What I've Been Reading

Summer usually equals lots of books read for me. I will admit, I was running out of good looking books at the local library, so I thought I should get some recommendations or lists going before the summer started. So, I found two lists. One being the books that are most often used on the AP Literature tests, which are books that I feel as and English major/teacher I should read. The second list was the Newbery Medal and Honor winners.

So, I started with the AP list. But after about two books, my brain was not into it at all. They are great pieces of literature, but they take a lot of work to read and comprehend. I thought to myself, "This is dumb. I should read stuff I really enjoy reading."

So, I have been happily working my way through the Newbery list and loving every minute of it. I like the variety of stories and types of writing included. And since they are young adult books, they go pretty quick. So I have been to the library a lot this summer and that is just fine by me.

Comments

The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans. But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures. Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice. This was an enjoyable book to r...

A Perspective

I have already mentioned my "Word of the Day" screen saver that I have on my laptop that is hooked up to the projector in my room. I am learning that the words go in cycles a bit, so the same word will pop up in several classes during the day. Today's popular word was "entitlement." A fantastic word to share with teenagers who often think they are entitled to a whole lot of stuff. In fact, we as humans often think we are entitled to a whole lot of stuff when really we are fallen people who deserve nothing but death. We so often miss how wonderful and blessed our life really is and we get caught up on the little things. This video sort of puts that in perspective in a rather humorous way. I am by no means promoting this comedian, but if you take what he says to heart, it is so true. We live in an amazing world, created by an amazing God. We really should be happy with the blessing we have been given.

A Little Morning Staycation

So, way back over March Break, the local CBC had several March Break Stay-cation give aways. For the family pass for a Cows Creamery tour, you had call in a moo. My husband called from the barn and was one of the entries chosen to be played on the radio. And he name was also one of the random entries drawn to win the prize. We were supposed to go on a tour of the creamery during March Break, but a crazy snowstorm hit that day. so they told us just to stop in any time during the summer to use our pass. So, we finally went today. Before we left, we told Joash we had a surprise for him today. "What is it?" he asked. We said that he would have to wait and see. "Is it a silage cart?" he asked. Can you tell what our dinner time conversations have been about lately? We had a nice tour and enjoyed the free samples. We decided to get an early lunch at The Big Orange Lunchbox. Wow! It was very yummy! I am telling you, if you are on PEI and you like a good burger and h...

The Talens' Tales

Search This Blog