The multiple points of view made the pages fly, a very satisfying thriller. Perfect holiday read, looking forward to booktalking this to my faculty anThe multiple points of view made the pages fly, a very satisfying thriller. Perfect holiday read, looking forward to booktalking this to my faculty and parents. ...more
Outstanding biography of Frida Kahlo. It took me a long time to finish this definitive biography, not because it wasn't riveting, but because it is a Outstanding biography of Frida Kahlo. It took me a long time to finish this definitive biography, not because it wasn't riveting, but because it is a detailed, dramatic view into Kahlo's life peppered with art criticism, Kahlo's own voice via letters and diary entries, and an entire universe of artists, revolutionaries, families, and famous people who flocked together back and forth from Mexico to the United States. Herrera's comprehension of Kahlo's multifaceted life, her great loves, her huge personality and artistic genius, all achieved with unthinkable levels of physical pain, is so spellbinding in so many ways and so complete that I took my time savoring the read. I began at the end after just viewing two Kahlo exhibits in the Netherlands...and the scenes of the last days of Kahlo's life and her funeral are unforgettable....more
Funny, sexy instalment in a favorite Victorian murder mystery series with a satisfyingly royal twist. I'm off to order the next book...excelsior!Funny, sexy instalment in a favorite Victorian murder mystery series with a satisfyingly royal twist. I'm off to order the next book...excelsior!...more
On my life's journey, the animals that I have known and loved have been so important, inspiring, and surprisingly insightful. I have traveled around tOn my life's journey, the animals that I have known and loved have been so important, inspiring, and surprisingly insightful. I have traveled around the world with a corgi and a herd of cats in tow, some of these stalwart companions have lived on three continents.
I once had a cat who so rightly hated my landlady's bossy voice in Vienna, Austria, that she would stalk out of the room every time she heard the woman knock on our door.
More recently, when our old dairy farm cat turned incredibly reluctant world traveler Theo was critically ill with kidney disease, he remained so attuned to my emotions that one evening when I came home with a throbbing headache so intense I could barely see, he jumped up on the bed and laid his body gently on my chest and tucked his face under my chin until my head stopped hurting.
Animals are amazing teachers for holding up mirrors to human nature and showing us the meaning of unconditional love. Sy Montgomery's stories about the animals in her life, wild or domesticated, and her connections to them bring bittersweet memories like these back in a flood. I remember reading her book The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood, one of my all-time favorite animal stories, and again finding my mind racing back to memories of all the creatures I grew up with on my parents' Appaloosa horse farm in rural Ohio. I thought of/think of the baby raccoons and rabbits (which invariably died despite our care) and fawns that my father the Game Warden would bring home after a night out patrolling hunting seasons, combined with the dozens of cats and litters of kittens, sometimes found by the side of the road, the Australian Shepherd and Dalmatian puppies on rotation, and, in the end, a wayward nanny goat and miniature donkey named Sarah all living in that same barn.
Becoming a good creature, I have repeatedly discovered, does indeed need teachers from nature and the animals around us, to help us learn so manyy vital lessons: discovering our passions, respecting others and their boundaries, waiting patiently in stillness to see miraculous things, creating our own families, learning forgiveness, finding common ground and, perhaps the most precious lesson, trusting in a new dawn, new opportunities for happiness, tomorrow....more
This series finale takes the Lockwood & Co. universe to the next level, exposing the corrupt occult practices at the heart of 'the Problem', London's This series finale takes the Lockwood & Co. universe to the next level, exposing the corrupt occult practices at the heart of 'the Problem', London's plague of killer ghosts and brutal hauntings, and testing the courage and limits of the team. Our intrepid crew of psychic investigators band together against the Fittes agency, whose owner Penelope Fittes is masterminding a complete takeover of all investigation companies while DEPRAC is powerless to stop her, and find themselves facing a harrowing escape into the Other Side. The stakes are raised impressively and every single character in the series lands exactly in the most dangerous situation possible. One character's evolution in particular stuns with a spectacular, satisfying reveal.
