a book discussion fifty years in the making

Last Monday I shared that I was anxiously awaiting Tuesday, when Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman" was released. [And then I took a week off blogging, which wasn't the plan. ] Here is how it went down: 

Tuesday morning came and I was giddy with excitement. Giddy. However, I knew the book was going to be delivered UPS, and since we are usually towards the end of the route I knew this meant I wouldn't get the book until after three p.m. This was probably a good thing, since I wasn't going to be able to read it until Brent got home from work anyway [think toddlers running around with knives and such]. At about 3:30 I heard the truck, and seriously met the delivery man half way up the driveway. [A friend had texted me earlier and said I would probably punch him out of impatience or kiss him out of excitement. I kept it on lock though, I am happy to report. ] 

I tore it open.

And I held another Harper Lee novel in my hands after all these years. 

The girls were both awake at this point, even though one of my friends sent me a text that read, "I prayed that babies would sleep today so you could read the book!" I sent my sister a text, and she proceeded to call me a nerd and remind me that the book was not Jesus. That sister of mine. 

And then Brent came home and immediately told me to leave the house with my book. We'd discussed this back in February when I had pre-ordered my copy, and he is a good man. Where I would read the book was hotly debated: I didn't want to waste driving time, so any coffee shop was out, as I would have had to have driven at least 30 minutes for one [yep. Rural.]. I debated going to Grandma Pat's to read it, as she is my book lover and it would have been quiet, but again, driving time. So I settled on my parent's basement. Two miles away. And I figured they knew how important it was and would leave me alone, but would also bring me food if I got desperate. 

My emotions were all over the place. To say it was a minor panic attack would be a little dramatic but…. 

When I was saying goodbye to Brent for the evening, I told him I couldn't wait to start and also that I didn't want to start at all. This was really the end. There would be no more [or are there more yet to be found after Nelle Harper dies?!]. I said it was the end of an era [as any good Friends watcher would quote in such a moment], and told him I was worried that it would take away from my love for "To Kill a Mockingbird" in some way. His response was perfect, "You'll enjoy it no matter what, and if it isn't awesome it will be nice in some ways to know that Harper Lee doesn't poop gold." 

And with that sage advice, I was off. 

And here is the deal: my mindset reading the book was that this was not a sequel, but rather that is was a writer's workshop for an author trying to figure out how to say something she wanted to say. And in the pages of Watchman I found just that: a writer's workshop. 

If you didn't take English classes or don't remember your English classes, a writer's workshop is simply a place where a writer can explore, can revise, and can play around with approach. It's a place to be bad [to write the crappy first draft] in order to be good. 

And here is my broad take-away from the book without ruining anything for those who want to read it: It is not "To Kill a Mockingbird," and it shouldn't be. It didn't ruin my childhood connection and adoration for Mockingbird, and actually it worked quite well with my adulthood [more on that in a moment]. It is definitely clunky in places, and not nearly as beautifully written, but there are moments where Lee's voice is strong and wonderful and I felt like I was back with my old friend. And of course people are going to be hyper-critical of it, especially if they approached it as a true sequel to Mockingbird, which it is not and has never been claimed to be. 

I was [not so patiently] waiting for some of my trusted English-colleagues to finish reading Watchman so I could get their take on it, and one of them responded: "I think this [book] is evidence of how important a good editor is to a writer! I don't believe you and I would even know the name of Harper Lee if her first manuscript had been published [instead of Mockingbird]…Obviously Lee was a phenomenal writer-- I just never knew how much we had to be grateful to her editor who was wise enough to read this manuscript and then point her in the right direction!" 

I couldn't agree more, and this is what I have shared with others who have asked me. In this first approach, Lee is much less accessible. The older Jean Louise is not as likable as young Scout. If you've paid attention to the media on this at all, you know that our beloved Atticus is a bit different as well. I still like him. Is he still the Atticus for which we should stand up when he is passing? Debatable. 

I think Lee's approach in Watchman is much more impassioned; you could sense her anger at times. I think in this book, as many writer's do on their first approach, she is looking at things directly and facing them square on. Which is more difficult to read. When a writer can step back a little, take away a little heat, it allows the readers to participate more and feel less whacked by it all. And that is the achievement she found in Mockingbird. When I was in college I took a lot of writing classes, and I figured out something about my own writing: I usually needed to delete the first paragraph [or five] that I wrote. My beginnings were always flat or too intense because I was looking at my subject straight on. One of my professors told me, "Still write that. But then go back and delete it and write it again and I guarantee it will be stronger the second time." If she would have been able to hand me "Go Set a Watchman" and then "To Kill a Mockingbird" as proof, I would have completely understood. 

