Quote:
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference" (Frost 634).
Response:
This has to be one of the most famous and frequently quoted of Frost's poems...and rightfully so. There is much wisdom packed in this brilliant symbolic work. I particularly enjoy the last three lines because they remind me of my husband, who epitomizes the social non-conformist. I think that I married him because he has always taken the "road less traveled." He is an individual thinker and welcomes challenges in life with open arms. My children look up to him for this, and I encourage them to do so. I only hope that I can keep up with him on that "road less traveled." Sometimes it's a bumpy ride, but it has indeed "made all the difference."
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Blog Entry 12: Poem Paraphrase
The poem I chose to paraphrase this time is “The Parish Register” (Crabbe 594). I initially conjured up images of a couple of kids playing “wedding.” However, as I retraced my reading and mulled through the poem a second time, I noticed that the Kennedy textbook indicated that it was depicting a “shotgun wedding” (Kennedy 594).
I found this poem to be quite humorous as the groom’s sluggish resistance and anger over a dumb mistake is quite obvious. I knew a few grooms who found themselves in just such a predicament. I suppose it’s really not that funny, but Crabbe did a great job capturing the setting.
“The Parish Register” Paraphrase:
Next up is a pair who had no luck.
They were brought here today because their strong passion led to no option other than marriage.
The bride walked in with a long dress that hung loosely on her body.
This was intentional so that no one would notice her condition.
The groom was just a young man who shuffled around and hid, while pacing in the back.
Finally, he peeked out to see if it was time.
He was both ashamed and angry.
He was a bit confused, and in a slightly drunken state, reluctant to move.
However, he quickly performed his duty.
But he did not look happy. He was angry.
I found this poem to be quite humorous as the groom’s sluggish resistance and anger over a dumb mistake is quite obvious. I knew a few grooms who found themselves in just such a predicament. I suppose it’s really not that funny, but Crabbe did a great job capturing the setting.
“The Parish Register” Paraphrase:
Next up is a pair who had no luck.
They were brought here today because their strong passion led to no option other than marriage.
The bride walked in with a long dress that hung loosely on her body.
This was intentional so that no one would notice her condition.
The groom was just a young man who shuffled around and hid, while pacing in the back.
Finally, he peeked out to see if it was time.
He was both ashamed and angry.
He was a bit confused, and in a slightly drunken state, reluctant to move.
However, he quickly performed his duty.
But he did not look happy. He was angry.
Blog Entry 11: Quote-Response
Quote:
"We poets in our youth begin in gladness,
But thereof come in the end despondency and madness"(Wordsworth 567).
Response:
This quote grabbed me as I believe that Wordsworth summed up the stark contrast between a youthful outlook and adult reality, not just for poets but for people in all walks of life. Children tend to look at life through rose-colored glasses. They have very little responsibility and their biggest worry is whether or not they will have enough time to play after dinner. Adulthood eliminates such innocence through sudden independence, responsibility, and daily stress.
Just today my 13 year old son asked me why adults sometimes act like children. I had to explain to him that if we didn't, we might blow a gasket. I told him that an occasional flirt with childhood is necessary for adults because of the enormous daily strain which accompanies adulthood. I added that some just forget to return to reality.
No wonder poetry written by adults is frequently dark and depressing. Daily life can drive us quite mad at times! Wordsworth hit harsh reality square on the head with this one.
"We poets in our youth begin in gladness,
But thereof come in the end despondency and madness"(Wordsworth 567).
Response:
This quote grabbed me as I believe that Wordsworth summed up the stark contrast between a youthful outlook and adult reality, not just for poets but for people in all walks of life. Children tend to look at life through rose-colored glasses. They have very little responsibility and their biggest worry is whether or not they will have enough time to play after dinner. Adulthood eliminates such innocence through sudden independence, responsibility, and daily stress.
Just today my 13 year old son asked me why adults sometimes act like children. I had to explain to him that if we didn't, we might blow a gasket. I told him that an occasional flirt with childhood is necessary for adults because of the enormous daily strain which accompanies adulthood. I added that some just forget to return to reality.
No wonder poetry written by adults is frequently dark and depressing. Daily life can drive us quite mad at times! Wordsworth hit harsh reality square on the head with this one.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Blog Entry 10: Song Quote Response
Two of my greatest blessings...
