I’m enjoying it much more than I thought I would. I’ve read “Catcher in the Rye” and “Franny and Zooey” by Salinger and have been distinctly underwhelmed by both of them. Neither of them were bad, I just didn’t love them the way some people seem to. These short stories, however, are fantastic. I think that Salinger’s strength must be in his shorter works.
Last night I went to an event at a bookstore discussing this book:
Mort Castle (one of the editors), and Lee Martin (one of the contributors) were both there, and read excerpts from the stories they wrote for it. I, of course, bought a copy and got it signed by both of them. They’re both lovely gents, and I really enjoyed their discussion of Bradbury and the anthology.
Now I can’t wait to start reading it. I love Ray Bradbury, I love short stories, and I enjoy all of the authors included in this tribute anthology.
allinye:Books that own my soul → The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
And we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it before we started. But I suppose it’s often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say. But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually – their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t.
Bottom left = the versions I own!
(via yeahyeahbecca)
Please chip in to help this school fill it’s library. Libraries change lives.
This is heartbreaking. Most of the books on the list are around $5 - surely you can join me in buying one?SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Southside Elementary School is a Title 1 school in Jonesboro, Louisiana. Due to school reconfiguration two years ago, our fourth grade was moved from the local middle school back to the elementary school. Unfortunately, our library books did not make the trip with us. Southside serves about five-hundred pre-k to fourth grade students. Most students are from low-income and low socioeconomic backgrounds and reading is not a priority in their home. Our students generally read at least two reading levels below their grade level. Since Louisiana has recently adopted the Common Core Standards, our students are required to read more complex text on grade level in order to meet those standards. However, our library only has a few books and none of those are fourth grade level. Very few are even third grade level. We are in dire need of some chapter books on the thrid, fourth and fifth grade level as well as some interesting non-fiction books to peak our students’ interest.
Last year, we did not have a librarian at all due to budget cuts. Our students didn’t even get to go to the school library to check out any books. This year, due to construction on the campus, the “office” is housed in our library and although we do have a librarian, our students can’t use the library until the office moves out which should be by mid-term. We hope to have the library up and running by January, but we still have the problem of not having enough books on grade level for the fourth grade students. Due to budget cuts, we don’t have very much money to order extra books. Certainly not enough to serve all our fourth graders.
As the reading teacher for the entire fourth grade, I do require my students to participate in the Accelerated Reader program. Unfortunately, finding books for my students to read on their reading level as well as books for the students to read to meet the Common Core Standard is very difficult. For my classroom library, I have a few books, but not enough to do justice for the seventy-one fourth graders I teach each day. If we could get more books for our school library then our students would have some fabulous choices for reading material. Books take you places you may never get to go otherwise, and we want each and everyone of our students to go as far as they possibly can. Even if it is only in their imagination.
If you’d like to help them get some books, click on “View the School’s Wishlist” (it will take you to their wishlist on Amazon, which will ship the books straight to the school) or visit http://filltheshelves.org/
(via wilwheaton)
Because when October hits I take a break from my usual reading list to creep myself out. It’s a tradition that I started in 7th grade and have continued with every year.
This year I can’t decide what to go for. The one’s that I have here in Boston with me include: The Tommyknockers or The Stand by Stephen King, Ghost Story by Peter Straub, or Fear by L. Ron Hubbard. All of which have been graciously lent to me by my dad.
Obviously if I finish one I’ll read a second one, but which one should I go for to begin with?
Previous years have included: Pet Semetary, The Amityville Horror (seriously, that one terrified me), The Haunting of Hill House, Dracula, and Frankenstein.
There are still so many questions to be answered! The next book better come out sooner rather then later!
Oh, Vonnegut. I always enjoy reading your work, and I don’t do it nearly often enough.
I’m going to Verona today! I leave this afternoon, and I’ll be back super late on Friday. These are the books I’m taking. I just hope that they last me!
Ray Bradbury is one of my absolute favorite authors. I love his books, I love his short stories, in my eyes he can pretty much do no wrong. He lived a long and wonderful life, and has inspired millions with his work. I was truly sad to hear of his passing today.
