Early Saturday we are leaving for vacation in Colorado. My sister will be staying with dad, our dogie, and fluffy cat. Look for a new post in the first week of November.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Book Review: A Thousand Small Sparrows, Not One Is Forgotten, Amazing Stories of Kids Helping Kids by Jeff Leeland with Marcus Brotherton
Link for book @ publisher:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781590529331
Paperback $13.99
Link for book @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Small-Sparrows-Amazing-Stories/dp/B003F76E0K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287063237&sr=8-2
Paperback $4.54
Kindle $9.29
Published in 2007 by Multnomah Books, 256 pages
Non-fiction/Kids Helping Kids/Sparrow Club USA
This book was published by me for reading/reviewing.
100% of proceeds from this book goes to Sparrow Club
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Luke 12: 6-7 NIV
Sparrow Clubs is a group of children that help other children and their families that have been affected by a serious illness. At times the need is financial, at other times the need is to spend time with the child and family. Some of the children that are involved in Sparrow Clubs were once the recipient of help from the organization.
The children that become involved in mentoring or organizing financial assistance are selflessly dedicated to their calling.
A Thousand Small Sparrows is a book full of amazing stories of children and their families that have been affected by cancer, other illnesses, or an accident. Each chapter has a different child's story. The stories are powerfully moving, they are also inspiring.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781590529331
Paperback $13.99
Link for book @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Small-Sparrows-Amazing-Stories/dp/B003F76E0K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287063237&sr=8-2
Paperback $4.54
Kindle $9.29
Published in 2007 by Multnomah Books, 256 pages
Non-fiction/Kids Helping Kids/Sparrow Club USA
This book was published by me for reading/reviewing.
100% of proceeds from this book goes to Sparrow Club
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Luke 12: 6-7 NIV
Sparrow Clubs is a group of children that help other children and their families that have been affected by a serious illness. At times the need is financial, at other times the need is to spend time with the child and family. Some of the children that are involved in Sparrow Clubs were once the recipient of help from the organization.
The children that become involved in mentoring or organizing financial assistance are selflessly dedicated to their calling.
A Thousand Small Sparrows is a book full of amazing stories of children and their families that have been affected by cancer, other illnesses, or an accident. Each chapter has a different child's story. The stories are powerfully moving, they are also inspiring.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
The Kitten and The Falling Leaves
"See the kitten on the wall,
Sporting with the leaves that fall!
Withered leaves, one, two, and three,
From the lofty elder-tree.
Through the calm and frosty air
Of this morning bright and fair,
Eddying round and round they sink
Softly, slowly. One might think,
From the motions that are made,
Every little leaf conveyed
Some small fairy, hither tending,
To this lower world descending.
-But the kitten, how she starts!
Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts!
First at one, and then its fellow,
Just as light, and just as yellow.
There are many now-now one-
Now they stop and there are none.
What intentness of desire
In her upturned eye of fire!
With a tiger leap halfway,
Now she meets the coming prey.
Lets it go at last, and then
Has it in her power again."
William Wordsworth
Sporting with the leaves that fall!
Withered leaves, one, two, and three,
From the lofty elder-tree.
Through the calm and frosty air
Of this morning bright and fair,
Eddying round and round they sink
Softly, slowly. One might think,
From the motions that are made,
Every little leaf conveyed
Some small fairy, hither tending,
To this lower world descending.
-But the kitten, how she starts!
Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts!
First at one, and then its fellow,
Just as light, and just as yellow.
There are many now-now one-
Now they stop and there are none.
What intentness of desire
In her upturned eye of fire!
With a tiger leap halfway,
Now she meets the coming prey.
Lets it go at last, and then
Has it in her power again."
William Wordsworth
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Are we raising a generation of nincompoops? | AP Nation - The News Tribune
Are we raising a generation of nincompoops? | AP Nation - The News Tribune
This is an article about the current generation of children that often do not know how to use can openers, tie shoes, zip jacket, etc. I find this odd considering the mind set of so many kids that want independence; how can you be independent if you can't even tie your shoes?
