What Can You Be Reading? Here are Some Good Picks!

Here are a couple of links to some pieces of literature and podcasts that I posted on facebook recently for you to read and check.

I posted a short story by Johnathan Franzen, a favorite writer of mine. This is his story he wrote for the New Yorker.

I also posted a podcast of Monica Ali (Brick Lane, loved it! You should read it!) reading and commenting on Joshua Ferris' short story, The Dinner Party. Joshua Ferris' first book, Then We Came to the End, is one of my friend Barb's favorite books she read this year.

Both The New Yorker and the NYTimes like to give the world a heads up on new/young/cool/hip/wonderful writers to check out and read. Here is a list of each that will hopefully feed you with new ideas and authors to read!

Of course the Orange Prize was announced this year. Barbara Kingslover won for La Lacuna, an amazing novel! There are other wonderful authors to read and check out the award list!

I hope this keeps you rolling!

Enjoy the reads!

The Bush Girls

This was one of my favorite short little articles this year about Barbara Bush and her 'leftist' politics! Love the contradictions! Love her honesty. Love that sh eis in irect contrast with her father's politics.

Love it!

Music to Listen to and Read About

I posted this summer on facebook some articles about music. There was a great article/link by NPR about Latino/Immigrant Life. The songs are great and you can open yourself up to a whole new group of artists!

I also posted an interview with Lauryn Hill, one of my all time favorite singers. It is a great interview.

Enjoy the read and the music.

Education in the News

There have been several articles in the news about education.

Time Magazine had a couple of good articles about the "end of summer vacation". It shows the argument about why extended schooling is important for kids. It is a good article and worth the read and the thought.

The Nation has also published many interesting articles as well, including a few about Diane Ravitch and her new and reformed views about education, in particular about charter schools! They have written sharp assessments and critiques about education reform in the nation recently.

The NYTimes also have been publishing good articles about education, innovation and research. Good to stay informed about the state of education certainly here in the states.

If you live in another country, how is the state of eductaion there? What are papers an magazines writing about in terms of education? Let us know!

All worth a read!

Enjoy!

I Need a Map!

I need help. I'm reading The Cloud Atlas- highly recommended by my friend kristi - but am having a hard time.

She is not the only one in love with David Mitchell's book- Michael Chabon gave him a rave review as well.

I'm going home today and have all day to try to crack into this enormous piece of literature.

If you have read it and can aid in anyway- send me an email @ theliteraryfamily@gmail.com.

Muchisimas gracias!


- be the change you want to see in the world

Location:San Jose Costa Rica

Anusara Yoga

So. Here I am in Santa Teresa Costa Rica. I'm on a yoga retreat with a couple of teachers who are teaching Anusara Yoga (Michele Baker and Kelly Haas). Ironically enough- this weekend in the NYTimes magazine section there is a huge article about John Friend- founder of Anasura. I have actually never heard of him truly until this retreat- and now of course feel like I've definitely experienced his branch/brand of yoga. How funny and what timing now to read a huge article about him in the nytimes-

It's an interesting article- I enjoy the perspective of the journalist- and find these issues and arguments interesting to contemplate and consider.

You can find the article online now- I just don't have the link on my phone- or know how to embed it- when I figure something out I will- until then... Happy reading to u!


- be the change you want to see in the world

Location:Costa Rica

Bumming More Books

As you know I'm low on reading materials. Ian generously lent me his book, The Lost City of Z by David Grann. Before Costa Rica, Ian was travelling in Peru and trekked into the Amazon. To prepare for his journey he read Grann's book- both an account of the journalist's trek into the amazon as well as Fawcett's journey. Fawcett, a turn of the century trekker. As I began to read the book- laying poolside- sitting at the beach - and sipping coffee on my 'veranda' I think- that was brave- because if I read that book, pre my journey into the amazon- I don't think I would do it!

Grann's book is not only well written, with layered stories, but covers hundreds of years of history of the amazon.

The author makes a similar journey to find the city Z, that Fawcett took in the 20's. It is gripping, funny, and informative. A great read.



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Location:Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Think Green

Need help keeping it green? Keeping your Carbon Footprint low?

Read this article at the Green Spotlight!

Enjoy nature.

On To Magazines

Am borrowing Cassie's Time Magazine- I think it's funny that Iran banded the mullet- word.


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Location:CR

Reading on vacation

So I have finished several books down here. My reading life has picked up- big time. My sister gave to me Firoozeh Dumas' book- laughing without an accent. Wonderful book. Very funny. Highly recommend it!

