I got suckered in by the bargain table. I picked up two books and a cd for $15. Little did I know that the books were going to stir up thoughts that are always swirling just below the surface for me. Reckless Faith by Beth Guckenberger was a quick read but a thought-provoking one.
Beth and her husband Todd live in Monterrey, Mexico. They serve orphans and are parenting nine children, with a combination of biological, foster and adopted children. The book is not so much a memoir as a collection of stories about moments in Beth's life that impacted her greatly and led her to where she is now, a missionary in a poor area of Mexico to the "least of these".
Each chapter focused on a person and situation that were keystone events in her life, even if they were as simple as a short interaction with a blind person. She elaborated through sharing her experiences how she feels her faith has become reckless, willing to trust God and follow His leading, even if it doesn't seem to make much sense.
My favorite chapter was titled "Joel". Edgar leads a children's home that Beth's organization works with. One day, he has no food to feed the children. So he gathers them to pray. One little boy, Joel, asks Edgar what food God is going to bring, if maybe God will bring them meat? That same day, a man named Carlos flies into town and calls Beth. He has a surplus of the product he brought to town to sell and is giving it away if she knows of anyone who needs it. She thinks of Edgar and calls him. He asks what it is and she replies, "It's high end cuts of meat, steaks, beef and pork." Of course it is.
This book spoke to me because I have always had a heart for children, particularly children with special needs, without parents, in search of love. I felt challenged to do more with that desire than just think about it now and then. I'm not sure what that looks like...but I want it.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Everyday Pasta
This is a cook book that I reach for over and over again. I have a thing for pasta. Giada's recipes are simple, quick, and made from such good ingredients. If you are short on time or are doing some pantry clearing, these are great recipes.
There is a recipe in there for Baked Gnocchi that gets raves every time I make it. It is the dish that I make when I want to impress people and it is so simple.
There is another recipe for Spicy Sausage and Kale pasta. It is a definite go to. The substitutions are limitless and it makes great left overs.
If your weeknights are rushed and you want to cook a hearty meal that shows your people how much you love them...look to Giada.
There is a recipe in there for Baked Gnocchi that gets raves every time I make it. It is the dish that I make when I want to impress people and it is so simple.
There is another recipe for Spicy Sausage and Kale pasta. It is a definite go to. The substitutions are limitless and it makes great left overs.
If your weeknights are rushed and you want to cook a hearty meal that shows your people how much you love them...look to Giada.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Child of Mine
Chicken nuggets and french fries, sugar cereal, goldfish crackers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, macaroni and cheese...what do all of these foods have in common? They're beloved by toddlers and preschoolers and a guilt source of many parents. How do you get your young child to eat anything else? Especially something (gasp) green?
I recently finished Child of Mine:Feeding with Love and Good Sense by Ellyn Satter. A friend had recommended this book, saying that this approach to feeding worked really well with her kids and she wished she had read it sooner. Those kind of recommendations almost always result in good knowledge gained.
The book is for parents, child care workers, grandparents, and anyone else who regularly feeds children. Satter's underlying principle is:
The parent is responsible for what, when, where.
The child is responsible for how much and whether.
The first part of the book goes over her main priniciple in depth and her philosophy on feeding. Basically, it is the job of the adult to provide a variety of nutritious foods, regular meals and snacks, a pleasant atmosphere with the family eating together and a relationship of love and trust. It's the child's job to eat. According to her theory, over several days to weeks, a child's body and need to grow will drive them to eat the foods that will provide the nutrients that they need. And if you follow this philosophy, eventually your child will eat well and eat the things you eat.
After the philosophical underpinnings are laid out, she goes chapter by chapter developmentally including chapters on: breastfeeding, formula feeding, first foods (6-12 months), toddlers (1-3 years) and preschoolers (3-5 years). I found this a useful format and most of her advice seemed right on with other feeding advice I've heard. But instead of making a parent feel panicky with the need to check off each part of the food pyramid, she offers real-world suggestions in an empathetic yet firm voice.