There were no "Hey, Boo," moments that made me want to cry from the sheer brilliance, but there were moments of beauty none the less. And moments that made me reflect and think, long after I was done reading them-- and THAT is vintage Harper Lee. 

[This may contain a few spoilers if you are still wanting to read "Watchman"]

Here are just a few bulleted thoughts and questions: 

/One thing that was interesting for me while reading the book was when Jean Louise realizes she disagrees with Atticus, and that realization about crushes her. No matter how highly we esteem our parents/role models, at some point we go through this weird disillusionment, and to walk with a friend [ahem, fictional characters can be friends, right?] through that was insightful. Atticus Finch is not perfect. None of our parents are. What do we learn from that? 

/Uncle Jack was a completely different character in this book, but fascinating none the less. Hard to follow at times and in need of editing, but still interesting. And his last interactions with Jean Louise left a lot of thought-provoking "nuggets". Two that stuck with me were, "Your friends need you most when they are wrong," and "Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends." Jean Louise wants to run from the ugly truths she has uncovered, but Jack is encouraging her to stay, as this is the time her friends, her family, and her town really need her. What can we learn from that? Could Jean Louise, in her current hot-headed state, have been much of an influence for good? 

and my favorite

/Uncle Jack tells Jean Louise, "You're very much like [your father], except you're a bigot and he's not." Jean Louise gets a dictionary and reads the definition, "Noun. One obstinately or intolerably devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion." After she reads it, Uncle Jack goes on to explain his reasoning by telling her, "What does a bigot do when he meets someone who challenges his opinions? He doesn't give. He stays rigid. Doesn't even try to listen, just lashes out… You said, in effect, 'I don't like the way these people do, so I have no time for them.' You'd better take time for 'em, honey, otherwise you'll never grow." In our highly political and highly volatile/polarized country right now, we find it easy to point fingers and to shut ourselves away from it all instead of entering conversations that, though they may not change our minds, may help us grow. One of the main reasons this version of Jean Louise is not as likable as young Scout was is because of this very point Uncle Jack shows her about her character. Where do we need to make time for someone we disagree with? How does this thinking play into our culture now? 

There is a lot more, but that's the surface of my thinking while I read the book [the first time]. 

Spoilers over. 

After five hours with only one break to grab a quick bite, I finished the book. I closed the back cover and my throat caught a little because it was over. 

And because Harper Lee, in fact, doesn't poop gold.  

tomorrow

Tomorrow is a big day.

"Go Set a Watchman" is released. If you haven't heard let me inform you, in brief, why this is a big day: [Nelle] Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird." [Moment of silence to acknowledge its greatness]. Then she never wrote another word. When reporters would approach her she would say something like, "The book said what I wanted to say," and add no additional comment. I've always thought if I wrote a book like Mockingbird, that is often ranked right below the Bible on lists of most influential books…THE BIBLE!!… I think I would have shut my mouth too. BUT THEN-- last fall her older sister died, and they found a manuscript to "Go Set a Watchman", a "precursor" or sorts to Mockingbird. I have tried to avoid reading too much about it, but I know it's been getting mixed reviews.

Here is the deal: I don't care if it's terrible. It is Harper Lee. And it isn't a fifty-year-later-Harper-Lee, it is vintage Harper Lee. Actually, it is pre-Harper-Lee-Harper-Lee. I want to read the book thinking of a young writer who was trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say, which she finally, apparently, figured out in Mockingbird. Is this book her "crappy first draft" [as Anne Lamott would say]? I don't know. But tomorrow I get to hold it in my hands.

Are you a FRIENDS fan? A SEINFELD fan? Imagine if those two shows announced a reunion season? [And it wasn't just a Facebook hoax!]. Your excitement would be like 1/20th of my excitement for this book :).

I've written about "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my blog several times, trying to explain why I love it so deeply. And since tomorrow is a day I thought would never come, I'm going to re-share a couple things I wrote about it to celebrate!

January 26, 2011
First, let me re-share the post where I try to explain why this book is so great:

all images from google images

If I had to make a list of my favorite things this book would be very, very high:

There are far too many reasons to take the time to list right now; however, I have spent the past month or two teaching, reading, and studying this with my sophomores. I had them fill out a little slip for me today, letting me know if they would recommend it for another group of sophomores. All but two of my students said they absolutely would.

Many commented on the timeless themes and lessons in the book, saying that if someone reads it with an "open heart they definitely will learn something." Many talked about how the character of Mrs. Dubose taught the kids a lesson on courage [Atticus says to the kids, "I wanted you to see something about her--I wanted you to see what real courage is... It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do... She died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew."], or how Atticus taught the kids to stand up for what is right, no matter what.

