Faerie Tale, Fiction, and Fact

I am often asked how I choose a book. This one attracted me because of the title and the picture on the cover, which...haunted me. I bought it, along with several other books, from Half-Price Books (second-hand books). I didn't read it right away, but I never put it on my bookshelf. I left it laying out where I could see it. I just knew I needed to read it...when I felt my heart was ready.

I began reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: A Novel of War and Survival by Louise Murphy a couple of weeks ago and finished it when I was on a plane to Italy last week. After I finished it, I had no desire to begin my next book right away. I wanted to think about the characters in the novel and what I'd learned from them. It was one of those books where I wanted to hold it in my hand and just marinate in the story. I knew my heart had to be ready for this journey into war, and I was right. 

I always find it difficult to suggest a book that talks about the horrors of war. It isn't an easy subject to read about, but I believe it's important to know about. We don't want history to repeat itself. I appreciate that, while the author had to write about a difficult topic, the scenes of horror were not overly done and too detailed. While the book refers to the story of Hansel and Gretel, this book is no faerie tale. However, like any life - no matter how difficult - it still has miraculous and magical moments.

The story is set in Poland during World War II. It begins when a Jewish family is running from the Nazis. The little brother and sister are sent into the forest alone by their father and stepmother in order to save the children's lives. The children are told they must forget their Jewish names to save themselves. No one must know they are Jewish. As they are told to run, the children panic and begin to worry what names they should use. The stepmother remembers an old faerie tale and the only "non-Jewish" names she can think of are Hansel and Gretel.

Once the parents send the children off into the woods, they go in the opposite direction - hoping to lure the Nazis away from Hansel and Gretel. This is where the children's journey begins and their journey is both difficult and wonderous. Even in the worst situations of war, children hope for the best and look for magic. They are, after all, children.

It is amazing how the author weaves the faerie tale of Hansel and Gretel into a historical fiction tale of war and survival. Murphy draws an amazing parallel between the fantasy story and the realities of war. I am so glad I read this book, even though it sometimes broke my heart. I wondered why I had never heard of it and no one had ever suggested it to me.

I read an interview with the author after reading the book. Murphy talks about the research she did into the Holocaust and how difficult a subject it was for her to write about. She stated that, while she is glad she wrote it - the story deserved to be told, she said she would never write about this topic again. It was just too difficult.

This novel is powerful and moving and, yes,...magical. How could it not be? After all, the love one human being has for another is a special kind of magic we can't see, but we know it's there when we see the sacrifices they make for each other - and the reality of how strong and resilient the human spirit can be, in the most difficult of times, is one of the most magical things in life.

Long Time No Blog...or...Viva Italia!

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in awhile, but...I unexpectedly decided to take a trip to Italy to visit a friend of mine. Now, I don't usually just pack up and take off like that, but...I had spent a week in a teacher training class and had one week left until the "gearing up for school" time started. Taking one last fun trip before the academic year started up sounded like a good idea,...and it ended up being a GREAT idea!

I've never been to Italy, and I really enjoyed staying with my friend, Dianne, and her family. Everything I saw was lovely, and everything I ate and drank was delicious! I made some new friends, enjoyed the great outdoors, and tried to learn a little Italian. I visited a cathedral, a castle, an all day spa, and Milan! 

Not only did Dianne "give" me Italy, she also treated me to a trip to Switzerland one day! We took a ferryboat and went up Lago Maggiore to Locarno, Switzerland. The boat ride was really wonderful and a great way to see other small lakeside towns, as we headed up the lake. Once we were in Switzerland, we did a little shopping and enjoyed a delightful lunch overlooking the harbor. We also toured the sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso and, of course, bought a good bit of  Swiss chocolate. :)

It would be hard to say which adventure was my favorite. I can honestly say I enjoyed it all! I must admit, though, that I have a special place in my heart for Lago Maggiore. I marveled at its beauty every time I saw it. The water was blue and clear and sparkling. Every time I swam in it, I was in awe of the mountains surrounding me. I pinched myself, literally, to make sure I wasn't dreaming when I swam with swans, as I looked up at the castle across the lake. 

