Confessions of a Reader

"If she was proud of me, I was so proud of her that I carried my head high as I emerged from the dark cedars and shut the Cutters' gate softly behind me. Her warm, sweet face, her kind arms, and the true heart in her; she was, oh, she was still my Antonia!"  The thoughts of Jim Burden, a character in My Antonia by Willa Cather




I have a confession to make. I confess that I read My Antonia two times. Before I checked it from the library, I checked my card catalog to see if I had read it before. I didn't find a card, so I checked out the book and finished it in a week. But when I wrote up the card for the book to signify that I had completed, I did find the card from my first reading of the book. I read the book in 2006 and 2015 - so many years apart that I didn't recognize the story. It's a wonderful story of a boy who was sent to Black Hawk, Nebraska to live with his grandparents after the death of his parents. As he learned a new way of life, he met a Bohemian immigrant girl and her family. Jim's family and Antonia's family lived on adjoining farms, so the two children became friends. Jim helped Antonia and her little sister learn English, and they soon were able to communicate freely as they ran through the fields, played games, and did chores.

I confess that I enjoy stories like My Antonia that depict a lifestyle in which the simple things of life are celebrated. In today's society we have so many THINGS, that we neglect to find joy in the smile of a baby, a beautiful sunset, or a trip to town in the back of a wagon. There are other books that evoke these emotions for me as well. For example, Orphan Train, All the Light We Cannot See, Great Expectations, Edgar Sawtelle, The Prize Winner of Defiance County, and many others remind me that joy cannot be bought, it is found.

I confess that I read a lot of historical novels and books about historical figures.  I enjoy reading about things in the past, but I'm not sure why that is so. I think it's because I've come to appreciate peoples' journeys as I slowly make sense of some of the things in the present. Another reason that I enjoy books with historical settings or about historical people is that there are so many interesting stories in the past. When I read books like those by Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man), I began to realize how difficult life was for the immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island. I didn't learn that in traditional classes, and it's a very important part of who we are as a nation. I appreciate My Antonia as a historical novel because it allows me to appreciate the many, many trailblazers who helped to settle our great nation. They were risk-takers and innovative people, people who were made out of true grit. Our nation is great because of these people.

I confess that I enjoy books that are beautifully written. As you can see in the quote from My Antonia above, Willa Cather has a gift for saying what she wants to say. Her story flows beautifully and her language allows me to see the story in vivid colors and emotions. Cather writes elegantly and beautifully, and the movie in my mind as I read is very clear and aptly received. She definitely has the gift.

I confess that I enjoy the classics. I have enjoyed My Antonia, The Catcher and the Rye, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Huckleberry Finn, Robinson Crusoe, Charlotte's Web, The Grapes of Wrath, The Old Man and the Sea, and may others. I try to read at least two classics each year because I think that they are called "classics" for a reason and I don't want to miss out on the fun. But I believe that there are many newer books that will become classics in due time. A book doesn't have to be old in order to be a classic - it just has to have unique characters who have struggles as all people do. A classic must also be beautifully written, of course. Recently we've been watching a PBS version of Wuthering Heights from the library and we've enjoyed it a lot. It's one of those classics that I never had the opportunity to read, so I saw the movie version.

Now I'd like to share the next ten books in my card catalog. These are books that I've read since 1984.

1. You Don't Look Sick by Joy H Selak and Steven Overman
2. The Brother of Jesus by Hershel Shanks & Ben Witherington
3. Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever by Judge Judy Sheindlin
4. The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon
5. A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd
6. Basic Adult Sunday School Work by Larry Shotwell
7. Light on Snow by Anita Shreve
8. Sea Glass by Anita Sheeve
9. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
10. The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

Have a fantastic weekend. Your thoughts about today's post are greatly appreciated.

