Say It Ain’t So, Miley
Day three of THE NO DIET and I haven't hurt anyone yet. At least not in ways that are provable in a court of law.
I appreciate the healthy food tips. Some of you guys have some great eating habits. I really respect that. I don't understand it, but I respect it.
Some time ago I finished favorite YA author Richard Peck's latest A Season of Gifts.
It was very good, and I highly recommend it. Perfect for the Christmas season. It wasn't “can't put it down” good like A Year Down Yonder and Long Way from Chicago, but it was good as in “how can one man create such amazing sentences like this?” good. First of all, the book has my favorite all time character in it, Grandma Dowdel. And she is just as resourceful in this book as ever. The woman is a genius. And the setting is fabulous. Familiar characters from the previous two books make appearances. The book is set in 1958. Bob is a pastor's son, and he and his family move to this new small town in the sticks. Right next door to Grandma Dowdel. Bob watches his dad try to make his way as a pastor and all the responsibilities that fall on him as he ministers to the town–the marrying, the burying, the saving, the feeding, and the lack of income.
In one scene, Mrs. Dowdel has arranged a funeral for the “remains” of an Indian princess. As in all things Dowdel does, there is an ulterior motive. But dad is about to preach to a sold out church for the first time, even though he knows those remains are only as royal as a few chicken bones can be. Here was a favorite line or two:
“I make myself a slave to everyone,” Dad remarked,” to win as many as possible.”
“That's Scripture,” I said to him. “Am I right, Dad?”
“I Corinthians 9:19,” he said.
“Dad, am I going to have to be a minister when I grow up?”
“If you hear the Call, you'll have to answer it.”
“Oh,” I said.
But then Dad said, thoughtful and far-off, “Or you may just want to let it ring.”
Tons of great lines in the book. Check it out for yourself. You can't go wrong with a Richard Peck book. Especially if Grandma Dowdel makes an appearance.
Did anyone watch the animated Christmas special Prep and Landing this week? I thought it was pretty cute. I loved the elve's terminology. For example, Code Red was instead called “Figgy Pudding.” And when one elf was discussing the job of prepping for Santa's landing he said, “Dude, this job is tinsel.” I'm gonna try and work in the word “tinsel” into conversation today. Like “Student, the speech you just did and didn't prepare for? Not tinsel.”
So it might be too late to win a copy of I'm So Sure on her blog, but do check out Krista Phillips' blog for author interviews and book ideas for Christmas. She's running a great series. You can see my interview HERE.
Writer and friend Cara Putman also has a giveaway of I'm So Sure on her blog right now. You can find that HERE.
It's really hard to do, but I have some sad news to share. It seems Miley Cyrus is going to record a cover of Poison's “Every Rose Has a Thorn.” A moment of silence if you will…
I really can't talk about this anymore. Even though I told myself not to, I knew I'd get choked up. There's just been this open, raw wound ever since I read the news. In the name of rock and roll and 80s Spandex Man Pants, somebody please stop her.
Finally, I need your help! I am going to make a major purchase of books for my classroom. What are some GREAT YA or nonYA novels you've read in the last year or so? I'm gonna order some of the much talked about YA titles out there, some Diary of a Wimpy Kid (no, this is not our reading level, but who wouldn't love these books? I did!), another set of Twilight (yawwwwn), maybe all the Percy Jackson books, the Pendragon series? Alex Rider? Some Ted Dekker? Some other Christian fiction titles. Some classics in Latin. (Because my students are THAT smart when they leave my class at the end of the semester.) Nicholas Sparks. James Patterson. Maybe some Sisterhood of the Traveling Jeans That Fit Every Girl No Matter What Her Size? Some uh…what else? And help me come up with some good boy lit. Like stuff with some wizards, blood, things that smell, and portals? Let me know your suggestions!
Sparkle Out-
JEN
