Happy National Libraries Day

February 9 is National Libraries Day.  Check out the National Libraries Day site HERE.  If you can't make it to a library check out Flavorwire's selection of the most beautiful libraries in reality and in imagination: Beautiful Libraries in Museums & the Imagination.  Shelf Awareness states:

Noting that "we're always on the lookout for lovely architecture, preferably lovely architecture that incorporates books," Flavorwire showcased "11 of the most beautiful museum libraries in the world." And just in case your affection for libraries runs toward the imaginary side, a quick exploration of literature, film and television revealed 10 of the "best fictional libraries in pop culture." Share a link to your favorite library!  Happy Reading whether your book is one from the library or one you own. Happy National Libraries Day! The Things You Can Read Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Why We Write

Check it out by clicking HERE!  Why do you write?  Why don't you write?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read!

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The Things You Can Read

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Looking for a Challenge? Got Plays?

Fanda Classiclit says:

"Let’s Read Plays is a yearlong event of reading classics plays. From November 2012 to October 2013 we will read classics plays (as many as you wish) throughout the year, at least twelve plays for twelve month."

We know we are a bit delayed getting started, but it's not too late.  Interested?  Here is a link to the list of plays: Play List.  Checkout this Challenge.  

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Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Currently, we are reading Quiet by Susan Cain.  In Quiet introverts are validated by intelligent, insightful discernment, which is backed by research.  Susan Cain, the author, dramatically points out that introverts are highly undervalued in our society and points to the possible consequences of this error in judgement.  Here is quote which really made us go Ummm, from this New York Times Bestseller:

"But the way we organize many of most important institutions--our schools and our workplaces---tells a very different story.  It's the story of a contemporary phenomenon that I call the New Groupthink--a phenomenon that has the potential to stifle productivity at work and to deprive schoolchildren of the skills they'll need to achieve excellence in an increasingly competitive world."

What do you think?  Agree--disagree, we'd love to know your thoughts.  We can't wait to finish this enlightening read.

Additional Quotes From Quiet by Susan Cain

“Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions.”― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

“There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” ― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

“The highly sensitive [introverted] tend to be philosophical or spiritual in their orientation, rather than materialistic or hedonistic. They dislike small talk. They often describe themselves as creative or intuitive. They dream vividly, and can often recall their dreams the next day. They love music, nature, art, physical beauty. They feel exceptionally strong emotions--sometimes acute bouts of joy, but also sorrow, melancholy, and fear. Highly sensitive people also process information about their environments--both physical and emotional--unusually deeply. They tend to notice subtleties that others miss--another person's shift in mood, say, or a lightbulb burning a touch too brightly.” 
― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Proud Introvert

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The Classics Club Question of the Month: February 2013

The Classics Club:  Question of the Month

“What classic has most surprised you so far, and why?”

In my classics reading journey the classic that has most surprised me is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  Well, let me say, you either love or hate Ayn Rand's body of work.  So the first thing you must do is separate your personal feelings with regard to Ayn Rand and/or her philosophy, and simply look at this novel separate and apart from the person or Objectivism.  Let me also say, I loved The Fountainhead, but I loved  Atlas Shrugged even more.  Why?  Published in 1957, the novel is prophetic.  That is what is so surprising.  We are living in Dagny Taggart's world.  The question is...what will become of us?  Dystopian societies don't have to be fictional. 

 

Quotes by Ayn Rand

“Who is John Galt?” 
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

“She did not know the nature of her loneliness. The only words that named it were: This is not the world I expected.” 
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

“Do not let the hero in your soul parish, in lonely frustration, for the life you deserved but never have been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.” ―Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

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Interesting Note:  The renowned economist, Martin Armstrong, stated in a recent blog post: 

They [the government] are destroying the productive class just as in Atlas Shrugged and where this leads is not a very pretty place.

New Caldecott Logo: Celebrating 75 Years

Learn about the NEW logo and its many characters!