-Melissa Hill
Book Blogger
www.onegoodbookblog.blogspot.com
used bookseller: MCH Seller

Common men, uncommon dreams

"If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance." -Orville Wright (brainyquote.com)

As we approach the end of August, many of us are getting used to new routines as our children, teens, and college students head back to college. And teachers such as myself head back to the classroom armed with plentiful school supplies, lesson plans, and new expectations. It's a bittersweet time at my house because our daughter is back at college for her Senior year. Now we have to get used to her not being at home once again. I don't know if these good-byes ever get easier, but they are a part of life. Since our daughter is getting married next summer, this was the last summer that we will ever have her at home. Fortunately though, she'll live only 2 1/ hours from us and will still be in North Carolina. We miss our son as well - he's currently living in Northern Ohio but we're hoping that he'll move closer to home soon. If you recently sent your child away to college, know that you're not alone. Maybe you can return to that hobby that you put away many years ago. Maybe you can join a book club or get that scrapbook in order. Your child will come home for a visit before you know it, and most colleges have a "Parent's Weekend" in late September or October. So hang in there is you're going through these kinds of changes. It's not all bad, but it is different.

Yesterday I finished reading another great historical book by David McCullough, The Wright Brothers. I've read two other books by McCullough as well: The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris, and John Adams. McCullough always goes to great lengths in his research, and I, for one, do appreciate it. I'm on a waiting list to get another great McCullough book from the library, The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I admit that I didn't appreciate history when I was younger, but now I can't get enough of it. While I'm waiting to get McCullough's book about the Brooklyn Bridge, I'm going to read My Antonia by Willa Cather. I saw it at the library and wanted to read it because I know it's a classic and a great story. While I was there I also picked up the movie of Wuthering Heights because I don't think I've ever read it. There's so much to learn and so little time!

I knew very little about the Wright Brothers before I read McCullough's book. I knew that they invented the airplane, lived in Ohio, and flew some of their machines in Kitty Hawk, NC. That's about it. But there is so much more to say about them.The brothers spent most of their lives in Dayton, Ohio where their father was a minister. Their mother died when she was in her 40s from tuberculosis. There were five children in the family, although the two oldest Wright brothers were barely mentioned in the book. Orville and Wilbur were very close brothers, and they never married. They were very curious men and were often involved in projects that they made with their hands. They built kites, ran a printing shop, and built bicycles. Although they weren't formally educated men, the brothers were known as very intelligent and curious. They eventually built various models of flying machines and spent their own money traveling back and forth to Kitty Hawk to try out them out in the ocean breezes. There were many, many errors, but with each mistake the brothers were able to refine their flying machine. It's hard for us to imagine how barren Kitty Hawk was at the time, but the brothers had to build their own small shelter while working there. The conditions were very difficult at times, but the brothers endured and it paid off. Eventually they went to Paris, Germany, and other countries to demonstrate their successful flying machine. They were greeted by notables such as President Taft along the way, and they were given many awards. Sadly, Wilbur Wright died at the age of 45 from typhoid fever, so it was up to Orville to further the cause of improving air travel. Orville died at the age of 76 after suffering a second heart attack. These quiet, reserved, curious men had changed history forever.

Another book that I "read" this week was a book on cd, Hot Rocks, by Nora Roberts. Unfortunately, the final cd was missing from the library set, so I don't know exactly how it ended. I got this book to listen to when I drove down to Boiling Springs, NC, to help my daughter move into her dorm. Roberts' book was fun to listen to. It's basically a mystery with a little romance thrown in. It's not the kind of book that I usually go for, but it was fun for the trip.

Here are the next ten books from my card catalog:

1. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munez Ryan
2. When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
3. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan (very inspiring and funny!)
4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
5. Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson
6. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
7. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
8. Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
10. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

I'd love to get your feedback on any of the books that I've mentioned today. Do you like history" Why or why not? What are your favorite book genres? What books do you suggest for me, or what books would you like me to review?