My friend Julia recommended I read, come to me. Amy Bloom's stories. They are juicy!

When I finished all of my books-I moved onto Barb's- Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead- so good- coming of age story set in the 80's- loved it! I had her him read at, The Happy Ending Reading Series. Finally I got to read the book!

Favorite line- page 82- NP approached serpentine, attempting to replicate the pump-'n'- dump that Bobby had used on him, adding a wiggle closer, but Randy was expecting something else entirely, going with a shoulder- to shoulder manly half-hug.

Colson also has a blog! Fun. I can't wait to read more of his books.

Hope your summer reading is going well! Keep us posted! What's good to read?


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Location:Costa Rica

Who Picks the Fruit You Eat?

Who Picks The Fruit and Vegetables You Eat?

The Bee

On my bus ride across the country, San Jose a Santa Teresa, I finished Samantha Bee's book, I Know I Am But What Are You? I have to say that it was all that I thought it would be- super funny.

I orginally got it for my sister, a huge Daily fan! I got it for her as a house warming gift. I drove up to Montreal, pre- my trip here to CR. She finished it in an evening and told me I needed to take it. So I did.

After I finished it, on the ferry to the Nicoya Pennisula, I read an article in New York Magazine how there aren't as many funny women on late night as men. Of course the Daily Show wrote in and commented on their efforts to treat women well. Samantha Bee is definitely a trailblazer! And a hilarious writer at that! Buy the book and read it and lol!




Enjoy!

Have A Laugh

Funny and Clever.

Flying with the Famous

I left for Costa Rica for a week long Yoga Retreat! Yum and delicious! No worries the bag is packed full of books and magazines

to read in between classes. Barb brought down a set of books and magazines too. So between the two of us we have plenty to read!

On my flight here, I traveled via Miami. Who was on my flight? Edwidge Danticat and her family. I instantly was struck with famous person awe. They must of been enjoying the festivals in Montreal.

Of course for me, I was intrigued to see, what was she reading! I had just purchased the Canadian version of the New Yorker- The Walrus! ED went back to the bookstore to aget a magazine. I believe she got L'Actualite! I guess I am going to have work on my French and see what's in the special issue.

Need good reading material- watch what the famous writers read!

K'naan

I love K'naan.

He is a Somali Rapper, living in Canada! His lyrics and spirit is all about reaching and speaking to others about his personal experiences to inspire the best in people. His music is political and personal- a kind a memoir in music! His song, Wavin' Flag is one of the "World Cup" songs for the games.

There have been some wonderful coverage of K'naan, including this interview with NPR.

I just gave it to my brother and sister in law as one of their house warming presents! It will be my summer 'gift' to people!

Add it to your reading/listening list- download it onto your ipods. Happy summer everyone.

The Moth

Are you listening to The Moth? The Moth is a wonderful 'show' as well as podcast you can subscribe to. Last year I went to their annual celebration show where I heard Jessi Klein, who told the most hilarious story about going to her sister's wedding... at Disney World. It is the funniest ever!

Malcolm Gladwell told quite a story. As I was listening to the story, I laughed out loud several times, but found myself cringing with that "no you didn't" feeling inside. It is such an outrageous story about how he lost his best friend.

Sarah Jones was there too. Yes it was an all star cast that night. She told an amazing story about how she got Bridge and Tunnel off the ground, by rejecting a TV show at MTV. Really inspiring. They just recently replayed her story.

If you haven't been listening to The Moth, do so now! Try and catch a live show as well. They are wonderful!

Summer is Coming

I am beginning to plan my summer reading life. Collecting ideas from friends and starting to gather up books to take with me as I travel the country, go to visit my family in Canada and hopefully take a fantastic vacation abroad!

My first set of recommendations for the summer came from my friend Mary. She suggested, Anglo Files and The Solitude of Prime Numbers. Last summer I took Mary's suggestions as well and she is always 'right on' with her best picks! She is one of the most prolific readers I know- usually a book a night!

So I got these two- all ready for this weekend- just in case I finish my book early. June begins summer!

Stay tuned in. I will be sharing my summer reading list as I collect the texts to read! Enjoy your own reading life this summer. Post your favorite books or wish list for reading below so that we all can add to ours!

What I am Currently Reading

I have been totally engrossed with the books and articles by David Foster Wallace. I love his essays in Consider the Lobster and his book, Infinite Jest.