Books that were mentioned in the above article:
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Our-Disconnect-Teenagers-Technology/dp/1585428558/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286149939&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Dumbest-Generation-Stupefies-Americans-Jeopardizes/dp/1585427128/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286150020&sr=1-1
And a book entitled Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Range-Kids-Children-Freedom-Without/dp/0470471948
http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470574755.html
Blissful Blogging!
Annette
This is an article about the current generation of children that often do not know how to use can openers, tie shoes, zip jacket, etc. I find this odd considering the mind set of so many kids that want independence; how can you be independent if you can't even tie your shoes?
Books that were mentioned in the above article:
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Our-Disconnect-Teenagers-Technology/dp/1585428558/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286149939&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Dumbest-Generation-Stupefies-Americans-Jeopardizes/dp/1585427128/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286150020&sr=1-1
And a book entitled Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Range-Kids-Children-Freedom-Without/dp/0470471948
http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470574755.html
Blissful Blogging!
Annette
Friday, October 1, 2010
Book Review: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
It is unlike me to give so much information away about a book; but because the book was published 10 years ago and because I felt the need to show some of the information on this post....please excusez-moi it could be a spoiler.
Published by Penguin Group, Copyright 1999, my paperback is the Platinum Edition published 2006,
197 pages
Young Adult Fiction for 10 and up
Amazon link for book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142407321/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0142414735&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ABCWX3NYT1CJB2MC627
Paperback $8.00
Borders link for book:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0142407321
Paperback $10.00
Link for the book @ publisher:
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780142407325,00.html?Speak_Laurie_Halse_Anderson
Paperback $10.00
For another review of Speak, plus commentary on book banning:
http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-christians-need-speak.html
An article on banning of Speak:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100918/OPINIONS02/9180307/Scroggins-Filthy-books-demeaning-to-Republic-education
Authors link:
http://madwomanintheforest.com/
Banned Book Week:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm
This is banned book week--September 25 through October 2. I have never participated in this; but after reading Becky's review on Operation Actually Read Bible---I decided to read Speak and see for myself what the "chatter" is all about.
I read Speak in 1 day. It was immediate that I identified with the main character Melinda--not in every way; but in many of her angst feelings of being a teenager and a freshman in high school. Almost all of the trauma that I endured from my peers was in middle school--specifically 7th grade. Many of the girls I went to school with were devilish in their needling, badgering, abusive behavior. Although it was a long time ago, I still have scars. Whenever peer pressure and especially abuse happens we tend to feel as if we are the "only one". We isolate ourselves and don't talk about it. In the abuse in my own home growing up, I didn't talk about it, for one---I did not think that anyone would believe me; but shame has a lot to do with silence as well.
Silence... but inside you are screaming. This is how Melinda felt, silent; yet unable to open her raw and burning throat that wanted to express what had happened.
In my parents generation people did not talk about certain things: incest, abuse, alcoholism, divorce, rape, a child born out of wedlock, prison, mental illness, any kind of handicap. Adults may have whispered about such things, gossiped even; but they were never discussed in an open mature manner. Not talking about it brings even more shame, false guilt, criticism, judgment. Not talking about it can cause depression and even suicide.
I am appalled that this book would be banned; I feel it should be (if not required reading, then encouraged) at least by high school----then it should be discussed. I understand what these people are thinking in wanting to ban the book--that the book may promote abuse, or foul language, or they feel the book divulges too much information. I feel strongly that the book could help those that are going through abuse, this book could open a door for someone that desperately needs to speak and be heard and the courage to come forth.
I read an article recently (wish I remembered where) that many young men do not understand what rape really is. They do not understand the violence that rape is, nor the lasting affects of it. Another words many young men are hazy on what the definition of rape is.
Some statistics on rape:
73% of women know their rapist
The United States has more rapes than any other country
Only 37% are reported--another statistic gave me 16%
There is a woman raped every 1.3 minutes
1 in 4 college women are raped
1 in 12 men have raped and 84% of them did not believe that what they did was rape
And the statistics above are not of all of the children that have been sexually abused.
The book begins on the first day of Melinda's freshman year of high school. The book is entirely of her voice, what she hears, what she sees, what she experiences. She is the epitome of an isolated individual amongst a sea of people. It is immediate when beginning this book that something horrible has happened to her.