Song Quote:
"Because I have been given much, I too must give.
Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.
I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,
who has the need of help from me (Crowell)."
Response:
This is one of my favorite hymns; not because of the tune or the melody, but due to the profound message contained in the lyrics.
I feel that my life has been blessed in so many ways that I want to give to those who do not share my good fortune. I do not mean that I need to give money to every needy person that I encounter on the street corner either. Money is easy to give. I often feel the need to give of myself, which is a thousand times more difficult at times.
I suppose that is the primary reason I chose the career path that I find myself blessed with. My job pays very little, but having the opportunity to give to others holds immeasurable value. The satisfaction that comes from the daily hugs, genuinely expressed love, and the smiling countenance of a child brings joy to my very soul. Those are the images that flood my mind as I recall the poetic words that emit from this heart-warming song.
Blog Entry 9: Haiku
I chose to write a Haiku. I think that a lot can be said in just 17 little syllables, so here goes...
If Haikus had titles mine would simply be entitled, HOMEWORK.
Headaches taunt my brain
Late nights rob me of my sleep
Days merge into one
If Haikus had titles mine would simply be entitled, HOMEWORK.
Headaches taunt my brain
Late nights rob me of my sleep
Days merge into one
Monday, October 19, 2009
Blog Entry 8: Poem Paraphrase
The poem I chose to paraphrase from the Kennedy textbook is Ted Koosher's "Abandoned Farmhouse"(788-789).
There was a pair of large shoes found on a pile of broken dishes in an old abandoned farmhouse. The man who wore them had to be a big man. He was also tall, judging from the length of the bed in the upstairs bedroom. He was a God-fearing man because the Bible lying on the floor under the window had a broken back from being read often. He wasn't much for farming, though, as the fields had many boulders in them and the barn roof leaked.
We know that there was a woman who lived in the farmhouse with the man because a wall of the bedroom is covered with lilac, the kitchen shelves are covered with oilcloth, and they had a child. We know that they had a child because there was a sandbox made from a tractor tire.
We know that they had little money, judging from the jars of canned tomatoes and plum preserves found down in the cellar. The winters were most-likely cold since rags were stuffed in the frames of the windows. The narrow country road was not inviting to visitors, so they were lonely.
We assume that something went wrong because the house was empty and the yard was covered with weeds. The stones in the fields had not been removed for farming and the jars in the cellar were still sealed. They had to leave quickly. The child's toys were strewn all over the yard. There was a rubber cow, a rusty tractor with a broken plow, and a doll in overalls. People believe that something went terribly wrong.
There was a pair of large shoes found on a pile of broken dishes in an old abandoned farmhouse. The man who wore them had to be a big man. He was also tall, judging from the length of the bed in the upstairs bedroom. He was a God-fearing man because the Bible lying on the floor under the window had a broken back from being read often. He wasn't much for farming, though, as the fields had many boulders in them and the barn roof leaked.
We know that there was a woman who lived in the farmhouse with the man because a wall of the bedroom is covered with lilac, the kitchen shelves are covered with oilcloth, and they had a child. We know that they had a child because there was a sandbox made from a tractor tire.
We know that they had little money, judging from the jars of canned tomatoes and plum preserves found down in the cellar. The winters were most-likely cold since rags were stuffed in the frames of the windows. The narrow country road was not inviting to visitors, so they were lonely.
We assume that something went wrong because the house was empty and the yard was covered with weeds. The stones in the fields had not been removed for farming and the jars in the cellar were still sealed. They had to leave quickly. The child's toys were strewn all over the yard. There was a rubber cow, a rusty tractor with a broken plow, and a doll in overalls. People believe that something went terribly wrong.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Blog Entry 7: Freestyle
There was a specific part of Faulkner's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" that painted a profound image in my mind of the sad plight of the old deaf man. Knowing that he nearly took his life and that his life was most-likely filled with loneliness, the older waiter could somewhat empathize with the deaf man. The younger waiter did not seem to understand his loneliness or misery. He had a wife at home and a confidence that can only accompany youthful vitality. The older waiter was beyond that stage in life. He understood the value of a clean well-lighted place in which one could spend the lonely hours.
