The Book vs. The Movie

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, my niece Lauren and I attended the Twilight movie. This was a plan that had been in the works for some time and we both went with great trepidation as we feared it would not live up to the book.

One of the things I loved about the books was that they were so clean. I know, I know they are about vampires - teen vampires none the less, and I know there is some controversy in Christian circles about these books. I think now is a good time to remind everyone, that the books were never intended to impart a Christian message. After reading YA fic for three solid months, for me, this book was refreshing in its innocence ( as innocent as vegatarian vampires can be :)) There is no sex, no teen drinking or drugs, and no language. The series drags a bit and it is good to remember that they are written about teens, for teens. I just happen to love YA lit and love teens so this book was a good fit for me.

Did the movie live up to our expectations? Frankly, no. Edward is supposed to be perfect. I could not think of an actor who could adequately portray him. . . Supposedly, 75,000 people wrote in to protest his being cast in the role, so I am not alone in this opinion. Was the movie good - I thought so. I enjoyed the treat of hanging out with Lauren, it was fun to see so much of my hometown and I am pretty sure I saw my parents road ( seriously!) filmed as the Cullen's drive. Should you see it or read the book? That is entirely up to you. . .

Fortunately. . .

Last week, in the library, I read one of my favorite books t0 the fifth graders.  It is by Remy Charlip and starts out like this. . . 

"Fortunately, one day, Ned received an invitation to a surprise party."

"But, unfortunately, the party was in Florida and Ned lives in New York."

"Fortunately, a friend loaned him an airplane."

"Unfortunately, the motor exploded. . ."

This is a great read out loud story - I wish I could capture the looks on kids faces as they listen to this book.  It is laugh out loud, so if you think a library should be quiet, it is not the place to read it.  We then proceeded to write out own version of Fortunately . . . is has been fun for me to see the different directions the two classes are heading.  I will keep you posted as our stories progress.

As for the Villers' family . . . Fortunately, my cousin Liesl is coming to stay for the weekend.

But, unfortunately, my house is a disaster and I must go clean. . .

Thoughts on Plato and Censorship. . .

Okay, I am going to blame this on Eric and Plato.  For those of you following that saga, he is continuing to read Plato.  According to him, "It's intense, but getting easier to understand." Well, for whatever reason,  I have been thinking through my own philosophy of reading.  I work in a public school, live in a conservative community and am very involved in the reading choices of my children.

 

That being said, I am adamantly opposed to censorship.  My first year on the job, I got into several interesting situations, trying to decide which books were best for which students.  I quickly came to the conclusion that each family is the best judge of what should be read in their home.  Now, at the beginning of each year, we send home a note giving families the freedom and the right to be the judge of their child's reading choices.  I am going to do the same thing here.  I may recommend a book and you may decide it is offensive or not for you, if that is so, stop reading it and take it back. . . it is your choice.  I have a wide-range of interests and am willing to read  many different authors and genres.  I read a lot of YA (young adult) fiction which is often edgy and meant to be thought provoking.  Remember: if the book doesn't fit - take it back.  I'll never know.

Lance has been reading Gentle Ben by Walt Morley to the kids.  I find myself hanging out in the kitchen puttering around just so I can hear the gentle cadence of his voice weaving the story of Mark Andersen and his friend (a brown bear) Ben.  It is a tale that has broad appeal.  Our six, nine and twelve year old are all wrapped up in the story and love this special time with their dad.  

I find that in the library,  High School students tend to quit what they are doing and listen in when I am reading to the middle school classes.  Studies are showing that older kids love to be read to but it rarely happens.  Below you will find a list of some of our favorite read-alouds.  This is just a partial list (there will be more to come) - would love to hear some of your favorites!!

• Goodnight Moon - I think we read this every night to our kids "In the great green room, there was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of. . ."  Oh, I LOVE this book!
• Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel :  Auntie Heidi bought this book for Ty when he was a baby - we read it lots.  Levi found it about 6 months ago and it is his current favorite.  He never tires of the story of Mike and Mary Anne.
• Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle -  Just finished reading this with Tommi and Levi.  Ty and I had read it several years ago.  We had a hard time picking our favorite cure - think mine was the answer-backers cure. . . (Lance and I are tempted to try it - who would have thought, parenting advice from Mrs. Piggle-wiggle!).
• The Phantom Tollbooth - My dad read this when he taught sixth grade, my father-in-law read it to his sixth graders, I read it to mine when I taught and my sister also read it to her sixth grade class. . . it's a family thing! :)  Actually, it is a great book!!  Ty and I read it about two years ago.  I have recommended it lots in the library - has great vocabulary and a quirky story.  I still remember my dad reading this to my sister and me.
• At the Back of the North Wind - This is a timeless classic by George McDonald.  My parents read this to us and Lance and I bought the CD from Focus on the Family for our kids.  They have listened to it over and over.  A beautiful story. . .
• Diary of a wimpy kid -  by Jeff Kinney I had to add this - don't know if it is really a great read-aloud or not but Ed read it to Em, and I know I giggled through the whole book. If you have middle schooler, know a middle schooler or just think they are weird - you need to read this book.
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane : this book by Kate DiCamillo might rank as my favorite read-aloud of all time.  I have read this to my kids, and read it to third grade every year in the library.  It is a wonderful, wonderful book!
• Great Joy - also by Kate DiCamillo.  I read this one to all grades in the library at Christmas.  Just pulled off the shelves today so I would have it ready to read next month.  This is a picture book - beautiful story and illustrations.  I can't wait to read it to my nieces and nephews.

