Big Hiatus

I didn't read anything for about six months apparently.  Yikes!  Lots of Mayo Clinic and What to Expect, I guess.

This was the first book I read once we settled in to Oshkosh.  The Relief Society sisters had been gathering 100 dresses to donate to the local Women's shelter.  To top of their success, they all got together one night to discuss this book (which is a super easy independent read) and eat cheesecake.  I think they donated more than 100 dresses once it was all said and done.

It seemed a common consensus that the ending just wasn't as fulfilling as one hopes.  At first this really upset me, but after discussing it with the ladies in the ward I realized that was perfect.  If things had wrapped up nicely, with a big bow, we wouldn't have had so much to discuss.  I guess this just felt like the king of book where a big bow would have made me feel better.

Why?  Because as a read you know what it is like to be each of the three main characters.  The girl who wants to be popular, the girl who is teased, and the girl who hurts others feelings unknowingly.  In life, we wish all those situations would easily and quickly resolve themselves.  So it would have been nice if this book could have shown us how to do so.  But it didn't.

Naturally, as a Church function, we were able to pull out some religious parallells.  Which made me feel like this book was a deeper read than it appears.  It would be an excellent book to read with a young daughter, on the cusp of puberty.  It's a great way to talk about the importance of how we treat others and why we shouldn't judge based on appearances.

Initially, I didn't like it.  But a good "book club discussion" can help me see the beauty in any book.  

The Last Great Teacher Read . . . for a while

I read this last summer, as I always pick a teacher read to get me back into my "groove."  Wow, it's crazy that it's summer already.  Anyway, before I go back into teaching I definitely plan on browsing this one through again.  It was so brilliant.

Here's the thing about teacher help books, none of them are going to have something life changing in them.  Teaching is teaching.  But there are definitely ones better than others.  I would like to see University level Classroom Management courses read a book like this one.  It just points out all the little, minute really, details a teacher must think about and plan for if they really want to be successful.

Some complaints I've seen other reviewers mention is it's focus on inner city youths.  Tho I do see how the book comes off as "boot camp" style, I still think teachers at places like Delta High could benefit from some of this technique.

Other complaints of course, are that veteran teachers don't need this.  Well, when a teacher feels like they don't need to read anything for improvement . . . they should just retire.

I'm already eager to get back to the classroom, and this will be one of the first things I pick up.  Schools would benefit greatly if they used this as a "book club" read to guide their Professional Development.  

Versus

 Mayo Clinic vs What to Expect?

Mayo Clinic.

Both are good resources, and knowing nothing about pregnancy, I'm glad I had both.  But only one is really needed, and Mayo Clinic is the better of the two.

There isn't strange, unnecessary commentary; and the medical stuff is still understandable.  It covers everything I needed to know.  I probably read it all through twice over the course of 8 1/2 months.

Empires Fall

This is a topic I'd love to read more about, so it worked out great that Ben had the book from his old college days (which I'm beginning to think USU must have been a little liberal leaning . . . trying to balance out the "Utah" part perhaps?).

I've always known I didn't like US involvement in the Mid-East, even before I realized how much Western and Muslim cultures clash (just by sheer living standards, religion aside).  Reading this is like having someone intellectually explaining why I had a bad gut feeling about the Wars.  Since it has been so long since I read the book, I think I'll just copy my goodreads review and let that suffice.

"It wasn't so much an "ah-ha!" book as a "well of course, I just didn't think of it that way till you said it" book. 

Does America really want democracy in Iraq? No. That would mean a stronger relationship with Iran, kicking US bases out, and favoring Palestine independence. Those three things are the opposite of our goal in Iraq/the entire Middle East.

As history constantly tells us . . . America really only wants democracy in foreign lands if the people are willing to vote in a way that is most beneficial to us. And not even our closest allies are willing to do that! So why do we think someone on the long list of our enemies ever will? Oh, cause we live on their soil, occupy their land, and keep repeating broken promises.

Sounds like a pretty well run Empire to me."


-- 3 stars -- decent, but I'd like to find something else like it . . . but better.

I love good reads!

I already miss my friendship with Francie Nolan, and she just left Brooklyn for a better neighborhood two days ago.
7/18/2010



Ha ha, I just found this.  I guess I really was speechless after reading it.  Still, I think this one sentence deserves posting.  I truly felt like Francie was a dear friend after reading Smith's classic novel.  For the past year, I've recommended this to EVERYONE who asks what they might read.  It will enlighten your soul and filll your heart.

Read it.  Now.

Grab you into your nightmares

The title alone is gripping "First They Killed My Father."  This book made it's way on to our student's summer reading list.  After I read it I was surprised we would do such a thing.  But my middle schoolers never cease to amaze me.  They talked about this book throughout the whole school year.  Ung's tale clearly registered with them.

My favorite part in reading the book wasn't really the book at all.  I brought the book home with me to UT while I was reading it and my dad and I had a great conversation about the story.  He quietly went into his bedroom and returned with his journal.  He then read me an entry from the very early 80s.  The entry summarized and quoted the letter my parents were given when they took in their foster child, Rhy Mam.  I never knew the boy in my early family pictures lived Ung's story.  As I sat on my parents sofa I couldn't help but think Rhy could have been Loung's little sister . . . only Rhy lived.  He escaped.  Fled up a hillside while the Khmer Rouge gunned down his mother.  And then he landed in the bedroom next to mine, half way around the world.

Ung's story is definitely one worth reading.  She captures the thought process of a child well.  I can't imagine having hers as a childhood to relive.  It would be a haunting nightmare.  Yet somehow she has managed to do so much good with what she was left.  I think the moment of "revenge" on the Khmer Rouge soldier was a big moment for her.  She shows us that even after all their suffering, turning the other cheek may truly be the best remedy.  

A Hiccup

It's time I revive this blog.  In order to do so I may have to re-read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.  I love love love this book.  I love it so much I was never able to find the right words for a post.  I just felt there was so much about the book that I needed to explore.  So much I needed to sit back and take in before I could properly explain how deeply it touched my heart and soul.  It's been nine months since I finished the book, and I still ponder it's brilliance.

Of course, now it is a too distant memory.  I feel/fear a review this late in the game can not serve any sort of justice to it's beauty.  So now I'm stuck with no review to give this great book the credit it deserves.

Sigh.

My lack of review soon after the closing of the last page just means the book will continue to become an even more distant memory.

Sad Sad.

Must.  Read.  Again.