I found this book extremely helpful. I know I'm going to do things differently with my second child (who doesn't?). I wasn't very good about continuing to provide opportunities for my first child to eat things he didn't like at first. It seemed like a lot of work (and a waste of money) to make food that I ended up scraping into the garbage can. So his preferred food list is pretty small and typical of young kids. He does love fruit but won't touch vegetables. The good thing is he'll tolerate anything on his plate and even tries new things occasionally.
I decided, though, that I want to raise children who are less picky than I was. And I agree with Satter that unless the child is given opportunities to eat lots of different kinds of food then they'll probably not want to try new foods. I love her idea of the family table. I like that she doesn't advocate pushing kids to try new foods (mostly because it removes confrontation and tantrums from dinnertime). However, she advocates that you let kids eat as much of whatever food that they want (keeping in mind that as the adult you've given them the food). I feel like it's important to set some limits.
Her advice has steeled my resolve to be more structured about meals and snacks and not allowing grazing in between set feeding times. It's also encouraged me to be more well-rounded in what I prepare for myself (I don't really like a lot of vegetables either). It's also given me more backbone to say no to short-order cooking.
All in all, this book was helpful to me as a parent and such a good resource that I'm considering buying my own copy to keep on hand and lend out to friends.
I recently finished Child of Mine:Feeding with Love and Good Sense by Ellyn Satter. A friend had recommended this book, saying that this approach to feeding worked really well with her kids and she wished she had read it sooner. Those kind of recommendations almost always result in good knowledge gained.
The book is for parents, child care workers, grandparents, and anyone else who regularly feeds children. Satter's underlying principle is:
The parent is responsible for what, when, where.
The child is responsible for how much and whether.
The first part of the book goes over her main priniciple in depth and her philosophy on feeding. Basically, it is the job of the adult to provide a variety of nutritious foods, regular meals and snacks, a pleasant atmosphere with the family eating together and a relationship of love and trust. It's the child's job to eat. According to her theory, over several days to weeks, a child's body and need to grow will drive them to eat the foods that will provide the nutrients that they need. And if you follow this philosophy, eventually your child will eat well and eat the things you eat.
After the philosophical underpinnings are laid out, she goes chapter by chapter developmentally including chapters on: breastfeeding, formula feeding, first foods (6-12 months), toddlers (1-3 years) and preschoolers (3-5 years). I found this a useful format and most of her advice seemed right on with other feeding advice I've heard. But instead of making a parent feel panicky with the need to check off each part of the food pyramid, she offers real-world suggestions in an empathetic yet firm voice.
I found this book extremely helpful. I know I'm going to do things differently with my second child (who doesn't?). I wasn't very good about continuing to provide opportunities for my first child to eat things he didn't like at first. It seemed like a lot of work (and a waste of money) to make food that I ended up scraping into the garbage can. So his preferred food list is pretty small and typical of young kids. He does love fruit but won't touch vegetables. The good thing is he'll tolerate anything on his plate and even tries new things occasionally.
I decided, though, that I want to raise children who are less picky than I was. And I agree with Satter that unless the child is given opportunities to eat lots of different kinds of food then they'll probably not want to try new foods. I love her idea of the family table. I like that she doesn't advocate pushing kids to try new foods (mostly because it removes confrontation and tantrums from dinnertime). However, she advocates that you let kids eat as much of whatever food that they want (keeping in mind that as the adult you've given them the food). I feel like it's important to set some limits.
Her advice has steeled my resolve to be more structured about meals and snacks and not allowing grazing in between set feeding times. It's also encouraged me to be more well-rounded in what I prepare for myself (I don't really like a lot of vegetables either). It's also given me more backbone to say no to short-order cooking.
All in all, this book was helpful to me as a parent and such a good resource that I'm considering buying my own copy to keep on hand and lend out to friends.
Book to Movie: I Capture The Castle
The husband was on the road for a week, which gave me some time to catch up on my chick flicks. Or, romances, as I like to call them.
I ran across I Capture The Castle on Netflix. And I was totally engrossed. It completely brought the book to life for me.
A brilliant writer moves his family to a castle in countryside so that he can write his next masterpiece. The next big thing doesn't happen for him and his family falls into desperate poverty while living in a drafty, cold castle.