"2008 Caldecott Medal Winner Brian Selznick has cleverly brought together characters from past Caldecott Medal-winning books -- beginning with the very first in 1938 and spanning all the way to the 21st century -- in this logo that he created especially for the 75th Anniversary celebration.  Can you name them all?"  

Click here to see the ten clues and the answers!

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Revisit Titanic Research From 2011-2012

We are about to start the Titanic Research Project again for the 2012-2013 school year, so mark your calendars to learn more about the research process that continues to evolve at JEJ Moore Middle School.  Here is another of the 2011-2012 projects that did  not get posted last year; enjoy a taste of what is to come.  Please click on the link below to view Lee's PowerPoint presentation entitled Unsinkable-OR view belowTitanic Powerpoint

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The Things You Can Read

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Titanic Research Project Revisited

We are about to start the Titanic Research Project again for the 2012-2013 school year, so mark your calendars to learn more about the research process that continues to evolve at JEJ Moore Middle School.  Here is another of the 2011-2013 projects that were not posted last year, so enjoy a taste of what is to come.  Please click on the link below to view Robert's PowerPoint presentation entitled The Millionaires Special-OR view below

Robert O. PowerPoint Presentation: The Millionaires Special
Titanic Research Project

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Happy Birthday Lewis Carroll

We have to shout-out a Happy Birthday wish to Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.

Quotes by Lewis Carroll

“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.” 
― Lewis Carroll

“Do you think I've gone round the bend?"
"I'm afraid so. You're mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then. ” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad."
"How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it).” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Do you have a favorite Lewis Carroll quote?  If you do, please feel free to share.  We love to here from our readership!

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The Things You Can Read

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Titanic Research Project 2013

Titanic Research Unit 2013

Last year, Ms. Ginther, the media specialist at JEJ Moore, and Ms. White, the Hurricane 7th grade English teacher, worked cooperatively to teach research skills to the Hurricane English students during the months of April and May.  The research unit incorporated "best practices for research" using the 100^th Anniversary of the Titanic disaster to capture student interest.  Students selected topics, which fell into one of the following categories:  The People of the Titanic, The Mighty Ship, The Disaster Strikes, Discovery: Finding the Titanic, and Historical Fiction.  Students then used their research to create original short stories, essays, PowerPoint presentations, and three dimensional models.  We are about to start the process again for the 2012-2013 school year.  So mark your calendars to learn more about the research process that continues to evolve at JEJ Moore Middle School.  

We had a few projects that were not posted last year, so here is a taste of what is to come.  Please click on the link below to view Hayden's PowerPoint presentation entitled The Floating Death Trap-OR view below

The Floating Death Trap-old Version

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Words: Virginia Woolf Speaks

Virginia Woolf

We have a number of Virginia Woolf's novels nearing the top of our reading stack, so we are so happy to have found this recording of the author discussing the art of writing.  According to the description of the video clip: 

"This is the only surviving recording of Virginia Woolf's voice. It is part of a BBC radio broadcast from April 29th, 1937. The talk was called "Craftsmanship" and was part of a series entitled 'Words Fail Me'." 

We are about to start our huge Titanic Research Project:  Be on the outlook for samples from last year that will be posted in the coming days.  We are starting the process earlier this year after reflecting on our unit over the summer.  The research project is a several month process and "Craftsmanship of Words" is key to taking hours of research and developing a product that reflects the writer's topic in a fluid, interesting, and readable manner.

Quotes by Virginia Woolf

“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” 
― Virginia Woolf

“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.” 
― Virginia Woolf

“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.” 
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Thanks to the folks over At This Now for sharing this great find!  To see the transcript of this interview click on over to At This Now.