Many mentioned Atticus' advice to "learn a simple trick...you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." Some loved the theme of justice, and fully understood the symbolism in the sin of killing a mockingbird, or they connected to Atticus' closing arguments saying that "all men are created equal in a court of law."

Others liked the simplicity and innocence of Scout realizing that Boo was "real nice", and that "most people are once you get to know them."

A few of my favorite things about the book are these lessons/themes as well, but I also appreciate the beautiful way in which Harper Lee wrote the book. I have never felt like my kids really understood foreshadowing, but I now know that all of my sophomores understand. There is no way to read this book and not get it, because Lee weaves it into the plot so effortlessly.

However, anyone who has read the book or watched the film know what the true beauty in this book is: the characters.
You cannot help but fall in love with Jean Louise "Scout", and Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch. Seeing the world of good and evil through their eyes, the reader falls back into his or her own childhood and learns along with them. The tomboy Scout, in her overalls and bare feet, narrates the story and over the course of the two years in which it takes place, grows up and learns, as the book jacket suggests, of the human dignity that unites us all.


But there is also their dad, the lawyer, Atticus Finch. He is "same in his house as he is on the public streets," and in my humble opinion is one of the best literary characters every created. I wish he were real. I wish I could sit and talk with him. Gregory Peck won an academy award for his portrayal of him in the movie, and although he did do a phenomenal job I think it would have been hard for anyone to play that role and NOT win an academy award because Lee did such an unbelievable job of developing his character. One of my favorite moments in the book is when he is leaving the courtroom, and all of the blacks in the balcony stand up and one of them says to Scout, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up; your father is passing." I wish we had more people like Atticus Finch to stand up for these days.

And these are just three of the characters. I didn't even mention Miss Maudie, or the kids plucky sidekick, Charles Baker Harris [Dill], or Dolphus Raymond, or Calpurnia, or Heck Tate...the list goes on and on.

It is truly a work of art. Something that I think everyone should read at some point in their life. My students were a bit skeptical when we started the unit, thinking that I was slightly obsessed/crazy, and if I liked it so much that they couldn't possibly enjoy it. But I'm thankful they were wrong. I'm thankful they have got to walk in the shoes of the Finches and learned about the human dignity that unites us all too!

********
November 19, 2011

As I mentioned recently, I'm reading/teaching "To Kill a Mockingbird" again with my sophomores. As I've said before, I'm slightly obsessed with this book. I could probably come up with 80 reasons why I love it. [And if you delete "slightly" and "probably" then those sentences are true]. However, when I came home from school/work, I looked out my front window and saw this:

They are totally stopped in the middle of the intersection at the corner where I live. And they sat there for approximately four or five minutes, just resting and talking and pointing [and being watched, little to their knowledge :-)]. They are maybe 8 or 9 years old. Finally, when whatever they were trying to accomplish with their stop was accomplished, they road again, all the while in the middle of the street.

Now what does THAT have anything to do with why I love "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

Scout and Jem Finch get to meander all over their neighborhood. At the beginning of the book Scout is a mere 6 years old, and Jem is almost 10 and yet they are all over the place with their sidekick, 7 year old Dill Harris. Their "summertime boundaries (within calling distance of Calpurnia) were Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose's house two doors to the north of us, and the Radley Place three doors to the south. We were never temped to break them. The Radley PLace was inhabited by an unknown entity the mere description of whom was enough to make us behave for days on end; Mrs. Dubose was plain hell." The adventures they are able to have within these parameters are formative, and they are many. Which brings me back to the bike boys outside my house the other day.

In those two boys I saw someone else: First, because I had just been immersed in the book that day, I saw Scout and Jem. But then, I saw my sister and I riding those same streets, not afraid to park in an intersection, and not afraid of being a couple blocks from home. We were safe. And we were always being watched…in a good way. Just like I was looking out my window at the boys, others looked out their windows at us, and if anything were to happen they would have been there for us, just as I would have jumped to those boys' rescue.

Once I made this connection, I realized there were so many other parts of the story of "Mockingbird" that I could relate to from my own childhood, and I began to understand even more my deep connection to the characters.

Like Maycomb, the town I grew up in and the town in which I now reside seems to be stuck in a simpler time. Scout describes Maycomb early in the book:

"Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks; the courthouse sagged in the square…People moved slowly then. They ambled across the square, shuffled in and out of the stores around it, took their time about everything. A day was twenty-four hours but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with…closed doors meant illness and cold weather only."

