Another Year; More Books to Read!

I read 54 books last year.  I don't think I will be reading that many in 2015.  I'm already off to a slow start.  My first and only book on my list so far is "The Coal Tattoo" by Silas House.  I think I read it some years ago but had forgotten a lot of it since I only read for pleasure.  Anyway, it was a very good re-read.

I usually have several books going at one time.  I'm in the middle of one on Kennedy written by one of his staff members whose name eludes me; The Good Soldier Svejk, a WWI satire by a Czech author, Hasek; one on WWII titled "The Postmistress" by Sarah Blake and so on...

I also have the Jewish Study Bible, The Tanakh Translation, because I am going to take a free Yale University Online Class in Religious Studies.  If you are interested in these free online classes on almost any subject, look up Academic Earth.

Booklover's Revenge!

So clever!  Need I say more?

Does This Bother Anybody Else?

"Where Books Come To Life!"

Painting by Christine Kornacki

Isn't this a great picture?  The story the young boy is reading has literally come to life!  This is what happens when a child (or an adult) becomes engrossed in a book.  You can imagine yourself right there with the hero or the heroine.  Your mind drifts away from the daily problems we all face and you find yourself falling into a reverie with words that tell a story.

My bookshop has a couple of sections of children's books.  The best ones are in a bookcase directly on the aisle.  The other books are in a smaller area and I have a sign that lets you know that those books are only 50-cents each.  I want to sell them off and just concentrate on the better ones.

Unfortunately, there are few children who stand there looking at the books.  The children are there with their parents who are shopping for something in particular and are in a hurry.  Though the children are looking at the books, they can't stay because their parents call them away.  "Come on... I don't have all day," they say as they move on down the aisle to check out other shops.  It's a pity.

I don't think the parents even realize that they are teaching the child that books aren't important.  Instead, they stop at the shop further down the aisle and let their children buy some inexpensive toy instead.  I guess the parents are not readers themselves so the bookshop doesn't entice them.

Both parents and children are thereby missing out on one of the joys of life.  Sure, these children can go on to read books electronically...  but it's not the same as holding a hard bound or a softcover book in your hands and using your imagination to bring its story to life.


 

My Favorite Passtime!

Post-election Analysis - Voting them back in!

Loss

Another one of those lovely cemetery angels that I like so much.  I've had this one sitting on my desktop for months and never took the time to share it with you.

This mournful creature can't bear the loss of whomever she is guarding.  "How could this have happened?," she seems to be thinking.  "I can't bear to go on.  What will I do?  Lord, why?  How could you let this happen?  I'll never get over it.  I'll never be happy again.  This person was my life!"

Of course, by her pose, our beautiful angel is expressing exactly what the stone artisan wished to convey: the grief of those left behind.



"Blessed are those who mourn; for they shall be comforted." (Matt 5:4)



~ Beautiful Cemetery Sculptures

 

Okay, so I Trashed a Friend's Blog!

I have been receiving a few odd emails recently.  As any smart computer user does when they are not sure of the source, I deleted them.  The Subject was simply "SOMETIMES".   And then it dawned on me...  Maybe I'd better take a look.

Well, as it turned out, my friend from Ohio had long ago started a blog and I signed up to receive notification of any articles she posted there.  However, she never got her blog off the ground and I had long ago forgotten I had signed up.

I'm so glad I opened that email this morning.  Looks like she is back to writing.  Writing is her thing anyway.  She had been a columnist in her local newspaper back in the day, so now I am looking forward to interesting observations from her.

Maybe that will get me to write more too.



~ Pic found on the Clancy Tucker Blog