tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88279846511753106302024-02-08T13:18:40.777-05:00The Golden Chain of ReadingAbout Books, Children and the Great Chain of Reading. An Avid Reader's CommonplaceCharleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.comBlogger513125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-14842610390105313422009-08-26T10:36:00.000-04:002009-08-26T10:38:02.519-04:00Ferdinand the Submariner BullThe October, 2009 <a href="http://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/"><strong>Naval History </strong></a>magazine has an article by British submariner Rear Admiral Sir David Scott, recounting his experiences patrolling the Mediterannean in World War II, a theater where British submarine mortality rates approached 50%. He mentions the importance of humor, no matter how desperate the circumstances and relates: <br><br /><blockquote>Such were the puerile comforts in the face of imminent annihiliation. We even displayed a sense of humor when we painted emblems on the subs. In one case, for example, we avoided the obvious sharks with huge teeth and avenging devils and instead emblazoned our boat with an image of <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0670674249"><strong>Ferdinand the Bull</strong></a>, who preferred to stay home and sniff the flowers rather than face the combat of the bullring. In any case, we knew that, like Ferdinand, we were the muscular best of the breed.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-82896951693900050052009-08-24T13:44:00.002-04:002009-08-24T14:14:45.937-04:00Burying the ledeThe <em><strong>New York Times </strong></em>carried an article, <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/a-librarys-approach-to-books-that-offend/?scp=1&sq=a%20library" st="'cse"><strong>A Library's Approach to Books that Offend </strong></a>by Alison Leigh Cowan on August 19, 2009.<br /><br />While the article opens with the instance where Brooklyn Public Library has rather shamefully bowed to pressure from a patron to hide a Herge book, "Tintin au Congo", there is actually good news when you read through the whole article. The most embarrasing quote in the article "'It’s not for the public,' a librarian in the children’s room said this month when a patron asked to see it." It breaks your heart to see such craveness. On the other hand there is the marvelous quote from the American Library Association, "Toleration is meaningless without tolerance for what some may consider detestable." That is wonderfully heartening.<br /><br />What is even more reassuring is how relatively few people ever actually follow-up their heated words or outrage with actual action. The fact that the New York Public Library, serving several millions of people, only receives six or so formal written objections a year to particular books is a wonderful statement to everyone's general broadmindedness. Alternatively one could conclude that the noisemakers are just that, makers of noise but not really serious about their nominal concerns.<br /><br />At a national level, the ALA reports an average of about 700 written objections a year to particular titles. In the context of roughly 120,000 libraries serving some three hundred million Americans, that is a marvellously low number. Granted that there are probably many more complaints made verbally that are resolved without action simply by librarians explaining library policies. But still: only 700? That's great. On almost any metrics you might use (formal complaints per population, complaints per volume of books held, complaints per circs) the number is vanishingly small. That's good news that ought to be highlighted.Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-59584385022870753822009-08-23T15:43:00.002-04:002009-08-23T15:51:34.287-04:00One of America's StoriesA story in the August 23, 2009 New York Times - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/us/23funeral.html?_r=1&ref=us">A Georgia County Shares a Tale of One Man’s Life and Death</a> by Drew Jubera.Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-14238692683367892152009-08-22T11:42:00.003-04:002009-08-22T12:12:20.799-04:00Canada in a thongFrom the August 24, 2009<em> New Yorker</em>, an article "Laugh, Kookabura" by David Sedaris.<br /><blockquote>For an American, though, Australia seems pretty familiar: same wide streets, same office towers. It's Canada in a thong, or that's the initial impression.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-81659036966727207022009-08-19T05:11:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:52:09.276-04:00Chandler and The Simple Art of MurderSpeaking of Chandler, I have a number of times come across reference to what was apparently a seminal essay by him, <a href="http://www.en.utexas.edu/amlit/amlitprivate/scans/chandlerart.html"><em>The Simple Art of Murder</em></a>. Follow the link to a copy of his critical evaluation of the detective or mystery writer and his stories. The most often quoted portion of the essay I have seen is:<br /><blockquote>But down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective in this kind of story must be such a man. He is the hero, he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor, by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world. I do not care much about his private life; he is neither a eunuch nor a satyr; I think he might seduce a duchess and I am quite sure he would not spoil a virgin; if he is a man of honor in one thing, he is that in all things. He is a relatively poor man, or he would not be a detective at all. He is a common man or he could not go among common people. He has a sense of character, or he would not know his job. He will take no man’s money dishonestly and no man’s insolence without a due and dispassionate revenge. He is a lonely man and his pride is that you will treat him as a proud man or be very sorry you ever saw him. He talks as the man of his age talks, that is, with rude wit, a lively sense of the grotesque, a disgust for sham, and a contempt for pettiness. The story is his adventure in search of a hidden truth, and it would be no adventure if it did not happen to a man fit for adventure. He has a range of awareness that startles you, but it belongs to him by right, because it belongs to the world he lives in.<br /><br />If there were enough like him, I think the world would be a very safe place to live in, and yet not too dull to be worth living in.</blockquote><br />But there is more in the essay than that. I was interested, from a children's literature perspective, to find a disquosition on A.A. Milne (author of the Winnie the Pooh books) and a mystery book of his from 1922, <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0486401294"><strong>The Red House Mystery</strong></a>, still in print eighty-seven years later. You never quite know what those children's authors are going to get up to next.<br /><br />And then there are a series of barbed opinions and one liners that are classic, whether or not they are merited.<br /><blockquote>There is plenty of that kind of social and emotional hypocrisy around today. Add to it a liberal dose of intellectual pretentiousness and you get the tone of the book page in your daily paper and the earnest and fatuous atmosphere breathed by discussion groups in little clubs. These are the people who make bestsellers, which are promotional jobs based on a sort of indirect snob-appeal, carefully escorted by the trained seals of the critical fraternity, and lovingly tended and watered by certain much too powerful pressure groups whose business is selling books, although they would like you to think they are fostering culture. Just get a little behind in your payments and you will find out how idealistic they are.</blockquote><br />Ouch!<br /><blockquote>Yet the detective story, even in its most conventional form, is difficult towrite well. Good specimens of the art are much rarer than good serious novels.Rather second-rate items outlast most of the high velocity fiction, and a great many that should never have been born simply refuse to die at all. They are as durable as the statues in public parks and just about that dull. This is very annoying to people of what is called discernment. They do not like it that penetrating and important works of fiction of a few years back stand on their special shelf in the library marked "Best-Sellers of Yesteryear," and nobody goes near them but an occasional shortsighted customer who bends down, peers briefly and hurries away; while old ladies jostle each other at the mystery shelf to grab off some item of the same vintage with a title like <em>The Triple Petunia Murder Case</em>, or <em>Inspector Pinchbottle to the Rescue</em>. They do not like it that "really important books" get dusty on the reprint counter, while <em>Death Wears Yellow Garters </em>is put out in editions of fifty or one hundred thousand copies on the news-stands of the country, and is obviously not there just to say goodbye. </blockquote><br />And then there is this:<br /><blockquote>The English may not always be the best writers in the world, but they are incomparably the best dull writers. </blockquote><br />Again, Ouch!<br /><br />Finally there is this assessment of his mystery writing predecessor, Dashiell Hammett.<br /><blockquote>He is said to have lacked heart, yet the story he thought most of himself is the record of a man’s devotion to a friend. He was spare, frugal, hardboiled, but he did over and over again what only the best writers can ever do at all. He wrote scenes that seemed never to have been written before.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-27694018618373687832009-08-18T09:54:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:53:58.091-04:00Quotable ChandlerI only came across <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0375415009"><strong>Raymond Chandler </strong></a>in the past five years and have scooped up everything I can find of his. I really enjoy his rich, descriptive language. Something I came across this week reminded me of his marvellous description of the Santa Ana winds in California.<br /><blockquote>There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-24766927687446589212009-08-16T16:51:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:26:17.357-04:00When stories are the storyAn interesting article in the June 1, 2009 edition of the New Yorker, <a href="http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=2009-06-01#folio=046">It's Spreading; <em>Outbreaks, media scares, and the parrot panic of 1930 </em></a>by Jill Lepore.<br /><br />While we reflexively think of reading with children in terms of books, it does of course encompass newspapers, magazines, etc. While there is much in common, between the formats, there is a difference. Newspapers are the first rumor of history, magazine articles the rough draft, and books eventually reflect the collected (somewhat) settled record. Newspapers, magazines and books are the conveyor belt of history.<br /><br />While one should always read with some degree of respectful skepticism, there is much more of a need to do so with papers and magazines where bias, trendiness, incompleteness, and ignorance are perhaps much more prevalent than in books and where passion and fervor are more predominant than clarity and inspiration. That is not to say that these issues are absent from books, just less prevalent.<br /><br />Lepore uses a case study from 1930 in the US as newspapers first wildly propagated a story of the dangers of parrot fever before just as enthusiastically debunking it. In fact there was never much of a story in the first place. Her whole article, though, provides an example of the power of storytelling for good or ill and provides a catalyst for our helping our children to understand how to read newspapers and magazines differently and with a heightened attunement to the standard empirical rationalist questions - What's the problem?, how big is it?, how do we measure it?, how will we know when it is resolved?, what's the proposition?, who is pushing the proposition?, how do they benefit? what are the consequences? who will be affected?<br /><br />Whether discussing mad-cow disease, global warming (2000's), new ice age (1970's), healthcare, or any of a huge portfolio of controversial issues, these are perfectly good questions to always have in mind. The more our children put together the picture that words are powerful but not sacrosanct, the better and clearer thinkers and questioners they become.