There is a tantalizing glimpse of another adventure even after the dust settles and the paint dries at 35 Portland Row. I'm hoping that the success of the Netflix series brings Lockwood & Co. #6....more
The plot thickens with a new client and cluster of murderous ghosts that have Lockwood and Co and free agent Lucy Carlyle heading out by train to inveThe plot thickens with a new client and cluster of murderous ghosts that have Lockwood and Co and free agent Lucy Carlyle heading out by train to investigate, stumbling on a suspicious Rotwell research facility hidden in the English countryside as they confront a wholly new spectre called the Creeping Shadow. There are two major character reveals in this instalment, with one so eerie and satisfying that I had to go back re-read the moment where they appeared. By the end, the ruthless stakeholders in the psychical investigation agencies are heading for a major showdown, with the full extent of the Problem and the otherworldly conspiracies surrounding it starting to reveal themselves and Lockwood and Co's role in solving the puzzle is more complicated than ever. Someone, Lockwood, George, Holly or Kipps, won't make it, that much has been shared already. I will be sad when it is over, but I bet there is more in store through the Netflix adaptation where they are building out and developing other characters and threads of the story....more
An exciting introduction to artist Keith Haring that not only echoes his distinctive thick, black undulating lines, but also resounds with his love ofAn exciting introduction to artist Keith Haring that not only echoes his distinctive thick, black undulating lines, but also resounds with his love of books, particularly The Art Spirit by Robert Henri, and how reading biographies of other artists sustained him throughout his life. His love of and work with children was also a lovely discovery:
Children know something that most people have forgotten. Children possess a fascination with their everyday existence that is very special and would be very helpful to adults if they could learn to understand and respect it.
I also enjoyed the review and deeper look into muralist and illustrator Josh Cochran’s "ebullient" art illustrations in this oversized picture book via Maria Popova's wonderful blog The Marginalian.
Popova also highlights this lovely quote by author Burgess about Haring's constant attention and connection to children:
But no matter how busy he became or where in the world he went, he always made time for children.
Keith understood kids and they understood him. There was an unspoken bond between them.
And since children often asked him to draw on their t-shirts, skateboards, and jeans, he always kept a black marker handy.
The very morning after I read this book, a student came into my library to pick up his literature circle book. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with three unmistakeable Haring illustrations. I said, "That's a Keith Haring sweatshirt!" and he nodded with a smile.
I also, like Burgess, think of those A Very Special Christmas album covers by Haring and wonder if they allowed me to also think outside my small, rural existence in the 80s, long before a global world and vibrant, unexpected art was on my radar. I think this biography could have that kind of impact now on children of all ages who are looking for their own inspiration....more
I'm so glad I had the next Lockwood & Co waiting on my shelf to dive into after finishing the excellent Netflix series which began streaming 27 JanuarI'm so glad I had the next Lockwood & Co waiting on my shelf to dive into after finishing the excellent Netflix series which began streaming 27 January 2023. If you haven't watched it yet, you must. Then pick up this instalment which only has a couple spoilers for folks who have only watched and not read The Screaming Staircase and The Whispering Skull. Lucy's powers continue to grow and challenge her performance in the field, the skull's banter continues to be hilarious and occasionally insightful, Lockwood continues to nurse his secrets and unleash his bravado, George continues to eat and dig through archives, and there is a new assistant at Lockwood & Co. that upsets Lucy to the point where she is questioning her role on the team. The ending is gutting, but leads the series in a very interesting direction. Starting The Empty Grave tonight!
