Maybe even 10 stars. I listened to this book, it's read by the author. Those who know me, know I read dark, grim, disturbing, difficult, challenging sMaybe even 10 stars. I listened to this book, it's read by the author. Those who know me, know I read dark, grim, disturbing, difficult, challenging stories often. Both fiction and nonfiction. This book felt, in an inexplicably good way, destructive. And I mean to say, that I felt de-structured. It tore up many of the safety structures I have built standing in my particular white woman, etc. etc. spot. His (what seems like) total conscription is disruptive, lastingly upsetting. My unbelief gave me pause. And then my pause gave me pause. My own conscriptions gave me pause. The facts of this book sneaked past barriers/scaffolding/frameworks that I didn't know I had. I want to go back and re-read some memoirs, some fiction, some nonfiction in the hopes of experiencing them more openly. I really thought I read openly and I think I was wrong. Thomas is a noticer. He pays attention. And, BTW, the book is beautifully written! Beautiful. To quote an enlightening NYT Book Review about the book: “Sink is heavy. It’s a tough book to read. But it is honest. Thomas has constructed a sort of alchemy on the page..." And it absolutely thrills me to the tips of my toes that Thomas got his MFA at Notre Dame like me. Ack!...more
OH this book....(swoon) DiCamillo can do no wrong. Louisiana Elefante is one of my favorite characters of all time now. This is a lovely love book andOH this book....(swoon) DiCamillo can do no wrong. Louisiana Elefante is one of my favorite characters of all time now. This is a lovely love book and it's one I need to own. While I'm glad it didn't win the Newbery because DiCamillo has gotten her accolades, it deserves serious recognition nonetheless....more
If there were 7, 8 or even 10 stars, this book would get it. One of THE best books of poetry I've read in say, 20 years.If there were 7, 8 or even 10 stars, this book would get it. One of THE best books of poetry I've read in say, 20 years....more
Margaret Roach was a big-wig at Martha Stewart for years and familiar to me for that reason as well. Already, I'm smitten.…I love it. Love love love iMargaret Roach was a big-wig at Martha Stewart for years and familiar to me for that reason as well. Already, I'm smitten.…I love it. Love love love it. Not only because of the subject (leaving this known life for an unknown, somehow more ‘natural’ life) but for her amazing writing style, which, unlike most books, keeps me on my toes, paying attention and savoring. Whether it comes from mere personal taste or from a real knowledge of writing and pleasurable sentence structure, I am so taken with her voice and syntax. I find it refreshingly strange and full of happy hills and valleys.
I love Lotta! A whole lotta! Couldn't resist. This is one sweet, beautiful book. A few good recipes, a few good projects and a lot of inspiration.I love Lotta! A whole lotta! Couldn't resist. This is one sweet, beautiful book. A few good recipes, a few good projects and a lot of inspiration....more
Crossingham, Jeff. Illustrations and design by Jeff Kulak. Learn to Speak Music. 96 pages. OwlKids Books. 2009. Pbk. ISBN: 978-1-87349-65-6. Includes:Crossingham, Jeff. Illustrations and design by Jeff Kulak. Learn to Speak Music. 96 pages. OwlKids Books. 2009. Pbk. ISBN: 978-1-87349-65-6. Includes: index. Five stars: *****
Learn to Speak Music cranks up the amps from beginning to end as Crossingham and Kulak introduce the jazz-hip-yah-man-that’s-the-stuff feel to a whole new generation of artists. With its so-retro-its-hip design and references to artists like Feist, the intended audience of elementary school/middle school kids will believe their curiosity about music is very cool. The book is timely with mentions of The Killers, The Flaming Lips and Beyonce. In recommendations and examples, some of the best-of-the-best in rap, country, folk, rock are shared so the book's relevancy will endure.
The book is designed to inspire. Pictures, images and break-out sections pepper the extra-large pages while the clean and organized format, with chapters like Making Music, Forming a Band and Writing the Stuff, gives that inspiration some structure. Crossingham’s intimate voice lures readers of potentially all ages and musical talent into a world of play and creativity. Helpful How-to’s like finding band members and a practice space are planted in energetic graphs, charts and lists. Crossingham also shares his background giving him great street-cred inside this trendy, capricious industry. Clear examples and comparisons provide undeniably clear explanations of music-making and empower young (and old alike!) to embark on a playful journey with this often intimidating medium.