<br /><br />From Lepore's article:<br /><blockquote>Epidemics follow patterns because diseases follow patterns. Viruses spread; they reproduce; they die. Epidemiologists study patterns in order to combat infection. Stories about epidemics follow patterns, too. Stories aren't often deadly but they can be virulent: spreading fast, weakening resistance, wreaking havoc.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-28207623487278091552009-08-16T07:32:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:26:43.679-04:00Can the Kindle really improve on the book?In the August 3rd, 2009 edition of the New Yorker, Nicholson Baker has an article <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/08/03/090803fa_fact_baker">A New Page <em>Can the Kindle really improve on the book?</em></a><br /><br />He covers the pros and cons of electronic reading, focusing on the Kindle. He makes some interesting digressions into the history of the development of the technology. He talks about some of the alternative readers that are available.<br /><br />I find nothing to contradict my working assumption that electronic-readers are an occassionally useful supplement to reading but will neither replace or even displace real reading.Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-27789002536824494052009-08-12T06:40:00.007-04:002009-08-21T18:03:38.468-04:00PetsI begin this Pigeon Post essay on pets having just walked downstairs to let the boxer dog, Merlin, out the back door and with a twelve-week old tabby kitten, contentedly leaning against my computer keyboard, purring in the sunshine. Also resident in the house is another large, nearly panther-like older cat, as well as the sole surviving member of what at one time was a large group of guinea pigs. We are at low ebb though, usually also having various fish, frogs, any of a variety of rodents, etc.<br /><br />And now, just a few minutes later, I hear my wife calling upstairs to my daughter (to whom Sonja, the kitten, belongs), "Sarah, Sonja just fell into Merlin's water bowl." Life with pets is full, unpredictable, disgusting, and usually a joy.<br /><br />Pets are a companion for a child, a better place for them to spend their time than on a Playstation. A pet is their last best friend when the rest of the world is ignoring them or failing to understand them. A pet can be their charge, their first foray into having responsibility for the well-being of another. And not to be overlooked is that, even for the very youngest child, a pet is one rung down on the family social hierarchy - there is someone to whom they can be senior.<br /><br />Pets are an integral part of the family and in some ways might be viewed as a child's first real dry-run at life, responsibility and growing up. It is often said that acquiring a new pet, particularly dogs, is like adding a new member to the family. This is supported by scientists (see <a href="http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/08/08/renowned.canine.researcher.puts.dogs.intelligence.par.with.2.year.old.human"><strong>article</strong></a>), who peg the average dog's intelligence as roughly that of a two or two and a half year old human, with the capacity for understanding 165 - 250 words, rudimentary math skills involving amounts up to four or five, and basic problem solving capabilities. Perhaps reflecting their long term co-evolution with humans, dogs also have the capacity to undertake deception of one another and of their humans or, as one of the researchers put it, "they are nearly as successful in deceiving humans as humans are in deceiving dogs."<br /><br />The human species is not simply a social group within itself as is well established, but has shown a predisposition in all its known history, as being a species accustomed to associating across specie barriers in a way not often discussed.<br /><br />We have a large population of animals with whom we have shared our history and whom we have affected and been affected by. Cattle, camels, sheep, llamas, horses, goats, pigs, chicken, fish, turkey's, guinea-pigs, donkeys, etc. are all creatures with whom we have shared close proximity for many thousands of years. We have caught and suffered from their diseases as they have ours. We have exploited these animals as sources of food and sources of energy to move things. But there are a handful of creatures, usually also social animals, with whom our relationship extends beyond simple exploitation.<br /><br />We have a history of close proximity to and interaction with other social creatures such as non-human primates, social carnivores such as dogs and wolves, corvids (crows and ravens), rats, parrots, etc. What differentiates this history from the simple exploitation of animals for food is that we extend to these other social creatures some sort of acknowledgement of their social similarity to us. We adopt them into our lives. They show up in our myths, fables and legends in ways that are quite different from other animals.<br /><br />One of the earliest species with whom we have taken up was the <em>canidae</em>, dogs. Genetic evidence indicates that dogs and humans have been coevolving for at least a third of the time since we broke out of Africa and populated the modern world. With that long association, it is no wonder that there is such a latent affinity. We have had a lot of time to come to some sort of understanding.<br /><br />Approximately 63% of US households (71 million out of 115 million households in total) have at least one pet. In order of popularity, dogs are present in 45 million homes, followed by cats (in 38 million homes but with more cats per home than there are dogs per home), fish, birds, rodents (politely called small animals in the survey), reptiles, and horses. In terms of total numbers 71 million homes are host to 382 million creatures (a third of which are fish). That's a lot of livestock that is cheek by jowl with us.<br /><br />I don't know what proportion of children never have a pet; I wouldn't imagine that it could be all that many, though I do seem to meet a lot of kids with no pets. I suspect though, that it is something like meeting children who can't swim or can't ride a bike; not all that many but they make a disproportionately large impression because you are so surprised.<br /><br />Children tend to love creatures with whom they share their lives, whether the pet is a large dog or horse or, at the other end of the scale, tiny pygmy hamsters or sea monkeys. While as parents we are perfectly aware of the time, expense, inconvenience, risks, and heartbreak that can eventually be associated with pets, it all becomes worthwhile when we see the genuine love and eventual responsibility a child can show for their best furry, feathered, or scaled friend.<br /><br />Pets also become the source of a significant portion of the web of stories a family tells about and to itself. It is not just the pet that helps bind a family at moments of fraying, but the very action of storytelling which creates a part of the shared bond.<br /><br />Sometimes we relate the stories of humor such as the time when our boxer dog, Brutus, escaped from our yard when we lived in Sweden. Sweden is very ordered and civilized and there just are not dogs running loose. While we children searched the neighborhood for our Houdini dog, my mother received a call from the local police station. In Swedish she was told that Brutus had been found running loose and that he was now being held down at the station if she would care to come fetch him. This she did. As they showed her into the holding cells to collect him, my mother realized that they had a man in the cell keeping Brutus company. The Swedes are a marvelous and humane people but this was a degree of caring that took her by surprise.<br /><br />Even greater was her surprise when Brutus was released from the cell but the man remained. Not a dog companion he, but a fellow inmate.<br /><br />Stories of shared family outrage as when one of our long line of boxer dogs deftly jumped up onto the kitchen table in order to delicately partake in the iced cake left there to cool. The outrage was not so much about the transgression itself, dogs after all will be dogs, so much as about the fact that he had carefully licked off all the icing and left the cake.<br /><br />Secret family stories. In one home, we had a pantry and in which we kept things that needed to stay at a steady cool temperature. My mother's many foods and fancy trifles that she prepared for a cocktail party were carefully tucked away there on the day of the occasion. At some point over the course of the day's preparations, the door to the pantry was left microscopically ajar. To Brutus, this was clearly a simple invitation to investigate and sample. Fortunately he was discovered before his investigations and samplings had proceeded too far. However, he had tried out a pate loaf which my mother had made. Clearly, from the fact that it was only the end that was nibbled and had teeth marks on it, he did not favor pate. After properly berating Brutus for his forwardness, my mother set about rescuing and restoring what she could. When she came to the pate loaf, her pragmatic solution was to cut off the nibbled end and serve the rest of the loaf anyway. We young ones took special delight in watching who unknowingly ended up sharing the pate loaf that evening with our dog.<br /><br />Stories of marvel, admiration and gratitude. When my older sister was a toddler of four or five years, we lived in Venezuela. Big old Duchess, yet another boxer, was the family dog who had been around for all of my sister's life and was a constant boon companion. One afternoon, B_____ wandered into the living room and seeing Duchess lying on the doorsill between the room and the outdoor veranda, began to toddle over towards her. As she approached, Duchess rose up, snarling and barring her teeth to B______. This had never happened before and, terrified, my sister ran shrieking to my mother. Mom came running to see what was the matter, fearful that Duchess might have contracted rabies. As she faced towards Duchess, from her greater height, my mother was able to look over the dog onto the veranda and see what my sister could not. There, in the corner, lay a large rattlesnake. Duchess had not been threatening B____, she had been protecting her from danger as best she knew how.<br /><br />And on and on. For all the effort and disruption that they can be, most pets are a wonderful and ineluctable part of our family lives.<br /><br />Our literature is rich in stories of family pets. We have here collected together stories which we hope can be used to prepare children for a new pet or remind them of how fortunate we are to share our lives with an animal companion. We have included a few horse stories but really they are a different booklist. Horses are wonderful animals but you don't usually want one curled up at the bottom of your bed. Likewise we have steered clear of general animal stories where the animal is the fantasy protagonist, a creature in the barn, a part of the natural habitat. These are stories of the animals to whom we are closest.