Keep on reading,

Melissa Hill
www.onegoodbookblog.blogspot.com
Amazon seller: MCH Seller

A Year in Provence

Provence, France

"You don't have to be rich to travel well." -Eugene Fodor (www.expertvagabond.com)




I read a fun little book that I think you'll enjoy. I learned about A Year in Provence when I skimmed through my AAA travel magazine last month. An article recommended that we read three books about travel: Paris: The Novel, Turn Right at Machu Piccu, and A Year in Provence. Since I had already read the first two books, I decided to read the third one about a couple who moved from England to the small town of Provence in France. The book was published in 1989, so it has been around for a while. I rarely purchase books, but I ordered this one as a used book from Amazon because it looked like something that I would enjoy. I do love to travel, and I love adventures, but I'm probably never going to be able to visit every place on my bucket list so I turn to books. Even though the Mayles were from nearby England and accustomed to the European lifestyle, they definitely had a lot to learn about living in a small town in France. As you can imagine, their first year in France involved new friendships, new food, and a more relaxed pace of life. Although the book is short (only 200 pages) and only covers their first year in France, the Mayles still live in Province today.

One important thing that the couple learned is that the French people love to eat. Mayle goes into a lot of detail about French bread, wines, sauces, truffles, and main dishes. During their first year in France they visited several restaurants and enjoyed every single one of them. In some of the restaurants they weren't given a menu or a choice - they simply ate what was brought to them and paid whatever they were told when they finished.  There was always more food than they wanted, but to stop eating was considered to be an insult to the chef. So they learned to eat. Mayle doesn't say anything about how much weight they gained that first year, but it had to be a sizable amount!

They also learned to cook a lot of French dishes at home, and they were often hosts to guests who stopped by, some of which were total strangers such as tourists who were new to the town. They often fed the men who were renovating their home as well. The men spent the entire year working on their house, much to the dismay of the new transplants, and these men could often be seen chugging down a lot of beer as they worked. Yes, they were a relaxed group of men for sure, and so the couple never knew when they would show up to continue their work. Provence was clearly a relaxed place, and no one was in a hurry to do anything. This forced the couple from a big city to adapt, and being patient wasn't always their forte. As you can imagine, there is a lot of humor in this book because the Mayles have to learn a lot about their new home. Peter Mayle has a natural way of telling his story as he weaves sarcasm and wit into his travel memoir. If you are interested in foreign languages, travel, or adventures, you'll love this book. As I read this book, I realized that I've read several travel memoirs, books such as Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, A Walk in the Woods, Born to Run, and We'll Always Have Paris.

I'm so excited that I now have a copy of McCullough's new book, The Wright Brothers! I was on a waiting list at the library to get it, and so I picked it up yesterday. I've read several of McCullough's historical books, and I've enjoyed them all. So, I will write about The Wright Brothers in an upcoming post, but I doubt that I'll finish it in just one week - it's a long one. After this one I'm hoping to read another McCullough book, The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge. That one will also take some time to complete.

OK, so here we go, the next ten books from my card catalog:

1. Little Family, Big Values by Matt Rolof and family
2. The Art of Teaching Christianity by Wayne R. Rood
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
4. Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio
5. Fanny Crosby by Bernard Riffin (she was a writer of many great Christian hymns & was blind)
6. Doc by Mary Doria Russell
7. Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral by Mary Doria Russell
8. Empire Falls by Richard Russo
9. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
10. Paris: The Novel by Edward Rutherford

Next week I return to my E.S.L. teaching work at an elementary school, so my reading pace may slow down. I'm driving my car down to my daughter's college on Sunday afternoon to help her move back into the dorm for her senior year of college at Gardner-Webb University, so our routines will change. But I think I'm ready for it.

Have a great week,

Melissa
www.onegoodbookblog.blogspot.com
Amazon used book seller: MCH SELLER
 

Great Books for Kids

"So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away. And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall." -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (www.inspiremykids.com)



I agree with Dahl...books are much more important than any electronics. We have allowed modern technology to strip us of much of our creativity. But there are many of us still out there, people who love a good story and appreciate the low cost of reading as well as the convenience. When we read words, we create a picture in our minds, and no two pictures are exactly alike. Books are also advantageous because they bring families together. When a parent reads to a child, he/she isn't just reading a great story to be enjoyed - the parent is also spending quality time with the child and helping to form the child's character.