I am currently reading a series of interviews that David Lipsky wrote traveling with DFW on his book tour around the country. It is really interesting to hear about his life, his thought and writing process. He was a brilliant writer and his ideas and words are sadly missed. It's not an easy read, knowing about what happened shortly after the series of interviews.

If you have never read anything by him, run out and buy one of his books or read one of his Harper's articles online.

Guest Blogger: Finds Poetry in the Neighborhood

Guest Blogger Beth Moore, from The Tiny Reader, has been walking around neighborhoods and photographing poetry! Poetry is everywhere. Spread the word. Celebrate words and thoughts. Happy poetry month everyone!

What Have We Been Reading About on Facebook: #1

Hi Friends,

I want to keep you updated on what articles we have been reading on facebook. Feel free to check out our Fan Page (Reading Myself Into The World) and find more interesting articles and posts to read. You can follow us on Twitter if you rather (everything posted on facebook automatically posts to Twitter. I love technology).

Here are some articles and blogs posted by people who are friends of mine that we read in March and April! We hope you enjoy reading them too! Pass these along to your friends and family.

My friend Adam has two interesting posts. One is a review of his new book Viral Loop (which you all should read today) and the second is an article he wrote about starting up new businesses during a recession.

My friend Sara has an interesting article written about her and her family in the Washington Post. We have written about Sara a few times in our blog. This article talks about the fundraising she and her family are doing to bring books to schools in South Africa. It is well worth a read about their education project.

Miriam has posted some great suggestions of films we should see about the environment. Miriam also has a wonderful post on her blog about The Cove. If you haven't seen that- it's a must. It won best documentary this year at the Oscars.

One of my students, from the first class I ever taught, has a new blog out called, Think Big. She is on a journey to keep herself happy and to write and reflect on it! There are some inspirational tips to keep yourself going as well! Show your support and follow Raimi!

As we celebrate poetry month, hopefully we are reading poetry. I am. I have been reading my friend Craig's poetry blog, brainsmoke.

My friend Liz has started blogging for Lucky Magazine about fashion. Read and comment on her blog about Linen Pants.

Katie has returned to her cat blog. She is now taking photographs of cats (her cats mostly) and matching them with films. Funny.

Lastly my friend Kate posted these beautiful photos which we have been sharing and commenting on! Enjoy the photos.

I hope you find some great reading material here. I sure did.

We Remember Wilma Mankiller

Wilma

Read more about Wilma here at her website.

Congratulations Sherman Alexie!

Sherman Alexie has won the PEN Faulkner award for War Dances. I bought this for my sister around the holidays. When I went back up to see her, it was gone from her shelves. A sign she loved it- because she passed it on to her other literary friends. Hopefully this spring it will show back up so I can read it!

I loved Smoked Signals (a film he wrote and starred in) and I also loved many of his other books and short stories. Indian Killer, is an amazing novel and his YA novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

Happy reading to you!

Another New Blog to Read

This is a new website and organization founded by Winona LaDuke and the Indigo Girls. I stumbled upon it as I reading Winona's blog post about Somalis, Indians and Amish. A post about the globalization of a small town in Minnesota.

Enjoy the read!

Louise Erdrich: Read All Her Books

I just found Louise Erdrich's blog on the website of her own bookstore she owns and runs in Minneapolis. It is a wonderful blog. I just watched her clips on, Faces of America, with Henry Louis Gates Jr. So good!

If you haven't read anything by her, I especially love her early work: Love Medicine, Tracks, the Beet Queen. I love how these novels are all intertwined and connected!

Enjoy her books, her video clips, blog and bookstore!

Guest Blogger: Another Reading Life

My Friend's Husband has decided to contribute to the blog and gave us a post about his reading life! Enjoy the read by Guest Blogger: Anonymous.

Last Night at Twisted River By John Irving

I am a non-fiction reader. I like facts, ideas, arguments, and dissertations. It takes a lot to get me into a novel. That which springs forth from someone else’s mind disconnected to real world events usually leaves me cold. But take a well researched book with an historical setting, and now you are talking!

I admittedly am a lover of John Irving, though his earliest and most recent work has been less striking. This latest novel captured my interest and held it till the end. The story is a multi-generational tale about a cook, his son and his grandson and their life-long connection to the North Country’s logging industry. The son is a writer and while I feel that novels about writers are derivative and self-referential, I manage to excuse this one (and every other Irving book). Irving has a way of revealing the story to you as if the event already happened and he is talking about the past, although all the action seems to take place in the present. This reminds me of the way a certain friends talks, and it is comforting and annoying at the same time. The story follows first the father, then the son as their lives unfold.