I hosted author Jonathan Stroud in 2014 at the American School of The Hague when the Dutch edition of The Whispering Skull came out. He was a phenomenal author to host, engaging and well-prepared, great sense of humor and connection with young readers, and his presentation included drawing a fantasy landscape with students and kitting a student volunteer up with chains and salt and other weapons as a ghost-hunting Field Operative. His writing is superb and I am thrilled for his success, it couldn't have happened to a nicer writer....more
I would much rather schools choose to read this book to build understanding about how access to water is a daily worry for much of the world's populatI would much rather schools choose to read this book to build understanding about how access to water is a daily worry for much of the world's population, rather than hosting artificial "let's carry water around a track" activities that almost mock the way children, mostly girls, and adults, mostly women, live their lives carrying and boiling water for their families. The audiobook was delightful, each character had distinct voices and actor Reena Dutt's Indian pronunciation and sweet-natured voice shifting between the children and the grown-ups brought cultural depth to the listening experience....more
Stevie Bell's trip to London to see her boyfriend David with the whole crew of beloved friends, Nate, Vi and Janelle, takes a sharp left at murder in Stevie Bell's trip to London to see her boyfriend David with the whole crew of beloved friends, Nate, Vi and Janelle, takes a sharp left at murder in the fifth Truly Devious mystery. Starting with a flashback to the 90s and a group of nine Oxbridge British friends partying at a Viscount's manor house in the country where a drunken game of hide and seek ends in two of the nine dead, in modern day London Stevie is introduced to David's new classmate Izzy whose aunt is one of the nine and who has let slip that she suspects who killed her friends so long ago. A race against time to solve the long cold case in the single week Stevie's crew are in London heightens the suspense, alongside David and Stevie's desperate goal to take their relationship to the next level in that timeframe as well. Romance and murder are both hard to manage under pressure, and Stevie's anxiety attacks, jealousy when watching David and Izzy together, and her perennially filthy hoodie and jeans outfit constantly reminds her that she is truly a stranger in a strange land even with the love and support of her friends. As she gets closer to solving the murder and further away from understanding what is happening with her long-distance relationship with David, Stevie has to pull all the pieces together to solve the case and accept responsibility for her single-minded obsession with murder even if it means losing the people she loves the most. ...more
This book and the learning I have done with Adam Grant's voice in my ear has helped me manage some complex situations at work simply by re-thinking myThis book and the learning I have done with Adam Grant's voice in my ear has helped me manage some complex situations at work simply by re-thinking my assumptions and goals in light of new data and/or new eyes on reports, unclear statistical analyses, confronting and contradictory views in the face of the data and findings I so carefully uncovered and shared, etc. I have found a myriad of ways that thinking again and taking in new information has helped me entertain the contradictory evidence and look further into what I think/thought was the best decision or tool or mindset or way forward. I am prodding my confirmation biases and really considering how my habits and ways of doing things might need (definitely need) to be re-thought out.
Taking a step back and approaching issues and decisions like a scientist has given me a comfort level with potential conflict/competing views that come up in my daily work and home life that I haven't really nurtured before. That is huge.
I highly recommend the audiobook, but would also recommend having the print to go back over key takeaways and trace back to examples to share with teams, colleagues and students. I am really looking forward to discussing this with a small group of leaders at my international school later this spring....more
Brené Brown loves Richard Rohr and I have really enjoyed their conversations on her Unlocking Us podcast. So I was really surprised to read this book Brené Brown loves Richard Rohr and I have really enjoyed their conversations on her Unlocking Us podcast. So I was really surprised to read this book and find myself becoming increasingly irritated by how men are centered in this text, it's all about male clergy, male writers, male characters. I suppose the "Christian perspective" should have tipped me off, but I was anticipating something more graceful and balanced. Granted, this was originally written in late 80s, but I am having flashbacks to the alienating texts I had to read and live with in a he/him world as I was growing up. And there are so many outdated terms, sexist pigeonholing, and borderline racist moments talking about life in the ghetto that lead Black folks to be 8s, and how women's libbers (literally) struggle with owning their own power.
My favorite of the series so far, Veronica and Stoker's relationship moves to full boil in a twisty murder mystery about a missing bride that is a comMy favorite of the series so far, Veronica and Stoker's relationship moves to full boil in a twisty murder mystery about a missing bride that is a combination of Female Gothic tropes and an isolated English castle on the rock plot. Delicious....more
"Some people tell me to 'fix' my hair./And by fix they mean straighten; they mean whiten..." I bought this powerful, illustrated, poetic celebration o"Some people tell me to 'fix' my hair./And by fix they mean straighten; they mean whiten..." I bought this powerful, illustrated, poetic celebration of Black hair, identity and womanhood for my daughter for Christmas for whenever she needs to know she is not alone with her glorious African curls....more
A Christmas gift that is a quick read and brings a pragmatic Dutch perspective to relaxation and slowing down. I appreciated the shout out to The ArtiA Christmas gift that is a quick read and brings a pragmatic Dutch perspective to relaxation and slowing down. I appreciated the shout out to The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, which has inspired me to find an Artist Date option for me in the first week of 2023....more
Loading...
