Author |
Message |
Yesitsme
Member
08-24-2004
| Friday, February 04, 2005 - 7:43 am
(Raising hand) Another Little House fan. I used to read one and then start at the beginning and read it again. Probably because they limited the books that kids could get at the library to 6 and my monther refused to take me back when I was finished with them (or we would have been there every other day...I read fast and constantly.) I can't do that now with books, for some reason. I read them once and that is enough. Right now I am reading "Tom, Dick and Debbie Harry" by Jessica Adams. I only have just begun, but I think I am going to love it. I'd never heard of her, but saw the title on the shelf and it seemed like something I would like.
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Friday, February 04, 2005 - 8:50 am
Mamie - That's neat that you named your daughter Beth! Kindred spirits rock! (Did you like Ann of Green Gables?) Yesitsme - I love that feeling when a book is so good you just want to start over again. I have never finished Gone With the Wind that I didn't want to start all over with it again - send Scarlet back to the beginning and hope this time she makes the right decisions. Tabbyking - I hit the rental section at the library, but they didn't have any Marian Keyes books. They did have a few others I thought I'd try. (Next time, I'll definitely look for Keyes!) Right now, I'm reading a Nancy Atherton book (never tried her before) called Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin. It's not bad so far -pretty light. I also have a new Mary Higgins Clark called "Nighttime is My Time". I really liked her books when she first started and the later ones just felt like similar formulas. But I thought I'd give her another try.
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Friday, February 04, 2005 - 1:45 pm
Tabby, that book was Watermelon. Scout, I am a huge Anne of Green Gables fan. I watch the PBS version every time it's on! I really should buy the dvd.
|
Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Friday, February 04, 2005 - 7:52 pm
Ah, yes, Anne with an e. My, it has been pleasurable reading through this thread. It brings back such nice memories. A couple of years ago, one of my favorite children's books was made into a movie that didn't fare so well. Tuck Everlasting discusses the most timeless theme of all and nails it solid and square. Love that book and can't read the last chapter without shedding a tear.
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 8:01 am
Oh no, I printed Ann without the e - (scout walks away in shame because she knew better!)I loved the Anne (with an e) series on PBS. I thought it captured the period so well and the characters were great. I especially loved Matthew. I loved the first book in the Green Gables series, but all the following ones were a disappointment to me. Did anyone else feel that way? Tuck Everlasting is one book I've never read, but I did see the movie and thought it was good. I'll have to try to find it. I finished the Nancy Atherton book, but wasn't that thrilled with it. It was just ok for me. What were some of everyone's other favorite children's books? Some of mine were: Cheaper by the Dozen, Mama's Bank Account, Little House series (as you can tell by the posts above), Fog Magic (I loved this book), and Little Women. Yesitsme - I remember that feeling of wanting to take home more books than I could carry. I remember how we were always taught to wash our hands and respect books and most of all I remember how great it felt to go into a library on a hot day and sit in the quiet air-conditioning and just get lost in another world.
|
Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 8:09 am
Scout, never walk away with your head hung in shame! I have so enjoyed your thoughtful discussions of the books you have loved. The summer that I introduced my children to Anne of Green Gables we read the last few chapters in the car on the way home from our summer vacation. When we got to the place in the story} where Matthew died, we were so overcome that we had to stop and take a break. My mother was driving and couldn't see through her tears. Amazing the power of the written word.
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 8:40 am
Thanks, Vee! I know what you mean about getting so emotionally vested in a story that it almost feels like they're people you know and love. I cried, too, when Matthew died. I think the books I like the best generally represents characters that have flaws, know and admit that they do, but keep on trying regardless. I loved the spirit behind Anne, Laura, Jo, etc. I liked that Tuck Everlasting didn't go with the ending you'd expect.
|
Puppylov3
Member
01-26-2004
| Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 1:27 pm
I went from Little House in the 5th grade to reading biogrpahies in the 6th grade. All women - I wasn't interested in Daniel Boone or George Washington. I read about Abigail Adams, Jane Addams, Narcissa Whitman, Julia Ward Howe, Clara Barton and many others. I was huge into historical types of books. I discovered late - in high school. I would have devoured everything LM Montgomery wrote had I discovered her earlier. Numerous books by Alcott.