Cassandra, the middle child and second daughter, begins to write a journal, which is where our story picks up. It details day to day life in the castle, the struggles with putting food on the table, dealing with their eccentric father...and finding love. And, more than love, a marriage proposal to get them out of there!
Grab a glass of wine and cuddle up with the book or the movie.
I ran across I Capture The Castle on Netflix. And I was totally engrossed. It completely brought the book to life for me.
A brilliant writer moves his family to a castle in countryside so that he can write his next masterpiece. The next big thing doesn't happen for him and his family falls into desperate poverty while living in a drafty, cold castle.
Cassandra, the middle child and second daughter, begins to write a journal, which is where our story picks up. It details day to day life in the castle, the struggles with putting food on the table, dealing with their eccentric father...and finding love. And, more than love, a marriage proposal to get them out of there!
Grab a glass of wine and cuddle up with the book or the movie.
Good Read: The King's English
Are you at all like me? Have you dreamed of running and owning a bookstore? Maybe a children's bookstore a la Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail"...or a used/new bookstore like The Book Exchange? Or like the Tattered Cover in Denver (what a dreamy, dreamy place!)? Or a tiny local place like Aunt Bonnie's in Helena or The Bookstore in Dillon?
I imagine floor to ceiling shelves, stacks of books in every nook and cranny, comfy chairs, and delicious coffee. Or, cause I'm me, yummy wine.
Ah the lure of the independent bookstore. Don't get me wrong. I think Amazon is great because I can always find what I'm looking for. And, I love to wander the aisles of Barnes&Noble, Borders, and Hastings (I know, gasp!). But, I love that feeling of not looking for anything in particular and always finding a treasure. Or, how the people at the local places have actually read the books and can recommend things to you.
Debbie, at the Bookstore in Dillon, always has a recommendation. She knows local authors. And even though I don't live there anymore, she still remembers my tastes and what I have read. Amazon can recommend stuff to me, but it is always a little off.
Enter The King's English by Betsy Burton, "adventures of an independent bookseller." It is part memoir of a woman's struggles and successes running a bookstore before the megastores came on the scene and then the effects when the megastores arrived. It is part literary tribute to all of those wonderful things she read and the authors she met. And, what I find the most glorious about it, is that it is part book list.
A well curated book list from a life of books and reading. Whenever I am stumped on what to read, I reach for this book.
25 Mysteries to Die For. 35 Favorite Poetry Books from TKE's First 25 Years. An Incomplete and Unscientific but Nonetheless Shocking List of Books Challenged or Censored by Bookstores, Libraries, and Schools. 25 Western Fiction Titles Grounded in Place. 25 Books on Reading Books.
You get the drift. Ah-mazing.
I reach for this book for inspiration, for knowledge, for hope, for dreams, for love of books.
Oh, and I have to be honest here. This book also came from my mom. She knows a thing or two about good books.
I imagine floor to ceiling shelves, stacks of books in every nook and cranny, comfy chairs, and delicious coffee. Or, cause I'm me, yummy wine.
Ah the lure of the independent bookstore. Don't get me wrong. I think Amazon is great because I can always find what I'm looking for. And, I love to wander the aisles of Barnes&Noble, Borders, and Hastings (I know, gasp!). But, I love that feeling of not looking for anything in particular and always finding a treasure. Or, how the people at the local places have actually read the books and can recommend things to you.
Debbie, at the Bookstore in Dillon, always has a recommendation. She knows local authors. And even though I don't live there anymore, she still remembers my tastes and what I have read. Amazon can recommend stuff to me, but it is always a little off.
Enter The King's English by Betsy Burton, "adventures of an independent bookseller." It is part memoir of a woman's struggles and successes running a bookstore before the megastores came on the scene and then the effects when the megastores arrived. It is part literary tribute to all of those wonderful things she read and the authors she met. And, what I find the most glorious about it, is that it is part book list.
A well curated book list from a life of books and reading. Whenever I am stumped on what to read, I reach for this book.
