Andrea's comments (member since May 20, 2009)

Andrea's comments from the Constant Reader group.

I haven't actually finished the book, but am enjoying it so much I had to jump in. I know next to nothing about art really, although along with the rest of the world, I've always enjoyed Vermeer. I think Jonathon's explanation of how a forger works would also cover some of the "literary non-fiction" that current consumers have been duped by. "A Million Little Pieces" was about the kind of person we think a drug addict is, not about a person's actual experiences with drug addiction. Also remembering a reporter, I think it was the Washington Post? some years ago who did a whole fictional account of "reporting" on a ghetto neighborhood. Her "reporting" got her nominated for a Pulitzer, I think, until people started fact checking.

For those interested, I actually liked "Purple Hibiscus" better, and her new book of short stories. "Half a Yellow Sun" was a lukewarm liking for me. I couldn't get into the characters, which I think is a large part of what I enjoy in a story. My friend who teaches h.s. English just read "Purple Hibiscus" with her senior literature class, and most of the students really liked it.

It's on her album "Bowery Songs" that came out about four years ago, I think. Probably she had been singing it way before that, though.

Andrea wrote: "I've only "written" to authors through goodreads (three times). All three responded. I've tried to be as specific as possible in describing what I liked about the book and in two cases, asking th..."

Whoops, I forgot one. Pamela's note reminded me. I wrote the Aidan Hartley to tell him how much I liked "The Zanzibar Chest" and how many of the people and events in his book resonated with me because they had some connection to my family. He wrote a very personal and gracious email back, commenting on some of the family experiences I had related. I have treasured that email.

Lindalee wrote: "Your ideas would have been good for a public library and with adults who could tell that the magazine was propganda. I was the librarian at a K-12 school at the time and there was only the one lib..."
My local Michigan library is closed a few weekdays per month now in order to save money. I'm sorry about that, but my husband, a state worker, is also off without pay for about the same number of days. It's hard to face it, but I think closing a few days per month is better than closing altogether.

About school librarians and selection. I trust my kids' school librarian to make selections that are suitable for most of the kids in that age group. Then, if my kids want something else we can either get it from the public library or buy it (when possible). Younger children need help in choosing books, TV shows, socks etc. Kudos to Lindalee.

I would like to admit that I have, on occasion (not more than once weekly, on my day off) taken my daughter to school, and then, still unshowered and in dingy early morning attire, commenced to read. Perhaps this is what is meant? I was certainly cheery at the time.

Elizabeth wrote: "LOL! Personally I like "People Who Don't Know Their Dead". "I've actually seen that one for sale at the bookstore where I work!

I've only "written" to authors through goodreads (three times). All three responded. I've tried to be as specific as possible in describing what I liked about the book and in two cases, asking the authors how they came up with a specific type of structure for the book. I don't think I'd ever track an author down personally just to say I liked a book. I'm just too lazy.

I've never been a big fan of Twain's fiction, but then I discovered his non-fiction and I can't get enough of it. His travel writing is amazing; witty, funny, but with a satiric, anti-imperialist bite.

Oh, my fifteen year old just informed me today that she is auditioning for a part in the h.s. production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I'm wondering how her father, from a very conservative culture and totally unfamiliar with British classics, will take the whole thing if she gets a part. Can be a very racy play if the director chooses to go that way.

I have always liked Shakespeare, but find that my ability to read more of his plays seems to decline with time! Weird, because in general I think I'm a more patient reader than when I was younger. I find that as I've developed an ability to understand his language, I much prefer to watch the plays than to read them. I've enjoyed many productions, but for sheer handsomeness, what about Denzel Washington and co. in Much Ado About Nothing? I read and watched this with a thirteen year old girl I was tutoring once and must say we both blushed a bit. But loved it.

I teach college freshmen. One of the reasons I decided to teach college rather than high school students is that I wanted to focus on teaching and learning, not on telling people to be quiet. The last few years, I spend more and more time trying to get the class to stop talking to the people next to them, put away ipods and cell phones and get to the work at hand. They seem to think I am a screen that they can listen to or not, as they choose. But worse, in class discussion, they often begin fairly loud and long side conversations when another student is addressing the class. And they don't stop when I point this out. I'm not sure what to do, as this wastes more and more class time. I don't think most of the students have ever really been instructed in active listening. This is markedly different from student behavior even five or six years ago. Or maybe I'm just getting too old and "ignorable"?

Has anyone read "Our Mutual Friend?" It is my favorite. And interestingly, "A Tale of Two Cities" is the only Dickens I have ever started and not finished. I've read lots of others, liked Bleak House and Great Expectations, The Old Curiousity Shop, David Copperfield. So I don't know what it was about A Tale of Two Cities. About Micawber and Uriah Heep. The dishonest often take advantage of the desperate, don't they? If you want to find an employee who will do "anything" find someone who is in desperate circumstances.

She stood there in my doorway,
Smoothing out her dress,
She said, This life is a thump-ripe melon
So sweet and such a mess

From the Ballad of Rexroth's Daughter as sung by Joan Baez

I do agree that it is the observers in question who were mistaken. Whatever happened to "ladies room solidarity"?

Hope I'm not interrupting a private conversation here; I'm just an occasional group member, but these posts are just too funny. Thanks for sharing!

Interesting that one of my main venues for finding and discussing print literature is the internet. I've read more since I joined goodreads than I have in months before. I feel so much more connected to the reading when I have people to discuss it with and yet can pick and chose what I read. Don't know if this will apply to younger readers.

I love these images. It is really motivating me to get started on the book. Thank you so much!

Wilhelmina, I'm glad you mentioned the Hill book. A GR correspondent from Ghana had mentioned the "Book Of Negroes" and I couldn't find it here in the U.S. but now I see why.

As for the debate, I had some great history teachers and some awful ones, but now that my kids are going through the public schools (public university, high school and one in elementary) I'm finding the ignorance of their teachers about history pretty appalling. Many of these men and women are intelligent and know how to teach reading, writing and math very well. They know how to deal with a variety of social and psychological problems that would baffle me. But social studies (not just history alone, but geography, anthropology etc.) seems like foreign soil (pardon the pun). Teachers can't do everything. We need to encourage kids to read as parents, but also as supporters of local public libraries, youth clubs etc. I've found my library has lots of volunteer reader and tutoring opportunities, and I find neighbors who talk to my kids about what they are reading and share reading suggestions with them are a great help too. Whew, sorry for the long post.