<br /><br />This book list is divided into three sections:<br /><br />(1) Picture Books<br />(2) Books for Independent Readers<br />(3) Young Adults<br /><br /><br /><big><u><strong>Picture Books</strong></u></big><br /><style type="text/css">.nobrtable br { display: none }</style><br /><div class="nobrtable"><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="2"><br /><tbody><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0395159938&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Curious George </strong></a>by H. A. Rey <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0671752049&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Good Dog, Carl </strong></a>by Alexandra Day <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060268522&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Harry and the Lady Next Door </strong></a>by Gene Zion <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060268654&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Harry the Dirty Dog </strong></a>by Gene Zion and illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham<strong> Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0394800230&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Fish Out of Water </strong></a>by Helen Palmer <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=039585895X&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Allison </strong></a>by Allen Say <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0689716087&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Billy and Blaze </strong></a>by C.W. Anderson <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0684189984&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Dick Whittington and His Cat </strong></a>by Marcia Brown <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1564022714&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Floss </strong></a>by Kim Lewis <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0374330603&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Hey, Al </strong></a>by Arthur Yorinks and illustrated by Richard Egielski <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0786856777&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>McDuff Moves In </strong></a>by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0399233156&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Millions of Cats </strong></a>by Wanda Gag <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0007259441&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Mog Collection </strong></a>by Judith Kerr <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0375813543&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Puss in Boots </strong></a>by Philip Pullman and illustrated by Ian Beck <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0899191924&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Puss in Boots </strong></a>by Charles Perrault, retold by Paul Galdone and illustrated by Paul Galdone & Charles Perrault <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0805003142&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Sam Bangs and Moonshine </strong></a>by Evaline Ness <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0803706715&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Adventures of Taxi Dog </strong></a>by Debra and Sal Barracca and illustrated by Mark Buehner <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0062051857&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Bark, George </strong></a>by Jules Feiffer <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0375822976&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Big Dog Little Dog </strong></a>by P.D. Eastman <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060765968&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Biscuit </strong></a>by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and illustrated by Pat Schories <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0689717113&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Blaze and the Mountain Lion </strong></a>by C.W. Anderson <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0395884152&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Cat Up a Tree </strong></a>by John Hassett and Ann Hassett <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060210745&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With the Family Lazardo </strong></a>by William Joyce <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060268565&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Harry by the Sea </strong></a>by Gene Zion <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0786838345&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Mcduff and the Baby </strong></a>by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0786838337&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Mcduff Comes Home </strong></a>by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0816644187&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Nothing At All </strong></a>by Wanda Gag <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0803727887&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Mysterious Tadpole </strong></a>by Steven Kellogg <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><big><u><strong>Independent Reader</strong></u></big><br /><style type="text/css">.nobrtable br { display: none }</style><br /><div class="nobrtable"><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="2"><br /><tbody><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0763607762&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Because of Winn-Dixie </strong></a>by Kate DiCamillo <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0553154346&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Big Red </strong></a>by Jim Kjelgaard <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0448409429&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Black Beauty </strong></a>by Anna Sewell and illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0670377295&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Homer Price </strong></a>by Robert McCloskey <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060933089&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>My Life and Hard Times </strong></a>by James Thurber <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0525463461&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>My Side of the Mountain </strong></a>by Jean Craighead George <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0670876127&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking </strong></a>by Astrid Lindgren and illustrated by Michael Chesworth <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0689316143&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Shiloh </strong></a>by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060263954&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Stuart Little </strong></a>by E.B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0808540394&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Hundred and One Dalmatians </strong></a>by Dodie Smith <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0375855823&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Black Stallion </strong></a>by Walter Farley and illustrated by Keith Ward <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0141321059&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Call of the Wild </strong></a>by Jack London and illustrated by Martin Gascoigne <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0385322798&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Incredible Journey </strong></a>by Sheila Burnford and Carl Burger <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0385323301&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Where the Red Fern Grows </strong></a>by Wilson Rawls <strong>Highly Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0375829709&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Babe </strong></a>by Dick King-Smith and illustrated by Maggie Kneen <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0439551056&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Catwings Collection </strong></a>by Ursula K. Le Guin <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0140360352&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Gentle Ben </strong></a>by Walt Morey and illustrated by John Schoenherr <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0152024999&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Ginger Pye </strong></a>by Eleanor Estes <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0688213820&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Henry and Ribsy </strong></a>by Beverly Cleary <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0553155466&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Irish Red </strong></a>by Jim Kjelgaard <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0312364520&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>James Herriot's Dog Stories </strong></a>by James Herriot <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0312085125&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>James Herriot's Treasury for Children </strong></a>by James Herriot and illustrated by Peter Barrett and Ruth Brown <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0140384235&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Kavik the Wolf Dog </strong></a>by Walt Morey and illustrated by Peter Parnall <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0140364749&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Lad - Albert Payson Terhune and illustrated by Sam Savitt </strong></a>by Author <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0805072063&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Lassie Come Home </strong></a>by Eric Knight and illustrated by Marguerite Kirmse <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0316058424&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Mr. Popper's Penguins </strong></a>by Richard and Florence Atwater and illustrated by Robert Lawson <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060115459&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Old Yeller </strong></a>by Fred Gipson and illustrated by Carl Burger <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0525188398&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Rascal </strong></a>by Sterling North and illustrated by John Schoenherr <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0688216625&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Ribsy </strong></a>by Beverly Cleary <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1561452769&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Seaman </strong></a>by Gail Langer Karwoski and illustrated by James Watling <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1416949410&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Smoky the Cowhorse </strong></a>by Will James <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0060201436&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Sounder </strong></a>by William H. Armstrong and illustrated by James Barkley <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0689829051&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Star in the Storm </strong></a>by Joan Hiatt Harlow <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0670884081&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog </strong></a>by John R. Erickson and illustrated by Gerald L. Holmes <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0394445937&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Snow Goose </strong></a>by Paul Gallico <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0689864035&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Thunder from the Sea </strong></a>by Joan Hiatt Harlow <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><br /><big><u><strong>Young Adult</strong></u></big><br /><style type="text/css">.nobrtable br { display: none }</style><br /><div class="nobrtable"><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="2"><br /><tbody><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0142004413&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>My Family and Other Animals </strong></a>by Gerald Durrell <strong>Highly Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0142004405&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Birds, Beasts, and Relatives </strong></a>by Gerald Malcolm Durrell <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0694015792&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The National Velvet </strong></a>by Enid Bagnold <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /></tbody></table></div>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-88233206106667511492009-08-10T14:10:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:55:09.445-04:00William BlakeFrom William Blake's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0385152132"><strong>Proverbs from Hell</strong></a>.<br /><blockquote>You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough. </blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-61922865105921281382009-08-10T11:42:00.002-04:002009-08-21T18:06:02.353-04:00Jan Morris: A Writer's House in WalesA collection of Welsh tidbits from Jan Morris' <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0792265238"><strong>A Writer's House in Wales</strong></a>.