And this is why two years ago Brent and I sat down and began talking about our dreams for our future. More than just I-would-like-to-be-here-in-my-job-then and I'd-like-to-have-this-much-saved-for-this-by-then, we talked about what we envisioned our daily lives to look like. When we began thinking about our children, we inevitably came back to the images, smells, and adventures of our own childhoods. We wanted open screen doors and a town square, and a slower pace, and larger boundaries for our kids to roam. Though we didn't express it this way, we realized we wanted them to be able to have a Dill Harris in their life and a Radley house surrounded with mystery on the outskirts of town. We wanted them to be able to walk to school and stand up for a Walter Cunningham because they knew where he came from. We wanted them to be in a town where people came out of their homes at one in the morning to help out when a neighbor's house caught fire. We wanted them to be able to walk next door and have cake with a Miss Maudie. And ultimately, we wanted them to learn about the human dignity that unites us all, and that most people are "real nice" once you get to know them.

And so we loaded a Uhaul and moved. We moved away from a lot of convenient things, and a lot of great friends, and an excellent job. We moved away and returned to "Maycomb," where we felt our dreams for our future children could take flight in its pot-hole filled streets and cracked sidewalks; where the courthouse sags in the square and people are a lot more likely to amble through life.

Are there days that I miss Louisville and the city? Yes. Are there times that I wish there were more people from my generation for Brent and I to spend time with? Absolutely. But then I think back to these dreams we discussed, which were such a big part of what brought us here. I realize that though we may feel like we are sacrificing having more people our age around, our kids will have the opportunity to learn that real courage is knowing "you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" from a "Mrs. Dubose" in town. They will get to learn that a "Boo Radley" may just be the one to save them. And I hope they will also get to learn from an "Atticus Finch" who is still worth standing up for when he passes.

I surprisingly don't know who those two boys were on their bikes the other day, but I'm glad they chose to take their rest in front of my house and remind me of my memories so that I could remember my dreams.

And tomorrow, when you try to reach me and I am completely and utterly unavailable, you know why :)

Now: DISCUSS. :) Are you a Mockingbird fan? What are your thoughts about this publication?

a scary drive and huge news

This morning we went to the wonderful Grandma Pat's. We brought soup and celebrated birthday number 89! She's quite the lady.

However, on the drive over [which is about 20 minutes], I glanced over on the dashboard and happened to notice the "Passenger Airbag" light was lit to "off." I have no idea how to turn it off, and it has never been off before, so it caught my attention. Less than a minute later I glanced back to make sure I hadn't made it up and the light was no longer lit, which means it was on. But while I was looking at it, the light popped back on: "off".

What the heck? I thought. And then I remembered: About this time a year ago [oh, wait, nope-- I just looked: October of 2013…] we got a notice in the mail from Honda. It was an "important safety recall notice." If you know anything about my history with vehicles, you won't be surprised that we receive recall notices semi-regularly. That's what happens when you drive old cars.

This particular recall read: Honda has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2003-2004 model year Odyssey vehicles. There is a potential failure with the SRS electronic control unit which may cause an airbag to deploy without a crash. 

Oh. Okay. Great. But then the great people at Honda felt the need to include this:

An airbag that inadvertently deploys while the vehicle is in motion may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash. 

Really? That's surprising.

If you know anything about recalls, you know they are fixed at no cost to the owner. It's just a matter of getting it in to a dealership. We don't exactly live in a big town, and the only dealership we have is a small Chevrolet [which has worked out well since we've had two recalls on our Chevy Malibu recently]. I remember getting this Honda recall, and showing it to Brent. "Airbags? Not a big deal."

Not a big deal?! What in the world was going through his head, I have no idea. My response to his "not a big deal"?

"Brent! So I'm driving down the road at 70 mph, PREGNANT, with Blythe in the back seat, and the air bags deploy rendering me unconscious?! That's not a big deal?"

He decided it was. But somehow we never called. We never went in. And then we had a baby [whom we drove home from the hospital in our "airbags may deploy" van.

I forgot about it. Until today when that light was flashing. I knew, I just knew, the airbags were about ready to bust out of their containing cells and the girls and I were about to crash into a snow filled ditch. I called Brent, panicking a bit.

"I feel like I'm in a freakin' Jack-in-the-box! I hear the music playing! At any moment these suckers are coming out!"

And then I prepared for the inevitable. I zipped my phone in my coat pocket because I figured if I crashed and broke my legs, I couldn't be crawling around looking for my phone. I slowed down. 40 MPH seemed safer than 60. I was literally holding my breath.

We arrived at Grandma Pat's un-exploded. I dug through the glove box and found the recall notice [right next to the suction bulb I put in there when I was certain I wouldn't make it to the hospital and would be delivering Becks in the passenger seat… I apparently live in panic often]. I texted a picture to Brent and had him call. The worst part was that I knew I had to drive back home!