While I was reading Speak I felt as if I was perched on the shoulder of Melinda--viewing all that she saw, hearing all that she heard---yet as the story unfolded I became even more involved.
It is a prolific writer that can transport the reader not only into the story, but deeper still into the character.
Laurie Halse Anderson has written a story that will always remain with me, it is haunting---it makes me remember, and maybe make peace with those ghosts from my own past.
This book was purchased by me @ Border's for reading/reviewing.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Published by Penguin Group, Copyright 1999, my paperback is the Platinum Edition published 2006,
197 pages
Young Adult Fiction for 10 and up
Amazon link for book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142407321/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0142414735&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ABCWX3NYT1CJB2MC627
Paperback $8.00
Borders link for book:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0142407321
Paperback $10.00
Link for the book @ publisher:
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780142407325,00.html?Speak_Laurie_Halse_Anderson
Paperback $10.00
For another review of Speak, plus commentary on book banning:
http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-christians-need-speak.html
An article on banning of Speak:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100918/OPINIONS02/9180307/Scroggins-Filthy-books-demeaning-to-Republic-education
Authors link:
http://madwomanintheforest.com/
Banned Book Week:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm
This is banned book week--September 25 through October 2. I have never participated in this; but after reading Becky's review on Operation Actually Read Bible---I decided to read Speak and see for myself what the "chatter" is all about.
I read Speak in 1 day. It was immediate that I identified with the main character Melinda--not in every way; but in many of her angst feelings of being a teenager and a freshman in high school. Almost all of the trauma that I endured from my peers was in middle school--specifically 7th grade. Many of the girls I went to school with were devilish in their needling, badgering, abusive behavior. Although it was a long time ago, I still have scars. Whenever peer pressure and especially abuse happens we tend to feel as if we are the "only one". We isolate ourselves and don't talk about it. In the abuse in my own home growing up, I didn't talk about it, for one---I did not think that anyone would believe me; but shame has a lot to do with silence as well.
Silence... but inside you are screaming. This is how Melinda felt, silent; yet unable to open her raw and burning throat that wanted to express what had happened.
In my parents generation people did not talk about certain things: incest, abuse, alcoholism, divorce, rape, a child born out of wedlock, prison, mental illness, any kind of handicap. Adults may have whispered about such things, gossiped even; but they were never discussed in an open mature manner. Not talking about it brings even more shame, false guilt, criticism, judgment. Not talking about it can cause depression and even suicide.
I am appalled that this book would be banned; I feel it should be (if not required reading, then encouraged) at least by high school----then it should be discussed. I understand what these people are thinking in wanting to ban the book--that the book may promote abuse, or foul language, or they feel the book divulges too much information. I feel strongly that the book could help those that are going through abuse, this book could open a door for someone that desperately needs to speak and be heard and the courage to come forth.
I read an article recently (wish I remembered where) that many young men do not understand what rape really is. They do not understand the violence that rape is, nor the lasting affects of it. Another words many young men are hazy on what the definition of rape is.
Some statistics on rape:
73% of women know their rapist
The United States has more rapes than any other country
Only 37% are reported--another statistic gave me 16%
There is a woman raped every 1.3 minutes
1 in 4 college women are raped
1 in 12 men have raped and 84% of them did not believe that what they did was rape
And the statistics above are not of all of the children that have been sexually abused.
The book begins on the first day of Melinda's freshman year of high school. The book is entirely of her voice, what she hears, what she sees, what she experiences. She is the epitome of an isolated individual amongst a sea of people. It is immediate when beginning this book that something horrible has happened to her.
While I was reading Speak I felt as if I was perched on the shoulder of Melinda--viewing all that she saw, hearing all that she heard---yet as the story unfolded I became even more involved.
It is a prolific writer that can transport the reader not only into the story, but deeper still into the character.
Laurie Halse Anderson has written a story that will always remain with me, it is haunting---it makes me remember, and maybe make peace with those ghosts from my own past.
This book was purchased by me @ Border's for reading/reviewing.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
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