I imagine the lack of compassion that those in need in our world often experience, primarily the older generation. The younger waiter took advantage of the deaf man's inability to hear the cruel words he uttered as he said, "You should have killed yourself last week," (Hemingway 148). Did he feel guilty later on? Did he even care? Will he understand once he grows old and lonely? Perhaps...perhaps not.
I imagine the lack of compassion that those in need in our world often experience, primarily the older generation. The younger waiter took advantage of the deaf man's inability to hear the cruel words he uttered as he said, "You should have killed yourself last week," (Hemingway 148). Did he feel guilty later on? Did he even care? Will he understand once he grows old and lonely? Perhaps...perhaps not.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blog Entry 6: Quote-Response
Quote:
"But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who gave gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi." (O. Henry 168)
Response:
This story is one of my all-time favorites! I read it each year to my children and even make it a point to go to the theatrical production produced by the Bird Cage Theater at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.
This particular quote is the last few lines of the story. They are so powerful, yet so simple. The relationship between Jim and Della is cemented with true selfless sacrifice. If only more of us could mirror the love and commitment these two have toward one another, perhaps this would be a happier world. The spirit of the magi lives on in the unselfish heart.
"But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who gave gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi." (O. Henry 168)
Response:
This story is one of my all-time favorites! I read it each year to my children and even make it a point to go to the theatrical production produced by the Bird Cage Theater at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.
This particular quote is the last few lines of the story. They are so powerful, yet so simple. The relationship between Jim and Della is cemented with true selfless sacrifice. If only more of us could mirror the love and commitment these two have toward one another, perhaps this would be a happier world. The spirit of the magi lives on in the unselfish heart.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Blog Entry 5: Freestyle
I love watching the old black and white TV shows like Andy Griffith and I Love Lucy. I draw amusement from each episode as mundane lifestyles lead to unsuspected conflict, and sometimes mayhem, in order to effectively entertain the audience. In Andy Griffith's Mayberry, life is simple but stagnant. Not much happens on a day-to-day basis. Lucy is also faced with an uneventful lifestyle while cooped up in a high rise apartment building in a large city with nothing to do but brew up regular mischief. Often the characters in these shows create overblown drama resulting from inconsequential isolated interruptions in their otherwise humdrum life.
I found that a strikingly similar scenario played out in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s A Tale for Children. A small village of no more than twenty houses with very little space between neighbors encountered a dramatic sequence of events when a dead man’s body washed up on the shore one day. As the women prepared the body of the stranger for burial, they began to speculate as to the life this large good-looking man must have lead. They needed a hero of the mind who would rescue them from their uneventful existence, if only in their wildest imaginations. This man seemed to do the trick. They even named him "Esteban." The stranger with his mysterious appearance, unlike any of the others, became a threat to the men of the village as the women invented an exciting former life for Esteban, filled with supposed immeasurable importance and stature. Their obsession with the stranger began to drive a wedge between the women and their husbands. “They secretly compared him to their own men, thinking that for all their lives theirs were incapable of doing what he could do in one night, and they ended up dismissing them deep in their hearts as the weakest, meanest, and most useless creatures on earth.” (Marquez; p. 331)
When we live with someone and our lifestyle becomes a day in and day out event, we tend to overlook our initial attraction to these life-long choices. The old adage, “the grass is always greener…” becomes commonplace with some. People tend to search for a break in monotony by creating unrealistic comparisons while drawing upon new and exciting prospects. I suppose it is human nature to invite excitement in life when boredom rears its ugly head. Perhaps we should attempt to spice up our lives at such a point by discovering productive ways to give validity to our original commitments. Re-visit the excitement of the past! Although we enjoy humor in the obviously overblown scenarios played out in our favorite shows and stories, we should seek satisfaction in learning from these characters rather than mimicking their destructive behavior in real life.