We enjoyed our time with Pat, and then got back in the death trap. I triple checked the tightness of the girls' car seat belts. The light flickered on and off the entire way home. I was super excited to pull into our garage and shut off the vehicle. Whew.

The parts have been ordered [for this recall and the two others that we apparently need? what?]. The dealership will call when they come in. But it will probably be about two weeks. So the question is, do I drive it? Clearly I was not too worried for a year and a half. Brent is bringing our Chevy in for a recall repair tomorrow, and then it should be good to go. Maybe we'll just hang out in it for awhile.

However, the return trip was a little more magical. After a quiet morning and a great soup for lunch, followed by cookies and coffee, I packed up our stuff and grabbed my phone to check messages. I had several. And my email was even more full. What was going on?

Just some of the biggest news I've received in a long time: Harper Lee is publishing her second book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  [that's not enough] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had over ten people scrambling to tell me the big news. I told Grandma Pat, who is the same age as Lee, and her jaw dropped and she slapped her legs as if to say, "Well I'll be darned!" I had just been talking about Harper Lee that morning with Grandma Pat because I'm currently reading "The Mockingbird Next Door."

The book, "Go Set a Watchman," is actually the first book she wrote… about an adult Scout visiting her father, Atticus. But her publisher liked the flashbacks to young Scout, and pushed Lee to explore that story. And "To Kill a Mockingbird" was born. According the articles I'm reading, Lee didn't know that the original manuscript still existed until recently, and has decided to publish it. Apparently there were no revisions done to the original. It comes out July 14 and I have preordered it and I may not sleep until then. That's all.

top five

In high school I took every English class that was available, even the ones I didn't need.
I was an English major in college.
I taught Eighth Grade English.
I taught Journalism.
I taught Sophomore and Junior English.

And through all of that I read so very many books. I wish I had kept track. Some were assigned and I didn't care for them very much. Some were assigned and I loved them so deeply I've read them over and over. Some I picked up myself. Many were suggested to me. Some I taught because they fit my curriculum.

I've been a reader though ever since I was young. Very young. I have boxes of books from my childhood, and I thank my parents for giving me this gift. My mom held us on her lap, while we squirmed and giggled, and read us The Three Little Bears and Are You My Mother?. Often my dad read to my sister and I from whatever book he was reading, so we have stories tucked away from the Journals of Lewis and Clark, we know the detailed account of Jemimah Boone, and the winter at Valley Forge came alive as we were tucked under our covers and listening. Both my granmothers were big readers as well, and on visits to their houses I could be found curled up in Grandma Schoon's lap listening to Never Tease a Weasel, the pages worn from years of love, or under blankets on the porch with Grandma Ann hearing about a young Jewish boy during the war.

Reading, it would seem, is in my bloodstream.

I'm often asked, "What is your favorite book of all time?"
Sheesh. That's kind of like asking me which child is my favorite.

So here is a sort of answer to that question:
My top five-ish favorites.
In no particular order.

And you don't have to agree with me, just be gentle because these books are kind of like family. 

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

Steinbeck is definitely not for everyone. He is gritty and long winded. But oh how I love his work. I first read Of Mice and Men, like most high school students, and was shocked that a book could be so popular with such a cast of characters and such an ending. And then my senior year I read Grapes of Wrath and my love for Steinbeck was cemented [and I thought Of Mice and Men had a crazy ending?!]. You want to hug his characters, you want to hate his characters, you want to shake them and cry with them. But most importantly you know them.

I picked up East of Eden three or four years ago when my favorite book-loving friend [Brent's Grandma Pat] told me that if I liked Steinbeck then I had to read it. She even found a copy at a garage sale for me. I dove right in because when they woman tells you to read a book, you best be reading it.

Here is the blurb about the book from Goodreads:

Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity; the inexplicability of love; and the murderous consequences of love’s absence. 

Oh my word. Just reading that got my blood pumping again thinking about this book. I will say this: the best villain ever created in literature very possibly lies in the pages of this book. I remember finishing this book and laying back on my pillow and just closing my eyes relishing in the moment. Steinbeck said he believes every author really has "one book" and that all the books leading up to Eden were his practice--this was his book. 

I've read it twice and can't wait to read it again. Every page brought some form of satisfaction.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Just the thought of having a small moment to talk about this book right here, right now, makes me so happy. Harper Lee must have really believed that every author had one book, because this was it for her. And it is perfect in nearly every way if you ask me. I first read this book my freshman year of High School. I remember making Scout out of modeling clay for a project, trying to perfect her overalls and boyish hair. I read it again in college as a break from my other assignments. And then I had the complete joy to come back to it again when I was a teacher.

