Lynness: Nov/Dec read(s)

Well, I did read about the Tuskegee Airmen, as planned: I read a book called Black and White Airmen: Their True History.  The book is an older juvenile read- maybe 8th grade or so, which was fine for me- I didn't want too much in-depth tactical stuff or analysis, just the story.  It told of two men (the coauthors, who are now best friends and go around speaking to groups about their experiences) who met as retirees and discovered a parallel history- they were both pilots in WWII, both had grown up in the same city...come to find out, they had been in the same 3rd grade class!! But, one was black, the other white.  Neither remembered the other at all, and their experiences in WWII were widely different.  Through their narratives, one gets a glimpse of what it was like to be a pilot in WWII in Europe.  I'll clarify what I said about the Tuskegee Airmen in my last post: evidently it was widely circulated that not a single one of the bombers that the Tuskegee Airmen escorted were lost, but others say about 25 bombers were lost.  BUT, they were formidable and very successful because they stuck with their bombers.  Unlike many of the white pilots with similar jobs, they did not abandon their bombers to go chasing after Germans, trying to be the hero of the day.  Most of the time, that's exactly what the Germans were trying to do- lead them on a wild goose chase to leave the bombers unprotected.  The Germans soon learned that the red-tailed planes wouldn't be deterred and, on at least one mission, evidently engaged the escorts as the primary target.

And then came December 7.  I realized it was Pearl Harbor Day and decided to look into a book on that.  I found an older (1957) book entitled Day of Infamy.  It was like 9/11- everyone in this generation remembers where they were and what they were doing when the towers were hit.  For everyone in that generation, it was Pearl Harbor.  The book is a very fast-paced, all over the place kind of book.  It was like slow motion- a couple hundred pages or so to cover a few fateful hours.  There were hundreds of names, but you don't have to remember 95% them to follow the story- it was vignettes, clips, of hundreds of experiences all at the same time.  Most from the American side, some from the Japanese.  You know what's coming and where it came from, but you learn how it all plays out kind of like the men did: bit by bit, something you heard, something you saw.  There are comical moments, deadly ones, confusion, etc... you see some men absolutely incapacitated by fear, some emboldened to heroic feats by patriotism and adrenalin, and everyone swept along by the mass confusion and then the call to duty and then the aftermath.  I highly recommend the book to anyone, especially those wanting to get a look at how we were caught off guard, how we reacted, etc..

Some other books I've read recently: The Wednesday Letters, and Tangerine, and I've started Midnight's Children and Freakonomics.  What an eclectic mix!

Lynness- Military reading

Well, I've finally decided what to read about. I have been trying to
figure out all month what to read, but hadn't come across anything that
piqued my interest or that I thought I would enjoy. I wanted something
fast-paced and not too bogged down in dates and tactics, which is the
sort of thing my dad- a huge WWII buff- would have suggested. I decided
to google "veterans day reading list" and see what I came up with. I
found a children's reading list and one suggested read was a book about
the Tuskegee Airmen. BINGO! We had a playgroup a few months ago where
one of the moms had lined up a tour of the county airport (no commercial
flights, but they have police and EMS helicopters and private and
charter planes and flying lessons). The guide talked a little bit about
the Tuskegee Airmen b/c there was a mural in the main building of one by
his plane- turns out he is a local resident. My dad told me a little
more- about how, since they were black, they were not considered as
capable as white airmen. They were also considered more 'expendable'
and were put at the front of convoys (reminds me of Uriah), but not a
single one was lost (reminds me of Helaman's 2000 stripling warriors).
Anyway, I've reserved a book and we'll see how it goes! I'm excited!

Raehink: FYI December Read

We will continue with the November reading into December. I have a book in mind and haven't been able to get to it due to matrimonial festivities here in Utah. So, continue on in the military mode. Enjoy your respective Turkey Days. And, as always,

Happy reading!

Raehink: November Reading

Since November is the month that we commemorate our veterans, I thought we would read something military. You can read fiction set during any war or about a military family or person. Or you can choose non-fiction and read about war, a military campaign, or a biography. The possibilities are many. Read and remember those wonderful men and women who do and have served for freedom the world over.

I love this quote: People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men [and women] stand ready to do violence on their behalf. (George Orwell)

Hoo-rah!

And happy reading!

Raehink: Responses and Reading

Hey all! Glad to see some reading going on. I love hearing what you are reading.

Lynness: I have only seen that book in the bookstores. It seems to have a cult following and the author has now written a second spoof of some similar sort. Can't remember the title though. I'll be interested to see what you think. Maybe I could finally get into Jane Austen with it. Just kidding. I have such a hard time with her.