The book inspires both the kid singing into a comb as well as the studious pianist to buy a bongo and drum his parents crazy. By offering the language and tools for those just starting out and the creative zest to those already ensconced, the book expertly juxtaposes introductory material alongside challenging scope. The book has enormous potential to inspire and inform tweens, teens even adults and therefore is a must-have for school and public libraries. After reading this book, I nearly picked up my dusty digeridoo and blew the night away. Nearly. ...more
BRILLIANT! This was the first blog I ever read and I still subscribe to it - though they post SO MANY TIMES A DAY - I can't keep up. This new book is BRILLIANT! This was the first blog I ever read and I still subscribe to it - though they post SO MANY TIMES A DAY - I can't keep up. This new book is loaded with great ideas for small or BIG spaces! It inspired a huge house-projects-to-do list!...more
Another 'physical' book I'm taking on our 4-day WV winter trip. One of the best memoirs I've ever read - and one of the best books about grief as wellAnother 'physical' book I'm taking on our 4-day WV winter trip. One of the best memoirs I've ever read - and one of the best books about grief as well....more
I already gave it 5 stars because Tyler can do no wrong in my mind. One of my most favorite authors. Can't wait to get my hands on this!
and she didn'tI already gave it 5 stars because Tyler can do no wrong in my mind. One of my most favorite authors. Can't wait to get my hands on this!
and she didn't disappoint. i loved it. reading tyler is like listening very closely to the breeze. such good stuff. wish i hadn't read it all in one big gulp but i couldn't help myself....more
it's one of those books i'm savoring so i'm going very very slowly. it's gaaaah-juss. I've been so enjoying reading some beautiful fiction - I was thiit's one of those books i'm savoring so i'm going very very slowly. it's gaaaah-juss. I've been so enjoying reading some beautiful fiction - I was thinking for a while that I wasn't sure I'd ever read fiction again, but this has changed my mind. It's so lush. ...more
This one inspired me to pick up a paint brush - something I haven't done in years. Must. Own. This one inspired me to pick up a paint brush - something I haven't done in years. Must. Own. ...more
LOVED it. Just loved it. Nice work Newbery Committee!
This was my 2nd time through and I'm glad I remembered virtually nothing about it, except that I LOVED it. Just loved it. Nice work Newbery Committee!
This was my 2nd time through and I'm glad I remembered virtually nothing about it, except that I loved it and I cherished having read it. In fact, the 1 thing I DID remember about the story, ended up being incorrect (HA!) and so I got to experience the thrill of the mystery solved all over again. ...more
this goes in my 'one of the best books i've ever read' category. it was so moving and wrenching - i know a book is good when i'm making sounds as i'm this goes in my 'one of the best books i've ever read' category. it was so moving and wrenching - i know a book is good when i'm making sounds as i'm reading. audible wincing, groaning or sighing. this was a rough read, but i read it all in one sitting and it was beautiful...as i always say, i love a good resurrection story!...more
So, I'm only on page 5 but this is beautiful. Mark Doty is a poet but he's written another memoir, Firebird and it's also beautiful. Already though, So, I'm only on page 5 but this is beautiful. Mark Doty is a poet but he's written another memoir, Firebird and it's also beautiful. Already though, the dog-human relationship just reminds me of my mother and me - later in her life she was just all love.
Now far more into the book and it just gets more beautiful. Perhaps I can chalk it up to where I'm at in my life, emotionally, but I think this writing is empirically brilliant - Doty just has it down when it comes to naming things and describing them perfectly.
I finished it - weeping in the car (I was listening to the audio CD read by the author) and it blew me away. The whole book blew me away and I don't think it's entirely just my psychic-state either. I went out last night and bought the book so I can read it again...and again and again. In the PB edition, they've included some 'fan mail' Doty got after the book was published and they're amazing to read. Others who've experienced a loss, not just the loss of an animal, have found this book profoundly comforting and their words, and Doty's of course, have been so helpful in my whole process. Thank god for books!! ...more
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