 

Best of all, the fun was shared with my friend, Dianne, who made me laugh and made me feel right at home. She was also kind enough to share her friends with me. I've never met such a fun group of women who accepted me so readily. Dianne said it is the culture of the "ex-pats" - people who know what it's like to be in another country that isn't their own - to easily accept others and make them feel welcome. Or, as one of Dianne's friends humorously put it when she first met me, "You'll find this is a really nice group of ladies. Not a bitch in the bunch." :)

Now, it's almost time for me to prepare for the new school year. We have 'camp' one day this week to meet our new sixth graders, and next week will begin the teachers' week of inservice. Things will start getting back into a routine soon enough. 

(Sigh)

In the meantime, I'm going to treat myself to long mornings with lots of coffee, extra reading time, and lovely afternoon naps. 

Life is good...

ENOUGH!!!

I don't usually use my blog to rage, but I have held my tongue the past few times I've wanted to speak-up...until I want to explode!

How difficult is it, in this day and age of technology, to check information before you spread it all over the internet? I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to check legitimate, reliable sources, which are available at our fingertips...any time of the day or night, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Does it?

Well, DOES IT?!?!

I suppose when the school year is in session, I don't have the spare time to read the absolute nonsense that people post on the internet, especially on social media. I guess it's a good thing I don't, or I would find myself raging quite often...and would want to track people down via their IP address and give them a piece of my mind face-to-face!

In an effort to be reasonable, let me explain...

I teach sixth grade students. I expect them to walk in my classroom, quite often, and spout off about whatever recent rumor, chain email, celebrity gossip, or unfounded claim they've read on their social media newsfeed. I expect it, I'm prepared for it, and I take the time to teach my students about checking sources, not believing everything they read, and knowing how to track down information. I tell them that spreading a lie makes them a part of it.

While I expect this kind of poor judgement from eleven and twelve-year-olds, I do not expect it from grown adults. Children are still learning about how to decipher good information from bad information. Grown adults should have learned this by now. You don't have to be a researcher...or a teacher...or have a college education to know how to put a little effort into finding out if the information you so readily "copy and paste" to your Facebook site is actually - even remotely, even just a little bit - TRUE.

Are you concerned what you're posting may be untrue, but you don't really know how to make sure if what you're reading (and passing on to everyone else as the truth) IS really true or not? No problem. Let me help you out. Here is a simple video from Youtube. No worries, it's a little more than three minutes long. It might actually take less time to watch it than it does for you to read misinformation, believe it, and copy and paste it to pass it on. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guO2iLm1bXc

By the way, the video is from Australia. I enjoy the young lady's presentation and her accent. If you don't like that one, there are plenty more. Just search Youtube for videos on how to find reliable resources.

Remember when I asked you a couple of paragraphs back, "Are you concerned what you're posting may be untrue..."? If your answer, in your own mind, was a smirk and something along the lines of, "I don't really care if what I post or tweet or write is true, even though I'm passing it off as being true...and may even believe it's true...without knowing," then let me say to you what I say to my students:

You have a responsibility to this world to be a good citizen, to acquire knowledge and add something to the world around you. If you aren't adding something positive to the world around you, then you are taking away from it or adding something negative. 

Now, for my students, I try to encourage them to make good choices. They are children, they are still learning. There is hope for them. I believe there is hope for us all.

However, should you choose to take away from the world or add something negative to it, please make sure you are not "friends" with me on Facebook...or in real life, for that matter. Make sure you don't pass on negative chain emails to me or ignorant statistics about what is going on in the real world I am a part of and know how to check your statistics and unfounded rumors against reliable sources.

I realize there is nothing I can do about all the ignorance that abounds on the internet. I can, however, control the flow of ignorance my own eyes read on my social media and my emails. I can, and do, control what I watch on television and the books I read. I believe, as I tell my students, that when you take in "brain garbage" then garbage is what your brain gives you back.



Please help stop ignorance! It really is a growing epidemic. Check your sources. If you don't want to do that, then don't pass on the information.

Enough already.

Have YOU read Atlas Shrugged?

