The Land Before Time :: Read Aloud Thursday

Time for another Read Aloud Thursday hosted by Amy at Hope is in the Word.

We actually read this book a few months back but I'm just getting around to mentioning it. Hoping to give a nod to all of our Read Alouds before the end of the year so that I can include them on our list of books read in 2011. I have a few stockpiled that I should get around to talking about.

Bookworm1 is a reluctant chapter book reader. He likes them ok and won't complain too loudly in reading them. But sitting still for a long time and having a story go on and on (and on) is not his favorite thing to do at the moment. He'll read picture books until the cows come home but chapter books slow him down. Whenever I can find a short book that still qualifies as a chapter book, I snatch it up.

Being that he is a fan of the movie The Land Before Time, when I saw a copy of The Land Before Time: The Illustrated Story at Goodwill, I snatched it up. (It's apparently so rare I can't find a link for it anywhere, nor can I find a picture of the cover art.) The total length of the book is 63 pages so it's not incredibly long, but nor is it a simple picture book. Filled with pictures from the movie, it follows the screen version remarkably well. Best yet (in my opinion), it is divided up into nine chapters, each containing quite a bit of text. We read it chapter by chapter over a period of a couple of days and he loved it. (He would have read it all in one sitting but I wouldn't let him.)

I can't really say that I'm a fan of reading "junior novelizations" of movies. I'm not a proponent of that. Or, maybe I just don't like to think that I am. (I've toyed with the idea of getting the junior novelization of Finding Nemo but haven't let myself go that far at this point in time.) I want to encourage him to read, of course, but I'd also like to think he's spending his reading time with quality work. The Land Before Time isn't quality. It's the movie in book form. Having re-watched the movie a time or two, I wouldn't say that it is quality either. However, I would say that the characters are quite memorable. I loved the film growing up so I won't begrudge my children the enjoyment of being able to watch it also! (Carrie Trivia alert: I won a stuffed Spike from Pizza Hut when the original movie first came out and I saved it until very recently when I finally forced myself to purge my old stuff animals.)

Maybe this particular book isn't quality work, but it was quality time with my son. And maybe every so often we can enjoy these "candy" reads. Not all the time, because I do believe that would be unhealthy. But every now and again a treat is nice. Having my son thoroughly enjoy a chapter book is nice. So we'll go with the flow and look for better opportunities in the future.

This Is Home

I've got my heart set on what happens next
I've got my eyes wide and it's not over yet



I've got my memories
They're always inside of me
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
I believe it now
I've seen too much
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
Created for a place I've never known

[Chorus]
This is Home
Now I'm finally where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah, this is home
I've been searching for a place of my own
Now I've found it,
Yeah this is home
Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery
I've seen the enemy
And I won't go back
Back to how it was
And I've got my heart set on what happens next
I've got my eyes wide and it's not over yet
We are miracles
And we're not alone

[Chorus]

And now after all my searching
After all my questions
I'm gonna call it home
I've got a brand new mindset
I can finally see the sunset
I'm gonna call it home

[Chorus]

Now I know, Yeah this is home
I've come too far
No, I won't go back
This is home

(This is Home, Switchfoot)

Why I Hate Biscuit The Dog

Woof, Woof!

Woof, Woof!

Woof, Woof!

Woof, Woof!

Woof, Woof!

WOOF, WOOF!

Bark if you know what I'm talkin' about.

Top Ten TV Shows I've Enjoyed Through the Years

Following Bluerose's Heart's lead here again after reading her post (some time back) on her top ten television shows.

Why am I sharing this on a book blog? Because the things you watch can influence you just as much as the things you read and have an impact on your worldview. (That's why we're supposed to be so careful about what we read and watch, understanding that media of any sort has it's effect! Good and bad.) I'll share my top ten favorite shows over the years to help you to get to know me a bit better as well. heh.

(Plus, let's just confess it now, shall we? It's Monday. Fluffy Monday.)

Ahem.