I found that a strikingly similar scenario played out in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s A Tale for Children. A small village of no more than twenty houses with very little space between neighbors encountered a dramatic sequence of events when a dead man’s body washed up on the shore one day. As the women prepared the body of the stranger for burial, they began to speculate as to the life this large good-looking man must have lead. They needed a hero of the mind who would rescue them from their uneventful existence, if only in their wildest imaginations. This man seemed to do the trick. They even named him "Esteban." The stranger with his mysterious appearance, unlike any of the others, became a threat to the men of the village as the women invented an exciting former life for Esteban, filled with supposed immeasurable importance and stature. Their obsession with the stranger began to drive a wedge between the women and their husbands. “They secretly compared him to their own men, thinking that for all their lives theirs were incapable of doing what he could do in one night, and they ended up dismissing them deep in their hearts as the weakest, meanest, and most useless creatures on earth.” (Marquez; p. 331)
When we live with someone and our lifestyle becomes a day in and day out event, we tend to overlook our initial attraction to these life-long choices. The old adage, “the grass is always greener…” becomes commonplace with some. People tend to search for a break in monotony by creating unrealistic comparisons while drawing upon new and exciting prospects. I suppose it is human nature to invite excitement in life when boredom rears its ugly head. Perhaps we should attempt to spice up our lives at such a point by discovering productive ways to give validity to our original commitments. Re-visit the excitement of the past! Although we enjoy humor in the obviously overblown scenarios played out in our favorite shows and stories, we should seek satisfaction in learning from these characters rather than mimicking their destructive behavior in real life.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Quote - Response (Blog Entry 4)
QUOTE:
"They were all on the stage. They weren't only the audience, not only looking on; they were acting. Even she had a part and came every Sunday. No doubt somebody would have noticed if she hadn't been there; she was part of the performance after all." (Mansfield; p.86)
RESPONSE:
Isn't this how most of us would like to feel about our life in general? We would all like to have some reassurance that without us the "show" simply could not go on; that we would indeed be missed if absent from life's daily drama.
In this passage Miss Brill has just made a profound realization about her particular role as a simple spectator on the park bench each Sunday afternoon. Her thoughts support the analogy that "all the world is a stage," as William Shakespeare so eloquently put it. Each of us is a character, an actor in the play of life; and without us, life simply would not be the same.
I would like to believe that my part in life is noteworthy. I am sure that Miss Brill would enjoy that same personal comfort as well.
"They were all on the stage. They weren't only the audience, not only looking on; they were acting. Even she had a part and came every Sunday. No doubt somebody would have noticed if she hadn't been there; she was part of the performance after all." (Mansfield; p.86)
RESPONSE:
Isn't this how most of us would like to feel about our life in general? We would all like to have some reassurance that without us the "show" simply could not go on; that we would indeed be missed if absent from life's daily drama.
In this passage Miss Brill has just made a profound realization about her particular role as a simple spectator on the park bench each Sunday afternoon. Her thoughts support the analogy that "all the world is a stage," as William Shakespeare so eloquently put it. Each of us is a character, an actor in the play of life; and without us, life simply would not be the same.
I would like to believe that my part in life is noteworthy. I am sure that Miss Brill would enjoy that same personal comfort as well.
Friday, October 2, 2009
FREESTYLE BLOG ENTRY:
In my line of work, which is elementary education, I have a first-hand look at the future of reading in our modern world. I must admit that it currently appears bleak and proves quite worrisome in many ways. I see fundamental reading skills critically suffer with each new generation of students. The problems I see are reparable, however. It's not too late for parents to step up to the plate and make simple changes that will greatly improve this potential crisis.
I feel that the problem stems directly from the increasing availability of technological advancements to our children. Due to the fact that they have basically grown up with computers, game systems, cell phones, and various electronic gadgets at their fingertips, children have in essence become lazy without even realizing it. It is innate for kids of the current generation to allow the cyber world to take over for them, to think for them, and to learn for them.
Another problem appears that technology is so much faster that our brains are constantly in a state of "overdrive." At our school the principal has made numerous requests that we frequently engage our students in puzzles and quiet games, which encourage them to concentrate on one fixed item for longer periods of time. This, she believes, will not only enhance their reading focus, but will improve their skills in mathematics as well.
Growing up in a large family with a shared love of books, we would read whenever boredom reared its ugly head. We read in the car, in the airport, and any other place where we were required to wait for extended periods of time. It seemed to be quite frequent in my particular case. Nonetheless, our reading skills were top-notch as a result. Today I see very little of this going on. Instead I see kids with I-Pods, cell phones, texting devices of all kinds, and laptops small enough to fit into my tiny change purse! These are the time-fillers of today...not books.