<br /><blockquote>I try not to believe in race, only in the effects of history and environment, but sometimes I cannot help feeling that the age-old strain of the Celts, the original Welsh, is still apparent here. Certainly Welsh people are still proud to be thought of as Celts - it differentiates them from the English - and the pageantry of the National Eisteddfod is deliberately, if imaginatively, modeled upon the supposed rituals of the Druids. Celts are always said to have been convoluted people, volatile, enthusiastic but easily discouraged, expressing themselves in art forms that were full of circles, knots and peculiar circles, and today our people are undeniably fluid and flexible too. They are careless about names, sometimes spelling them one way, sometimes another - two of my own children spell themselves Morys, the other two Morris, and I forget which way my grandchildren have gone. Time is scarcely an exact science among my neighbors. Their reportage can be unreliable. As a shrewd American once wrote, if truth elsewhere is more or less like a straight line, among the Welsh it is "more in the nature of a circle"; to my way of thinking, for I have sufficient Celt in me too, only another way of saying that imagination is as real as reality.<br /><br />For one of my temperament all this makes life agreeably sinuous and slippery. Occassionally indeed it can be so laid back as to be maddening. The mail may be a bit late because the postman has stopped off for a cup of tea up the lane. Iwan and his family, whom we are expecting for drinks this evening, may not bother to turn up because Megan has homework to do, or alternatively may cheerfully arrive half an hour early. Sweet Blodwen, having assured us she would be here on Thursday morning for coffee, rings on Thursday afternoon to say she was so sorry to have had to go to Pwllheli for a hairdressing appointment. How many times have we telephoned dear Mr. Edwards to come and cure the leak in Elizabeth's ceiling? What a relief it would have been if Mr. Roberts the plumber had put the taps on consistently, so that we could be quite sure that hot water was going to emerge from the left-hand tap, cold water from the right. Do you see that wooden corner cupboard? Wil the carpenter made that for us ten years ago. Although I often meet him in the street he still hasn't bothered to send the bill, but a Christmas or two ago he did send us a framed poem imagining how much happier the world would be if it were inhabited entirely by friends.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-20475106615052049532009-08-10T07:24:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:59:47.928-04:00It was a dark and stormy night on the California coastFrom Richard Henry Dana's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0899664261"><strong>Two Years Before the Mast</strong></a>. Dana has left harbor on a new ship and with a new crew. As a reader long isolated from ready access to books, he scrounges what he can from whatever source he can find. <blockquote>It being the turn of our watch to go below, the men went to work, mending their clothes, and doing other little things for themselves; and I, having got my wardrobe in complete order at San Diego, had nothing to do but to read. I accordingly overhauled the chests of the crew, but found nothing that suited me exactly, until one of the men said he had a book which "told all about a great highway-man," at the bottom of his chest, and producing it, I found, to my surprise and joy, that it was nothing else than Bulwer's Paul Clifford. This, I seized immediately, and going to my hammock, lay there, swinging and reading, until the watch was out. The between-decks were clear, the hatchways open, and a cool breeze blowing through them, the ship under easy way, and everything comfortable. I had just got well into the story, when eight bells were struck, and we were all ordered to dinner.<br /><br />After dinner came our watch on deck for four hours, and, at four o'clock, I went below again, turned into my hammock, and read until the dog watch. As no lights were allowed after eight o'clock, there was no reading in the night watch. Having light winds and calms, we were three days on the passage, and each watch below, during the daytime, I spent in the same manner, until I had finished my book. I shall never forget the enjoyment I derived from it. To come across anything with the slightest claims to literary merit, was so unusual, that this was a perfect feast to me. The brilliancy of the book, the succession of capital hits, lively and characteristic sketches, kept me in a constant state of pleasing sensations. It was far too good for a sailor. I could not expect such fine times to last long.</blockquote><br />I was struck by this passage because it captures that so familiar feeling of a reader becoming caught up in a welcome new find. But who was this author Bulwer and what of the brilliant book, <em><strong>Paul Clifford</strong></em>, of which I was unfamiliar?<br /><br />Turns out that I, and probably most people, know at least a little about the book <em><strong>Paul Clifford</strong></em>, or at least how it starts. The opening words of <em><strong>Paul Clifford </strong></em>are the now iconic, "It was a dark and stormy night". While this has become the catchphrase for a florid, trite and cliche laden style of writing, Edward Bluwer (or Edward Bulwer-Lytton to give him his full name, 1803-1873) was, in his time, quite a popular British author, playwright, poet and a succesful politician. He crowded a full life of authorship (more than twenty books and at least three plays) with many years in parliament where he influenced a number of bills, sometimes through his parliamentary speeches and sometimes through his writings and pamphlateering. He had a gift for phrasing as well, being the originator of still extant phrases such as "the almighty dollar" and "the pen is mightier than the sword." <br /><br />While today little recollected by the general reading public, his style of writing is celebrated (mockingly) through the <a href="http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/"><strong>Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest </strong></a>conducted annually by Scott Rice, a professor at the San Jose State University in Claifornia. The contest is self-described as "a whimsical literary competition that challenges entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels." Rice has now branched out and includes a new section, <a href="http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/sticks.htm"><strong>Sticks and Stones</strong></a>, where followers of the contest can post and discuss real life opening sentences or just strikingly bad sentences in popular or major works. For example, from Danielle Steel's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0440205573"><strong>Star</strong></a>, "She wore a dress the same color as her eyes her father brought her from San Francisco."<br /><br />Here is an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/aug/19/2"><strong>article </strong></a>reporting the most recent contretemps about Bulwer-Lytton as reported in the Guardian, August 19, 2008. Surely Bulwer must have the last laugh though. While his books may not be readily available any longer, he is still discussed and indirectly celebrated six generations after his passing and that is not all that bad an accomplishment.Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-50744056495605691792009-08-08T11:34:00.000-04:002009-08-21T13:04:19.439-04:00Jan Morris: A Writer's House in WalesA collection of Welsh tidbits from Jan Morris' <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0792265238"><strong>A Writer's House in Wales</strong></a>.<br /><blockquote>I was once talking to our local roadman, in the days when there were such folk, and happened to mention that some of our stones must have come from the Cwm Pennant quarries. At once he launched dreamily into the classic lyric of the valley, by the local poet Eifion Wyn: <blockquote>Pam, Arglwydd, y gwneuthost Cwm Pennant mor dlws, <br />A bywyd hen bugail mor fyr?<br /><br />O Lord, why has thou made Cwm Pennant so beautiful,<br />And the life of the shepherd so short?</blockquote></blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-36719673872387611682009-08-07T05:51:00.000-04:002009-08-21T13:06:01.216-04:00Foxe's Book of MartyrsI found in a used bookstore last week, a copy of <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0199236844"><strong>Foxe's Book of Martyrs</strong></a>. Written and published in the mid 16th century as Protestant history/propaganda, Foxe's Book of Martyrs was intended to both celebrate the faith and courage of said martyrs as well as to document the perfidy and heinous crimes of Queen Mary. I had read of this book from an historical perspective, i.e. the influence that it had at that time on the course of Reformation and the development of the Anglican Church, but had not ever seen a copy of it. Curious, I purchased it.<br /><br />It is a fascinating read: partly for the baroque language (written in a period immediately before Shakespeare and when English language, phrases, and spellings were still a pretty riotous, weedy garden), partly for the passion, partly for the history, partly for the individual stories. It is in some ways fairly heavy going, with many passages requiring some mulling to comprehend what his intended message might be given archaic phrases and language structure.<br /><br />But the stories are fascinating and even more so the language. There are strong opinions expressed strongly with no hedging about or concern for delicate ears. Here is Foxe on agents of the Roman Catholic Church whom he castigates for their:<br /><blockquote>exceeding pride, ambition, simony, avarice, hypocrisy, sacrilege, tyranny, idolatrous worshippings, and other filthy fruits, of those stiff-necked pharisees.</blockquote><br />Foxe is full of such marvelously comprehensive indictments and I love that phrase - a stiff-necked pharisee. That puts them in their place.Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-80749444278883899942009-08-06T05:15:00.000-04:002009-08-21T13:08:10.183-04:00The thread of learningThe thread of learning is thin and spindly and yet so strong. It shows itself in the oddest ways in the remotest places.<br /><br />From Richard Henry Dana's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0899664261"><strong>Two Years Before the Mast</strong></a>. Dana's ship, the <em>Pilgrim</em>, has been trading goods for hides on the California coast (which at this time in 1835 is still Mexican so that they are foreigners on a foreign shore). He and a couple of companions have been left ashore for a month or so to prepare hides while the ship and crew trade up the coast. Upon the <em>Pilgrim's </em>return, Dana discovers that there is a new (and better) captain aboard.<br /><br />This is definitely good news. The captain soon comes ashore, compliments Dana on the work done and, knowing Dana to be an educated man and no mere common sailor, comments "Tityre, tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi" part of a line from Virgil, "Tityre, tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi silvestrem tenui Musam meditaris avena." In English, "Tityrus, reclining beneath the cover of a spreading beech tree, you practice a woodland melody on the slender pipe."<br /><br />I love this mind's-eye picture of my, in 2009, reading of two Bostonians in the 1830s, strangers to one another, meeting on a distant and scarcely populated foreign shore, quoting a nearly 2,000 year old poem, from Virgil's <em><strong>Eclogue </strong></em>to one another with the confidence that the allusion and compliment will be comprehended. That would seem to be so incomprehensibly improbable, but there you are: the strand of learning stretches far and wide.Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-4043149554578654482009-08-05T11:21:00.000-04:002009-08-21T13:10:59.718-04:00Y garreg a lefA collection of Welsh tidbits from Jan Morris' <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0792265238"><strong>A Writer's House in Wales</strong></a>.<br /><blockquote>Most of the Trefan Morys [the name of her home] stones obviously came from the countryside around, which is rocky and littered with boulders, sometimes standing on end so that they look like holy megaliths. Some of them <em>are </em>holy megaliths, sacred down the aeons to the people who lived in these parts, and a bit sacred to me still. They can be eerie things - not far from here, in a churchyard wall, an ancient stone looks out across the gravestones with the chill inscription <em>Y garreg a lef o'r mur</em>, "the stone cries from the wall."