So as I sat at the table this morning I thought of my fellow teachers who are sitting at the boring meetings and getting smart about the school district and record keeping and insurance changes. I am not there and I can go and do what ever I want today. Hooray for retirement!
The question is what do I want to do? I do have couple of errands and I do want to read a book. I do want to go to the rec center.
I am working on two afghans. I ran out of a color of yarn. I do want to just watch Smallville. (I wonder why I keep on liking to watch the same episodes over and over?) I have two other movies to watch too.
So as far as the novels: East of Eden I had to stop. It wasn't gripping enough. I am reading The Big Sleep and 1984 simultaneously. Neither one is gripping. I want to do some research on the novel I want to write.
There are dishes and tutoring and laundry and ooh yes packing to go on vacation and to a wedding.
What are you doing today?
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
To Kill A Mockingbird
Well I finished novel #one. I don't know if I read this book before but I do know that I have only seen the movie in bits and pieces. I remember the actor who played Atticus, Gregory Peck, and the little girl who played Scout. I could not put it down and longed to stay up late finishing it. That is the kind of novel I want to write. Do you remember reading it? If you read this blog let me know if you read it and if you remember the story line.
Since 1960 when this book was written, I have read many stories about Civil Rights and racial equality. In fact one yer I saw the inequality of the races first hand. But when I was living it, I didn't even recognize it as a problem. In fact one year much later, one of my students asked me, "Why do we always have to read about this problem?" Interestingly, this problem wasn't one that he had personally.
One question I have always wondered, How did the author come up with the title? The answer come when Atticus talks about the Mockingbird. Now that I have read it I plan to answer comprehension questions and look through teacher guides to come up with the higher level thinking skills and questions that deal with those. So I can really study about characters, view points, plots, language, etc.
I have noticed this about living in a small town. There is a townie and student and university and not with the university attitude here in Oxford. This attitude wasn't in Liberty, but there there was an attitude of "Good Ol' Boy". Rather similar to the social classes in the book.
Since 1960 when this book was written, I have read many stories about Civil Rights and racial equality. In fact one yer I saw the inequality of the races first hand. But when I was living it, I didn't even recognize it as a problem. In fact one year much later, one of my students asked me, "Why do we always have to read about this problem?" Interestingly, this problem wasn't one that he had personally.
One question I have always wondered, How did the author come up with the title? The answer come when Atticus talks about the Mockingbird. Now that I have read it I plan to answer comprehension questions and look through teacher guides to come up with the higher level thinking skills and questions that deal with those. So I can really study about characters, view points, plots, language, etc.
I have noticed this about living in a small town. There is a townie and student and university and not with the university attitude here in Oxford. This attitude wasn't in Liberty, but there there was an attitude of "Good Ol' Boy". Rather similar to the social classes in the book.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
The 50 Greatest Novels Written
In preparation for writing I am also reading great novels and so I am beginning with To Kill a Mockingbird. After reading the book I plan to look at it from an author's view point and really study all the things that a good novel needs - a point of view a protagonist an antagonist etc. and keep notes hopefully I can become a better writer this way. I also know that I have already read a good portion of these books but I have not studied all of them for a long, long time. In spite of knowing the basic plot I still find this novel gripping and can't wait to meet the Boo and to see how Atticus Finch acts at the court room.
Another book I just finished was called Tadpole by Ruth White. Obviously not my mother but still the author caught my attention. This one shares a few similarities with To Kill a Mockingbird. I will not go into them here, but I plan to keep a note book with thoughts about both of the books. It is not on the List but it did win an award for children's literature.
Another book I just finished was called Tadpole by Ruth White. Obviously not my mother but still the author caught my attention. This one shares a few similarities with To Kill a Mockingbird. I will not go into them here, but I plan to keep a note book with thoughts about both of the books. It is not on the List but it did win an award for children's literature.
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