|
Yesitsme
Member
08-24-2004
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 10:30 am
I read biographies when I was a kid, too. I think I read all of the ones you mentioned, Puppy, except for Narcissa Whitman. I don't remember her. There was one I remember about Pocahontas...loved that one. I probably read every book for kids that the local library had, except for books about talking animals which always drove me crazy (exception, Charlotte's Web, which I loved.) Finished "Tom, Dick and Debbie Harry" and I do recommend it. A fun read. I'm looking forward to more by this author (Jessica Adams.) Now I am reading what I think is my last of the Shopaholic books...Shopaholic takes Manhattan. I've read a couple that occur after this one, so it is fun to see how things actually happened.
|
Puppylov3
Member
01-26-2004
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 10:43 am
Narcissa Whitman was one of the first women to go west (Oregon) - with her husband Marcus (as I recall they were 'missionaries'). They ended up taking in several children both orphans and children of trappers and such (including the children orphaned going to Oregan in the movie "Seven Alone"). They were killed (along with several of the children) in an Indian uprising.
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 11:06 am
I remember that movie, "Seven Alone". It was really good. Historical novels always influenced me. I remember the first time I ever read about the Holocaust. In some ways, books like "The Hiding Place" and "Ann Frank" changed the way I looked at the world. Knowing that such things could happen in a "civilized" world kind of taught me to never take anything for granted. By the same token, books about the Depression (my favorite being "A Nickel's Worth of Skim Milk")taught me to appreciate the small things and to know that happiness didn't necessarily depned on money. It seems like the only message kids get today is that money is the answer to everything. From all the shows that fix up your house with the best of everything, to the shows about rich kids and the ridiculous ways they spend money, there doesn't seem to be any shows that say it's okay to not have a lot of money. It's okay to be happy with what you do have. My family never had much money, but because shows like the Walton's were around that celebrated family and triumph over adversity, I could actually take pride in the things I did have and not always be unhappy because of the things I didn't. (stepping off my soapbox now -sorry) One other book I remember that really affected me was "Alas Babylon". Anyone else ever read this? It dealt with the world after most of it had been wiped out by a nuclear war. It was a bit naive because it was written before all the theories of nuclear winters and such, but what always struck me was how in one minute, so much could change. How the people with everything actually couldn't survive nearly as well as those who were used to doing without, who knew life as a struggle. I know this book was fiction, but we did grow up with the nuclear threat always in the background. Some of it was before my time, but it was the basis for many a book and movie.
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 11:21 am
I never read that, Scout, but it does sound very interesting. I read Little Women, Little Men, all the Nancy Drews, Donna Parker. I think I liked the idea of strong women or young girls. Women were just coming of the time of being more powerful when I was growing up and I always felt that we were as strong, if not stronger, than men in many ways. That's why I still read a lot of Chick Lit, I think. I like women to be strong and realize that they are. I love something with a happy ending. I see enough tragedy in the "real world."
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 11:44 am
I completely agree, Mamie. I was always drawn to strong women characters. A lot of the time their strength was based solely on strength of character, rather than older books where beauty was the only strength that seemed to matter. I was inspired by girls like Anne from Anne of Green Gables because she came from absolutely nothing, yet she always believed in herself. I liked that she wanted to compete with the boys on an intellectual level and I always loved that Marilla rewarded her for her intelligence. I admired Marilla, as well, for not needing a man to validate her. She was stong, and tough. I am a sucker for a happy ending. When we were discussing, "The Stand" earlier as one of our favorite books, it reminded me of once telling someone that it was one of the most inspirational stories that I'd ever read. That it actually inspired me in a religious way almost more than any other book had, they looked at me like I was crazy. But really, it fleshed out the whole good vs. evil better than anything ever has (for me - just my opinion). Plus, the main woman character, Mother Abigail, was about the least likely woman heroine ever, but for all her physical frailty, and age, was the strongest woman character I've ever read about. Strength comes in lots of forms.
|
Yesitsme
Member
08-24-2004
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 2:32 pm
Mamie, I can't believe you read the Donna Parker books, too. I loved her...and in fact, probably still have those books. People have heard of Nancy Drew, who I also loved, but Donna seems to have been forgotten. I still have boxes of those kinds of books....and since I don't have children I should probably pass on to my nieces and nephews while they are at the age to enjoy them. Though none of them seem to find the same pleasure in reading that I did. Oh....and did you read the Bobbsey twins? I agree with your thoughts about books about women. I have always been drawn to stories of strong, intelligent women with humor....and appreciate them as friends in real life, too. And Scout, I love your comments about character. Lately I have been observing life to see how often people screw up their lives because they don't have core values from which they refuse to waiver. It's all around us! Makes me even more determined to make sure I am basing all my decisions on my own personal "mission statement." And what you said about money is so right. I've made a lot of money and I've made next to nothing and really my life has changed little. My greatest joys come in seeing how much I can stretch a dollar. Way more fun than seeing how much I can spend!