25 Mysteries to Die For. 35 Favorite Poetry Books from TKE's First 25 Years. An Incomplete and Unscientific but Nonetheless Shocking List of Books Challenged or Censored by Bookstores, Libraries, and Schools. 25 Western Fiction Titles Grounded in Place. 25 Books on Reading Books.
You get the drift. Ah-mazing.
I reach for this book for inspiration, for knowledge, for hope, for dreams, for love of books.
Oh, and I have to be honest here. This book also came from my mom. She knows a thing or two about good books.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure
I have a very special place in my heart for travel memoirs. I find them fascinating and whenever I travel somewhere, I am constantly constructing a memoir of my travels in my head.
As you may or may not know, I am a yoga teacher and have a fascination with India. And, as much as India may beckon to me for her spirituality, her beauty, and her food...I find myself afraid of her poverty, her dirtiness, and her immense population.
Sarah Macdonald moves to India from her native home in Australia to be with her boyfriend (and then husband). She had been to India once before when she was younger and hated the experience. Now, she finds herself back in India with a significant other who is never there (he is a journalist and constantly traveling).
She learns much of India from her household staff. She gets to witness the extravagance and celebration that is the Indian wedding season. She comes close to death. She is constantly revolted and ravished by India, by India's extremes.
"India is beyond statement, for anything you say, the opposite is also true. It's rich and poor, spiritual and material, cruel and kind, angry but peaceful, ugly and beautiful, and smart but stupid. It's all the extremes. India defies understanding, and for once, for me, that's okay. In Australia, in my small pocket of my own isolated country, I felt like I understood my world and myself, but now, I'm actually embracing not knowing and I'm questioning much of what I thought I did know. I kind of like being confused, wrestling with contradictions, and not having to wrap up issues in a minute before a commercial break. While the journalist in me is still curious about he world, I'm still not really missing the way my old job confined my perceptions of life. My confinement here is different--I'm trapped by heat and by a never-ending series of juxtapositions. India is in some ways like a fun house hall of mirrors where I can see both sides of each contradiction sharply and there's no easy escape to understanding."
One of the most striking aspects of the book is describing India's poverty and cruelty. As westerners, we have ideas of great food, beautiful architecture, and beautiful saris. India is a country wracked by poverty. "How I miss Australia, where destitution comes via television images, and I can press the off button. India makes me feel anything but lucky and happy. As the Vipassana high wears even thinner and my Sikh strength further fades, I feel increasingly dismayed and guilty. I feel guilty for not giving these women money and guilty for knowing it wouldn't be enough. I feel guilty for being in a position where I'm privileged enough to be a giver rather than a taker and I feel guilty for wanting more than I have and taking what I do have for granted. At times I feel angry at the injustice. But most of all I feel confused and confronted. Why was I born in my safe, secure, sunny Sydney sanctuary and not in Kesroli? India accepts that I deserved it, but I can't. I wait for understanding and for the monsoon."
Another aspect of the book that I found endlessly engrossing was Sarah's small ventures into the many faiths and religions of India.
She goes to Kashmir and encounters Islam. "Inshallah is a common word in Kashmir. In this state nothing is taken for granted. Everything is 'if God is willing'. The word 'Islam' actually comes from a root of a word that means 'complete surrender,' but Mehmooda's fatalism astounds me. In India I've slowly been learning that I'm not in complete control of my life. I got sick, Jonathan is constantly called away and India's general disorganization means things never really turn out as I expect, but Mehmooda's faith and fatalism make me realize how much I still cling to the belief that I have power over my destiny. Perhaps it's time to let that go. Back at the boat on the lake of lotuses I shiver with thoughts of surrender, for it seems such surrender requires sacrifices I could never make. I'm not sure I want that depth of faith and I can't imagine being capable of it."