For those of you who prefer to skim text, I have bolded the main points of this blog. I have my reasons...and they will become clear at the end.

Every time someone asks me, "Hey, have you ever read Atlas Shrugged?" it's usually by someone who hasn't read it, but has "heard" about it. I've been asked this more since the Tea Party movement has taken up waving the Rand flag. While I'm not a political commentator (well, at least, not on this blog), I have a serious problem with anyone who takes quotes out of context to suit their own purposes. This problem stretches to all groups of people, not just politics.

I don't want to discuss what people use Rand's literature for. Heck, I don't even care to talk about what she used it for (her own soapbox, so to speak). What I want to talk about is Rand's two major works and one smaller one. I'm tired of people asking me if I've read Atlas Shrugged, but they have no idea what The Fountainhead is, much less about a little book she wrote called Anthem.

I'm also not going to give you the history on the books. Don't be lazy, it isn't like you have to go to the library and look it up in the reference section. If you're reading this blog, you have internet access and a computer at your disposal right now. Go look it up,...but not yet. I have a "suggested journey" for you, if you don't mind. If you've never researched Rand or her novels, let's hold off a bit and save some surprises for later. 

If you are interested in reading one of Rand's books, I would like to guide you...in the direction of least resistance. I fear that if you read Atlas Shrugged first, you will lose heart and give up on Rand. I am so glad I did not read that one first. I don't think I would have enjoyed my journey into Rand's world if fate had not smiled upon me and led me in a good direction.

Begin by reading Anthem. It is a fiction novella about a dystopian society. It is short (roughly...80 pages?) and to the point. I've read this book numerous times, and I can apply it to society in many different ways. I'll be honest, I read this one first because it's the smallest. It's tiny, in fact, when compared to Atlas Shrugged. I have a friend who constantly reminds me that "clear and concise" writing is the way to go. Anthem is a good testament to his point.

Next, you should read The Fountainhead. Yes, I know - it won't be noticed nearly as much on your bookshelf, and none of your acquaintances are going to ask you, "Hey, have you read The Fountainhead?" but this novel is worthy of your time. It's a great story, has good characters, and it flows to give you a solid movie in your head. It's a good book. Period. 

I will confess here that it is one of my favorite books, and I have read it more than once. I also admit, as I have in previous posts, our own experiences and the connections we make to a novel enhance our reading journey. I do not claim you will put this book among your favorite, I do stand by the claim it is a book you will enjoy...just because it's a good read.

Now, before you read Atlas Shrugged, you need to do a little research on Ayn Rand. Dig in to her life - find out where she comes from, what her life was like, and how she lived. Look at how the books came about, her inspirations, and the timeline of when all her books were written and how they were received. If you like, there are also documentaries available. I have watched two of them and, in conjunction with the research I'd already done, found them enjoyable. Of course, keep in mind, I am a research geek. :)

Now, once you have - at least - a small grasp of who Rand was, read Atlas Shrugged. If you are not an avid read, take it in small doses. Don't let the size of the novel scare you off. Here's something else, though,...if you get bored in certain parts - you're not alone. It IS a good story, BUT it's almost as if Rand forgot about clear and concise writing. It is a bit "preachy" - redundantly so. The story drags out too long, and I just keep thinking that a good editor could have really done something for this novel. I have wondered, more than once, if Rand was just driven to make a point - not only about her philosophy, but about how looooong she could make a novel.

Now, I don't claim to be a Rand expert. I do claim to be an excellent reader. I also understand people who are not excellent readers. My heart's passion is to help middle school students who struggle with reading. I try to consider all readers when I review a book. While I am a "born bibliophile," I know that everyone is not. That being said, everyone could read and enjoy Anthem. People who enjoy reading will like The Fountainhead. People who are avid readers will appreciate the story in Atlas Shrugged and forgive Rand (as they muddle through) for not choosing and trusting a good editor.