</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-91154224194093116612009-08-04T13:51:00.000-04:002009-08-21T13:11:50.851-04:00Exuberant excess as the prelude to progress - HmmFrom William James' <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0486202917"><strong>The Will to Believe</strong></a>:<br /><blockquote>Man's chief difference from the brutes lies in the exuberant excess of his subjective propensities, - his pre-eminence over them simply and solely in the number and in the fantastic and unnecessary character of his wants, physical, moral, aesthetic, and intellectual. Had his whole life not been a quest for the superfluous, he would never have established himself as inexpugnably as he has done in the necessary. And from the consciousness of this he should draw the lesson that his wants are to be trusted; that even when their gratification seems farthest off, the uneasiness they occasion is still the best guide of his life, and will lead him to issues entirely beyond his present powers of reckoning. Prune down his extravagance, sober him, and you undo him. </blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-25647220047529831892009-08-03T12:16:00.000-04:002009-08-21T13:31:07.531-04:00Benjamin Franklin's The Way to WealthBenjamin Franklin made part of his fortune through his trade as an author and publisher and is principally known in the literary fields for his more than quarter decade publishing of the annual <strong><em>Poor Richard's Almanack</em></strong>, a collection of essays, weather forecasts, poems, puzzles, home truths and more. The adages and sayings were culled from the Bible, folklore, Aesop and many other sources but most often recast in Franklin's own words. <em><strong>Poor Richard's Almanack </strong></em>was so popular that in proportion to the population of the colonies at the time, it would be the equivalent of selling a million copies each year today.<br /><br />In 1758, Franklin gathered many of the adages from all the earlier editions of <em><strong>Poor Richard's Alamanck </strong></em>together and published them as an extended essay, <strong><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0918222885">The Way to Wealth</a></strong> which can be read online <a href="http://www.bfranklin.edu/johnhibbs/WayToWealth.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a>. <br /><br />Of course much of this folk wisdom both reflects our culture and helped form it as well. What is striking is just how common-sensical most of it is and to what degree most ordinary Americans live, or attempt to live by its precepts. It is hard to argue with most of the principles underpinning these adages and sayings. Now if we could only get our politicians, risk-taking bankers and negligent borrowers to sip from the cup of Franklin's accumulated wisdom!<br /><br />On a whim, I have gone through <strong><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0918222885">The Way to Wealth</a></strong> and have stripped out all the narrative to leave only the adages and rules for wealth (and right living). I may have omitted a couple but I think the list looks something like the following. I was prepared to find that a good portion were dated or inapplicable in a more modern and complex world. Instead, I think they have all dated extraordinarily well. Think how much financial misery might have been averted if all had adhered to these ideas.<br /><br />A couple of the sayings are hard to make sense of. A couple use phrases with which we are no longer familiar (since you ask, a mickle is a Scottish term for much or a lot). Many of them are cast in such a way as to cause you to think a minute to catch his gist (e.g. "Industry need not wish") but it is obvious once you think about it and make adjustments for how terms were used then and now. Some are so on the mark as to almost make you laugh out loud ("Laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him").<br /><br />Each time I read through these, I keep mentally exclaiming "of course." Here, from a quarter of a millineum ago, are the words of advice of one of our greatest founding fathers, self-made man, scientist, diplomat, and elder statesman; Benjamin Franklin.<br /><blockquote>A word to the wise is enough<br /><br />Many words won't fill a bushel<br /><br />God helps them that help themselves<br /><br />Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright<br /><br />Dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of <br /><br />The sleeping fox catches no poultry<br /><br />There will be sleeping enough in the grave <br /><br />Lost time is never found again <br /><br />Time-enough, always proves little enough<br /><br />Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy <br /><br />He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night <br /><br />Laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him <br /><br />Drive thy business, let not that drive thee <br /><br />Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. <br /><br />Industry need not wish <br /><br />He that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains, without pains, <br /><br />Help hands, for I have no lands<br /><br />He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor <br /><br />At the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. <br /><br />For industry pays debts, while despair encreaseth them <br /><br />Diligence is the mother of good luck <br /><br />God gives all things to industry <br /><br />Plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep, <br /><br />One today is worth two tomorrows <br /><br />Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today. <br /><br />Be ashamed to catch yourself idle <br /><br />Let not the sun look down and say, inglorious here he lies. <br /><br />The cat in gloves catches no mice <br /><br />Constant dropping wears away stones <br /><br />Diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable <br /><br />Little strokes fell great oaks <br /><br />Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure <br /><br />Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour <br /><br />A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things <br /><br />Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Many without labor would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock. <br /><br />Fly pleasures, and they'll follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift, and now I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow<br /><blockquote><br />I never saw an oft removed tree,<br />Nor yet an oft removed family, <br />That throve so well as those that settled be.</blockquote><br />Three removes is as bad as a fire<br /><br />Keep the shop, and thy shop will keep thee<br /><br />If you would have your business done, go; if not, send<br /><blockquote>He that by the plough would thrive,<br />Himself must either hold or drive.</blockquote><br />The eye of a master will do more work than both his hads <br /><br />Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge <br /><br />Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open <br /><br />In the affairs of this world men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it <br /><br />Learning is to the studious, and riches to the careful <br /><br />Power to the bold, and Heaven to the virtuous <br /><br />If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself <br /><br />A little neglect may breed great mischief <br /><br />For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost <br /><br />Keep his nose all his life to the grindstone <br /><br />A fat kitchen makes a lean will,<br /><blockquote>Many estates are spent in the getting,<br />Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,<br />And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.</blockquote><br />If you would be wealthy, of saving as well as of getting: the Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes<br /><blockquote>Women and wine, game and deceit, <br />Make the wealth small, and the wants great.</blockquote><br />What maintains one vice, would bring up two children <br /><br />Many a little makes a mickle <br /><br />Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship <br /><br />Who dainties love, shall beggars prove <br /><br />Fools make Feasts, and wise men eat them. <br /><br />Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries<br /><br />At a great pennyworth pause a while <br /><br />Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. <br /><br />'tis foolish to lay our money in a purchase of repentance <br /><br />Wise men learn by others' harms, fools scarcely by their own <br /><br />Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. [Fortunate the man who learns caution from the perils of others.]<br /><br />Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, as Poor Richard says, put out the kitchen fire <br /><br />For one poor person, there are an hundred indigent <br /><br />A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees <br /><br />A child and a fool, imagine twenty shillings and twenty years can never be spent <br /><br />Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom <br /><br />When the well's dry, they know the worth of water <br /><br />If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some, for, he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing<br /><blockquote>Fond pride of dress, is sure a very curse; <br />E'er fancy you consult, consult your purse.</blockquote><br />Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy <br /><br />'tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it <br /><br />And 'tis as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.<br /><blockquote>Great estates may venture more, <br />But little boats should keep near shore.</blockquote><br />That dines on vanity sups on contempt <br /><br />Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy <blockquote>What is a butterfly? At best <br />He's but a caterpillar dressed. <br />The gaudy fop's his picture just,</blockquote><br />Think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty <br /><br />The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. <br /><br />Lying rides upon debt's back. <br /><br />'tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright, <br /><br />Creditors have better memories than debtors <br /><br />Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times <br /><br />Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Easter <br /><br />The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor <blockquote>For age and want, save while you may; <br />No morning sun lasts a whole day,</blockquote><br />'tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel <br /><br />Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt. <br /><blockquote>Get what you can, and what you get hold; <br />'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold,</blockquote><br />Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that <br /><br />We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct <br /><br />They that won't be counseled, can't be helped<br /><br />If you will not hear reason, she'll surely rap your knuckles." </blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-21717099115115067792009-08-02T07:05:00.000-04:002009-08-21T12:14:54.682-04:00Li-Young Lee and stories in childhoodA couple of marvelous poems by Li-Young Lee. <a href="http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/lee.html"><strong>A Story </strong></a>tells of "the man who is asked for a story and can't come up with one." <strong><a href="http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/lee.html">The Gift </a></strong>tells of one of those archtypal moments that I suspect happens between most fathers and sons when "my father recited a story in a low voice" while rescuing his young son.<br/><br/>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-28979129191276758462009-08-01T06:51:00.002-04:002009-08-21T17:52:56.267-04:00William BlakeHeck, they are all interesting. Here is the complete list of William Blake's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0385152132"><strong>Proverbs of Hell</strong></a>.<br /><blockquote>In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.<br /><br />Drive your cart and your plow over the bones of the dead. <br /><br />The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. <br /><br />Prudence is a rich, ugly old maid courted by Incapacity.