All the heavy emotional events are in there, like love, friendship, revenge, and grief. They are held together by a wonderfully framed story, with the gaps filled in by fascinating details of a world that no longer exists. It is a great read with compelling characters and a vivid backdrop. I didn’t want it to end.

Next, I think I’ll curl up with a nice presidential biography, or maybe a book about checklists.

Reading Lost

My reading life has been a bit consumed with trying to figure out, what is happening on Lost.

Yes, I do mean the television show. I find the show hard to follow, complicated and I am usually always lost. I read literally to understand what I just saw. I read to hear about the complex theories that people are coming up with. Yes, I even read the spoilers. I love those. Helps me to prepare!

I do find it fascinating how a television show has increased my reading. I do also find it strange, how with my comprehension of the show is so low, yet the interest is so high. Very interesting.

Tom French

I just heard Tom French address a group of educators about the teaching of writing. He is a reporter from St. Petersburg Times in Florida. He read from his reporting of studying a school, a middle school in Tampa. "Thirteen" is a series of reports about being a teenager in America. They are gripping accounts and stories. Enjoy the read.

What Gets Your Reading Bug On?

My friend Lori is a voracious reader. Literally, I think sometimes she eats books. She said that she is a big fan of the blog and I invited her as a guest blogger to talk about about her current reading life and what she is reading etc. Enjoy the post. Enjoy the read.

Guest Blogger: Lori- The Rocky Mountain Mama.

You would think I read for a living. You would think that someone or many someones pay me by the word to read. After I confide in you my combination of ADD/ADHD habits and interests in reading you may think many more things about me. Let’s find out.

Firstly I have always had this relationship with reading. At first it was Babar The Elephant, Dr. Seuss and cereal boxes. Once the reading bug bit I never stopped. Magazine ads, newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal all got equal time. At one point, my parents had weekly articles to discuss during one dinner so I wouldn’t take up all of their time asking questions during all the other dinners. And yes, I did have friend

s. And they read too. Imagine what happened during those adolescent years when we all got together and read serial romances, Judy Blume books and really trashy mass market fiction. (I still have a very soft spot for anything Sidney Sheldon.)

Oh the misinformation we gathered still makes me blush.

I digress slightly from the blog’s emphasis on current reading and current interests. A little backstory helps to interpret current habits. In order to prevent an embarrassing over-sharing moment, I will spare you the details of further experiences. Suffice it to say, I have and always will be a reader of varying and vast tastes.

Currently, I am reading books with Jewish content, for a Synagogue book group, various blogs and on line magazines, cookbooks and a sprinkling of random additions free of categorization. Here’s a sample of my daily reading:

Book Club selection:

Four Girls from Berlin by Maryanne Meyerhoff (just beginning)

Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen (just finished)

As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg and People of the Book by Geradline Brooks (two favorites)

Various online reads:

Slate

The Daily Beast

Jewcy

Guernica

Smitten Kitchen

go fug yourself

people magazine

feministing

Cookbooks:

How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

How To Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman

Moro by Sam and Sam Clark

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz et.al

A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen by Jack Bishop

The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters

Feast by Nigella Lawson

America’s Test Kitchen The Family Baking Book by America’s Test Kitchen

Here is what is on my list to get to soon:

Pops by Terry Teachout

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Rashi’s Daughter Book 1 by Maggie Anton

Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

Chihuly in the Hotshop by Dale Chihuly

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

And, anything my friends send and/or recommend.

If you think this is where I inform you of my opinions and recommendations of the previous material you may be disappointed. A large part of my habits come from the joy and satisfaction of finding my own way through all things print and now online. I find an idea, an interest or a question and follow it through to as many sources possible. I discover either more ways to read and explore about the initial idea or I stop and move to the next. That is what feeds my reading bug. If you want more opinion and less road map, invite me to coffee.

The Believer

The Believer is a magazine. This month there is a great article that is really a conversation between writers discussing their choice of language to read and write in. It is a great article about writing, language, and identity.

This is a great interview that Dave Eggers did in 2003 with David Foster Wallace.

I missed Joshua Ferris' reading due to the blizzard two weeks ago. But here is another good review!

Articles I Posted on Facebook in February

Photo By Daniel Galan

Become a fan on Facebook of 'Reading Myself Into The World'. I have been posting all month other artciles that I read on our Facebook site. Feel free to browse the fan page as well as the blog! There will reminders when new posts are added! You can also follow us on Twitter- if you prefer- 'Readingmyself'. You may decide to follow the blog on Blogger! It can be sent to your account- each time there is a new posting! You decide.

