I Read Therefore I Am discussion
General
>
"The time has come" the Walrus said, "to talk of many things..."
I got a bit confused about the pollution. They said that the Saharan sand was only in the South but there was also domestic pollution. WELL, for a whole week the fog/mist/smog was so bad I could only see about 50metres and I'm in the North in an area that doesn't have any industry apart from sheep rearing and no traffic to speak of. So was my mist just naturally occurring mist?
Mod
@Lee - both my horses fell over but they're ok ;)
Apart from noticing some red dust on my car windscreen last week, I can't say I noticed any pollution! Then again, apart from going to and from work, I have been a bit if a recluse the last couple of weeks :-(
Oh dear - are you still suffering from the flu?
Just about out of it now, thanks, Lee. :-)
Well keep warm and take it easy and eat lots of chocolate :0)
I second that. Actually, it's good advice for anyone really Lee. Glad you are on the mend Ellie :)
This is to cheer up Hilary and Ellie and anyone else who is suffering or recovering from the dreaded lurgy.
I found it on the Dabbler Website
The Pirates Tale - a story written by the 5 and a half year old Jane Aitchison whose mother sent it in to the Puffins Post Club who printed it in their magazine and then as a book.
The Pirates’ Tale
By Janet Aitchison (age five and a half)
Once upon a time there were some bad pirates. They sailed to a mountain. They dug in the mountain and found gold and silver. The mountain was a volcano.
They saw a bit of volcano then they ran back to their ship and they sailed away to their mountain and hid the gold and silver in their cave and guarded the treasure. A dwarf stole the gold and silver. The pirates woke up and killed the dwarf. The pirates got the gold and silver and the dwarf’s gold and silver.
The king dwarf sent an army to fight the pirates and to hurt the pirates. Who knows which side won the battle? The pirates! The pirates caught the king dwarf and they killed him and they threw him into the sea. A whale threw him up again and the pirates threw him down again. A shark came along and ate him up. The pirates laughed to see the dwarf being eaten up by the shark.
One day the pirates found a crab. It pinched a pirate. The pirates screamed to see the crab. The pirates ran away to the ship and sailed to the mountain and got the guns and killed the crab and the pirates laughed.
One day the pirates found a rat and killed it. The pirates had a cat and the cat ate the rat and the cat died. The pirates looked sad. A pirate found a house and opened the door and went in. It was dusty. He tidied it and dusted it. The pirate found a mouse and gave the mouse a piece of cheese. The cheese was magic.
The pirate said “Oh dear. The cheese is magic. I shouldn’t have given the mouse the cheese.” The mouse died.
One day the pirates found a forest. The forest was bewitched. The pirates went in the forest. The pirates turned into frogs and leapt about all over the place and croaked, trying to talk.
One day the pirates found some children. The pirates kept the children for their wives to cook for them. The wives cook nice things for the pirates. The pirates liked the food and ate it all up. The pirates liked the fish best. They caught the fish themselves from the sea.
One day the pirates weren’t very well. The pirates had mumps. They were very ill. One day the pirates got better and sailed away to the mountain and saw a shark and killed it and the pirates’ new cat said, “meow meow”. The pirates said, “Be quiet, new cat.”
One day the pirates found a ship. The ship had some gold and silver. The pirates stole the gold and silver. The gold and silver is magic.
The pirates died. The cat died.
Here is Jane Aitchison on her writing career
As a five year old I had no ambitions to write a children’s book, indeed my five year old self could not conceive of such a thing. But I had recently learned to read and write, and one day embarked upon a rambling story written in erratic sloping lines on large sheets of scrap paper.
My parents tell me I woke them early in the morning asking how to spell words like ‘volcano’ and ‘mountain’ but, apart from this assistance, they had nothing to do with the writing until it was finished, at which point my mother decided to send it to the Puffin Club. Like Frank Key, we were members of this charming club and received the Puffin Post magazines every quarter. My mother thought my story might get printed in the magazine as they regularly published children’s poems, jokes and stories.
To my delight, the story appeared in the next edition… but little did I know that Jill McDonald, the staff illustrator at Puffin, had taken a shine to the story and suggested it be made into a Puffin book. A couple of years later, the book was published, complete with Jill’s wonderful illustrations.
It remained in print for about ten years and was translated into two or three other languages. Its publication propelled me into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s youngest published author and I received some attention from the news media when it was published being featured in a few newspapers and on the local BBC news program.
No further works of fiction followed - I like to say I peaked at five and its been downhill ever since! However, the experience did have some effect on my career path – I entered the publishing world as an editor and am now a Publishing Director at Cambridge University Press in New York. I’m sure my early experience with the Pirates’ Tale helped propel me in this direction!
I found it on the Dabbler Website
The Pirates Tale - a story written by the 5 and a half year old Jane Aitchison whose mother sent it in to the Puffins Post Club who printed it in their magazine and then as a book.
The Pirates’ Tale
By Janet Aitchison (age five and a half)
Once upon a time there were some bad pirates. They sailed to a mountain. They dug in the mountain and found gold and silver. The mountain was a volcano.