The majority of Indians are Hindu, which is a faith that I yearn to learn more about. The more I learn about it the more fascinating it becomes. The more it feels real and true to me. "Hinduism is a faith of almost infinite diversity. Yet the broadest, most complicated religion on the planet actually caters brilliantly to the individual. It seems every Hindu is free to create and follow his own unique religion, choosing his own gods and methods of worship. The gods of non-Hindus are respected and Hindu gods are generously shared. A young boy called Anu walks me back t my camp and gives me some options for puja. I can look to Hanuman for energy, Varuna (the god of water) if I want rain, Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort, the goddess of wealth) if I need money and Sarawathi (Brahma's consort the goddess of knowledge) if I have an exam coming up. Ganesh (the elephant god and the child of Shiva and Parvati) can be called on when starting a new journey or venture and Vishnu, Rama or Krishna if I want purity of spirit. Anu bids me good-bye, saying, 'just be taking your picking, all is for one and one is for all.'"
Sarah explores all the spirituality that India has to offer. She goes to a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat. She explores the gurus of India, yoga, and the Kumbh Mela. She visits the Sikhs and the Jains. She visits Dharamsala and watches the Dalai Lama speak. She shares Seder with some expatriate Jews. She learns about the diminishing Parsi population. She even spends time learning about her cultural religion, Christianity. "By absolving my anger about Christianity I have cleared the last obstacle that stood blocking my readiness for faith. I realize I don't have to be a Christian who follows the church, or a Buddhist nun in robes, or a convert to Judaism or Islam or Sikhism. I can be a believer in something bigger than what I can touch. I can make a leap of faith to a higher power in a way that's appropriate to my culture but not be imprisoned by it." With all of these abundant faiths in one country, it is no wonder that India conjures ideas and dreams of faith and spirituality.
Overall, this was a beautiful travel memoir and I highly recommend it.
As you may or may not know, I am a yoga teacher and have a fascination with India. And, as much as India may beckon to me for her spirituality, her beauty, and her food...I find myself afraid of her poverty, her dirtiness, and her immense population.
Sarah Macdonald moves to India from her native home in Australia to be with her boyfriend (and then husband). She had been to India once before when she was younger and hated the experience. Now, she finds herself back in India with a significant other who is never there (he is a journalist and constantly traveling).
She learns much of India from her household staff. She gets to witness the extravagance and celebration that is the Indian wedding season. She comes close to death. She is constantly revolted and ravished by India, by India's extremes.
"India is beyond statement, for anything you say, the opposite is also true. It's rich and poor, spiritual and material, cruel and kind, angry but peaceful, ugly and beautiful, and smart but stupid. It's all the extremes. India defies understanding, and for once, for me, that's okay. In Australia, in my small pocket of my own isolated country, I felt like I understood my world and myself, but now, I'm actually embracing not knowing and I'm questioning much of what I thought I did know. I kind of like being confused, wrestling with contradictions, and not having to wrap up issues in a minute before a commercial break. While the journalist in me is still curious about he world, I'm still not really missing the way my old job confined my perceptions of life. My confinement here is different--I'm trapped by heat and by a never-ending series of juxtapositions. India is in some ways like a fun house hall of mirrors where I can see both sides of each contradiction sharply and there's no easy escape to understanding."
One of the most striking aspects of the book is describing India's poverty and cruelty. As westerners, we have ideas of great food, beautiful architecture, and beautiful saris. India is a country wracked by poverty. "How I miss Australia, where destitution comes via television images, and I can press the off button. India makes me feel anything but lucky and happy. As the Vipassana high wears even thinner and my Sikh strength further fades, I feel increasingly dismayed and guilty. I feel guilty for not giving these women money and guilty for knowing it wouldn't be enough. I feel guilty for being in a position where I'm privileged enough to be a giver rather than a taker and I feel guilty for wanting more than I have and taking what I do have for granted. At times I feel angry at the injustice. But most of all I feel confused and confronted. Why was I born in my safe, secure, sunny Sydney sanctuary and not in Kesroli? India accepts that I deserved it, but I can't. I wait for understanding and for the monsoon."
Another aspect of the book that I found endlessly engrossing was Sarah's small ventures into the many faiths and religions of India.