I have written about this book several times on my blog, like when I mentioned it was one of my favorite things or why I think I could connect with it at the level I do because of where I am from. Actually, it has it's own label on this blog because I've mentioned it so many times.

Here is the blurb from goodreads.com:

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbirdtakes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.

You can ask any of my former students, and they will tell you that my love for this book runs deep. Maybe too deep? Not possible. It is truly a work of art and people of a variety of ages can read it and all will walk away with something different. Okay. If you made me pick right this second and there was only one book out of my top five that I could read over and over again, it would be this one. I'm pretty sure. I've read it at least 10 times and the depth at which I enjoy it never ceases. 

Unbroken

Laura Hillenbrand

Holy schmoly. This book. I really enjoy non-fiction and this one is simply stunning. The story of Louie Zamperini is one of those that is "stranger than fiction", and the way in which Hillenbrand writes his story is flawless. I had heard a lot about this book, and most people sang its praises, but I just never picked it up. Two summers ago though when the days were long and Blythe napped beautifully, I finally opened it.

It is the story of a man named Louis Zamperini, a young Olympic athlete who was drawn into the second great war as a bombardier. After his aircraft goes down in the Pacific, he is left to fight for his life with little more than a raft, an entire set of broken ribs, and his fierce and spirited resolve. Sharks, starvation, and the beating sun prove to be the lesser of the evils he faces, as the Japanese "rescue" him from his peril, only to beat him down further as a prisoner of war. Goodreads summarizes what he faces: "Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will." 

I started this book thinking it would be a bit of a labor to finish. I was soon proved wrong. I fell in love with Zamperini. I had a hard time putting the book down, because putting it down meant leaving Louie in some perilous situation-- the only way I could help him out was to keep turning pages. It got to the point I was taking the book everywhere I went: I would be pumping gas and hop back in the car to cram a few pages in before the pump clicked off, or I would read a paragraph or two while brushing my teeth. I took it to a wedding! [I didn't read it during the ceremony though]. I started reading it out loud to Brent just so I didn't feel bad not talking to him while we were in the car, and soon he was sucked into the story as well. 

The story of what he endured and survived is incredible, but I also love Zamperini's undeniable faith at the end of it all: "When he thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all that he had suffered but the divine love that he believed had intervened to save him." He doesn't stay "unbroken" after the war, and in his brokenness finds his ultimate salvation in Christ. It is a story of hope and forgiveness and the tenacity of the human will. I've only read it once because I checked it out from the library, but I'm buying it soon and will read it again! 

[side note: this movie is out in theaters now. Read the book first, please. The movie is well done though, but the entire story of his life after the war is only a blurb at the end and it is worth reading in its entirety]. 

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Three summers ago I was visiting a friend and saw this book on her shelf. I asked her about it and she couldn't stop telling me how great it was. A few months later I saw it on the shelf at a thrift store for 25 cents. 25 cents?! I snatched it up and didn't put it down until I finished it. Like the other books on this list, I felt so much when I read it. And like most of the books on this list I was moved to tears by the story and to goosebumps by the writing. 

It takes place in Nazi Germany and is narrated by Death. At first this is difficult to "get into", but as the story progresses it really works. The story follows Leisel, a young girl who can't resist the lure of books after her adoptive "papa" teaches her to read. It is a story about the power of words in a dark place; about the beauty and darkness of humans. And rarely will you read a book that is this well written-- that will make you want to re-read the same paragraph five times, even though you just want to get on with the story and know what happens next. I found a quote from Anne Fodiman that says, "If you truly love a book, you should sleep with it, write in it, read aloud from it, and fill its pages with muffin crumbs." I believe I did all those things with this book. This book will make you think, it will make you question, and, if you're like me, will make you appreciate the beauty of the written word again. Someday when I am back in a classroom I WILL teach this book.

Another reviewer on the goodreads.com website captured it well: "I give this 5 stars, BUT there is a disclaimer: If you want a fast read, this book is not for you. If you only like happy endings, this book is not for you. If you don't like experimental fiction, this book is not for you. If you love to read and if you love to care about the characters you read about and if you love to eat words like they're ice cream and if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page, this book is for you." I couldn't agree more.


I once mentioned how much I love this book and a fellow book lover agreed and said she carried it around with her for a few days after she was finished because she just needed to still be near it for awhile. I felt just as strongly about it when I read it the second time.

