Category: Book Review
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Book Review: My Friends by Fredrik Backman
I have read a few of Backman’s books, so I was excited to listen to his newest book, My Friends. This book is funny, heartbreaking, and nostalgic. We are introduced to Louisa, a runaway from foster care, who is also a talented artist. Through a series of events, she meets her favorite famous artist, who…
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The Art of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World
It’s amazing how a cosmic force seems to have aligned my path this week. I stumbled upon a podcast about walking and silence, just as I finished listening to the audiobook, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. Then, I found a book at the library focusing on the art of silence: Silence in the Age of…
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Book Review: Literature and the New Culture Wars by Deborah Appleman
Last year, I wrote about the importance of reading challenging texts and mentioned a new book on my list called Literature and the New Culture Wars by Deborah Appleman, published 2022. I finished the book in November, and I highlighted so many passages! In classrooms nationwide, movements such as cancel culture, #METoo, and trigger concerns…
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My Favorite Children’s Christmas Books
Part 1 I started this blog post a few weeks ago, but the holiday season has already taken over my time. I have been grading non-stop, too. (I am a teacher). The first two weeks of December are my busiest for grading. Right after Thanksgiving, and sometimes before, I bring out my Christmas books. When…
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We Are Grateful
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga is a beautifully written book by Native American, Traci Sorrel. Members of the Cherokee Nation use the word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) to express gratitude. The book begins in the fall and follows a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences ending in summer. This book won many awards, including a Sibert and…
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Teaching Literature: Nurturing Empathy and Knowledge through Challenging Texts
When I was teaching AP Literature, we would read around seven books in one year. All of these books were classics, and not always full of cheer. Sometimes my students would question, why are we reading books that are such downers? Not all the books I taught in my other classes were classics, but they…
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Love of Cormac McCarthy
I was first introduced to Cormac McCarthy’s novels in college. We read All The Pretty Horses, and his writing style is a little complex at first. He does not use much punctuation, no quotation marks, or commas. A Pulitzer Prize winner can do what he wants, right? He disliked using semicolons or exclamation points. To…
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Finding Your Ikigai
I just finished a book called Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. This book is a quick read and interesting. Ikigai is the Japanese word for “the happiness of always being busy.” Each chapter goes into why the Japanese have the record for the oldest…