She goes to Kashmir and encounters Islam. "Inshallah is a common word in Kashmir. In this state nothing is taken for granted. Everything is 'if God is willing'. The word 'Islam' actually comes from a root of a word that means 'complete surrender,' but Mehmooda's fatalism astounds me. In India I've slowly been learning that I'm not in complete control of my life. I got sick, Jonathan is constantly called away and India's general disorganization means things never really turn out as I expect, but Mehmooda's faith and fatalism make me realize how much I still cling to the belief that I have power over my destiny. Perhaps it's time to let that go. Back at the boat on the lake of lotuses I shiver with thoughts of surrender, for it seems such surrender requires sacrifices I could never make. I'm not sure I want that depth of faith and I can't imagine being capable of it."
The majority of Indians are Hindu, which is a faith that I yearn to learn more about. The more I learn about it the more fascinating it becomes. The more it feels real and true to me. "Hinduism is a faith of almost infinite diversity. Yet the broadest, most complicated religion on the planet actually caters brilliantly to the individual. It seems every Hindu is free to create and follow his own unique religion, choosing his own gods and methods of worship. The gods of non-Hindus are respected and Hindu gods are generously shared. A young boy called Anu walks me back t my camp and gives me some options for puja. I can look to Hanuman for energy, Varuna (the god of water) if I want rain, Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort, the goddess of wealth) if I need money and Sarawathi (Brahma's consort the goddess of knowledge) if I have an exam coming up. Ganesh (the elephant god and the child of Shiva and Parvati) can be called on when starting a new journey or venture and Vishnu, Rama or Krishna if I want purity of spirit. Anu bids me good-bye, saying, 'just be taking your picking, all is for one and one is for all.'"
Sarah explores all the spirituality that India has to offer. She goes to a ten day Vipassana meditation retreat. She explores the gurus of India, yoga, and the Kumbh Mela. She visits the Sikhs and the Jains. She visits Dharamsala and watches the Dalai Lama speak. She shares Seder with some expatriate Jews. She learns about the diminishing Parsi population. She even spends time learning about her cultural religion, Christianity. "By absolving my anger about Christianity I have cleared the last obstacle that stood blocking my readiness for faith. I realize I don't have to be a Christian who follows the church, or a Buddhist nun in robes, or a convert to Judaism or Islam or Sikhism. I can be a believer in something bigger than what I can touch. I can make a leap of faith to a higher power in a way that's appropriate to my culture but not be imprisoned by it." With all of these abundant faiths in one country, it is no wonder that India conjures ideas and dreams of faith and spirituality.
Overall, this was a beautiful travel memoir and I highly recommend it.
October Pick
I am over the moon for this new blog! I have tried and tried again to start book clubs, but people move away...or I'm the only one who reads the book. And, to be honest, some were books that I wish I hadn't wasted time reading. Just not my thing. But, I didn't want to be the one to not read the books.
And, maybe part of that is that we all like to read different things. Books and articles related to our jobs, to our kids, to our interests. That is where the inspiration for this little blog came from.
We can post reviews on anything we come across that we find interesting. That way we each get to read exactly what we want. In addition, we take turns picking a "book club" book each month that we can discuss together. Fun!
I have to thank my mom for this month's book pick. She is always giving me great books and recommending great books.
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I have read a couple of Kingsolver books, including The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer. And, I thought both of them were great.
From the back cover: "In this powerfully imagined, provocative novel, Barbara Kingsolver takes us on an epic journey from the Mexico of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR, and J. Edgar Hoover. The Lacuna is the poignant story of a man pulled between two nations as well as an unforgettable portrait of the artist--and art itself."
So, please join us in reading this month's book and come back for the discussion at the end of October.
Happy Reading!
And, maybe part of that is that we all like to read different things. Books and articles related to our jobs, to our kids, to our interests. That is where the inspiration for this little blog came from.
We can post reviews on anything we come across that we find interesting. That way we each get to read exactly what we want. In addition, we take turns picking a "book club" book each month that we can discuss together. Fun!
I have to thank my mom for this month's book pick. She is always giving me great books and recommending great books.
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I have read a couple of Kingsolver books, including The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer. And, I thought both of them were great.
From the back cover: "In this powerfully imagined, provocative novel, Barbara Kingsolver takes us on an epic journey from the Mexico of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR, and J. Edgar Hoover. The Lacuna is the poignant story of a man pulled between two nations as well as an unforgettable portrait of the artist--and art itself."
