The Tale of Despereaux

by Kate DiCamillo

I finished it. I liked it. I don't think I would have picked it out for myself. It is a book I would read to a class or a child. There was adventure, bravery, evil, darkness and light. It even held nuggets of wisdom:

"Might just as well be happy, seeing as it doesn't make a difference to anyone but you if you are or not..." pg 143

"Forgiveness, reader, is, I think, something very much like hope and love, a powerful, wonderful thing. And a ridiculous thing too...And he said ['I forgive you, Pa'] because he sensed that it was the only way to save his own heart, to stop it from breaking..." pg 207-8

Happily Ever After

I am not far into my current book. Young Despereaux (a tiny mouse) is being condemned to the dungeon for allowing humans to see him and talking to them. He find himself confused.

How, he wondered, had things gone so terribly wrong? Wasn't it a good thing to love? In the story in the book, love was a very good thing. Because the knight loved the fair maiden, he was able to rescue her. They lived happily ever after. It said so in the book....Did the knight and the fair maiden really not live happily ever after? ...Reader, do you believe that there is such a thing as happily ever after? (DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux. Candlewick Press, Massachusetts, 2003, pg58).

What a question to ask. Despereaux is in a very difficult situation. Giving up seems like a good option. How often do we get to this point in life. There must be many who feel giving up, during hard economic times, is a good option. Morale decay of our society may lead us to release the values we hold dear. At this point I wanted to share something with my young mouse friend.
In our most recent General Conference President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the Young Women of the church. The title of his address:"Your Happily Ever After".

My dear young sisters, you need to know that you will experience your own adversity. None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted, and make mistakes. You will learn for yourself what every heroine has learned: through overcoming challenges come growth and strength.It is your reaction to adversity,  not adversity itself, that determines how your life's story will develop. (Uchtdorf, Dieter F. "Your Happily Ever After", Ensign, May 2010, pg 124-127)

I am not too concerned about Despereaux. His name wouldn't be in the title if he didn't come out the hero. He, like all of us need to remember God's promise to His children:

  Ether 12:4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

The Tale of Despereaux

A friend and fellow book-grouper has been talking up this book for a number of months. She isn't the only fan. Her grandchildren also delight in the pages story. Apparently the Newbury Award people also thought it had some merit. The author, Kate DiCamillo also crafted Because of Winn Dixie. 

As I was looking for the book I also found it listed as The Tale of Despereaux being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. As I read more of this I thought..."really, a story about a mouse." Then, I remembered, some of my favorite books are about ferrets.

An other adventure begins...with The Tale of Despereaux

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

I was warned to get past the first four pages before giving up. It did have a rather dark beginning. In my taste, too dark for young-adolescent readers.
Bod, Nobody Owens a young man raised by...ghost, and other haunts in a graveyard. The little subtle sociological references were interesting. Such as a little detail about appropriately addressing someone, depending on the  time period they were from. Illustrating maturity by who Bod interacted with.

I ended the book with a deeper understanding that my taste is not for Fantasy. Yet, I can see how it won a Newbery Award.

Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt

It was hard for me to get into the book. It was an easy read. I liked the first person style. It reminds me to consider the emotions of feelings of another before reacting to their behavior.

I liked the aunt right off. I did no like the response when Chris and another boy held Julie down for Danny to kiss her. Boys being boys, and "it's a man's world." As if women / girls have no rights. My current job may also play a bias into the situation. If I remember right Aunt Cordelia did apologize for her initial reaction.

My favorite part...was when Julie commented that anyone who didn't like Jane Austin was immature.

Over all, I liked the book. It is a reminder that not only life shapes us, but our choices, and how we feel about ourselves.

Who Moved My Cheese?

by Dr. Spencer Johnson

My copy of the book is red with blue binding. It includes a $.99 sticker from a used book store. I was out shopping a number of years ago with a friend. He bought it, because everyone needs to read it. So, he gave it to mee.

It is an easy read. I am thinking I might read it to my students this week. I have shared it with people at work before. I might do it again.

The story is a metaphor about change. In this economy, it is a good read for anyone. I once heard someone say more people fulfill their dreams in a down economy. If they have already lost everything they thought they needed it is easier to risk it all.

http://www.whomovedmycheese.com/

Up a Road Slowly

Yesterday I started reading the book for our May book group. We decided to continue reading Newbery Medal Books. We selected Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt for our current book.

I have only read chapter one, so far. I am already enjoying the style Ms. Hunt using for telling her story. And, I already like Aunt Cordelia. She took the time to sit down and cry with a confused and hurting child.

a new beginning...

I am not a reader. I don't like reading. This knowledge seems to surprise my students.

"A Reading teacher who doesn't like to read?"

Yep, well, a reading specialist. What would all my elementary teachers think? It is an area I might go into more detail on later...
I am struggling with letting do of "I don't like reading". I am trying to do more reading. I even joined a book club. Honestly, I have only ready a couple of the books. (Hurray for Audiobooks). With this group I have read / listened to:

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
The Undaunted by Gerald N. Lund
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Newbery Award)
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Parks (Newbery Award)This will be the place dedicated to my ramblings about my readings.