I'm not sure what I want to do with this idea yet, but it seems that a lot of my friends and I enjoy reading and recommending books to one another - trading and passing on and discussing books. I'm not sure if we would be able to be organized enough, though, to agree on a book for a month and meet to discuss it. Maybe something more informal. I am open to suggestions.
One idea I had was a book swap club, where we could have some sort of bulletin board or group. We would have a database listing each book we had available to trade or swap or lend out. Maybe, for instance, since I am finished with "Late Bloomer", I would list that on the database under my name and that I am offering it up. I think it would be cool to list inside the cover who has read the book and passed it along to another friend. Then we could discuss it on our group messages or bulletin board. One problem is that I'm most familiar with Yahoo groups and I have (at least) one stubborn friend who refuses to use Yahoo. I guess I should look into what other similar services might be offered by Google.
In put please?
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Monday, June 16, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Claire's Day!
Claire's Day is one day of the year that mini-me and I look forward to annually. Today was the best of the 5 years we have been visiting the event. The weather was phenomenal, cool breezes and patchy sun. The craft projects were marvelous, as always! mini-me made a weaving, a flower-arrangement, and an owl. She bypassed the coffee filter hats and head wreaths this time.
We picked up about every item possible from the local PBS station, and she had her photo taken with STRAW Man. She got all kinds of paraphanelia about all of her favorite shows, including something new about Super Why and Princess Presto that I haven't even seen yet! For my money, nothing will ever replace Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow! Oh, and let's not even dare to dream about good old-fashioned Kratt's Creatures (no talking lemurs and dorky claymation!).
Hmmm. . where was I?
Our favorite author of the day was Jonathan Rand. We had already purchased 2 of his books and were waiting in line for an illustrator to sign our copy of "The Legend of the Loon" when Mr. Rand's vehicle arrived. He is the author of such series as Michigan Chillers, American Chillers, and Freddy Fernornter Fearless First Grader. His van is not inconspicous.
We were brave enough to split up for a few minutes so that I wouldn't lose our place in line while she joined the throng of children meeting Mr. Rand. It helped that we could see one another the whole time. I would've liked to get a better photo of him signing her books, but I got what I will refer to (and Picture Pam will understand) a "Mellencamp Moment" photo here:
This is the first of the 5 years we've gone that mini-Me has actually sat through an entire lecture. She started out sitting second from the aisle in the back row of chairs and ended up sitting on the floor so close to the author that I worried he would trip over her. Here she is at his feet and hanging on his every word!
We were reunited just in time to get her picture taken with the great van Frankenhuzers She is an author and he illustrated the loon book I mentioned above. I love loons! (pause for cheap shots from my loony friends) The Mrs. took time to point out to us that there is a secret about the book we purchased and had signed! On each page, there is a hidden loon or two, awaiting discovery!. The paintings are simply gorgeous and make me want to rush "Up Nort" to for a summer visit!
Most years, we have been lucky to get one autograph, but this year, was record-breaking. Last year was awesome when illustrator Will Clay took time to sketch a precious drawing of mini along with his signature. Remembering that, or maybe it was the intense Disney World training from January, she waited patiently as we took turns choosing activities.
I was able to have books signed also by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Sara Holbrook who is a wonderful poet, especially for "tweens".
Well, I could post a lot more photos and drivel on about how much fun we had, but this is already longer that most people will hang in there. It's after 10 p.m. and I still hear pages turning in the little one's room next door. I think I will pretend I don't hear a thing and just let her bask in the glow for tonight!
We picked up about every item possible from the local PBS station, and she had her photo taken with STRAW Man. She got all kinds of paraphanelia about all of her favorite shows, including something new about Super Why and Princess Presto that I haven't even seen yet! For my money, nothing will ever replace Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow! Oh, and let's not even dare to dream about good old-fashioned Kratt's Creatures (no talking lemurs and dorky claymation!).
Hmmm. . where was I?
Our favorite author of the day was Jonathan Rand. We had already purchased 2 of his books and were waiting in line for an illustrator to sign our copy of "The Legend of the Loon" when Mr. Rand's vehicle arrived. He is the author of such series as Michigan Chillers, American Chillers, and Freddy Fernornter Fearless First Grader. His van is not inconspicous.
We were brave enough to split up for a few minutes so that I wouldn't lose our place in line while she joined the throng of children meeting Mr. Rand. It helped that we could see one another the whole time. I would've liked to get a better photo of him signing her books, but I got what I will refer to (and Picture Pam will understand) a "Mellencamp Moment" photo here:
This is the first of the 5 years we've gone that mini-Me has actually sat through an entire lecture. She started out sitting second from the aisle in the back row of chairs and ended up sitting on the floor so close to the author that I worried he would trip over her. Here she is at his feet and hanging on his every word!
We were reunited just in time to get her picture taken with the great van Frankenhuzers She is an author and he illustrated the loon book I mentioned above. I love loons! (pause for cheap shots from my loony friends) The Mrs. took time to point out to us that there is a secret about the book we purchased and had signed! On each page, there is a hidden loon or two, awaiting discovery!. The paintings are simply gorgeous and make me want to rush "Up Nort" to for a summer visit!
Most years, we have been lucky to get one autograph, but this year, was record-breaking. Last year was awesome when illustrator Will Clay took time to sketch a precious drawing of mini along with his signature. Remembering that, or maybe it was the intense Disney World training from January, she waited patiently as we took turns choosing activities.
I was able to have books signed also by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Sara Holbrook who is a wonderful poet, especially for "tweens".
Well, I could post a lot more photos and drivel on about how much fun we had, but this is already longer that most people will hang in there. It's after 10 p.m. and I still hear pages turning in the little one's room next door. I think I will pretend I don't hear a thing and just let her bask in the glow for tonight!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Short Bus
I have been reading a great book lately. It's called "Short Bus" by Jon Mooney. He is an adult graduate of Brown University who happens to have dyslexia and grew up being pegged as "learning disabled" and put through public schools in the special education system.
In his book, Mooney travels from California, to the East Coast, and back again. At each stop, he meets up with other of society's "outcasts" and reflects on the common bond of feeling outside of "normal." I wonder, do any of us ever consider ourselves "normal"? Do we each harbor some semblance of being a fraud posing as normal, afraid of being discovered at any moment? Maybe when we finally decide that there is no normal, and resist trying to fit in - maybe that is what being a grown-up is all about. So many of us are faking it - hiding our religion, our politics, even our intelligence just to fit in with the people we consider normal. We cover our faces in make-up and our hair in product, our bodies in designer labels and jewels. We go out into the world, projecting the selves that we want others to perceive us to be. Do we even know who we are any more? Does normal exist?
Ok, I gotta get back to reading now. I'm on the home stretch!
In his book, Mooney travels from California, to the East Coast, and back again. At each stop, he meets up with other of society's "outcasts" and reflects on the common bond of feeling outside of "normal." I wonder, do any of us ever consider ourselves "normal"? Do we each harbor some semblance of being a fraud posing as normal, afraid of being discovered at any moment? Maybe when we finally decide that there is no normal, and resist trying to fit in - maybe that is what being a grown-up is all about. So many of us are faking it - hiding our religion, our politics, even our intelligence just to fit in with the people we consider normal. We cover our faces in make-up and our hair in product, our bodies in designer labels and jewels. We go out into the world, projecting the selves that we want others to perceive us to be. Do we even know who we are any more? Does normal exist?
Ok, I gotta get back to reading now. I'm on the home stretch!
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