1. The Practice



I used to watch this when I worked in the District Attorney's office. Loved it. But I didn't watch the entire series as it started creeping me out a bit. The last episode I watched was a cliff hanger one where one of the attorney's was being stalked by a madman. At the time I was working on a gang case and had been followed through a parking lot so it was kinda...freaky. Stopped watching. (But it was a really fascinating show there for awhile!)

2. Matlock



Attorney Andy Griffith? ;D Yes, please! I thought this show was fun.

Just like this one...

#3 - Murder, She Wrote



Apparently when I want to relax in front of the television I like a good mystery. And Angela Lansbury never failed to deliver!

#4 - Rumpole of the Bailey



Rumpole is an awesome older series produced by A&E Home Video and starring Leo McKern as the British Barrister, Rumpole. This show is based on a series of books by John Mortimer of the same title. (The books are fun as well.) I was introduced to this series by, um, an attorney I used to work for...

#5 - Monk

Have you not seen Monk? The OCD police detective, constantly solving murder mysteries? Part comedy, part crime - this series really is quite awesome.

Are you sensing a theme in what I like to watch?!

#6 - Suits



This is a new show. So new that Season 1 is just airing. A friend told us about this one and we started watching it while waiting for the next season of Castle to start. It's about a cocky attorney and a criminal who work in a law firm together. The pilot episode exaggerated the characters but we know that tends to happen. We've been watching a few more episodes and so far we're liking it ok. I hate to say it's filler. Maybe we'll end up really liking it. But right now it's filler. Not bad, but still being tested out. (The attorney angle is appealing. Like I need to spell that out or something.)

#7 - Road to Avonlea



On this post, Road to Avonlea looks like "Which One of These Doesn't Belong?" If you haven't seen this series (loosely based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's Chronicles of Avonlea and Further Chronicles of Avonlea) then I highly recommend it. Yes, even though it is loosely based. I think Sullivan did a marvelous job on this production and I own the whole series and watch them whenever opportunities present themselves. I'm thinkin' I'm going to explore the Avonlea during the next Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge (which is coming up in January!) Stay tuned for more details on THAT as the year winds down.


#8 - While we're off the main theme for television shows on this post, I might as well list The Brady Bunch.



Guilty pleasures. I watched every single episode (on syndication!) growing up and loved it. I haven't seen this show in a very long time and would be interested to watch it through again before my daughter Comes of Age to be introduced. We'll just see. Maybe I'd be horrified by it in watching again, I don't know.

But now we're down to our favorite two shows at the present moment.

#9 - White Collar



This show is awesome from a story-telling perspective. Each episode takes you down twists and turns with FBI agent Peter Burke and ex-con Neal Caffrey. You can't jump into this show mid-way. If you are going to watch it, watch it right. Start at episode one, season one and go from there. Cliff hangers all over the place. Right now we're dangling mid season and it's fingernails on a chalkboard irritating and wonderful at the same time. This is Jonathan's hands down favorite show. (The characters really are awesome. The dialogue is awesome. The plot twists are awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome.)

#10 - Castle



I can hardly sit still while talking about this one. It's our other current (as in, on tv right now) favorite. We don't have cable so we watch this show (and White Collar) on Hulu so we only view episodes after they've already aired. If you get to watch this show "live" do NOT tell me what's happening on it. Follow Rick Castle, a crime novelist, as he follows NYPD's Detective Kate Beckett around the city, solving murders.

I confess I hesitated before we started watching this one. The first season shows some pretty gruesome crime scenes. However, the show's creators ease off after season one and you aren't looking at such hideous scenes nowadays. (I never looked in the first place. But I had to keep my head turned away from the screen for a longer period of time per show in Season One.) Now it's about the dialogue, the mystery, the romance, the adventure and - again - the plot twists and turns! Love it, love it. (Not as much of a continual story as White Collar so you can jump in at any time but you get the bigger picture if you watch it straight through.)

I like watching television series like I like reading books - straight through the series and in order.

Anyway, here's my list of 10 shows. If you want to play along, feel free. Let me know and I'll come read your post and see what entertains, influences and interests you! (Or simply leave a comment below listing some of your favorite series.)