Now, like Rand, I could use a good editor myself. I tend to ramble sometimes, which is why I have patience when some writers do. I appreciate clear and concise, recognize it when I see it, and can write that way when the need arises. It's like I tell my students about my Southern accent, "I know I'm doing it. I am able to speak more clearly, concisely, and formally. I choose not to, unless an occasion calls for it, because I like me this way." ;)

To show I am aware and appreciate clear and concise writing, I bolded the main ideas of this blog so you could get the highlights without having to read all the commentary my brain adds to it. You see, I understand all the ways people take in information - detailed or not. As long as you're reading, what and how you read is simply a matter of preference...and freedom of choice is the freedom I enjoy most.

Thank you for choosing to read my blog. :)

By the way, I should mention my usual response to the "Atlas Shrugged question" is a shorter version of what I've written here. When I'm asked by someone visiting my home (usually while they're looking at the books on my bookshelves), I offer to let them borrow my copy of Anthem to start them on their journey. In fact, my copy is currently checked out to someone. Perhaps, I should keep a few spares...

Another Good Summer Read!

Can you believe it? I scored another good summer read from a first time author - and it was another random pick! I just LOVE that! I just finished (and by "just" I mean "just put it down") The Mourning Hours by Paula Treick DeBoard, and I really liked it! 

Why did I pick it? Well, I liked the cover because I am sentimentally attached to fireflies in mason jars (part of my childhood), I was intrigued by the play on words for the title, and the preview on the back of the book interested me. There were no reviews or recommendations on, or in, the book - so, I almost took it as a challenge. I also liked her dedication page. I suppose I felt a common bond with an author who writes, "For my Tea Time friends, because I always said I would." My book club friends can relate to that, as they try to encourage me in my writing endeavors. ;)

Now, to sum it up and not give anything away...

I read this novel in a few days (of course, I'm a teacher on summer break). I usually like to sprinkle a few shorter reads in between big novels or series. I knew this would be one of my shorter reads. While it wasn't a difficult read, it was an interesting one! The first couple of chapters didn't flow for me at first, but once I got into the main story, the storyteller did a good job of pulling me in to the family's life.

The narrator of the story is an adult woman who is having to return to her childhood home because something has happened. As the reader, we don't yet know what that event is. The trip "back home" takes the narrator back in time to when she was nine and tragedy struck her family. She tells the story of what happened and how it changed her life, and the life of her family, forever. The back of the book states, "The Mourning Hours is a gripping portrayal of a family straining against extraordinary pressure, and a powerful tale of loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness."

One more thing I just have to mention. It was only after I purchased the book that I noticed the publisher was Harlequin MIRA. Harlequin? Really? I only associate them with romance novels. So, researcher that I am, I looked it up. Some of the information I found seemed to indicate that this part of Harlequin publishing focuses on "relationship novels," but I did find some references to "romance" on other books published under the "MIRA" label. That being said, let me assure you The Mourning Hours is not a romance novel. 

I hope you'll give Ms. DeBoard's novel a try! I also hope you give other new authors a try from time to time. I love to go to bookstores that have a special section dedicated to new writers. Classics are great, national bestsellers are usually a good bet, but...sometimes, be sure you're giving the unknown a try. I'll tell you what I tell my students, "A careful, good preview of any book should usually result in a good read." :)

If you'd like a little more info: http://www.paulatreickdeboard.com/mourning_hours.html

Extraordinary Circumstances

Wow! I mean, really,...WOW! Have you ever finished a novel and been completely worn out from the intrigue of it all?! I just finished City of Women by David R. Gillham, and I find it hard to believe this is his debut novel! (Should I insert another "wow" here?)

First, let me say, this book was a random pick for me. I have plenty of books at home I could choose from (ummm, don't we all??), but I was at Sam's Club the other day getting groceries annnnnnnd...just happen to cruise by the book section. Innocent enough, right? I wasn't really attracted by the cover, which is what usually pulls me in, but I was attracted by a combination of three things on the front: the top portion quoted a reviewer saying, "If you're a fan of well-written historical novels..." (Ding!), the title was City of Women (Ding!), and the author was a man (Ding! Ladies and gentlemen, we may have a winner!). Now, those three things separately don't mean anything, but together? Together they mean I'm interested enough to pick it up and read the back, the reviews, and the first page or two...or three.