You have no idea how hard it is for me to quit. . . but I will force myself.  The ideas are pouring. I warned you, I read A LOT - I will be back at a later date with more lists, more recommendations and more books!!!

Never judge a kid by his cover. . .

Today was fairly busy in the library.  During a quiet moment, I looked up and saw one of my High School students reading intently.  "Eric" (not his real name) is a tough, athletic senior with a "reputation" ( I'm not sure for what, but I know he has one).  Over the past year, we have developed a relationship of sorts as we talk books.  He is a prolific reader, his taste leaning towards sci/fi and fantasy.  He reads anything I suggest that Lance has read, and has found they have very similar tastes.

I asked him what he was reading and he held up The Republic of Plato and I in all my intellectual wisdom said, "wow".  I mean this kid is reading Plato??  I knew there was more to him than meets the eye, but I was impressed.  I was also hoping he wouldn't ask me if I had read it. . .  About five minutes later, he looked up at me and began to explain what he was reading.  I won't even attempt to quote him because he lost me after the second sentence.  As he walked out of the library clutching his book, he said, ". . . this is like, um, totally mind-blowing"

My response:  "Wow. . ."

Dear friends. . .

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. . ." 1 Jn 4:11-12.  Our pastor preached on this passage a couple of weeks ago and it started me thinking. . . am I loving like Jesus loves??

Last week, it was a quiet morning in the library and I was tidying shelves.  A book in the biography section was calling out to me.  Not literally, but close.  I had bought the book about six months earlier and knew I should read it.  It had received amazing reviews, was on bestseller lists, and was even being made into a movie.  The problem was . . . the cover.  I know, I know, you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I do. (Hint to any publishers out there - so do most kids).  I finally picked the book up and began to read.  At lunchtime, I closed the door, turned out  the lights and continued to read. . . it was that good.  

I was reading the book The Soloist by Steve Lopez.  Without spoiling the book, it is story of an LA Times columnist who comes across a homeless man playing a two stringed violin.  On the ground are names written in chalk.  One of the name is Yo-Yo Ma.  As Lopes begins to talk to this man he learns that he was at Julliard at the same time as Ma.  He is intrigued, thinks there may be a story with this violinist and thus begins the amazing journey with Nathan Ayers.  The book is fascinating, heart wrenching and eye-opening.

As this book was written about a homeless man it seemed to tie in with my new quest to learn what it means to love like Jesus.  As often happens, another book fell into my lap. . . Irresistible Revolution: living as an ordinary radical by Shane Claiborne.  I am about 1/3 of the way through this book and it is not for the faint of heart.  It will shake you to your spiritual core, causing you to question what your faith means and looks like to the world. 

Not all my reading is this intense, in fact, most of it is not.  I typically read to escape, but maybe this is what this is all about - I am reading this time to escape my own sense of complacency and spiritual apathy.

So many books, so little time!

How do you decide what to read, when to read or what is worth your time?  I have always read anything from the back of cereal boxes to children's lit.  I LOVE to read. . .  The only genre, I typically give a pass is sci fi or fantasy but occasionally I will pick one up and read it.  

Lance reads lots of sci/fi / fantasy so it makes recommending that type of genre easy for me.  I encourage students to try at least 15 pages, to see what if it will keep their attention, if it is of interest or worth pursuing.  If it isn't. . .  STOP - who has time to read an uninteresting book?? 

Where to read?  Anywhere - never travel without a book - throw one in your purse, your car, your knitting bag.  You never know when you will be able to grab a minute to read.  Last year, I did family devotions in the car while waiting for the bus.  I always have a book with me while waiting at the bus stop to pick kids up.   I take one to appointments.  Who likes to wait?? Use the time to READ. . .