Golden Aspen

"Anne thought those Friday evening gypsyings over the autumnal hills in the crisp golden air, with the homelights of Avonlea twinkling beyond, where the best and dearest hours in the whole week." ~ Anne of Green Gables

I was delighted when I saw these new Golden Aspens Note Cards from Peter Pauper Press. Of course, they make me think of nothing else than Anne and the Island. I can hear the tress rustling when I look at them and I can smell the autumn air. (Ok, maybe I can smell a hint of autumn air right here in Oregon.)

I love the trees.

"But everything in the landscape around them spoke of autumn." ~ Anne of Green Gables

The note cards are perfect for me this fall. I've checked out a few Peter Pauper Press designs but these are my favorites (thus far.) I like these cards, particularly, because they feel more like cardstock and are not made with the glossy paper. (I like using ink gel pens when I write and the glossy cards smear the ink.) These new Golden Aspen cards suit me.

They just breathe beauty.

"September slipped by into a gold and crimson graciousness of October." ~ Anne of Green Gables

And to record one's (more) beautiful thoughts? There is also a Golden Aspens Journal. This particular journal has a magnetic fold-over clasp that keeps it closed. The picture of the aspen trees wrap all the way around the journal so that your eyes never fail to be dazzled and your sighs never cease. (Maybe I shouldn't move to the Island. I'll start over describing everything like Montgomery tends to do. But then, that's her charm, is it not? There should probably be only one Montgomery...)

". . . the mellow autumn sunshine lingered warmly..." ~ Anne of Green Gables

I'm in love with this design.

"They all sat down in the little pavilion to watch an autumn sunset of deep red fire and pallid gold."

Ready for fall and fall greetings.

Thank you, Peter Pauper Press, for your generosity in sending these note cards and journal my way to revel in.

Fall Into Reading :: 2011

Yup, yup, yup! It's time again! Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting her annual Fall Into Reading carnival wherein she invites people to participate for the purpose of wrapping up reading projects and to tie up loose ends before the conclusion of the year. I always like participating in the Fall because it focuses me and makes me really think through what I hope to accomplish before the close of the year. I like participating in the What's On Your Nightstand meme with 5 Minutes for Books because it gives me monthly goals to shoot for. The Katrina comes along and I'm interested in cleaning off my bookshelf and preparing myself to start the year fresh (with Lucy Maud Montgomery.)

So...with all of that in mind I think I'm going to purpose to get to the following books before the year's end:

Review Copies sitting on my shelf awaiting my attention:

1. A Sound Among the Trees: A Novel - I actually wasn't going to take this one, but my rep at this publishing house (who knows me well) urged me to. When she prods I generally listen because we seem to have similar tastes. I've never read anything by Meissner so we'll see. Anyone out there with such reading experience?


2. The Woman Who Heard Color - World War II. That's my reason. The cover art makes me incredibly suspicious. But I'll give it a go and see how far I get.


3. God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? - The title just irritates me so much that I couldn't pass this one up when offered. I have a love/hate relationship in simply staring at this book and I'd really kinda like to get it over with.


4. Why Church Matters: Discovering Your Place in the Family of God - I have much, much higher hopes for this one.


5. Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books - This one is currently on its way to me in the mail and YES I AM looking forward to it. You bet!!! (Crossway.)


Books Off My Bookshelf That I Just REALLY Want to Get To:

6. The Second World War, by Winston Churchill. I mentioned that I wanted to read this in last month's Nightstand post. I'm into the first book in the series, The Gathering Storm, and I'm loving it. It's just long so it's going to be an ongoing project. But worth it in the end, I think.



7. The Grimm Legacy which I also mentioned previously. Jonathan gave this one to me for my birthday and it just looks so fun...and lonely...like it needs company.


8. An Experiment in Criticism, by C.S. Lewis. I either need to stop talking about it or just read it. One or the other.


9. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure - I've already read it (don't fret!) but I've been wanting to re-read it and just haven't made the time. Maybe if I put this one my list I'll make the time.


10. I would like to re-read Betsy-Tacy as part of Sarah's Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge.


I think I'd probably better stop there because no doubt other things will pop up that I think I will LOVE and this Winston Churchill thing is going to take a good bit of time anyway. So that's it, folks. And now I'll take it step-by-step in baby chunks through the end of the year.