<br /><br />He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence. <br /><br />The cut worm forgives the plow. <br /><br />Dip him in the river who loves water. <br /><br />A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees. <br /><br />He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star. <br /><br />Eternity is in love with the productions of time. <br /><br />The busy bee has no time for sorrow. <br /><br />The hours of folly are measur'd by the clock; but of wisdom, no clock can measure. <br /><br />All wholesome food is caught without a net or a trap. <br /><br />Bring out number, weight and measure in a year of dearth. <br /><br />No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings. <br /><br />A dead body revenges not injuries. <br /><br />The most sublime act is to set another before you. <br /><br />If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise. <br /><br />Folly is the cloak of knavery. <br /><br />Shame is Pride's cloke. <br /><br />Prisons are built with stones of law, brothels with bricks of religion. <br /><br />The pride of the peacock is the glory of God. <br /><br />The lust of the goat is the bounty of God. <br /><br />The wrath of the lion is the wisdom of God. <br /><br />The nakedness of woman is the work of God. <br /><br />Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps. <br /><br />The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity, too great for the eye of man. <br /><br />The fox condemns the trap, not himself. <br /><br />Joys impregnate. Sorrows bring forth. <br /><br />Let man wear the fell of the lion, woman the fleece of the sheep. <br /><br />The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship. <br /><br />The selfish, smiling fool, and the sullen, frowning fool shall be both thought wise, that they may be a rod. <br /><br />What is now proved was once only imagin'd. <br /><br />The rat, the mouse, the fox, the rabbit watch the roots; the lion, the tyger, the horse, the elephant watch the fruits. <br /><br />The cistern contains: the fountain overflows. <br /><br />One thought fills immensity. <br /><br />Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you. <br /><br />Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth. <br /><br />The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn of the crow. <br /><br />The fox provides for himself, but God provides for the lion. <br /><br />Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night. <br /><br />He who has suffer'd you to impose on him, knows you. <br /><br />As the plow follows words, so God rewards prayers. <br /><br />The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction. <br /><br />Expect poison from the standing water. <br /><br />You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough. <br /><br />Listen to the fool's reproach! it is a kingly title! <br /><br />The eyes of fire, the nostrils of air, the mouth of water, the beard of earth. <br /><br />The weak in courage is strong in cunning. <br /><br />The apple tree never asks the beech how he shall grow; nor the lion, the horse, how he shall take his prey. <br /><br />The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. <br /><br />If others had not been foolish, we should be so. <br /><br />The soul of sweet delight can never be defil'd. <br /><br />When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head! <br /><br />As the caterpiller chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys. <br /><br />To create a little flower is the labour of ages. <br /><br />Damn braces. Bless relaxes. <br /><br />The best wine is the oldest, the best water the newest. <br /><br />Prayers plow not! Praises reap not! <br /><br />Joys laugh not! Sorrows weep not! <br /><br />The head Sublime, the heart Pathos, the genitals Beauty, the hands and feet Proportion. <br /><br />As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible. <br /><br />The crow wish'd every thing was black, the owl that every thing was white. <br /><br />Exuberance is Beauty. <br /><br />If the lion was advised by the fox, he would be cunning. <br /><br />Improvement makes strait roads; but the crooked roads without improvement are roads of genius. <br /><br />Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires. <br /><br />Where man is not, nature is barren. <br /><br />Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd. <br /><br />Enough! or too much. </blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-7570986009140582302009-07-31T08:24:00.001-04:002009-08-21T19:13:52.709-04:00William BlakeFrom William Blake's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0385152132"><strong>Proverbs from Hell</strong></a>. <br /><blockquote>What is now proved was once only imagin'd. </blockquote><br />See <a href="http://blog.moonshadowecommerce.com/WEBLOG-NAME/Featured_Author/2009/07/joan_aiken.html"><strong>Joan Aiken's </strong></a>comment<br /><blockquote>"Why do we want to have alternate worlds? It's a way of making progress. You have to imagine something before you do it. Therefore, if you write about something, hopefully you write about something that's better or more interesting than circumstances as they now are, and that way you hope to make a step towards it." </blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-18884133580109211022009-07-30T11:11:00.001-04:002009-08-28T16:14:17.065-04:00Jan Morris's House in WalesA collection of Welsh tidbits from Jan Morris' <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0792265238"><strong>A Writer's House in Wales</strong></a>. <br><br/><blockquote>Wherever Welsh people have gone in the world, the image of the cup of tea has gone with them. Even now, in the days of universal junk food, Welsh women like to live up to their reputation. The Olde Welsh Tea Shoppe may have petered out but the old Welsh cup of tea, sweet and strong, is still universally on offer. When Wittgenstein the philosopher stayed in the house of a Welsh preacher the minister's wife urged her hospitality upon him with some diffidence - "Would you like a cup of tea, now, Dr. Wittgenstein? Would you like bread? Would you care for a nice piece of cake? Sonorously from the next room came the voice of the clergyman himself: "Don't ask the gentleman! <em>Give</em>!"</blockquote><br/><br/><br/><br/>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-68347398941000350232009-07-29T07:52:00.003-04:002009-08-28T17:42:53.575-04:00Joan AikenBorn September 4, 1924 in Rye, Sussex, England<br />Died January 4, 2004 in West Sussex, England<br /><br />Joan Aiken - who she? At least I suspect that that is the likely response of most readers this side of the Atlantic. This response despite more than fifty years of literary productivity and more than a 100 books published. Despite awards from just about every corner of the literary field - the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, Carnegie Medal honor award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Mystery Writers of America Award, the Guardian Award for Children's Fiction, etc.<br /><br />Joan Aiken was born September 4, 1924 in Rye, England to her American poet father Conrad Aiken and her Scots-Canadian mother Jessie MacDonald Aiken. Her parents had met while he attended Harvard and she Radcliffe, had married and come to Britain a few years later with two children in tow. Their objective was for their son and daughter to have an English education.<br /><br />It was a couple of years later that Joan was born. By an oversight, her parents neglected to register her birth at the American embassy so she became a British citizen by default; yet one more product of that transatlantic journeying that brings British authors to America for economic refreshment and American authors to Britain for inspirational refreshment.<br /><br />Aiken's childhood was a happy one but not uneventful. Its happiness in recollection is as much a reflection of Aiken's own personality as it is an objective assessment of her circumstances. One element of her childhood years which was resurrected in her later writings was her life in characterful old English homes with fireplaces, creaking plumbing, steep staircases, low to non-existent lighting and no central heating. Mystery and atmosphere were bound up together as they often were in her stories.<br /><br />Aiken's father left the family when she was still not much more than a toddler and ultimately ended up divorcing Aiken's mother. Conrad Aiken was your quintessential struggling poet and so there was no child support to be had from him. At the same time (1929), the Great Depression set in and Jessie Aiken lost her own savings and found herself a foreign national abandoned by her husband in a distant land, with three young children to raise. She resolved this bleak situation by marrying a family friend (in fact one of Conrad Aiken's best friends), the British author Martin Armstrong. Armstrong was apparently not a particularly paternal figure, being very clear that he had no interest in being a father to the Aiken children. Joan Aiken's older brother and sister were packed off to boarding school but the family finances could not stretch to sending three children so Joan was kept home to be tutored by her mother.<br /><br />But what a schooling she received! Jessie Aiken was Radcliffe educated with an MA and an indomitable will. As recounted in a <em>Horn Book </em>article by Lizza Aiken (Joan Aiken's daughter):<br /><blockquote>Jessie was a formidable instructress in every way. The books she read aloud to Joan as a small child, the songs she sang, and her particular style of teaching and day-to-day upbringing had an enduring effect on her daughter. Joan's earliest and indelible literary memories were of sinister scenes not only from traditional children's fare such as <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0723249865"><strong>The Tale of Peter Rabbit </strong></a>but also from Collodi' s original tale of <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0968876803"><strong>Pinocchio </strong></a>and Charles Reade's <em><strong>The Cloister and the Hearth</strong></em>, which was set amid plague and persecution in fifteenth-century Holland. Before the age of five she knew by heart many of de la Mare's haunting <em><strong>Peacock Pie </strong></em>poems (with their stories of loss and mystery, ghostly visitors and vanished children) and the plaintive ballads of Jessie's Scottish ancestry in which old ladies are robbed by peddlers, damsels elope with gypsies, and lords are poisoned by their lovers. As a twentieth-century upbringing, this may sound extraordinary, but Joan took these subjects as a matter of course, and their stories and styles of writing became the foundation of her literary imagination and formed the common language of her relationship with her mother, which was perhaps the most important of her life.</blockquote><br />Joan Aiken did eventually make it into a regular school when she was twelve years old. After a challenging transition, she began to thrive with exposure to her age-peers and to the environment of competition that exists in every school. Unfortunately, with the dislocations of World War II, her school went bankrupt and had to amalgamate with a much larger institution close by. It was an amalgamation that appears to have been somewhat chaotic and to which Aiken did not take. She dropped out of school owing to health issues and resumed learning at home. While successful in many respects, apparently her home tutoring was weak in some fields, particularly mathematics. When she came to take the exams for Oxford, she failed to gain a position.<br /><br />Life for the next few years was full and challenging. She joined the BBC for a while and then moved over to the United Nations information office in London. In 1945 she married Ronald Brown, a young journalist. They had two children, a boy and a girl.<br /><br />Aiken had been writing for herself ever since she first purchased a notebook as a five year-old with the whole of her month’s allowance. In school, she had submitted a couple of poems to a magazine, <em>The Abinger Chronicle</em>, edited by E.M. Forster and Max Beerbohm and received some small payment for them. After starting work at the BBC, she submitted short stories and radio scripts, often based on tales she told to her children and her younger brother, to the BBC and to other magazines earning some money to supplement her income from her low-paying job. Her first book <em><strong>All You Ever Wanted, and Other Stories</strong></em>, a collection of these short tales, was published in 1953. During this period of her life, Aiken and Brown led a somewhat peripatetic existence with frequent moves, including a period living out of a bus on some land near London.