They saw a bit of volcano then they ran back to their ship and they sailed away to their mountain and hid the gold and silver in their cave and guarded the treasure. A dwarf stole the gold and silver. The pirates woke up and killed the dwarf. The pirates got the gold and silver and the dwarf’s gold and silver.
The king dwarf sent an army to fight the pirates and to hurt the pirates. Who knows which side won the battle? The pirates! The pirates caught the king dwarf and they killed him and they threw him into the sea. A whale threw him up again and the pirates threw him down again. A shark came along and ate him up. The pirates laughed to see the dwarf being eaten up by the shark.
One day the pirates found a crab. It pinched a pirate. The pirates screamed to see the crab. The pirates ran away to the ship and sailed to the mountain and got the guns and killed the crab and the pirates laughed.
One day the pirates found a rat and killed it. The pirates had a cat and the cat ate the rat and the cat died. The pirates looked sad. A pirate found a house and opened the door and went in. It was dusty. He tidied it and dusted it. The pirate found a mouse and gave the mouse a piece of cheese. The cheese was magic.
The pirate said “Oh dear. The cheese is magic. I shouldn’t have given the mouse the cheese.” The mouse died.
One day the pirates found a forest. The forest was bewitched. The pirates went in the forest. The pirates turned into frogs and leapt about all over the place and croaked, trying to talk.
One day the pirates found some children. The pirates kept the children for their wives to cook for them. The wives cook nice things for the pirates. The pirates liked the food and ate it all up. The pirates liked the fish best. They caught the fish themselves from the sea.
One day the pirates weren’t very well. The pirates had mumps. They were very ill. One day the pirates got better and sailed away to the mountain and saw a shark and killed it and the pirates’ new cat said, “meow meow”. The pirates said, “Be quiet, new cat.”
One day the pirates found a ship. The ship had some gold and silver. The pirates stole the gold and silver. The gold and silver is magic.
The pirates died. The cat died.
Here is Jane Aitchison on her writing career
As a five year old I had no ambitions to write a children’s book, indeed my five year old self could not conceive of such a thing. But I had recently learned to read and write, and one day embarked upon a rambling story written in erratic sloping lines on large sheets of scrap paper.
My parents tell me I woke them early in the morning asking how to spell words like ‘volcano’ and ‘mountain’ but, apart from this assistance, they had nothing to do with the writing until it was finished, at which point my mother decided to send it to the Puffin Club. Like Frank Key, we were members of this charming club and received the Puffin Post magazines every quarter. My mother thought my story might get printed in the magazine as they regularly published children’s poems, jokes and stories.
To my delight, the story appeared in the next edition… but little did I know that Jill McDonald, the staff illustrator at Puffin, had taken a shine to the story and suggested it be made into a Puffin book. A couple of years later, the book was published, complete with Jill’s wonderful illustrations.
It remained in print for about ten years and was translated into two or three other languages. Its publication propelled me into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s youngest published author and I received some attention from the news media when it was published being featured in a few newspapers and on the local BBC news program.
No further works of fiction followed - I like to say I peaked at five and its been downhill ever since! However, the experience did have some effect on my career path – I entered the publishing world as an editor and am now a Publishing Director at Cambridge University Press in New York. I’m sure my early experience with the Pirates’ Tale helped propel me in this direction!
Here's an interesting fact for you
The gentleman who wrote our next quarterly read, Ben Hur, also signed the death warrant of Billy the Kid.
The gentleman who wrote our next quarterly read, Ben Hur, also signed the death warrant of Billy the Kid.
Ooo! Isn't that strange. I'm actually dreading Ben Hur. I've tried to read it twice and given up because I was so irritated by the religious suggestions and overtones.
Oh, heck, Hilary, you've made me a bit nervous about it now!
I was really disappointed Ellie because I just love the film. It could be just me though! Everyone else might think its great
I must admit that it's not something I would ever have chosen to read if it hadn't come up as a group read, though, like Hilary, I love the film. You never know, Hilary - it might just be be 3rd time lucky. :0)
Mod
Isn't it funny how we are bothered by the religion in Ben Hur but we're fine about Dante?
I was thinking that too, maybe it's because the Divine Comedy is so much older and one of the classics.
I don't think I agree with that. Dante's writing seems very like myth to me. He could very easily be writing about the gods of Rome and Greece, it isn't really "religious"to me at all. If I remember the religious bits in Ben Hur, and I'd admit I didn't get very far into it either time I tried it, read as though they had been lifted directly from the bible or they were very reverential. The religious aspects that the film glides over stand out far more in the book, is what I'm saying I suppose.but I've looked at my copy and noticed that I have never read beyond Chapter 6 so I hardly gave it a chance really.
I'll have to wait until I've tried Ben Hur as I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "religious" :0) - I see what you mean about Dante seeming rather like Greek and Roman myth though - according to my notes he was steeped in classical literature - I guess that's why he chose Virgil as a guide.