Here are things I posted on Facebook that never made the blog.

Short Story By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Obessive Compulsive Valentine From McSweeny's

The Real Timothy McSweeny From McSweeny's

Keeping it Green Blog

Sarah Jones at The Moth

IndieBound List

Tradegy of Dying Languages

South Africa Partners

I Speak Soccer- Film about traveling the globe to learn about pick up soccer and cultural norms.

Holly Miranda- Singer. Cover of Lauryn Hill song.

Suheir's poetry reading at the Palestinian Festival of Literature.

Photographs and Essay from the New Yorker about Civil Rights Leaders.

Laurie Sandell interviews a famous star in LA.

Shani Davis- Went for the Gold!

White House Library

Ozzie Davis- Eulogy for Malcolm X

10 Tips for writing fiction

Happy Reading To You.

Educate 2.

Photo By Daniel Galan

Why is this so hard for us to grasp. Educate kids.

A piece in the NYTimes has caused quite a stir on my Facebook page. This piece is about a set of Charter Schools showing success in Harlem. The CEO has her eyes on the big prize- educate. Good teachers, smart ever growing teachers- educate. This is a great message.

Charter schools though have caused a storm of conversations. It is a shame that we didn't get a glimpse of some great PS as well making wonderful leaps ahead as well.

My friend C didn't like the article. I understand her view too. I do think school reform and making an amazing learning can't be reduced to as simple as an answer of good teachers. Of course class size matters and so does length of your school day. Charter schools are not the only schools that are working hard to build intellectual communities, with many more challenges than the Charter Schools have. There are wonderful public schools also making the tough journey to educate and bring smart teachers aboard and to help give kids all that they need.

Apparently other news sources- like the Daily News- have revealed just how much these CEOs are making. Some close to 400,00 dollars. Makes me go, mmmmmmmm?

There is a lot to think about in this article- Charter Schools, programs matter, the effect of class size and school hours, and the ever thirsty curiosity of a teaching staff. Are schools a business or an intellectual community. We shouldn't be little the success of these schools without counting these things as factors.

As we look to Charter Schools that are working well, I hope we also look to Public Schools in the community that are as well making huge change and gains!

Another friend uploaded this article about a man in Colombia, who travels the countryside on Burro, to bring books to kids who have little access. It is a wonderful story. Again, I think it exemplifies the idea, educate.

Good conversations to have and talk about and read!

Keep reading about education.

Celebrate Our Community

Marian Wright Edelman

Van Jones

Find people, quotes, and wisdom to reflect and live by.

Getting Green

My friend Miriam has a blog called the green spotlight. I am reading it to get a little greener! It is one of my goals in life! Luckily living in NYC automatically makes me greener than most. The more I read the more I can see things to do! It is a great blog to inspire you to be the best/greenest prson youcan be. I also read about The Lambi Fund here.

Miriam also heard Michael Pollan talk about his new book, Food Rules. She said that he was super engaging and interesting!

Good reading to make the Earth a better place.

Happy Birthday Mom.

It's my mom's birthday.

I asked her to write a post for the blog- as a guest blogger. I asked her to describe her reading life!

Now she is a big KINDLE fan. Her digital literacy skills are more advanced than my own.

She declined to write for the blog though. So instead, I will recommend to you her favorite mystery-thriller writer!

Enjoy the read! Happy Birthday Mom!

Beautiful Singers

Leah Siegel and Zee Avi

Great artists! Here is a short article about them!

Migrant Workers in the United States

My friend Janice sent me these articles about the plight and struggles that families who are migrant workers, who mostly work in the fields, face in our country. She asked me what I thought about the boycott of FED EX. Shamefully I had not heard- so she forwarded me an article and a couple more to read up on what is happening.

FED EX- worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain 4 Guatemalan Workers. A second article.

Migrant Worker's Dream of College

Migrant Workers in Washington

Protecting Migrant Workers
Berries

Books for kids about migration.

All Things GaGa: I Have to Catch Up

“AND, NOW, I’M JUST TRYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD ONE SEQUIN AT A TIME.”

So, I fell in love with Lady Gaga at the Grammys. Is that wrong? My friends think so. They have been huge fans for awhile. As I watched her perform 'solo' and with Elton- her talent was really unbelievable. I mean her "outfits" as well are pretty incredible and her sense of entertainment. She did remind me of some of the early 'shocking days' of Madonna. I posted on FB my new found love of Gaga and found that I got the most comments ever about my posting. Everyone loves Gaga. So I needed to know more. I had to read more.