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The Things You Can Read

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First Glimpse SYNC 2013

It may only be January but the folks over at audiobooksync are already working on SYNC Summer 2013!  If you are unfamiliar with this wonderful program, now is the chance to sign-up for their newsletter, so you can get in on a really fabulous summer-long event.  SYNC provides wonderful pairings of audiobooks.  These selections are offered all summer, and, here is the best part, it is all FREE.  As we write this they are hard at work, "...assembling a terrific list of SYNC YA and Classic pairings to engage summer listeners. Previous SYNC titles included THE HUNGER GAMES, IMMORTAL, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, AND THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND featuring authors such as Laini Taylor, Jonathan Stroud, and Randa Abdel-Fattah. Count on SYNC 2013 to be just as exciting!"  For  more information coming in the next couple of months be sure to watch the SYNC blog found at http://www.audiobooksync.com.  Let us know your favorite audiobook!  We have too many to list, but our most recent favorite is Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson. Check it out over at Audible.com.

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The Things You Can Read

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Picture Book: Leave Your Sleep

Click here to watch the trailer!

We have been a Natalie Merchant fan since her 10,000 Maniacs days, back in the '80s. Well, 10,000 Maniacs has been a defunct band for over two decades now, but Natalie Merchant's career continues in that unique Merchant manner that made her famous.  She is back, as strong as ever, since taking a self-imposed maternity leave from her career back in 2003.  Her new project is amazing.  Merchant has entered the literary world, and not only that, she has combined poetry and music with her new venture.  On November 2012, Leave Your Sleep hit the book stores, taking Merchant's career to new heights; the poems are classics, the illustrations are gorgeous, and the music is vintage Merchant.  Don't miss this excellent addition to any children's library.  We can't wait to add this one to our own personal bookshelf.  Check out the trailer, and see if  this is your cup of tea; it certainly is ours!  As always, let us know what you think.

Excerpt from the Publisher:

LEAVE YOUR SLEEP IS NOW A PICTURE BOOK

Award winning children's book illustrator Barbara McClintock has lovingly created a picture book based upon Leave Your Sleep, Natalie Merchant's double-album of classic children's poetry adapted to music. Frances Foster Books, an imprint of Farrar Straus Giroux and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has published this beautiful hard cover, 48-page, full-color book including a CD with 19 songs. Available in stores nationwide.

Additional Information:

NY Times Article: Leave Your Sleep

Natalie Merchant Website

Leave Your Sleep CD

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Favorite Book Covers of 2012

Do you judge a book by its cover?   Well, some do.  So, The New York Times asked people "in and around the world of graphic design to name one of their favorite book covers from 2012 and briefly describe its appeal."   Click on over and take a  peek at their answers:Favorite Book Covers of 2012.  Tell us about your favorite cover of 2012!

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Writing Lesson: Validation

Are you looking for a great writing lesson to start off 2013?  If you are, click on over to The Writing Whisperer: Lesson 

and check out the instructional lesson using the film, Validation:  

Validation Lesson Courtesy of Film English

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Happy New Year: 2013

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” ― Benjamin Franklin

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January Reading Goal: Infinite Jest

GoodReads

For the start of the year, we are joining forces with Goodreads to accomplish reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.  This has been on our TBR list for awhile.  We started it this past summer, but were not successful.  Hoping that the second attempt will yield better results, we are ready to try again.  If anyone is interested in joining the group, click on over to Goodreads and check it out.  Let us know if you plan to participate, or if you have already read this one, tell us what you thought!

Reading Schedule:
Dec 30-Jan 5: pages 3-95
Jan 6-12: pges 95-198
Jan 13-19: pgs 198-299
Jan 20-26: pgs 299-379
Jan 27-Feb 2: ps 380-508
Feb 3-9: pgs 508-601 (to: “that was a matter of opinion.”)
Feb 10-16: pgs 601-698
Feb 17-23: pgs 698-808
Feb 24-Mar2: pgs 809-902 (to: “knock down.”)
Mar3-9: pgs 902-981 (end)

Note: be sure to read the footnotes as you go along. They contain information and details. It will be handy to have a bookmark in the footnote section to easily flip to them. 

This is the edition being used for page numbers:
Infinite Jest

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