Although I personally embrace modern technology with excitement and vigor, I fear that our dependence on these advances will be detrimental to the reading, writing, and problem solving capabilities of future generations. It is already becoming quite evident and may only worsen if changes are not realized and initialized.
While it is unrealistic to expect that modern technology would ever take a backseat to the "old school" ways of learning, I would celebrate the observation of more parents taking charge of their children's educational future by exchanging the "gadgets" for a good old-fashioned book once in a while.
I feel that the problem stems directly from the increasing availability of technological advancements to our children. Due to the fact that they have basically grown up with computers, game systems, cell phones, and various electronic gadgets at their fingertips, children have in essence become lazy without even realizing it. It is innate for kids of the current generation to allow the cyber world to take over for them, to think for them, and to learn for them.
Another problem appears that technology is so much faster that our brains are constantly in a state of "overdrive." At our school the principal has made numerous requests that we frequently engage our students in puzzles and quiet games, which encourage them to concentrate on one fixed item for longer periods of time. This, she believes, will not only enhance their reading focus, but will improve their skills in mathematics as well.
Growing up in a large family with a shared love of books, we would read whenever boredom reared its ugly head. We read in the car, in the airport, and any other place where we were required to wait for extended periods of time. It seemed to be quite frequent in my particular case. Nonetheless, our reading skills were top-notch as a result. Today I see very little of this going on. Instead I see kids with I-Pods, cell phones, texting devices of all kinds, and laptops small enough to fit into my tiny change purse! These are the time-fillers of today...not books.
Although I personally embrace modern technology with excitement and vigor, I fear that our dependence on these advances will be detrimental to the reading, writing, and problem solving capabilities of future generations. It is already becoming quite evident and may only worsen if changes are not realized and initialized.
While it is unrealistic to expect that modern technology would ever take a backseat to the "old school" ways of learning, I would celebrate the observation of more parents taking charge of their children's educational future by exchanging the "gadgets" for a good old-fashioned book once in a while.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Quote-Response Assignment
Quote:
"...and the very old men -some in thier brushed Confederate uniforms- on the porch and the lawn, talking of Miss Emily as if she had been a contemporary of theirs, believing that they had danced with her and courted her perhaps, confusing time with its mathematical progression, as the old do, to whom all the past is not a diminishing road but, instead, a huge meadow which no winter ever quite touches, divided from them now by the narrow bottleneck of the most recent decade of years." (Faulkner; p. 34)
Response:
Upon reading this story, the passage quoted above really stood out as a textbook charactaristic reaction to death. While the entire town actively engaged in critically tearing down the reputation of poor Miss Emily in life, upon her death it was as if they were ashamed and perhaps fearful to continue the caddy soiling remarks. The people of the town of Jefferson did not want to appear unsightly in any manner, so they dressed in their finest clothing and began "pretending" (if you will) that Miss Emily meant more to them than truth be told. Did they wish to smooth over any premise of public collective guilt over the way they treated her in life? Was this their way of unburdoning themselves from shame as they realized the advancing approach of their own twilight?
The words that I find to be poignant are Faulkner's description of perception of the past, painting it as a "...huge meadow, which no winter ever touches,..." As people get older, they have a tendency to often see the past through rose-colored glasses in order to perhaps erase or gloss over any semblance of unrepented guilt.
Why is it that while a person is living they can be a horrid and lowly creature by reputation, but upon thier death they must be hailed and revered for the finest of human qualities, which they never appeared to have possession of in the first place while alive?
"...and the very old men -some in thier brushed Confederate uniforms- on the porch and the lawn, talking of Miss Emily as if she had been a contemporary of theirs, believing that they had danced with her and courted her perhaps, confusing time with its mathematical progression, as the old do, to whom all the past is not a diminishing road but, instead, a huge meadow which no winter ever quite touches, divided from them now by the narrow bottleneck of the most recent decade of years." (Faulkner; p. 34)
Response:
Upon reading this story, the passage quoted above really stood out as a textbook charactaristic reaction to death. While the entire town actively engaged in critically tearing down the reputation of poor Miss Emily in life, upon her death it was as if they were ashamed and perhaps fearful to continue the caddy soiling remarks. The people of the town of Jefferson did not want to appear unsightly in any manner, so they dressed in their finest clothing and began "pretending" (if you will) that Miss Emily meant more to them than truth be told. Did they wish to smooth over any premise of public collective guilt over the way they treated her in life? Was this their way of unburdoning themselves from shame as they realized the advancing approach of their own twilight?