As a teacher of English as a Second Language, I know the importance of reading. But I have always valued books and I've been able to pass on this passion to my two adult children. I remember some of the special books from my own childhood, books like Robinson Crusoe by Defoe and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. I'm sure I must have read Peter Pan and Gulliver's Travels as well. I remember my mom reading to us before we could read these books, and I thought they were great. When we were home-schooled while living in Brazil, we read stories from mythology. I don't think I knew what to make of all of those strange stories but they were part of the curriculum. I remember reading some Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse comic books in portuguese, a task that my dad said helped him to learn the language. Because our parents were readers, we became readers as well, and my sister and I are still avid readers to this day. This leads me to another important point: GET THEE TO THE LIBRARY. My mom took us to the library when we lived in the U.S. and I have always had my own library card. As soon as our son was old enough, I signed him up for a library story time for 3-year olds. I got there early because I knew there would be a line on the first day of registration. Fortunately, he got in. Nowadays I can reserve books, DVDs, and CDs online, and the library sends me a friendly automated call when my items are ready The best part about it is that it's all FREE.

Our children had a lot of great books when they were children. Benjamin had a little plastic bathtub book called I Am a Little Fish, or something like that, and he loved it. It goes something like this, "I am a little fish. I like to get all wet. I have a little octopus and he's my little pet." We still have that once well-loved book. I like the rhyme in this simple little story, and so did our kids. Repetition is another important element of a good book for young children. When a book has rhyme, repetition, a fun story, and great illustrations, young children will love it. Here is a list of some of our other favorites:

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the others in the series
Is Your Mama a Llama?
Are You My Mother?
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Legend of the Candy Cane
Small One
All of the Bearanstain Bear books (always teach a lesson - great for parents!)
Dr. Seuss books
Amelia Bedelia stories (she's so absurd that kids enjoy pointing out her faults)
The American Girl books (in our case, we read about Molly & Kaya in their historical times)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Older children might enjoy the Goosebump books, books by Judy Blume, the Lemony Snicket books, or Little House on the Prairie books.

I'll probably expand on this discussion in another post, but I will now change direction and discuss what I just finished reading and what I plan to read next. I recently finished reading Doc, the novel about Doc Holliday and his Wild West days. It went along with my previous read, Epitaph, both by Mary Dorria Russell. I enjoyed both books, and I'm glad that I learned about a time in history that I knew very little about. If you like old western movies, you will enjoy these books. As I said before, there is a lot of legend intertwined with the truth of the O.K. Corral, the people of Dodge, and the people of Tombstone.

I recently read a short article in a AAA magazine about three books that are recommended for people who enjoy travel. I've already read the first two books discussed, Paris: The Novel, and Turn Right at Machu Picchu. Now I plan to read the third one that was discussed, A Year in Provence. I ordered a used copy and look forward to reading it soon. Do you keep a stack of books nearby that you plan to read eventually? Funny...I don't do that. I only have one book chosen at a time. But I did get crazy one time and kept one book in the car and another book at home. So, I was reading two at once. It worked out, but I think I prefer my one-book method.

Here are the next ten books from my card catalog:

1. Review and Expositor, "Peacemaking and the Church"
2. Christ the Lord byAnne Rice
3. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
4. Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
5. Are You Hungry, Dear? by Doria Roberts o Everybody Loves Raymond
6. The Villa by Nora Roberts
7. Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay
8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (it's a classic!)
9. Gilead by Marilyn Robinson
10. Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson

What are some of YOUR favorite children's books? Why do you enjoy them? I hope today's discussion generates some dialogue. Until next time...

Melissa Hill
Book Blogger
www.onegoodbookblog.blogspot.com
Amazon book seller: MCH Seller