I liked what I saw in my preview of the book, and it sealed the deal for me when the reviews mentioned it was the author's debut novel. I like giving newbies a chance. It's good karma, so to speak. I don't actually read about the authors when I choose the books. I don't want to know about them until I read their novel. I guess you could say I like to focus on just the story and save any "ah-ha" moments about the authors for later. I do tend to research many things, especially with historical fiction, after I read a good book.

As you know, I will not give the plot away - no spoilers here! I will say, though, for my friends who read the last few pages of a book first (you know who you are), do not do that with this one! It's a rare find when a book has so many twists and turns I don't figure out how it's going to end halfway through. This book is worth the wait to follow all the characters through to the end. They are also the kind of characters you will think about long after you've finished the novel.

If you're interested, you can always preview a bit of the book online. I don't like to do that, though, because there are too many spoilers. It's like watching a movie trailer that no longer requires you see the movie to know the entire plot and, usually, shows the only funny parts. I will, instead, quote what the author, David R. Gillham, writes in the back of the book about why he wrote it. Hopefully, that - along with my recommendation - will whet your appetite if historical fictions are a genre you enjoy!

   "This book came about from my desire to write about history and about ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
    I have always been captivated by history. Not just its broad sweep, but also its intimate corners, where the shadows gather. And Berlin, during the Second World War, was a city defined by its shadows. It provided the perfect setting for people making difficult decisions in their daily lives that could reshape their future in a heartbeat."

I will tell you it isn't a "pretty" story. Stories about war never are. It is one of those books that I find myself telling someone, "It's a good book, but it is not a pleasant subject." If you are a fan of books like The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas or The Kite Runner, you know what I mean. This novel, like those, makes you think and ask yourself, "If I were in those circumstances, what would I do? What would any of us do?" Good food for thought,...and it's important to feed your brain!

Oh, and one more thing...

For those of you who are curious about why those three combinations were "a winner" in this case? It is because the front cover looked too much like a romance novel, which is not (I repeat, not) my kind of novel. I don't have anything against them, of course. I am also not ashamed to admit that I've read a few and enjoyed them for what they were. It's just that summer is valuable reading time for me, and I only read romance novels when I'm looking to waste my time. You know, like watching old reruns of some lame show you didn't really like the first time you saw it, but you're watching it again because you don't feel much like thinking - and, who knows, it might give you a laugh or two - so you sit down with a bag of chips, a can of soda, and zone out. Yes, like that.

So, before anyone sends me hate emails about "the author was a man" part of my statement, please know I love women authors! I stated it was the combination that was important. In other words, if I had seen the cover picture, the title, and a woman's name as the author, I would have assumed it was a romance novel and probably wouldn't have even given it a second glance. I'm just being honest. You do want me to be honest, don't you? I mean, if you're looking for a faerie tale, you're in the wrong aisle of the bookstore right now. ;) 

Happy Reading!

Processing

You did what?!

Our youngest daughter, Cynthia (who is 19), told us a couple of weeks ago that she joined the Navy and would ship out for boot camp on July 15th. She knew we would try to talk her out of joining the military, so she decided not to tell us until she'd signed her final paperwork. To say I was shocked...would be an understatement. The ins and outs of how all of it came about, and the details that lead up to her decision, do not really matter at this point. What's done is done.

Suffices to say, I love my daughter more than life itself and stand by any choice she makes for her life. She was raised to be her own person, and she is doing just that - being her own person. We will all learn to live with the choice she made,...even me. Even though I don't like it.

Now, I don't say that for you to pass judgement on me or how I feel about it. I'm telling you this to be honest. I never expected, when I gave birth to three daughters, to have a child who joined the military. It just wasn't something I was prepared for. I respect people who serve in the military, and I am grateful for their service. I just didn't want my baby girl to be one of them. My father served in the Air Force, my father-in-law served in the Army, and my son-in-law served in the Marines. Again, I am grateful for their service. I just didn't want my baby girl to join the elite club of veterans in my family. Of course, as a parent, I know we don't always get what we want. Our children have minds of their own.