<br /><br />In 1955, recapitulating her own mother's earlier circumstances to some degree, Aiken found herself the sole provider for two young children. Her husband contracted tuberculosis, lost his job, and then was diagnosed with lung cancer, passing away that same year. She later commented that her early adult life was somewhat childlike and that she only grew-up when she faced the responsibility of providing for her children in these dreadful circumstances. This was also the year that she published her second book, again a collection of short stories, <em><strong>More Than You Bargained For, and Other Stories</strong></em>.<br /><br />Faced with her husband’s death, accumulated debts, and the loss of their home, Aiken took a job as a story editor at the <em>Argosy </em>magazine. She remained there for six years, earning a marginal living and writing short stories for magazines to supplement her modest salary. Her children were put up with her former sister-in-law at a boarding school which she ran and Aiken was only able to see them on the weekends.<br /><br />Despite this terrible situation, she persevered wither writing. Looking to book writing as a potentially more remunerative source of income than short stories, Aiken pulled out a story she had written when she was seventeen. Reworking and revising it, she was able to have <em><strong>The Kingdom and the Cave </strong></em>published in 1960 and it was moderately well received. Based on this success, she then retrieved the first few chapters of a book she had been working on in 1955 which had been put aside in that tragic year. She instantly re-engaged with her original story-line and very quickly wrote and completed the rest of the book. In 1962 <em><strong>The Wolves of Willoughby Chase </strong></em>was published and launched Aiken on a lifelong career of full-time writing.<br /><br />At this point it might be best to declare that we can't do what we usually do, which is summarize some of the key works of the author and note why they are worth reading. Why not? Well, certainly there is the sheer volume of more than a hundred books written, almost all quite well received. The greater challenge is that Joan Aiken, once she found her literary legs, was rarely bound in by convention. She wrote across ages, genres, styles, and purposes. We’ll come to categories in a moment.<br /><br />Rather than try and summarize so many complexities, it might be easiest to try to identify what she did well and why she was able to attract audiences on both sides of the Atlantic across wide age groups and interest groups. Imagine a combination of Edward Eager (of <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0152053026"><strong>Half-Magic </strong></a>fame), E. Nesbit (of <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=014132161X"><strong>Five Children and It </strong></a>and <em><strong>The Phoenix and the Carpet </strong></em>fame), with some Charles Dickens and Collin Wilkins thrown in, and mesh that with a touch of Susan Cooper and Madeline L'Engle and you begin to get a sense for the kind of writer Joan Aiken was. She was strong on plot, humor, tension, and description. She is noted for her masterful command of language and love of word play. She was constantly aware of the need to hook the reader early and keep things moving and she usually did this very well no matter in which genre she was writing.<br /><br />Aiken wrote for children as a general preference (a few picture books but primarily stories at the independent reader and young adult levels) but about a quarter of her books were novels targeted to adults. Having said that, she was also one of those few authors who can effectively write for two audiences in one book - <em><strong>The Wolves of Willoughby Chase </strong></em>being an example of one of her books equally popular among children and adults.<br /><br /><em><strong>The Wolves of Willoughby Chase </strong></em>was probably her signature book and the first of a dozen in what became known as the James III series. Her distinguishing innovation was to push the bounds of what defined historical fiction into new realms, often called alternate history. In this instance, her story is set in the early nineteenth century England under the Stuart monarchy. In Aiken’s history, the Hanoverians have not taken the throne (as actually happened) but are attempting to do so. In other words, there is much that is familiar but nothing is quite right. You have all the flavor of history but she has cast it into a new world where she is not constrained by the facts of history. As one critic commented, “In a time that never happened, anything can happen." It is an interesting and engaging approach which works well in her hands. Of all Aiken's books, it is probably best to start with <em><strong>The Wolves of Willoughby Chase </strong></em>(currently not available but backordered) or the next in the series <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0395971284"><strong>Black Hearts in Battersea </strong></a>which introduces additional characters that play through the balance of the stories. The next eleven books in the series (not published in chronological order) meander in all sorts of directions but become more and more creative and more fantastically imaginative. One critic described it as Aiken's "wildly baroque imagination."<br /><br />Aiken was keen about children knowing more history which seems odd given how she manhandled it to her own literary ends. But there is no doubt that a reader of these books will likely become more interested and knowledgeable about the facts and relevance of history. She said that she had three goals; 1) to bring "an awareness of the past to children who are often reluctant readers, their ability to concentrate on the printed word impaired by too much screen-watching" 2) to "make them aware how much we owe to the past" so that "It can give us and our children a sense of context; it can show us where we belong in the pattern, what came before, how everything connects", and 3) to "create such an interest in the past, that the child reader will begin to explore their own history, and in so doing, both begin to preserve that past and use the knowledge there acquired to inform their future decisions."<br /><br />Aiken was a master craftsman in her chosen art form. She brought verve, imagination and excitement to all her work. She thought deeply about the skills of writing and used those various techniques in many different settings. As exuberant a celebrator of language as she was, she also was a master of leaving unsaid that which the readers can provide for themselves.<br /><br />Ghost stories, poetry, books for adults, books for children, picture books, folktales, fairy tales, short stories and novels, gothic tales, fantasy, tales of the supernatural, comedy, mystery - she mastered them all. This versatility can be attributed in part to the early lessons from her mother - "Joan might be instructed by Jessie to re-write the Bible as Shakespeare, or produce a poem in the style of Wordsworth or Chaucer; to write a sonnet or a villanelle or take down dictation from The Oxford Book of English Verse."<br /><br />Aiken wrote with a purpose, but never didactically. From her <em><strong>The Way to Write for Children </strong></em>- "Stories ought not to be just little bits of fantasy that are used to wile away an idle hour; from the beginning of the human race stories have been used - by priests, by bards, by medicine - as magic instruments of healing, of teaching, as a means of helping people come to terms with the fact that they continually have to face insoluble problems and unbearable realities." And in another context - "It's the writer's duty to demonstrate to children that the world is not a simple place. Far from it. The world is an infinitely rich, strange, confusing, wonderful, cruel, mysterious, beautiful, inexplicable riddle."<br /><br />Gifted as Aiken was, enthusiastic as she might have been as an exploiter of the breadth of the English language, fundamentally much of her success must be attributed to something in her personality. Where some people are naturally charming, others have a certain charisma which no-one can pin down; Aiken was fundamentally just a good storyteller. This comes across in her essays, articles, and interviews. You just know she would have been a fun person with whom to pass an afternoon chatting. She can be talking about the most prosaic things, but you follow along with interest because, although you don’t know where the conversation is leading you suspect it might be somewhere interesting.<br /><br />From a parental perspective, it is hard to go wrong with her. She scares some children - but only enough to keep them coming back for more. She alerts them to a world of challenges without depressing them. Some of her stories can be incredibly tense and she is quite dispassionate about dispatching a character where the story calls for it but in no way does she rely upon gore or crudity for effect. Most of all, she keeps her readers wanting to read some more, always learning a little bit more about the world that might be.<br /><br />As Aiken said herself, "Why do we want to have alternate worlds? It's a way of making progress. You have to imagine something before you do it. Therefore, if you write about something, hopefully you write about something that's better or more interesting than circumstances as they now are, and that way you hope to make a step towards it."<br /><br />Aiken never became a celebrity author; she was too sensible for that. She just kept writing entertaining books that appealed and still appeal to avid readers everywhere, boys and girls, adults and children. And not just avid readers. With her focus on action and description, she succeeds in catching reluctant readers and carrying them along on her ebulient tide of language, humor, tension and adventure.<br /><br />In 1976 she married again. Julius Goldstein was an American painter and, for the balance of her life, Aiken spent part of the year in his hometown New York City and the remainder of the year in her secure corner of Sussex. Even into her late seventies, she had at least a couple of books on the go every year. She died while still doing what she loved most – writing a good story.<br /><br />This book list is divided into three sections:<br /><br />1) Books for Independent Readers<br />2) Books for Young Adults<br />3) Joan Aiken Bibliography<br /><br /><big><u><strong>Independent Reader</strong></u><br /><style type="text/css">.nobrtable br { display: none }</style><br /><div class="nobrtable"><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="2"><br /><tbody><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0395971284&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Black Hearts in Battersea </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Edward Gorey <strong>Highly Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0395971853&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Nightbirds on Nantucket </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0618070230&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Cuckoo Tree </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0152060944&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Arabel's Raven </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0152060642&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Go Saddle the Sea </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0152060820&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Arabel and Mortimer </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0618070214&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Stolen Lake </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0152060588&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Bridle the Wind </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0152060707&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Teeth of the Gale </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended</strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0440420377&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Witch of Clatteringshaws </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1931520577&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Serial Garden </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Recommended </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=0618196250&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Midnight