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 2:46 pm
It really is a sense of accomplishment when you can make a buck stretch, isn't it? I still have 2 of my Donna Parker books. I have no idea what became of the others. Probably got sold at the church bazaar sale along with my Monkee and Partridge Family albums. (never forgave my dad for that one! LOL) I did read the Bobbsey Twins too.
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 4:51 pm
I have to share my favorite book story if that's okay. The church bazaar reminded me of this. When I was eight years old, my teacher had a table full of brand new books. On your birthday, you got to pick one out to keep. My birthday wasn't until March and I remembered hoping that the one I wanted would still be there. I was lucky and it was - It was a biography of Daniel Boone (I was in my western stage!). Anyway, my teacher wrote a personal note in the front of the book. Years later, I cleaned out a lot of my old books and gave them to a rummage sale and that one was put in by mistake. Many years later, I started teaching in the very same classroom. One day, I asked the kids to bring in old books and donate them and we'd have our own classroom library. One little boy brought in a Daniel Boone book and right away I told him that I used to have that very book. Imagine my shock when I opened the book and there on the cover it said "Happy Birthday (and my name)" from Mrs. P. and the date. I always thought it was such a neat omen. The little boy was so sweet and told me I could keep that one since it was mine originally! p.s. I've never forgiven David Cassidy for inadvertently teaching me about bogus advertising. I spent three weeks allowance to join his fan club which promised me great stickers and pictures, etc. The stickers weren't even cut out and didn't have any sticky on them. I've never quite forgiven David.
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 10:41 pm
That is such a neat story Scout! Darn that David! LOL
|
Yesitsme
Member
08-24-2004
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 9:57 am
Scout, I love that story about the book! You and Daniel, together again. The way that it was meant to be. Reminds me of that movie Serendipity. I think you need to write David now and complain... he probably has time to put the sticky on his stickers these days. My Partridge Family albums got stolen from me. An acquaintance borrowed them and never gave them back. I have long since lost touch with her and still haven't gotten over it.
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 10:33 am
Thanks, Mamie. Yesitsme, Is there no end to the devestation left behind by David? LOL - "David has plenty of time now to put the sticky on"! I always did have a thing for Daniel Boone - not what you think, though. I wanted to BE Daniel Boone. I even cut out fringe and sewed it on my shirts. I was a bit of a tomboy when I was little. For my third birthday I got an army helmet and a machine gun (only things I wanted). My birthday picture looks a bit disturbing - hat, gun, and party dress! Back to the book thread, though, our library used to have a series of historical biographies. I wish they still had this type of series today because I remember reading about such varied people as Harriet Tubman, The Ringling Brothers, Davy Crockett (another one of my western heroes),Teddy Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc. Talking about these books makes me feel nostalgic. I find I keep remembering ones I'd thought I'd forgotten long ago.
|
Yesitsme
Member
08-24-2004
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 11:24 am
A friend of mine was telling me the other day that her granddaughter wanted an Alfalfa (from Our Gang) costume for her birthday. She's right in that same age bracket as you were. Her great grandmother managed to put one together. I haven't seen the pictures yet, but I know she was overjoyed when she got it!
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 11:49 am
I'll bet she made a cute Alfalfa! Grandmothers are great!
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 12:19 pm
Once, me and my two brothers and sister dressed up like the Little Rascals for Halloween. My brother had just lost his 2 front teeth and stuck his hair up and looked just like Alfalfa. I had a bunch of curlers in my hair and I was Buckwheat. The likeness was uncanny! LOL
|
Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 12:28 pm
Who says you need expensive toys and costumes to have fun? I never had a "store-bought" costume in my life, and had a lot of fun making them. I had a good laugh, Mamie, at your Buckwheat curlers! I'll bet it was uncanny! Best part of being a kid was being able to use your imagination. Bet the grown-up world would be a lot less stressed if we kept at it.
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 12:35 pm
I think I had a store bought costume once. At least, there's only one pic of my brother and I in store bought costumes. They were probably walking fire hazards back then!
|
Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 11:04 am
Scout, I joined the Osmond Brothers Fan Club when I was in jr. high. While two of my friends received their stuff, I'm still waiting for mine.
|
|
|
|