Enough said about that, moving on...

processing - to put through the steps of a prescribed procedure

My husband and I spent a good six hours on Monday with our daughter at the processing center in Dallas yesterday. This is where recruits finish up final paperwork, take another drug test, and have their final swear-in. Truth be told, it's a lot of "hurry up and wait" - something I've been told the military is famous for. Once all recruits have been processed, they ship them out on a bus to the airport to fly them to their various boot camps. Where you fly depends on what branch of the military you joined. The processing center is for all military branches.

We were the first family members to arrive that morning, though not the last, and we had the opportunity to get to know some of the other recruits sitting around in the waiting room. There are several different waiting areas in the processing center, but we were in the main one - in the middle of the room - where the rows of chairs face each other. Needless to say, it's conducive to conversation.

Being the true social person she is, Cynthia had already gotten to know some people. We found out, in a room full of recruits, only nine of them were for the Navy and three of those (other than Cynthia) were female. All the rest of the recruits were going to the Army or the Marines. Cynthia had made friends with the Navy recruits and a few others from the Army.

I really enjoyed getting to know the new recruits. They explained why they chose to go in which branch and what they hoped to specialize in. I heard about their families and how their parents felt about their choice to join the military. We talked about movies and photography and favorite foods. We laughed at Cynthia imitating her favorite television commercial - more than once. I watched them eat snacks, drink down sodas, and play on their phones. They were all very aware those things would be unavailable very soon.

It would be hard for me to tell you what those six precious hours meant to me. It would be even harder for me to tell you what it would have meant to so many of those young people if just one family member had shown up to see them off  and sit with them during their time at the processing center. You could see it on their faces, you could hear it in their voices. One young man looked at me, after he got off his cell phone, and said, "My mom was supposed to be here, but she couldn't get off from work. But...she was supposed to be here. I know she'd be here if she could." He walked away for a bit before coming back to the group.

processing - to gain an understanding or acceptance of; come to terms with

The time I spent at the center with those young recruits gave me time to process, too. It was time I needed to absorb the commitment my daughter was making for the next four years of her life. It was time I needed to understand some things about her and the people she would go to boot camp with and serve with. I had really been having a hard time accepting Cynthia's choice to join the military until those young people touched my heart.

When the time came to "ship out," all 88 recruits lined up to head to the bus. All family members were told to go outside by the bus and wait. As my husband and I stood in the parking lot, I felt tears come to my eyes when I saw those recruits walk out in a line. They all looked so young to me. We made our way back towards the end of the line where our daughter was lined with her new friends. The commanding officer gave the command, "Recruits, if you have family members here, fall out - give them a hug and tell them you love them." We both reached for Cynthia to give her one last hug. After we did, the commander said, "Recruits, if you do not have family here but you feel you need a hug, fall out - I'm sure the family members here would be happy to give you one." My husband and I happily hugged some of the other recruits, we wished them well, and told them we knew they would do great!

Before that day, I didn't know what a military processing center was, much less what it was for. It was my assumption, once I was aware of it, that it was a center where recruits go through the final steps of completing their paperwork. While that is one of its purposes, I no longer think it is the most important one. I believe its purpose is to allow time for recruits to process the commitment they've made and what their life is going to be like for the next four years. Six to eight hours of sitting around in a room, bored out of your mind, gives you some time for reflection and anticipation about the next steps you're taking in life.

For me, personally,...I had a unique processing time of my own. Things happen for a reason, you know. I am grateful to the young people who helped me at the center, just by being themselves and sharing their lives with me. I remember all their names, have pictures of all their faces, and they are forever imprinted on my heart.

I am proud of my daughter - of course, I always have been. She is who she is. I would never want her to be someone else for me. I will worry about her, I will miss her, and I will love and support her as she embarks on this new journey. I will pray for her safety and well-being and happiness, as I have always done.

A mother's journey is not an easy one. Our first instinct is to protect our children. When we sense danger, our first reaction is to hold our child close and shield them. As they get older and become more independent, it is a struggle to deny that instinct - no matter how old they are - and even when we know we should. We eventually get better at it, but it takes time...

What can I say? It's a process.

On their way to boot camp

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