Bout of Books Day 3

Favorite Books:

Ooooh this is like asking me who is my favorite grandchild or which is my favorite dog.  BUT I can choose a category and put some favorites in that.

Favorite Books to Teach:

I taught high school English for nearly 30 years and I did have books that I loved to teach.

1.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
            There was so much I could do with this novel.  I could focus on the obvious Civil Rights issue.  There was the "coming of age" angle or father/daughter relationships.  Depending on my group of students there were many paths to choose.   I love the point of view.  Scout's voice as an adult looking back on her childhood is heartbreakingly beautiful.

2.  Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
           Now this is a polar opposite!  Again, there is so much here.  To look at this from a "social issue" perspective, I love the discussions surrounding relationships:  husband/wife, sister/sister, society/individual.  Oh what a character Blanche is!

3.  Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
           Do you get the idea that I like discussing society!  Another great book about relationships and societal expectations.   Our curriculum also uses this book to discuss the American Dream.

4.  The Stranger by Albert Camus
            12th grade English covered this book.  "Mama died today.  Or was it yesterday?"  One of my favorite openings.

I am going to stop with four.  There are a few others I enjoyed teaching but my enthusiasm often depended on my group.

• Native Son by Richard Wright
• Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
• Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Lesson Before Dying by Earnest Gaines
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller
• Macbeth by Shakespeare
• Hamlet by Shakespeare

       

My Shelfies!

#boutofbooks and #shelfie4boutofbooks

Bout of Books - Day 1

Wife, retired, reader, grammy, crafter  #insixwords #boutofbooks

Today is Day One of Bout of Books Read-a-Thon.  My goal is simple:  read books I already own.  I will not go to the library or any bookstores!  I intend to tackle what is already here.

First up:  Highgate Rise by Anne Perry.











I rushed through household chores and as soon as my blogging is concluded I am off to the balcony with coffee and kindle.  Maybe I can clear out all those books I have purchased or downloaded and the left untouched.

Update to come.

Friday Finds on a Saturday Morning

My Friday Finds are in anticipation of the "Bout of Books" read-a-thon that begins Monday.  My goal is to read books that I have in my personal library.  That means no trips to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or the library.  I will choose from what is on hand.

I intend to begin with Stephen Coonts' Flight of the Intruder.  I have read many of the Jake Grafton Series as well as the Tommy Carmellinni ones but I have read them out of order so now I am back to the very beginning.  Jake is a lieutenant fighter pilot in the Viet Nam war.  That does go back a ways.  After that I will move on the Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson.  Somewhere during the challenge I want to read book two in the Game of Thrones series.  Yes I might be the only one who is not up to date in that.  I have only read book one and seen season one.  

I have set aside two to three hours each day for reading, but I suspect that if I play my cards right I will get more.  I will take time out to watch "Dancing with the Stars" and "Survivor" but there isn't much else I want to see.

Hopefully, with the challenge I will take some titles off my TBR stack.  It will barely make a dent!

#tbt - Memories of my Dad

"You are My Sunshine" and Old Spice aftershave will always be linked for me.  They both take me immediately to my early childhood living in an apartment in Washington, DC with both of my parents.

My father worked in a drug store and went in late every other day.  On those days I remember my dad shaving and dressing all the while humming or singing "You are My Sunshine."  It is such a comforting memory.  I always link that song with him.

There were other songs as well.  My dad loved Elvis but the Elvis of spiritual songs.  My dad's favorite was "Peace in the Valley."  He did a pretty good Elvis sound when he sang along.  It's funny what memories come with songs and smells. 

Every now and then those songs just spring into my head.  I figure my dad is close at hand.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Teaser

"You need to get out of your office more often.  According to the website listed on the leaflets, a nudist resort is supposed to pen somewhere near here next summer." (171)

Lorna Barrett.  Murder is Binding. New York:  Berkley Prime Crime. 2008.

My Note:  tee hee

Bout of Books

It is my intention to participate in the Bout of Books marathon.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 16 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading everyday for the entire week.  I will devote at least 2 to 3 hours a day.

My Goals

• to chip away at the books I already own.  No new books or trips to the library.

Possible Books to Read

1. Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts
2. Dying for Chocolat by Diane Mott Davidson
3. Highgate Rise by Anne Perry
4. Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child
5. Photo Finished by Laura Child
6. Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Musing Mondays

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name any 5 books from your “to be read” pile (even if it’s a “virtual” pile).

Wow just 5....

1.  Crewel World by Monica Ferris

2.  Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

3.  Thyme of Death  by Susan Wittig Albert

4. Cat and Mouse by James Patterson

5.  Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts

There are so many more but this should keep me busy.

Sunday Thoughts

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

                                                                    Psalm 37:4