Thanks, Katrina, for hosting!

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand

Amy at Hope is in the Word made the statement earlier this year that she heartily believed that Unbroken would go down as her favorite read of 2011. (Actually, she said it might be the best book she's ever read in her life. That's hard to beat, don'tcha think?!) I didn't even bother reading the rest of her review. I knew I didn't need to. I knew I would have to buy a copy of the book and read it for myself after such a recommendation by one of my favorite fellow book bloggers.

So, I bought it. And then I sat on it for months and months and months and every time I mentioned it she would say something like, "WHY haven't you read it yet!" only kinder.

Upon finishing the book I told Jonathan that this was one of those unfortunate moments in time when I mourned the fact that my bloggy friends lived so far away from me. See, if she were local she could have stomped into my home, snatched every other book away from me, shoved Unbroken into my hands and told me that I was not allowed to read a single other book until I had finished this one. Then I would have had to comply - because of course I would have - and I would have been able to dwell on this story for more months of my life than I will ever be able to say that I have. (Wait. Well. I'm sure I'll regret that.)

Suffice it to say, Unbroken is probably going down as one of my favorite reads in 2011 and if I lived next to you I'd probably stomp over to your house, remove all other books from the vicinity, and would demand that you read Unbroken next. Then, of course, you would do so just because you would.

Go ahead. I'm waiting. You might as well accept the fact that I'm going to harp about this book until you do. This is my next Book Mission in life. Consider this fair warning.

Now, I assumed going into this book that it was a novel. It is not. It is narrative history, a true "Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" about a man named Louis Zamperini. Zamperini was an Olympic hopeful when World War II changed everything about his life, who he was, what he dreamed of, and who he ultimately became.

Before you start thinking about how boring history is I'm going to stop you right there and repeat the phrase "narrative history." Laura Hillenbrand wrote the book in the same style as a novel. It looks like a novel, it feels like one, and it even sometimes tastes like one. Except it is all fact and no fiction which will boggle your mind as you read along. It is hard believe the story is true, but Hillenbrand offers up about 50 pages of notes at the very end of the book listing facts and figures. There are footnotes scattered about the book as well offering sources and additional information to help you understand the people, situations and, yes, the history all a little bit better.

I learned more about B-24's than I ever though I could want to know. And when the B-29's rolled out I could have hit the roof cheering! Hillenbrand writes so very well that I actually cared about the makes and models of airplanes. That kind of writing takes talent, folks, and she's got it in spades! She draws the reader in all gentle-like and then stirs their soul, causing them to take on causes and care about the emotions of the past. She paints a picture of the horror of war that will make your blood run positively frigid cold. And then two paragraphs later, the American reader will be out hoisting the flag above their home. Unbroken is a phenomenal story.

Yes, the book is also a difficult read and I'm going to warn you that the first 1/3 of the book might make you wander why on earth I'm recommending it. (I confess to maybe wondering about Amy just a little...) but you'll get to about the halfway point and bells will start going off in your brain. Then you'll complete it and then, well, I'll just reference you back to that bit about thanking me for the experience. It is a book about war so it is not going to be pretty. War isn't pretty. I like the fact that Hillenbrand spells that out for us. I didn't feel as if she were sadistically torturing her reader with unnecessary facts but, rather, she was teaching the reader (subtly!) to be extremely grateful for the past so that we will know what to value in the future.

Hillenbrand gave us history that we can be proud of, grateful for and can stand to learn a thing or two from. Most of all, she breeds gratefulness for all that we've been given as a nation, which comes from all of the places our nation has been.

My one and only regret in reading this book is that my dad isn't around to pass it along to. This is one of those perfect reading experiences that you want to share with the person who you know it will mean a great deal to. My dad would absolutely be enthralled by this book and I would love to share and snicker over certain passages with him. Alas, I cannot do that. My consolation in the grief is that one day he'll get to hear this story for himself. What a thrilling story it is to tell and to hear.

Wait -

So why, exactly, are you still sitting here?

(Many, many thanks to Amy who reviewed Unbroken HERE and adds a thought or two to my own.)