Is a Place </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table><br /><br /><big><u><strong>Young Adult</strong></u></big><br /><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="2"><br /><tbody><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1402212895&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Mansfield Park Revisited </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=031215707X&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Jane Fairfax </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1402212887&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>Eliza’s Daughter </strong></a>by Joan Aiken <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /><br /><tr><br /><td align="middle"><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><img class="imgBorder" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=buymusic&Password=bt0109&Value=1402212291&Type=M&Return=1" width="68" /></a></td><br /><td><br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc="><strong>The Watsons and Emma Watson </strong></a>by Jane Austen & Joan Aiken <strong>Suggested </strong><br /></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><br /><big><strong><u>Joan Aiken Bibliography</u></strong><br /><br />All You've Ever Wanted and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1953<br />More than You Bargained For, and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1955<br />The Kingdom and the Cave by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Dick Hart 1960<br />The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken 1962<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0395971284"><strong>Black Hearts in Battersea </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Robin Jacques 1964<br />The Silence of Herondale by Joan Aiken 1964<br />The Fortune Hunters by Joan Aiken 1965<br />Beware of the Bouquet by Joan Aiken 1966<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0395971853"><strong>Night Birds on Nantucket </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Robin Jacques 1966<br />Dark Interval by Joan Aiken 1967<br />The Ribs of Death by Joan Aiken 1967<br />A Necklace of Raindrops, and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski 1968<br />Armitage, Armitage, Fly Away Home by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Betty Fraser 1968<br />The Whispering Mountain by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Frank Bozzo 1968<br />A Small Pinch of Weather, and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1969<br />Night Fall by Joan Aiken 1969<br />The Windscreen Weepers, and Other Tales of Horror and Suspense, and Fantasy by Joan Aiken 1969<br />Smoke from Cromwell's Time and Other Stories by Joan Aiken 1970<br />The Butterfly Picnic by Joan Aiken 1970<br />The Embroidered Sunset by Joan Aiken 1970<br />All and More by Joan Aiken 1971<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0618070230"><strong>The Cuckoo Tree </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Susan Obrant 1971<br />The Kingdom under the Sea, and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski 1971<br />A Harp of Fishbones and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1972<br />Died on a Rainy Sunday by Joan Aiken 1972<br />Winterthing: A Child's Play by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Arvis Stewart 1972<br />The Escaped Black Mamba by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1973<br />The Mooncusser's Daughter by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Arvis Stewart 1973<br />All but a Few by Joan Aiken 1974<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0618196250"><strong>Midnight Is a Place </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1974<br />Not What You Expected: A Collection of Short Stories by Joan Aiken 1974<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0152060944"><strong>Tales of Arabel's Raven </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1974<br />The Bread Bin by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1974<br />Voices in an Empty House by Joan Aiken 1975<br />A Bundle of Nerves: Stories of Horror, Suspense and Fantasy by Joan Aiken 1976<br />Castle Barebane by Joan Aiken 1976<br />Mortimer's Tie by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1976<br />Sophie de Segur, The Angel Inn by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1976<br />The Skin Spinners: Poems by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Ken Rinciari 1976<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0152060642"><strong>Go Saddle the Sea </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1977<br />Last Movement by Joan Aiken 1977<br />The Faithless Lollybird and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1977<br />The Far Forests: Tales of Romance, Fantasy, and Suspese by Joan Aiken 1977<br />The Five-Minute Marriage by Joan Aiken 1977<br />Mice and Mendelson by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Babette Cole 1978<br />Street by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Arvis Stewart 1978<br />Tale of a One-Way Street and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski 1978<br />The Smile of the Stranger by Joan Aiken 1978<br />A Touch of Chill by Joan Aiken 1979<br />Mortimer and the Sword Excalibur by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1979<br />The Spiral Stair by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1979<br />The Lightning Tree by Joan Aiken 1980<br />The Shadow Guests by Joan Aiken 1980<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0152060820"><strong>Arabel and Mortimer </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1981<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0618070214"><strong>The Stolen Lake </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1981<br />A Whisper in the Night by Joan Aiken 1982<br />Moon Hill by Joan Aiken 1982<br />Mortimer's Portrait on Glass by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1982<br />The Mystery of Mr. Jones's Disappearing Taxi by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1982<br />The Way to Write for Children by Joan Aiken 1982<br />The Young Lady from Paris by Joan Aiken 1982<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0152060588"><strong>Bridle the Wind </strong></a>by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1983<br />Foul Matter by Joan Aiken 1983<br />Mortimer's Cross by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1983<br />The Kitchen Warriors by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jo Worth 1983<br />Fog Hounds, Wind Cat, Sea Mice (stories) by Joan Aiken 1984<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=1402212895"><strong>Mansfield Park Revisited </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 1984<br />Up the Chimney Down, and Other Stories by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Pat Marriott 1984<br />Mortimer Says Nothing (stories) by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake 1985<br />The Last Slice of Rainbow by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Margaret Walty 1985<br />Dido and Pa by Joan Aiken 1986<br />Past Eight O'Clock (stories) by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski 1986 A Goose on Your Grave by Joan Aiken 1987<br />Deception by Joan Aiken 1987<br />The Moon's Revenge by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Lee Alan 1987<br />The Erl King's Daughter by Joan Aiken 1988<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0152060707"><strong>The Teeth of the Gale </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 1988<br />Voices by Joan Aiken 1988<br />A Foot in the Grave by Joan Aiken 1989<br />Blackground by Joan Aiken 1989<br />Give Yourself a Fright by Joan Aiken 1989<br />A Fit of Shivers by Joan Aiken 1990<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=031215707X"><strong>Jane Fairfax </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 1990<br />The Haunting of Lamb House by Joan Aiken 1991<br />The Shoemaker's Boy by Joan Aiken 1991<br />Is by Joan Aiken 1992<br />Morningquest by Joan Aiken 1992<br />Hatching Trouble by Joan Aiken 1993<br />The Midnight Moropous by Joan Aiken 1993<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=1402212887"><strong>Eliza's Daughter </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 1994<br />Mortimer's Mine by Joan Aiken 1994<br />Mortimer's Pocket by Joan Aiken 1994<br />The Winter Sleepwalker by Joan Aiken 1994<br />A Creepy Company by Joan Aiken 1995<br />A Handful of Gold by Joan Aiken 1995<br />Cold Shoulder Road by Joan Aiken 1995<br />Mayhem in Rumbury by Joan Aiken 1995<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=1402212291"><strong>Emma Watson </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 1996<br />The Cockatrice Boys by Joan Aiken 1996<br />The Jewel Seed by Joan Aiken 1997<br />Moon Cake by Joan Aiken 1998<br />The Youngest Miss Ward by Joan Aiken 1998<br />Limbo Lodge by Joan Aiken 1999<br />In Thunder's Pocket by Joan Aiken 2000<br />Lady Catherine's Necklace by Joan Aiken 2000<br />Shadows and Moonshine by Joan Aiken 2001<br />Song of Mat and Ben by Joan Aiken 2001<br />Bone and Dream by Joan Aiken 2002<br />Ghostly Beasts by Joan Aiken 2002<br />Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Belinda Downes 2002<br />Midwinter Nightingale by Joan Aiken 2003<br />Snow Horse, and Other Stories by Joan Aiken 2004<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0440420377"><strong>The Witch of Clatteringshaws </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 2005<br /><a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=1931520577"><strong>The Serial Garden </strong></a>by Joan Aiken 2008<br />The Dark Streets of Kimballs Green. by Joan Aiken NA<br /><br /></big></big><big><big></big></big>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-9027245478090371962009-07-22T14:39:00.001-04:002009-08-28T17:48:19.869-04:00Mad as the Mist and Snow by W.B. YeatsOne of the pleasures of reading Yeats, at least for me, is that I don't have a huge capacity to read much of his work at a sitting. I much prefer to savour a poem or two for a while and then come back to the bar for some more. Consequently, there is always more Yeats to discover and enjoy. A lifelong treat.<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Mad as the Mist and Snow</strong><br />by W.B. Yeats<br /><br />Bolt and bar the shutter,<br />For the foul winds blow:<br />Our minds are at their best this night,<br />And I seem to know<br />That everything outside us is<br />Mad as the mist and snow.<br /><br />Horace there by Homer stands,<br />Plato stands below,<br />And here is Tully's open page.<br />How many years ago<br />Were you and I unlettered lads<br />Mad as the mist and snow?<br /><br />You ask what makes me sigh, old friend,<br />What makes me shudder so?<br />I shudder and I sigh to think<br />That even Cicero<br />And many-minded Homer were<br />Mad as the mist and snow.<br /></blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827984651175310630.post-60448821852619128392009-07-22T08:30:00.001-04:002009-08-28T17:50:01.413-04:00Dave Barry on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceFrom Ronald Shwartz's <strong>For the Love of Books</strong> which includes an essay by humorist and author Dave Barry about his favorite readings. <br><br/><blockquote>Another book, which everyone was reading in the seventies, was Robert Pirsig's <a href="http://www.ttmd.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=272&upc=0688002307"><strong>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</strong></a>. I remember reading it and thinking "This explains everything, the whole universe, or at least where human beings fit in and how you should live your life." But I could only remember it for about two days. I remember thinking "Boy, I could go take apart a transmission and put it back together and it would work." But I never did it. So, I'm not sure sometimes whether books change your life so much as, every now and then, one comes along that perfectly reinforces the way you already think. That was an example of a book that I thought was going to change my life, and I still think it was a wonderfully written book, but I can't for the life of me remember what the point of it was. I don't really retain what I read, I just love the process of reading.</blockquote>Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629826628363310792noreply@blogger.com0