Yes let's postpone this until we read the book, you'll know what I'm getting at almost from page 1 but it's quite difficult to explain without copying bits of the text in as examples and I think that would be a shame as we are going to read it anyway.
Well, am somewhat bummed out here in rainy Mississippi - there will be a full eclipse of the moon about 3am local time, tomorrow morning, but it doesn't look like it will clear off in time to be able to see it. On the up side, though, we are supposed to have 3 more in the next two years, which is a rare cluster of eclipses in itself. Hopefully will get to see some of them. : (
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :0)
Mod
Had a day off today!! So, 7 phone calls to 6 different people at the office later.....Sometimes I do think I work too hard
You're right, Lee, but sadly I was let down by my assistant today, so there was no one in the Gloucester Finance office today, and a crisis emerged :-(
Well I guess it's good to be needed :0)
To an extent, but I don't want it happening next week when I'm on holiday proper!
You'll just have to change your phone number! Are you doing anything nice?
Lovely - I'll order some good weather for you.
If you have a direct line, Lee, I'd appreciate a warm dry Easter Sunday. I'm hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for 17 adults and children so rain would be a disaster.
Thanks, Lee :-) Apparently while it's been warm enough for T-shirts and sitting in the garden in Gloucester, my mum's put the heating back on :-/
I'll do my best Hilary. :0) - sounds like you're in for a fun if noisy afternoon like that poem by - was it Ogden Nash?
@ Ellie - just a brief cold spell I'm sure.
@Lee. I'm hoping it's not quite as bad as that!!
Well I'll cross my fingers for all of you. It is even forecast rain here in Melbourne for Easter so we can all be wet and miserable together, hunched over our computers with nothing but a hot tea to warm our grumpy cockles (think Dickens with wi-fi) x
Dickens would have loved the Internet - he would have been a blogger for sure.
I'm looking forward to hot cross buns - do you have such things in Australia (they're a food rather then a body part).
I'm looking forward to hot cross buns - do you have such things in Australia (they're a food rather then a body part).
Haha of COURSE! I spend all my money and buy the expensive, health food store ones because they have a bun-load of fruit in them. Toasted with buttery spread...mmmmm...... But I don't like these chocolate chip concoctions that have popped up. You?
No I'm definitely a traditionalist where hot cross buns are concerned.
Chocolate chips in a hot cross bun? Oh good heavens no!! Much as I love chocolate, there is no place for it in a traditional Easter bakery treat!
I am glad you ladies are sensible in this respect. I couldn't think of anything worse and cringe every time I see them. Ick.
I'm incommunicado until tomorrow evening now - when normal service will be resumed:0)
Just got back from sunny Swanage. We had a lovely time, but I didn't forget about I Read Therefore I Am completely - a couple of dips in the icy sea made me feel closer to Scott and his men, George would have loved the nettle wine I consumed at The Red Lion and after a couple of glasses of that I was almost as merry as Sam :0)
I'm in sunny-ish Norfolk this week :-) Chilling out and hopefully getting some time in for reading!
Enjoy those traditional style hot cross buns :0)
You lucky ducks all jet-setting about. I was lucky just to get a trip to a different supermarket for yesterdays weekly haul! I hope the weather and greenery is treating you very well Ellie :) And Lee, your devotion to this group is insurmountable ;) Lovely to have you back safely
Hope everyone is having a jolly Easter. I've got the mother in law coming round so I'm just working myself up to some emergency house work.
Did the Easter Egg hunt go alright Hilary?
Did the Easter Egg hunt go alright Hilary?
Everyone has now gone except daughter, partner and three year old who have all gone off to their annexe( sounds much grander than it is) so I am sitting here quietly and drawing breath. Went off incredibly well and the weather was so good we all stayed out in the garden the whole time, even with our lunch. The children were very well behaved, the food turned out well and the sun shone. Brilliant Easter Sunday. Hope everyone else has had as good a time.
From the weather reports today, it sounds like while most of the country has experienced rain today, the little corner of Norfolk I'm tucked away in had a lovely, sunny afternoon! Indulged my geeky side today and visited the Norwich City Aviation Museum - I am fascinated by jet aircraft so this is just my sort of thing :)
Sounds fab Hil! So glad it went well :) And I hope you are working on that tan and eating lots of chocolate Ellie.Here's some fun: http://www.abebooks.com/docs/Communit... - to see which Literary Character you are
And: http://www.tressugar.com/Signs-Youre-... - to see if you are addicted to reading. As if we were any other way!
I Read Therefore I Am
Books mentioned in this topic
The Color of Magic (other topics)Design Down Under (other topics)
The Diary of a Nobody (other topics)
The Dumas Club (other topics)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Bill Bryson (other topics)Terry Pratchett (other topics)
Peter Lovesey (other topics)
@ My fellow British people - how did the Saharan desert dust grab you? There is a view from my office window of a wooded hill and on Wednesday it had totally disappeared - it was like someone had tippexed it out !
Quite exotic it being from the Sahara though and it was quite nice to be forbidden from taking strenuous exercise :0)