And yes, there is a movie now. The movie is actually fairly well done, and captures the essence of the story and bits of the beauty of the characters. But PLEASE read the book. PLEASE. I beg you. There is SO much more that the movie just doesn't have TIME to tell. [Like many of these books turned movies]. 

And number five? I couldn't decide. Here are some that are probably in the running [if you click on them I have linked them to their goodreads review].

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini

Cutting for Stone

Abraham Verghese

The Help

Kathryn Stockett

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

And what is funny is that some of my favorite authors aren't even on this list: Donald Miller, Ann Lamott, and Bill Bryson. And I love In Cold Blood [Capote] and Columbine [Cullen] and Jane Eyre [Bronte]…

I'm currently reading a few books [I used to never read more than one book at a time, but now I just keep books in different places of the house]: The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan, AHA by Kyle Idleman, Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson, and I just finished A Painted House by John Grisham [first Grisham book I've read and I loved it, though this one is different than his typical stuff I've heard].

I would love to hear from you: What would make your top five list? Or What are some good books you've read recently? Or What is on your to-read list this year? 

graduation

I debated on what to give my students for graduation. I wanted to, and was going to do, giftcards…but then the invites started coming and I had to be realistic. We have one salary now and I could have maybe done $1 giftcards for them all. As my three year old niece would say, "BOOORRRINNNG!" 

I thought about what I could do, or leave with them that would have some sort of meaning. I realized the one thing I have been blessed with right now is time. So here is what I ended up making with things I had on hand:

Here is what the little books say [there are a few inside jokes we shared in class]: 

[I did a screen shot of the actual document, so disregard the red squiggly lines trying to tell me I'm wrong…]:

 

They will probably open this and think "BORRRINNNGG" anyway, but maybe they'll read it and one small thing will resonate? Call it my last ditch effort to be their teacher. ;)

And if you are wondering:

"Purty neat" reference is HERE

"Guy on a buffalo" reference HERE

And if you don't get the Atticus and Bob Ewell reference, rummage through your change drawers, find $5, and go buy a copy of this book HERE 

letters from students

While I was out on maternity leave [I guess technically I still am-- I will be returning for the last week of zoo- I mean school- next week], my sub did a fantastic job with my students. Fantastic. And she remembered the notes that her sub had had her students leave her when she had her first daughter, so she paid it forward. My students all took a little time to write Blythe a letter about her mom, and then later she also had them write me letters with their advice on parenting! As always, I want to document this, so here are a few snippets: 


Dear Blythe:


-Your mom taught me how to write poetry and stories. I used to hate writing but she taught me how to love it. I lover her class and enjoy coming to it everyday. Welcome to the world!


- Your mom is one of the best teachers I know. She is a fair and nice person, as I'm sure you will figure out sooner or later.


- She has some pretty cheesy jokes, but they are so bad you just have to laugh. You are blessed to have Mrs. I. as a mom. 


- If she is as nice to you as she was to us, you will definitely love her a lot!


- She loves what she does and is passionate about it. 


- Your mom is a very nice lady. She is funny and kind and a great teacher. You will be in great hands as you grow up. 


- Your mom is one of the best people you will ever meet. She makes the classroom so much fun. She will make you read "To Kill a Mockingbird" before you are 2, probably. You will love her as a mom. 


- She's a great teacher, and a friend too. She makes me smile every time I see her. 


- Your mom is a very good teacher and has a lot of activities instead of just boring lessons sitting in a chair. Did you know you probably about got the name Scout, from "To Kill a Mockingbird"? And I'm sure you will hear some jokes from her, make sure you laugh cause she thinks they're funny. Haha. Just Kidding. Your mom is the best. 


- She keeps things very clean. 


- Your mom is… wow, amazing! I love her to death. She is understanding, kind, and pretty! I look up to her every day. I hope someday  will be half of the amazing mom as yours will be [and is]. Blythe, I can't wait to see you. I know you are so pretty like your mom. Good luck in softball. Mr. Blythe is fantastic.  P.S. Your dad is very good on the guitar. It's so good to listen to him in church. 


- Your mom is one of the nicest teachers/people I have ever known. She cares about everyone and I have never really seen her in a bad mood. She can always put people in a good mood and make them feel good about themselves. 


- Your mom was a great teacher and I learned a lot from her. My poetry, and actually all of my writing, has gotten a lot better. I loved having your mom as a teacher because she was really funny and made class fun. 


-I believe she's shown me how to inspire and make students smile. With the help of your mom, I've decided to be a teacher some day! 


- Your mom is such a wonderful woman! For the two years that I've known her, she has always been an added ray of sunshine to my day! I know that she will be a good mother who will love you very much. All the things that she does will be because the loves you, so don't think anything by that. 