Abby: What are the things that Autumn has a passion for? Sometimes it works to find books that revolve around those same things. And it's amazing how many novels have been written around so many subjects. Perhaps she's more of a non-fiction kid. I was. As long as she IS reading, don't push too hard. It may make her not want to read at all. Just be consistent. For me, it was Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown that woke me up in about fourth grade. Ooh, and The Mad Scientists Club. Haven't been able to keep away from books since :)

Lulu: Your Turette's book sounds really fascinating. Our YW group read a book called Memories of Summer which dealt with schizophrenia back in the 50s (I think) before it could be treated well. I have such compassion for those who suffered odd disorders before we even knew they were disorders...sometimes I wonder how they endured such things.

Annie: I just finished a unit on banned books for my adolescent literature class. Had to write a couple papers on how I approached censorship in my own reading. I'm glad you've discovered the lists. When I was in high school I read just about every book on a list just because they had been banned. I really wanted to know what all the fuss was about. So often that's just what it is. Fuss. No real reason other than someone was offended and wanted no one to read that material. The other thing I found was that some of the "greatest" books really aren't worth much. They are considered great because they were banned or challenged and not because they are worthwhile books. It's such an interesting subject to wrap your head around. I always loved the fact that Grandma encouraged us to read lots of things and make up our own minds. She knew we had been taught right from wrong and that choosing good media material is an excellent way to exercise our agency and learn from the Spirit. Off my soapbox now.

I've been reading quite a bit whenever I can squeeze it in. I'm amazed (don't know why...) at how time-and-thought-consuming Relief Society is. But I love my calling. I've learned that it ebbs and flows, like the tide, and when there's a low tide I make the most of it and sharpen my own saw. How's that for some metaphors! I did go away to Moab for a couple of days to refresh and two people died while I was gone! I hope that doesn't mean I can't get away when I need to :)

I'm just finishing up Lemon Tart for one book group. It's a very light and fluffy culinary mystery and is written by a member of the Church. Entertaining but definitely not deep. I'm still reading about the Kennedy family and am about halfway through True Compass by Ted Kennedy. It's extremely interesting. I picked up a Sheri Dew book that Grandma had given me called No One Can Take Your Place. So far it's delightful. And I'm also reading Evidence of Harm which is about the supposed connection between vaccines and autism. When I finish it I will read a book that refutes that whole idea. I like to check out both sides of issues before I make up my mind.

We are in the science fiction unit for my lit class and I should finish up Starship Troopers this afternoon. It's been a difficult read for me because I don't normally enjoy that kind of novel.

Gotta go. Chela's here to go over the invitation list. Love to all.

Happy reading!

Lulu: My read, and then some

Lynness--I have a good friend reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. She said she got bored. That's all I know about that book! :)

For my October read, I read something suspenseful and definitely scary at times--The Hunger Games. I loved it. What an interesting plot; what straightforward but sometimes quite elegant (is that the word I want?) writing; what suspense! I will read Catching Fire (the 2nd in the series) as soon as I am done with what I am reading now.

And what I am reading right now is a book called Icy Sparks. It's about a girl living in rural Kentucky in the 50's--and she has Tourette's Syndrome. This is before it was "discovered", before any treatment for it was known. You can imagine that she was something of an outcast. But brilliant, sensitive, and desperate to do good and choose righteously. I would absolutely recommend it--but with something of a warning about language. Her episodes often contain cussing. But I felt it fit with the story, and that the author didn't abuse the opportunity to fill a book with swear words. I am loving this book. It has made me cry and laugh incredibly hard and loud.

Mom--Savanna sits still when I read her The Hungry Caterpillar. Thank you for sending that; she likes it a lot.

We went to the library on Saturday and found a couple of gems--Oh, Ducky! A Chocolate Calamity (by David Slonim) and While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat (my favorite of the two, by Amy Reichert).

Abby--I would say to maybe wait on HP, if you want to read them all straight through when you are reading them aloud to the girls. As you know, Reed is highly imaginative, which didn't serve him well with the first HP, which we chose not to finish--it just scared him too much. Maybe your girls will be totally different? Anyway, that's my 2 cents. 5 cents. :) Maybe Autumn is too young, but what about A Wrinkle in Time? Or Lyddie? Or A Little Princess? Or Nancy Drew?

Lynness Re: Book Suggestions and October read

Abby- What about something more girl-perspective:  Maybe the Little House books or  Caddie Woodlawn?  Maybe Anne of Green Gables?  Maybe Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm?  What about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler if she likes mysteries, as she seems to.

I read The Graveyard Book in September, since I knew this month would be rough (it was), but I also reserved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Crazy, huh?  I really have no idea what to expect, but the author said he retained about 80% of the original text.  I love P&P.  It and the Book of Mormon are the books I most often re-read.  Anyway- I wouldn't have had time to read it even if I had gotten it because I'm on a waiting list and it still hasn't gotten to me yet, so evidently it's popular.  Anyone else heard of it?