimate the power of a woman.

    bluebird of bitterness's avatarbluebird of bitterness

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