Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Library
Found a quote about books, had it printed on vinyl by wonderfulgraffiti.com in the US, and stuck it to the bookcase wall - now I am completely in love with it. It looks better in real life of course.
Biggles
With as little self control as I have in a book shop the logical thing would be to just not go - but I went anyway and found a newly published Biggles book. Since this was Joan's favourite when she was a child, and Barrie read them compulsively too, and since the first book in the set is Biggles in the Baltics I bought it. We'll start it tonight. I confess I also bought two others - but in my defence one of those I will give to Lee for Christmas - even though I already have his Christmas present. No self control at all!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Compassion
My Sunday School class spent a fair bit of time on how to teach children compassion - with one of the big problems being that older siblings don't want to spend time with younger siblings.
Since I haven't had this experience I had precious little to contribute - but when we were talking on Sunday afternoon I asked the kids why this happened. Their answers were insightful - first Jesse said it was because of all the books we read. She maintains that through reading you learn lessons without having to be told, taught or experienced - which was always the plan - and even Alec said that reading let's you put everything together. He said you can see how life all fits and how it has a longer perspective than just this minute.
The other big factor was having them at Pine where it is entirely acceptable and even good to play with your siblings.
With remarkable regularity we are getting words of wisdom from the kids that are comforting because I can see them growing up to be thoughtful, insightful adults and eventually parents.
Also - what luck - I really didn't know when I started all the reading that it would be so good - the whole thing was a gamble - but so far so good.
Since I haven't had this experience I had precious little to contribute - but when we were talking on Sunday afternoon I asked the kids why this happened. Their answers were insightful - first Jesse said it was because of all the books we read. She maintains that through reading you learn lessons without having to be told, taught or experienced - which was always the plan - and even Alec said that reading let's you put everything together. He said you can see how life all fits and how it has a longer perspective than just this minute.
The other big factor was having them at Pine where it is entirely acceptable and even good to play with your siblings.
With remarkable regularity we are getting words of wisdom from the kids that are comforting because I can see them growing up to be thoughtful, insightful adults and eventually parents.
Also - what luck - I really didn't know when I started all the reading that it would be so good - the whole thing was a gamble - but so far so good.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Edward Tulane
Louisa, Max and I finished The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane last night. As I closed the last page Louisa as asked 'could we start it again?' Max joined in too. I can't remember another book with this reaction. As Louisa said when I was tucking her in to bed 'it's the kind of book that just draws you in and you can't stop thinking about it.' Jesse read it in one sitting - she was supposed to catch up to us at chapter 7 and just couldn't stop. Peet is reading it too, then Roger is in line. So if we had a list of favourite books - Edward Tulane would be on it.
So would the Rowan of Rin series - we also finished the third book this week, and will start on book 4 today.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Pathetic
That's me - and completely lacking in any form of self control.
On the first Friday of November Pine has a sleep over - and we have a firm tradition that Roger goes and takes anyone not breast feeding. Since Max is 7 that translates - and has translated for the last 5 years or so - into a night off for me. This night off is usually spent with some shopping, dinner and then home to sleep alone. To me this is a glorious evening - Roger can't understand and says that he feels like a part of him is missing when he is home alone - I think a part of me is missing too - but I like it for a little while!
The pathetic part is that every year I make a list of things to buy - this year it was a new watch band, nail polish and a long ruler (to mark the lounge room map) - and every year I come home with a stack of books and nothing on my list since I run out of money.
This years books are:
One City Two Brothers - picture book about a legend about the beginning of Jerusalem.
Animals - gorgeous bargain table book full of great animal pictures.
A World of Poetry - obviously an anthology - selected by Michael Rosen.
Collapse - Jared Diamond - was going to try to read Joan's copy but now it is in small paperback format so it is easier to carry around.
Looking for Atlantis - Colin Thompson.
Castles - Colin Thompson.
The Art Book for Children Part 2 - part 1 was fantastic and I've been waiting for part 2 - so really this one at least counts as delayed gratification.
Through the Childrens Gate - Adam Gopnik - my reading for the night - light, insightful, funny pleasing account of fatherhood and life in New York.
In my defence - and such a long list does need defending - there were many more books that I passed up. Jesse came with Joan and I for the afternoon shopping this time - she arrived at Pine at 5.30 - and she agrees that I showed unusual restraint.
After dropping Jesse to Pine and saying a quick hello there, Joan and Lee and I went to Arriva for dinner - unbelievably good food. Then I was home and to bed with Through the Childrens Gate.
On the first Friday of November Pine has a sleep over - and we have a firm tradition that Roger goes and takes anyone not breast feeding. Since Max is 7 that translates - and has translated for the last 5 years or so - into a night off for me. This night off is usually spent with some shopping, dinner and then home to sleep alone. To me this is a glorious evening - Roger can't understand and says that he feels like a part of him is missing when he is home alone - I think a part of me is missing too - but I like it for a little while!
The pathetic part is that every year I make a list of things to buy - this year it was a new watch band, nail polish and a long ruler (to mark the lounge room map) - and every year I come home with a stack of books and nothing on my list since I run out of money.
This years books are:
One City Two Brothers - picture book about a legend about the beginning of Jerusalem.
Animals - gorgeous bargain table book full of great animal pictures.
A World of Poetry - obviously an anthology - selected by Michael Rosen.
Collapse - Jared Diamond - was going to try to read Joan's copy but now it is in small paperback format so it is easier to carry around.
Looking for Atlantis - Colin Thompson.
Castles - Colin Thompson.
The Art Book for Children Part 2 - part 1 was fantastic and I've been waiting for part 2 - so really this one at least counts as delayed gratification.
Through the Childrens Gate - Adam Gopnik - my reading for the night - light, insightful, funny pleasing account of fatherhood and life in New York.
In my defence - and such a long list does need defending - there were many more books that I passed up. Jesse came with Joan and I for the afternoon shopping this time - she arrived at Pine at 5.30 - and she agrees that I showed unusual restraint.
After dropping Jesse to Pine and saying a quick hello there, Joan and Lee and I went to Arriva for dinner - unbelievably good food. Then I was home and to bed with Through the Childrens Gate.
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