So, please join us in reading this month's book and come back for the discussion at the end of October.
Happy Reading!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
My Antonia
I just finished this classic by Willa Cather. When we were on a family vacation this summer, it was on the shelf at the lodge so I picked it up and read the first chapter....I was intrigued but kept forgetting to pick it up at the library.
I am sure there are hundreds of reviews out there, all much better than mine. So I'll keep it simple. The writing was vivid. I was there, as she wove the scene around me. The words were elegant, drawing me in more than the story.
I've never been able to read and enjoy classics the way I feel I should. This story was different and it pulled me in through the sheer beauty of the prose.
This was one of my favorite passages:
"She lent herself to immemorial human attitudes which we recognize by instinct as universal and true. I had not been mistaken. She was a battered woman now, not a lovely girl; but she still had that something which fires the imagination, could still stop one's breath for a moment by a look or gesture that somehow revealed the meaning in common things."
Beautiful, isn't it?
I am sure there are hundreds of reviews out there, all much better than mine. So I'll keep it simple. The writing was vivid. I was there, as she wove the scene around me. The words were elegant, drawing me in more than the story.
I've never been able to read and enjoy classics the way I feel I should. This story was different and it pulled me in through the sheer beauty of the prose.
This was one of my favorite passages:
"She lent herself to immemorial human attitudes which we recognize by instinct as universal and true. I had not been mistaken. She was a battered woman now, not a lovely girl; but she still had that something which fires the imagination, could still stop one's breath for a moment by a look or gesture that somehow revealed the meaning in common things."
Beautiful, isn't it?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Books Update 9.24.10
This week's journey into the written word courtesy of the New York Times. Click here.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Waking Up My Brain
Turned on Jack Johnson, grabbed a highlighter and felt like I was back in grad school as I sat down to read a chapter titled Speech, Language, and Communication Assessment and Intervention for Children by Gerber and Prizant, from the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL).
Sound like a mouthful? I did have to access areas of my brain that have lain dormant in my current mama-state. The article was a great review of all of the areas a speech therapist has to take into account when doing an assessment and planning treatment for children.
This article highlights the need for a developmental perspective. I found something to highlight in almost every paragraph. It was laid out in an outline style, which I loved. It made me miss working and it made me realize how very, very much I still have to learn. While this article didn't teach me anything new, it reminded me of how complex speech therapy can be and why I love it so much.
The ICDL is onto something. No longer is therapy about teaching a kid how to not say "My wabbit wooks weally tired". It is about meeting a kid where they are and facilitating the next step up the developmental ladder with a focus on the kid's ability to interact and function in his/her environment. It's about empowering parents to do their best by their children. It's for those kids with autism who cannot seem to find a way to access society and those toddlers who are tantrumming more than they are talking. I can't wait to explore the nooks and crannies of the ICDL website.
Sound like a mouthful? I did have to access areas of my brain that have lain dormant in my current mama-state. The article was a great review of all of the areas a speech therapist has to take into account when doing an assessment and planning treatment for children.
This article highlights the need for a developmental perspective. I found something to highlight in almost every paragraph. It was laid out in an outline style, which I loved. It made me miss working and it made me realize how very, very much I still have to learn. While this article didn't teach me anything new, it reminded me of how complex speech therapy can be and why I love it so much.
The ICDL is onto something. No longer is therapy about teaching a kid how to not say "My wabbit wooks weally tired". It is about meeting a kid where they are and facilitating the next step up the developmental ladder with a focus on the kid's ability to interact and function in his/her environment. It's about empowering parents to do their best by their children. It's for those kids with autism who cannot seem to find a way to access society and those toddlers who are tantrumming more than they are talking. I can't wait to explore the nooks and crannies of the ICDL website.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Rules of the Wild
Recently I have been thinking about my college days. Maybe it is the start of college football and all the talk of where we went to college (my school, however, did not have a football team).