- Your mom knows how to listen. You should trust her. She will always be there for you no matter what. 


- Your mom is an amazing woman . She is so fun and really sweet. I don't think she will put up with much, but you're truly lucky. You're going to have a wonderful life. 


- Your mom is my favorite teacher [not kidding]. She never judges and has trouble getting angry. I would have loved to have had her next year, but eh, you happened. Oh well? Nah, I'm glad you were born. 


- I hope she is as good a mother as a teacher. 


- I hope you like novels because you'll be reading "TO Kill a Mockingbird" when you're 7 years old. I also hope you don't like dogs, because you're not getting one. You will have a wonderful childhood with Mrs. I. as a mother. 


- You are one lucky girl. I have no doubt your mama will teach you so much. I'm sad I don't get her next year, but you deserve her time. I bet you'll grow up to be just as great as your mom and dad.


- Your mom taught me lots of things this year. Besides teaching me the difference between a simile and a metaphor, she taught me lots of life lessons. She taught me to give everyone a chance, no matter who they are. She also taught me how to bunt correctly in softball. 


- She will always be able to bring you up when you are sad. She is very loving, so I know you will always be loved with the biggest heart. 


- Your mom is one of the coolest teachers I've had. She understands what it is like to be a teenager. 


-Your mom was a very good teacher. She encouraged her students to think outside the box and be creative. 


- You should never question her authority.


- Your mom is a wonderful woman. She's always happy and cheerful no matter what. If you didn't know, she'd terrible at acting mad, so you'll know when she really is. If you haven't already noticed, she is a beautiful woman that can always cheer you up when you're down. She's a good teacher, at English anyway, but I probably wouldn't trust her with subjects like math. Yikes. 


- Even for the people who don't like reading and writing, she makes it fun for everyone. 


-I have never met someone with so much patience. She would do anything to help anyone. 
Dear Mrs. I: [Parenting advice]


- I feel like my mother and I's relationship has been much better and stronger when she trusts me and isn't jumping down my throat about every little thing.


- As a parent you need to discipline Blythe if she does something bad. Also you need to love her and give her a lot of attention. 


- I think you'll do just fine. You will have a good start about dealing with kids because you're a teacher- so you kind of have already been a parent. 


- Don't always be so serious and have fun. Let her cook with you and do the stuff you do. 


- As a parent, never tell your child that you are their "friend." It's okay to ask her what's wrong, but if she says she wants to be along, leave her alone. She'll come around. 


-Treat her like you treat your students. 


- Just be yourself and Blythe will love you.  Wait until she is at least 4 to make her read "To Kill a Mockingbird." 


- Don't forget how it was to be a kid or a teenager. 


-Be fair and just. Show her compassion, but don't spoil her too much.


- You should listen to what your child's side of the story is if something goes wrong. 


-You should always accept your kid for what they are. And don't give into them no matter how many tricks they play because it will help them in the long run. Also, feed her good food and a healthy died so she will grow up good and be athletic and strong. 


- As a parent be yourself, or at least be the way you are in class.


- Make sure you make it comfortable to talk to you about awkward things. I always am able to tell or talk to my mom about anything and it helps. 


- It's easier in the long run to not spoil kids and make them mind. 


- You already know the boys will be chasing that little cutie so just lock her up! :) 


- When she gets in trouble, always look at her view. Always encourage her to be her best and to never give up. Expect a lot of good things because we all know she is going to be successful at anything and everything. Be ready to catch her if she falls. Enjoy the little things and never give up on her. When she gets a booboo in sports, tell her to rub a lil' dirt on it like my dad did to me. 


- You should give her responsibilities when she gets older. You should probably not ground Blythe by taking her phone because it's torture! 


- Always trust your child. To know my parents trust me is a great thing, so make sure you trust Blythe. 


- Don't spoil her because then she'll grow up and only know how to take and not give. 


- Make sure she is done doing her business when you change her diaper, that way you don't get any on you!


- When she won't stop crying, just take a deep breath and comfort her.


- Be calm when you get in a fight. Yelling just makes teens more mad and we don't listen. Also if you do get in an argument, apologize or talk it out before she goes to bed. 


- I don't really know what to tell you because I'm not a parent, so just be awesome. 


- Try to encourage her to be whatever she wants to be. Let her know that she's important and special, just the way she is. Let her be free to try things and be herself. 


- Accept that there will come times in life when you are wrong, and Blythe is right-- there may not be many, but they'll be there. 


-As a parent, you should listen to your children. If they need to talk, stop and talk with them. If they just need someone to listen to them, be there. 


- Never let your kid play with fire. 


I had to end with that one :) 


My students are the best. Seriously.