Everything About Books and Writing and More...
The Outsider, Hoot, Out of the Dust, Langston Hughes, Thank You M.am, Monsters Are Due on Maple Street, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, Israel Horovitz
The Things You Can Read welcomes you and thanks you for your readership. We, here at The Things You Can Read, ask your help, if you visit our site regularly, please follow us either via email or Google Friend Connect. Launched on June 7, 2012, our site has already attracted a great deal of attention. One of the goals of the site is to feature reviews of Children's Picture Books, Young Adult novels and Adult Literary Fiction/Nonfiction. A second goal for the blog is to be a resource for teachers of English and writing--with examples of student created writing, writing tips, resource links, and the opportunity to pick the brain of a seasoned English teacher. To spice things up...every now and then, we'll also include random quotes and thoughts on education and life in general, but our ultimate goal is to reach out into the blogosphere and be a "Book Whisperer" and "Writing Whisperer" to children and adults of all ages. Thank you for your readership. Here is to a lifetime filled with reading and writing.
Showing posts with label Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Show all posts
What did I get out of this week? Well, I found a number of great blogs that I had never visited before. I'm still slowly maneuvering through the list of participants. As I visit each blog, I am in awe of the talented bloggers out there in the blogosphere, and hope that I have the stamina to keep blogging as long as some of the veteran bloggers out there. More importantly, the quality of the blogs is inspiring. Again, I only hope that I can continue to write quality posts that have value to my readership over the long haul. What I don't want is for The Things You Can Read to be a flash in the pan. Seeing what others have achieved, offers me hope and insight as my blog moves forward. Book Blogger Appreciation Week may end today, but I'll be visiting participating blogs well into October.
The thing that I will take into the future is the Classics Club, which I've recently joined. The blogs goal is to, “unite those of us who like to blog about classic literature, as well as to inspire people to make the classics an integral part of life.” I love this idea. Bravo to the founders! I know this new find will enrich my life in the coming months, and I look forward to adding my voice to the Classics Club.
I hope our readership at The Things You Can Readhas enjoyed Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Please look for our participation next year. As always, we look forward to your comments regarding BBAW 2012!
Happy Blogger Appreciation Week! The Things You Can Read
One of the best parts about book blogging is the exposure to books and authors you might never have heard of before. Pimp the book you think needs more recognition on this day. Get creative! Maybe share snippets from other bloggers who have reviewed it or make some fun art to get your message across.
At The Things You Can Read, we have enjoyed finding two books that we would like to pump-up!
Book One
1 Concert, 2000 Miles, and 3 Ex-Best Friends-Don't you just love that tag line? Aren't you ready to open this one up right now...well, in the mean time-until you get your copy-take a peek at the book trailer for Reunited...
I was lucky enough to win an autographed copy of OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy back in April 2012 on the YA Reads for Teachers (And Any Other Adults!) Goodreads group. I was so excited to receive the book and join in the discussion on Goodreads, but alas the last third of the book waited for my summer break to finally see me complete this charming YA novel. Well, having just completed OyMG, I wanted to share my thoughts.
OyMG is the story of a young teenager, Ellie Taylor. Ellie is a born arguer, and she has par-laid this talent into becoming a successful debater. However, Ellie has just finished middle school, and wants to attend the private and ultra-exclusive Benedict High School, which is known for having the best debate team around. Not having the money to attend, there is only one way Ellie can make her dream reality, and that is to win the scholarship that is offered at the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts Summer Camp that is held at the school. The one fly in the ointment is that Ellie has been raised in the Jewish faith, although her father is Christian, her family embraces her mother's Jewish heritage. How will she handle the problems that arise at camp?
I'll jump right in, the concept of uniqueness is one that has always intrigued me. OyMG addresses this theme in a big way. In movies we see memorable characters that are unique and different, and we love them. However, movies are not reality and even though these unique characters are placed on a pedestal and admired for their unconventional, unexpected, and unorthodox qualities-think Amelie-this is not the way of the real world. I guess the question I keep asking myself is does the majority of society really value this type of person? We tell children that everyone is unique and that this is something to be valued, but yet "sameness" and conformity is often what is expected, and ultimately more valued, especially at school. I don't want to explore why this is true, but rather state that it is and relate it to the novel.
The main character, Ellie Taylor, is faced with having lived her life as someone who is unique-different, but when her dream of attending an exclusive private school forces her to deny who she is, she is quick to conform. All the while, telling herself she still is the person she always has been, and this conformity is just a means-to-an-end. In other words, Ellie lies to herself. Ellie is lucky enough to have her parents and her grandfather in her life, each try to help her see that by denying who she is, she is selling out, and this choice has consequences. One of the consequences is that Ellie will never be the person she once was if she denies her heritage/race and her beliefs.