I was a ranch girl at a fancy school in a fancy city. To say I didn't fit in was the least of it. Most of the time I just didn't know what to do with myself and I spent a lot of time alone. Mainly wondering what the heck I was doing there.
I eventually found amazing outlets for my loneliness and an independent girl became even more independent. One outlet was the beach. A main reason for choosing said college. Another outlet was the Getty Museum. Second semester senior year I didn't have any classes on Friday. I would spend the whole day at the museum.
Another outlet was the Third Street Promenade, and more specifically the Barnes and Noble there. It was there that I picked up Rules of the Wild by Francesca Marciano.
I've always been a big reader, but this book to me was so different. I sat down and read it in one sitting. That was the very first time that I had done that. And, I've since done it many, many times!
This book was so different to me. It has a heroine who, in my opinion then, is always fucking up. As a reader you don't want her to do the things she does. I was completely emotionally involved with the book. And fascinated. It is the first book that I can remember reading where the heroine isn't an absolutely perfect character. Or maybe just the first book that I fell in love with that character.
Esme is from Italy. She loses her father, and herself, and wallows around in Kenya. Not that I would have any idea of the expatriate scene in Nairobi, but it gives a beautiful and sad portrait of that scene. The way I imagine all expatriate settings to be. Exciting. Lonely. Haunting. Substance abusing.
And it gives a beautiful portrait of what I imagine Kenya to be. Large and hostile.
The book is filled with hunting safaris, war reporters, and locals. It is filled with people who are just drifting. Which is maybe why it appealed to me so much as I was drifting in college.
I have since read the book many, many times. I just found it on my shelf and have added it to my stack to read again this fall.
Have you read this book? What did you think? And, if you decide to read it, be sure to come back and share your comments!
I was a ranch girl at a fancy school in a fancy city. To say I didn't fit in was the least of it. Most of the time I just didn't know what to do with myself and I spent a lot of time alone. Mainly wondering what the heck I was doing there.
I eventually found amazing outlets for my loneliness and an independent girl became even more independent. One outlet was the beach. A main reason for choosing said college. Another outlet was the Getty Museum. Second semester senior year I didn't have any classes on Friday. I would spend the whole day at the museum.
Another outlet was the Third Street Promenade, and more specifically the Barnes and Noble there. It was there that I picked up Rules of the Wild by Francesca Marciano.
I've always been a big reader, but this book to me was so different. I sat down and read it in one sitting. That was the very first time that I had done that. And, I've since done it many, many times!
This book was so different to me. It has a heroine who, in my opinion then, is always fucking up. As a reader you don't want her to do the things she does. I was completely emotionally involved with the book. And fascinated. It is the first book that I can remember reading where the heroine isn't an absolutely perfect character. Or maybe just the first book that I fell in love with that character.
Esme is from Italy. She loses her father, and herself, and wallows around in Kenya. Not that I would have any idea of the expatriate scene in Nairobi, but it gives a beautiful and sad portrait of that scene. The way I imagine all expatriate settings to be. Exciting. Lonely. Haunting. Substance abusing.
And it gives a beautiful portrait of what I imagine Kenya to be. Large and hostile.
The book is filled with hunting safaris, war reporters, and locals. It is filled with people who are just drifting. Which is maybe why it appealed to me so much as I was drifting in college.
I have since read the book many, many times. I just found it on my shelf and have added it to my stack to read again this fall.
Have you read this book? What did you think? And, if you decide to read it, be sure to come back and share your comments!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Books Update 9.17.10
Brought to you by the New York Times. I love this weekly update on the written word. Click here.
Book To Movie: Never Let Me Go
This was one of those spellbinding, amazing books. It is mysterious and dark and full of love and hope. And loss. You never really know what is going on until the end. Clues are slowly collected and when you think you have it...no, it can't be! Can it?
I'm looking forward to the movie. From the preview it looks like they captured the book. But, I guess you never really know until you see it.
I'm looking forward to the movie. From the preview it looks like they captured the book. But, I guess you never really know until you see it.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
My Book Stack 9.16.10
I like to hoard books. Stack 'em up by my bed. Stocking up for the winter. Currently in my stack, so expect to see reviews in the future, are:
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