Wednesday, March 30, 2016

One Book, One School



School cafeteria manager reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle

One of our school's wonderful paraprofessionals reading M&M during lunch duty

The school nurse reading Mouse & Motorcycle at the Houston Texans game

The school custodians reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle together 

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

(Recent) Five-Star Reads

 











Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Reading...and Coughing...Reading...and Coughing...

I only thought I was sick a couple of weeks ago ("Even a Raging Cold Can't Stop This Reader"). Last Wednesday a sickness the size of a Category 5 hurricane blew in, and I've been holed up ever since, surrounded by an ocean of NyQuil bottles and wads of Kleenex.

I feel a little better today ("I will be better for Easter....I will be better for Easter....") so, before the next sickness typhoon rolls in, I thought I'd send out a quick update on my bookish world.


What I Finished Last Week

"All good things must come to an end," they say. I didn't want to finish it, but I finally wended my way to page 858 and had to close the book. I feel satisfied. Happy, really. 

Gosh, what is it about this book? 

I must spend some time puzzling that out. For a future post.



What Arrived Last Week



 

My mailbox was stuffed full this week with all kinds of wonderful books-for-review:

Mary Roach has the strangest ability to make me laugh about the most un-laughable stuff. This time, Roach takes on war in Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War. 

Wouldn't it be nice, you ask, to have a book to explain all-things-Catholic? Why, yes, reply Melissa Musick and Anna Keating, presenting us with The Catholic Catalogue: A Field Guide to the Daily Acts That Make Up a Catholic Life. 

The author of Orphan Train says Lily and the Octopus: A Novel is "a big-hearted, inventive, funny novel that also happens to be a profound meditation on love and forgiveness." Whew. Doesn't get much better than that.

And, finally, there's Lit Up: One Reporter, Three Schools, Twenty-Four Books that Can Change Lives. If there's one book I hope holds true to its promise, I hope it is this one. I'd love to have some high school English teachers read this one and share their thoughts about it. 



There you have it. I think I'll head back to bed, with a couple of these books on my nightstand. I do hope I'll stop coughing soon.




What are you reading today?!







What is the Sunday SalonImagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 
 It is now being hosted here.


Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Paper Flowers at a Baby Shower



For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy ReadsTo participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Rea

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Great Books I Almost Forgot to Share With You: Little Children's Books that Pack a Huge Punch

Raise your hands if you have read these books.

Okay, let's try raising your hand if you have even heard of them.

Raise them high.

Just what I figured. These aren't books that get a lot of press.

Check them out. I promise you a ride.




The Duck in the Gun          An Egg is Quiet          Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude


Wolves                    Train to Somewhere                    The Boy Who Grew Flowers


On My Honor      Manolito Gafotas      Regarding the Fountain      Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf



Do you have others I should read?
Thanks for sharing your recommendations and your thoughts.



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Can You Guess How Many Books I Read Over Spring Break? (Hint: It's Record-Setting!)

You know I'm a huge reader. I've been known to read a book an hour during a 24-hour-readathon. 

Just imagine how many books I could knock out during nine full days of spring break.

Let me give you some time to think on this.

Here goes....thirty seconds of Jeopardy music....




Time's up. What did you come up with? Did you go conservative with nine, one for each day? Or did you think big? Maybe fifteen or twenty? Two a day?

Not even close.

So here's my grand total for my spring break reading....

Zilch. Nada. Zero. 

I didn't finish a single book during spring break. And I'm not even upset about it. 

I read every day. But I savored my book. I read sssslllloooowwwwllllyyyy. So slowly. I've probably never read so slowly. So carefully. Loving every word.

What is this marvelous book, you ask?

Why, it's Lonesome Dove. I'm still reading on it today. I don't care if I ever finish. It's that good.









What are you reading today?!






What is the Sunday SalonImagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 
 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Bluebonnets and...Pink Bonnets?


For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy ReadsTo participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

What I Hope to Read This Spring





My usual mishmash of mostly-nonfiction, with some travel, religion, books-about-books, reading. A new Anne Tyler. A new Stewart O'Nan. 

Do you have any of these on your list?

Do you have any suggestions for me?




Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Am I Ready for Spring Break? I Am

What I Finished Last Week




Tsh Oxenreider tells her family's story of trying to make a simple, real life ...more
There are no heroes in this book. In the same way, however, there are also no bad guys. This is the story of how the drive for profit has ruined lives ...more
There’s a reason why old tales continue to be told: old tales are amazing. This is a collection of what might be said to be the best stories in the world ...more
Read the subtitle before you start telling me what an amazing reader I am. Full disclosure here: It's a graphic novel of Proust's mega-tome. I must say ...more
My first impression of Pope Francis is his simplicity. I like that so much, his willingness to seek out a simple lifestyle amid the complexity of the ...more

What I'm Reading Now


Did I tell you it's spring break here? Can you hear the tiredness in my voice today? Yes, it's been busy this winter...or maybe I'm just getting old? In any case, I am ready for spring break. My plan is to unplug and walk and read and ride my bike and visit and drink coffee and cook some nice meals and spend some time with people I love.

The main thing I plan to read (or, in actuality, reread) is Lonesome Dove. I want to linger over the story and linger over the characters this week. 

Because I'm a teacher, I not only checked out the book from the library, but I also checked out the movie and a book of photos from the movie. A total Lonesome Dove week.

My reading spot for the week. Stop by and see me this week. I'll be out here.


What Arrived Last Week




What are you reading today?!







What is the Sunday SalonImagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 
 It is now being hosted here.


Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.