The words that I find to be poignant are Faulkner's description of perception of the past, painting it as a "...huge meadow, which no winter ever touches,..." As people get older, they have a tendency to often see the past through rose-colored glasses in order to perhaps erase or gloss over any semblance of unrepented guilt.
Why is it that while a person is living they can be a horrid and lowly creature by reputation, but upon thier death they must be hailed and revered for the finest of human qualities, which they never appeared to have possession of in the first place while alive?
Reading Interviews
I interviewed 3 individuals from totally different walks of life in order to present a little variety.
The first person I interviewed was my husband. He is the "perpetual student"(working on a second masters degree online), he is a Fire District employee, and he teaches two online fire-related courses. He has very little time to read for pleasure these days. However, when he does find a snippet of time, he enjoys reading biographies and autobiographies of recent and historical political figures. He has read numerous fiction novels by Louis L'amour and, like me, has a zest for the past and a fascination with the Old West. I have very little interest in the lives of political figures and Louis L'amour's writings do not thrill me. I find that there are too many characters introduced in these novels early on and I have difficulty keeping track of all of them. Plus, I find that the stories are all pretty much the same idea...very predictable.
I also interviewed a co-worker who is a middle school language teacher. She enjoys reading the "classics." She is currently dividing her time between the likes of Lord of the Flies, Pride and Prejudice, and The Hounds of the Baskervilles.I would have to say that I enjoy similar reading and would be more likely to share her enthusiasm for the classics as well. Perhaps that is the tie that binds us as friends.
Next, I interviewed my son who is in 8th grade and is turning 13 on Sunday. He is an avid reader, so much so that I have actually had to place restrictions on his reading time (ie. at the dinner table, during chore time, etc.). He loves to read anything that he can get his hands on. He is currently reading the Harry Potter series for the 10th or 11th time. He has read the entire series of Lord of the Rings several times and I even turned him onto the Twilight series, despite his initial resistance. In his manly opinion they were "chick novels." He and I agree on some aspects of what is "good reading" and differ quite a bit regarding others. While he and I both enjoyed the Twilight series, I am not a huge fan of Harry Potter. Lord of the Rings is a much better read in my opinion. My son can typically lap me when we read the same books. His dad taught him a little speed reading at an early age. Needless to say, his vocabulary is quite advanced for a 12 year old.
The first person I interviewed was my husband. He is the "perpetual student"(working on a second masters degree online), he is a Fire District employee, and he teaches two online fire-related courses. He has very little time to read for pleasure these days. However, when he does find a snippet of time, he enjoys reading biographies and autobiographies of recent and historical political figures. He has read numerous fiction novels by Louis L'amour and, like me, has a zest for the past and a fascination with the Old West. I have very little interest in the lives of political figures and Louis L'amour's writings do not thrill me. I find that there are too many characters introduced in these novels early on and I have difficulty keeping track of all of them. Plus, I find that the stories are all pretty much the same idea...very predictable.
I also interviewed a co-worker who is a middle school language teacher. She enjoys reading the "classics." She is currently dividing her time between the likes of Lord of the Flies, Pride and Prejudice, and The Hounds of the Baskervilles.I would have to say that I enjoy similar reading and would be more likely to share her enthusiasm for the classics as well. Perhaps that is the tie that binds us as friends.
Next, I interviewed my son who is in 8th grade and is turning 13 on Sunday. He is an avid reader, so much so that I have actually had to place restrictions on his reading time (ie. at the dinner table, during chore time, etc.). He loves to read anything that he can get his hands on. He is currently reading the Harry Potter series for the 10th or 11th time. He has read the entire series of Lord of the Rings several times and I even turned him onto the Twilight series, despite his initial resistance. In his manly opinion they were "chick novels." He and I agree on some aspects of what is "good reading" and differ quite a bit regarding others. While he and I both enjoyed the Twilight series, I am not a huge fan of Harry Potter. Lord of the Rings is a much better read in my opinion. My son can typically lap me when we read the same books. His dad taught him a little speed reading at an early age. Needless to say, his vocabulary is quite advanced for a 12 year old.
ADDITIONAL QUOTE:
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
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