My friend Angie told me that Gaga also tries to represent for the 'little guy', the oddball, the monsters. That she was a bit of an outcast and thinks that everyone should be celebrated! She is talented, ambitious and only 23! Crazy!

There definitely are strong feelings about Gaga. Some haters out there call her "bullish" because she oozes confidence. Oprah had her on and gave her some Oprah love!

It's kind of my secret desire, when I'm, like, 55, to become a QVC girl, selling domestic vacuums (2009)

Love it! Love Gaga!

Heee Heeee

Laugh.

I love that Dave Eggers put together the blog, the magazines, and short films...all to promote others- possibly less known writers. Love it!

Power to the people.

Oh My Green Earth!

Oh, my green earth, how do I love thee.

Great little quip from McSweeney's about Recycling/Composting/Trash.
Enjoy.
Reduce and Reuse!

Costa Rican Living

When I lived, for 8 months, in Costa Rica, in the 90s, I was happy! I actually didn't want to leave.

The New Economics Federation calculated how happy countries are based on studying how they use their natural resources and help their citizens live longer and healthier lives. Costa Rica was named as number 1. The US - not surprisingly was ranked 117. I read about the Happiness Index in Yes! Magazine on my way home from Seattle. Lessons we need to learn? Be a country that promotes peace, put your dollars in health and education and take care of your environment! Recently they just elected their first woman president- in a landslide! Good lessons for us all, no?

Here is an article from UK- just another perspective. Enjoy the read! Cheer up! Be happy! Help make the world greener and healthier. We will all be happier.

PS As I was reading and surfing for other articles about the Happiness Index- I found this aboutFacebook tracking the "happiness" of status updates. Totally unrelated, but funny!

Cheers.

Love.

Survival of the Kindest

Follow your instinct- be compassionate. It's our nature! Survival of the kindest, I love it!

What a great article and inspiration for the day!

Happy New Year!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lucille.

Today, Lucille Clifton passed away.

Remember the poet.

Remember the storyteller.

What's Coming Up?

This weekend I am so tired. Before I start working (yes I have to work on this Saturday and Sunday) I am going to read! I'm on to my new book, Girl Trouble. I know... deep for VALENTINE'S DAY. But I gotta get a new book rolling!

Barb passed it to me and she is moving on to Zadie's essays. After we finish, then we'll both read, Beneath the Lions Gaze.

I can't wait to read Zadie as well. Probably in March (since that is when I will see my sister next and grab it from her shelves!) Guess who else recently (10/2009) published some more essays? My favorite- Arundati Roy.

The book shelves in my virtual room are stacking up close to the imaginary ceiling. Oh how the list is ever growing! So much to read! As my friend Audra says, not enough hours in the day!

The line up is getting long!

The love is strong.

Happy VALENTINE'S DAY. Happy READING DAY!

Art is Art

Lori, once again, posted this really great article about how women are a LARGE population of fiction readers, yet women writers hardly are ever recognized in "best of" lists and awards. My friend Amanda pondered this, as well on her blog, last year, after Publishers Weekly announced their "Top 10 List of 2009".

The article also talks about women being included in anthologies for women versus ones for world literature. Elizabeth Bishop refused to be published in anthologies for women, insisting she was a poet, plain and simple.

She wrote that “art is art and to separate writings, paintings, musical compositions, etc. into two sexes is to emphasize values that are not art.”

The article mentions some great writers- who I have read, am presently reading, and hopefully soon will be reading!

Maybe you too! Enjoy the read! Be inspired! Talk about your thoughts with friends or here! Feel free to post a comment after you read the article!

Educate.

There have been many articles recently in the news about the
national education policies emerging.

We will have to watch carefully as these bills and policies

begin to unfold.

'No Child' should what? "Be left behind" or "tested to death"?

What happened to just educating

children and putting that first?

In this NY times article

the author argues that real rigorous curriculum that is based on

learning rather than passing a test helps to build stronger skills.

An overhaul is definitely in order, but which things will be overhauled and into which direction? Here are some different perspectives about lessons learned from No Child. My friend Maggie posted an interview Campbell Brown did with Arnie Duncan. The major idea you come away with is "test". I did like how Brown didn't just let him off the hook. But 'better tests" kept coming up as the answer.

Read, watch, and listen carefully. Think critically. We need the best curriculum for kids- hopefully one that encourages kids to think and problem solve- rather than just memorize.