I truly enjoyed following Ellie's progress through the novel. It is an easy read, geared more to tweens, in my opinion. The main characters are believable. One of the most flushed out characters in the novel is Ellie's Jewish grandfather, Zeydeh, who truly helps Ellie value and accept herself-just as she is. The wealthy antisemitic antagonist is painted in a manner that helps teenagers see how someone can appear "ever so nice" on the surface, but harbor deep seeded prejudices. Throughout the arc of the story, young people learn that discriminators don't look different; it is their actions that make them appear ugly, and this is what sets them apart. There are lots of life lessons in this wonderful YA novel for adults as well as young adults.
Let us know what book or books you'd like to pump-up! Post your choice or choices in our comments section.
Happy Blogger Appreciation Week! The Things You Can Read
Book blogging allows me to...be visually creative. I am a visual person. In fact, I'm often confused with the art teacher. Blogging has allowed me to create my very own space in a very small corner of the blogging community. A corner that is all mine, with my unique "visual fingerprints" all over it.
Book blogging allows me to...share my thoughts about books, book related material and educational resources related to reading with others. Book blogging allows me to...have a voice that reaches out into the blogosphere. I've tried so hard to be a member of a live book club, but I've never been fortunate enough to find the right mix. Blogging has helped me be able to achieve my own "club" without ever leaving home.
Book blogging allows me to..."talk" books with other folks who also appreciate the printed word. Book blogging allows me to...continue to grow and learn. The technology of blogging has been something that has been fun to master. Book blogging allows me to...take a solitary activity, such as reading, and make it interactive. Book blogging allows me to...have a dialogue and share ideas about a topic I am passionate about-Reading! My license plate is Read Bug for gosh sakes! Book blogging allows me to...know that I am not alone in my bookish, introverted ways. Book blogging allows me to...realize that there is nothing wrong with me because I'd rather read a book rather than watch TV. Book blogging allows me to...realize that wanting an antique book case rather than a cable subscription is okay. Book blogging allows me to...fill my life with something far more meaningful than the newest reality television show!
Book blogging allows me to...be "me" without being judged. All the visitor has to judge me on is the blog that I have created.
I'd love to know what blogs or blogging means to you. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. Happy Blogger Appreciation Week! The Things You Can Read
September 10 -14, 2012 is Book Blogger Appreciation Week, so welcome to Day 2 ofBook Blogger Appreciation Week, Day 2 is entitled Shining a Light on You! Since I did not sign up for the Interview Swap, I am using the set of questions provided by BBAW, if you are interviewing yourself. Here goes...
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack? I try not to snack, since I have some "baby weight" to lose, but I do enjoy drinking hot tea with a healthy dose of lemon, while reading.
Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? If it is for a class, yes, I mark them all up, but if I am reading for pleasure, no. However, I do love sticky notes, which I use liberally. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open? I usually keep my place using a picture of my children. I'm not a big fan of dog-earring my books. Fiction, Non-fiction, or both? I read both, but tend to read more fiction. Hard copy or audiobooks? I love both, I have a new found appreciation for audiobooks, since having twins and a singleton within a two year period. I have to admit, I listen more than I read. I am an Audible.comfan! Thank goodness I'm both a visually and auditory learner, however listening to a book does work different parts of your brain then reading a book, so I do understand if listening is not for everyone. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point? I can usually put a book down anywhere, but prefer to stop at the end of a chapter. However, having young children means going with the flow, and if a get a minute to read I'll take it even if it means stopping mid-sentence. If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away? I try to look the word up, but it might not be that minute. This is when the sticky notes come in handy. I usually write the word on a sticky note and look it up when it's convenient. What are you currently reading? I'm reading an ARC copy of The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father's Twentieth Century by Margaret Talbot and I'm listening to 11/22/63 by Stephen King and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. What is the last book you bought? Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? I have one book that I am reading, and I usually have two that I am listening to. Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read? I like to read print books in bed in the evening or in my claw foot tub, while socking in lots of Mr. Bubble and a liberal smattering of epsom salt. I listen to books anytime of day, while I swim, walk, clean, surf the Internet, drive, etc, etc, etc.... Do you prefer series books or stand alone books? I like both. It really depends on the series. Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over? I love John Irving. How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?) I moved and lost my library space, but when I had my library, I organized them alphabetically. Happy Blogger Appreciation Week! The Things You Can Read
September 10 -14, 2012 is Book Blogger Appreciation Week, so welcome to BBAW 2012 everyone! First, we want to thank all those who return to The Things You Can Read on a regular basis. We appreciate your readership. The Things You Can Read exists for you. We especially appreciate the comments and feedback you provide. Again, Thank you!
For Book Blogger Appreciation Weekbook bloggers are asked each day to respond to a topic. Today's topic asks bloggers to share some of the blogs that they enjoy reading. We have to admit that some of the blogs that we view daily are not book blogs, but we will limit our list here to just a few of our favorite book blogs, be sure to check them out:
