At least I'm reading something, right?

I have to confess that I have been avoiding the library lately. I hope you are not ashamed of me! I have had a hard time returning books on time, finding checked out children's books around my house, finding time to even go, etc. I even had a really big fine recently because of some DVD's I kept too long. So I didn't check out anything for August but I have in mind to read that book Abby used to teach Autumn to read, by Seigfried Engelman. (I guess I just need to get in the habit of renewing online . . .) I also am reading the Harry Potter books again, although unlike Lulu I did read #7 first. I liked Rae's comments on that and agree that I would have been upset had it ended differently. I was very happy with the ending. I like discovering new details as I re-read. I can and can't believe how much I missed in the first readings! :) I sort of wish I had more to write, but today I am "burning the candle at both ends" just to get my laundry and dishes done, so I am going to bed! I enjoy you all and all you say. Thanks! Liz

Fwd: book club message

Hello All---Mim/Mom here. I've been silent for a long time, but I've been reading everyone's comments and also reading my July and August books. I hope you won't mind that my comments are lengthy and tardy.

Happy Birthday--to everybody else in the book club! From August 18th to September 25th, that is. Rae, does that suggest a genre, maybe?

I loved my July read, The Winthrop Woman, which I finished on August 6th. Anya Seton claims meticulous research so I trusted her history details as well as her portrayal of Elizabeth Winthrop. Seton probably couldn't help giving Elizabeth some modern-day attitudes that she may not really have had, but there must have been a few women in that era (about 1615-1660) who perceived thru the Light of Christ that Heavenly Father might not be a God of wrath and that Puritanism was not the true doctrine of the Atonement. Did you know there were alphabet letters other than scarlet A's to label people as sinners? D for Drunkard, V for Venery, B for Buggery . . . They could've made an entire primer of sins for their children, separate from the Bible alphabet primer they used for educating them. I am so thankful to live today and have a testimony of the restored gospel! I must've been desperate to have my earth-turn now and not sooner.

Anyway, I thought a lot about New England history and our country's beginnings, as Rae hoped we all would. I thought about our own family history, about witchcraft and Anne Hutchinson, about early apothecary skills (Elizabeth kept her family of three husbands and eight children remarkably healthy), and Indians (pardon me, Native Americans). I'd forgotten how violent and vile the interactions between colonists and Indians were, and I saw clearly that Satan fought hard to keep this country from ever getting its little flame going and standing a dim chance for religious tolerance. I'd read a bio of John Winthrop but saw him in a less favorable light this time; only a man truly called of God as was Joseph Smith could ever rise above pride and greed in such a role.

Seton sent me repeatedly to my dictionary stand. You can probably guess the meaning of this fun but derisive phrase: "One little boy cocked a snoot at Will . . ."

My August book was Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People who Love Books and for Those who Want to Write Them. Author--Francine Prose (really). Some of you may not be interested in her subject, but you'd all enjoy the format because she quotes passages from excellent writers and you just have a lot of fun reading them. (You have to skip a few nasties.) The author's quite acclaimed. She shows you how these writers use word choice, point of view, dialogue, gesture, etc. in creative ways. I'm sure this sounds like an ordinary writing book. But it was captivating, even though I can't say I really liked analyzing literature till I was thirty or so.

Prose's list of "Books to Be Read Immediately" includes lots of classics, but also lots of moderns that I may try now that I've "tasted" them. The book made me decide that my own writing is way too rule-bound and I can learn much by just "reading like a writer." I don't plan to be all weird and wild, but I feel some new freedom and excitement now about my future writing. Thanks for the fun category, Rachel. Love to all---Miriam/Mom

Long time, no post

Hi, everyone! I've been reading the posts, but have waited to contribute in the whirlwind of relocating. I just figured I'd say that I'm of the same mind regarding adding new people. I would write differently, unless it was someone all of us knew/loved. And I like this little group we've built. I definitely think it'd be cool to add more ladies of the family.

I haven't chosen a book for this month's genre. I'm almost done re-reading all previous books leading up to HP#7--in fact, I'm in 6. So I'm voraciously devouring that, and slapping my hand every time it prematurely reaches for #7.

:)

Lulu

Rae's August Read

I have selected Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 by Rafe Esquith.

Happy reading!

More People?

I agree with Mim re adding new people. I would write differently too. I really like the fact that it is family and that I feel more connected with my ladies. I showed the blog to Samantha this past week and she is really excited about it. She thinks Jennica and Lynness would be interested also. Sam is getting ready to move so I don't know when she would "opt in" but if those three came into the group, we would be plenty big. I know that even with a physical book group, you have to manage numbers of people.

My feeling is that it could get out of hand quickly, depending on who you invited...or how many...those are my thots. But I'm always open to persuasion.

Happy reading!

Item for Discussion

Mom/Mim and I have been discussing the pros & cons of opening our group up to a few more people.

Personally, I love having it be family but would love to have it be a few more family members or even very close friends.

Mom/Mim has said she feels like she wouldn't write in the same way if she knew her audience were different than it currently is - but she also wondered if that's fair. She loves the closeness of a group created from sisters/mothers & aunts. (And so do I of course)

What are your thoughts on this?

My August Read

I'd like to read a book about teaching kids & infants to swim for my August read. We've been thinking a lot about the pool that will be in our apartment complex in Florida and want to do all we can to help the girls be safe -- and also enjoy the water! Does anyone have suggestions or know anything about these four books?

Teaching an Infant to Swim (Virginia Hunt Newman, 1967)
Teaching Children to Swim (Eva Bory, 1971)
Infaquatics: Teaching Kids to Swim (John L. Murray, Ph.D, 1981)
Learn to Swim: Step-by-step water confidence and safety skills for babies and young children (Rob & Kathy McKay, 2005)