Fourth Graders - Please Read

I am sorry but every time I see children's statistics that their reading prowess has gone down who do we blame? Computers, Xbox, PS2, Wii, Game Boy, DS, and many others I believe have taken books out of the hands of our children. My own grandchildren carry their DS everywhere they go and play constantly.

Reading an article on Yahoo prompted me again to think how we can influence others to read. US fourth graders are not scoring as high as other children around the world in reading skills. Ten countries were ahead of us according to this current test as opposed to only three last time results were given. Our no child left behind law doesn't seem to be working!

British Education Secretary, Ed Balls, says parents should cut off computers and cell phones to encourage kids to read. He says even ten-year-olds have to many choices left up to them about how to spend their free time. Most kids are playing video games three hours a day or more.

I have got to spur my grandchildren to read more. Buying them some books for Christmas, I hope will do the trick! What to buy...? Hhmm?

Sunday Salon Readings - Red Rabbit

Life is funny you know, grab a book off my not-read shelf, read a few pages, take a break, turn on the tv, and who else is on but Jack Ryan in Patriot Games. Why is this funny you say, well Jack is the main character in my sundaysalon pleasure reading of Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit.

Harrison Ford has been one of my favorite actors for some time and this movie is a good watch. Having watched movies with actors from Britain and loving their accent, I find myself reading this book with an inflection. Does that sound weird? Really ads to the story line for my own personal reading habits.

Only have read two chapters, Mr. Clancy's detail always puts me right there in the story. Remembering the Cold War as a young man, Red Rabbit brings back the Soviet Union into world political rhetoric. Jack Ryan is asked to become a freelance analyst for Sir Basil Charleston in England which he accepts.

His first day is extraordinary as the new Pope, John Paul II, sends a private warning to Warsaw that is going to have many after-effects. Some Soviet leaders have started planning the Pope's demise.

Red Rabbit is over 600 pages and I hope to finish by next Sunday Salon Reading. So everyone have a fantastic week!

Reading Less America? - Fact or Fiction

Getting up a tad bit earlier than usual on this beautiful after Thanksgiving Saturday morning, reading my news articles, I ran across a rather disturbing article. Americans are reading less.

Here is the link to CBS News where I read the study and below are some excerpts:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/19/national/main3520163.shtml

(CBS/AP) The latest National Endowment for the Arts report draws on a variety of sources, public and private, and essentially reaches one conclusion:

Americans are reading a lot less.

That's according to a 99-page study, "To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence," released Monday by the National Endowment for the Arts as a follow-up to a 2004 NEA survey, "Reading at Risk," that found an increasing number of adult Americans were not even reading one book a year.

The new study examined data on everything from how many 9-year-olds read every day for "fun" (54 percent) to the percentage of high school graduates deemed by employers as "deficient" in writing in English (72 percent).

"I've done a lot of work in statistics in my career and I've never seen a situation where so much data was pulled from so many places and absolutely everything is so consistent," NEA chairman Dana Gioia said.

The report by the NEA, a taxpayer-funded independent federal agency, is based on reading trends data collected from more than 40 sources, including other federal agencies, universities, foundations, and associations.

On average, Americans ages 15 to 24 spend almost two hours a day watching TV, and only seven minutes of their daily leisure time on reading.

Reading scores for American adults of almost all education levels have deteriorated, notably among the best-educated groups. From 1992 to 2003, the percentage of adults with graduate school experience who were rated proficient in prose reading dropped by 10 points, a 20 percent rate of decline.

Gioia called the decline in reading "perhaps the most important socio-economic issue in the United States," and called for changes "in the way we're educating kids, especially in high school and college. We need to reconnect reading with pleasure and enlightenment."

"`To Read or Not to Read' suggests we are losing the majority of the new generation," Gioia said. "The majority of young Americans will not realize their individual, economic or social potential."

What can we do to help this very unsatisfying situation? My instantaneous response is parents are ultimately responsible for their children's reading habits. Next would be the educational process where kids love to read what is appealing to them. Sometimes we put pressure on our children to act and or think like adults in their reading. Asking to understand and enjoy subjects they do not have a clue as to ascertaining there meaning. I can see clearly the overall picture, but cannot focus on how to remedy the individual position. As we bloggers read and write we must help others to appreciate and take pleasure in reading!

Thanksgiving - I am Thankful

Thankful for ............................................................................you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday Salon Readings - Private Sector

Being I was given this book, I was surprised to learn the author Brian Haig is a brother of General Alexander Haig. hhhmm... thinking already about instant notoriety, my thoughts said could Private Sector be that good? Well once again an unknown author to me has proved his effervescent style with a good measure of self-critical wittiness can make for a great novel.

Army lawyer Sean Drummond is participating in an exchange program between the military and the private sector. He is assigned to a high-billing, high profile Washington, DC law firm. Sean's sarcastic personality makes him as unwelcome in the new firm as he was in the army.

The number one client, a behemoth telecom with massive defense contracts, has ties to a serial killer and a large international crime ring. Sean knows something is amiss when his predecessor and his current girlfriend is murdered.

Now Sean must survive in the uppity lawyer culture long enough to discover why his firm and its top client are willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. Along with the murders there are national security issues, graft, corruption and assassinations problems.

A very entertaining read for my sundaysalon pleasures. I do recommend this book to you!

What a beautiful shot of autumn leaves! I took this near my home in Tennessee. My Sunday Salon read was short, but you can see why.

Click and see full picture.

LightWedge - Fact or Fiction

Scrutinizing along with discussing fiction is my usual game, but I must tell you about a great Christmas gift for readers. Especially you readers who like to read in the bed or in the dark of the night. I am referring to the LightWedge. This book light lays right on the page and makes a fantastic bookmark.
Here are some points to consider:

• Paperback-size, slim LED book light lies flat on a page for thorough illumination
• The quality acrylic lens and LED technology provide users with a clean read, free of distortion, glare, and bulb failures
• The book light offers 2 brightness levels for diverse needs; 4 AAA batteries power the light up to 40 hours
• Store the book light in a book or case to prevent scratches and dust accumulation; clean with lens cleaner and microfiber cloth
• The book light measures 7-2/5 by 5-1/2 inches; batteries not included

This little gadget has sure helped me read more pages! It is a fact!

Thursday Ramblings - joeB knows how to pick um'

Well Thursday again, a very fast paced week for me, you? Thankful for a holiday next week spent with family and eating some great food!

Did you notice which book and author Oprah Winfrey picked for her book club? None other than Ken Follett and his 1989 novel Pillars of the Earth. Extra copies were shipped out to the respective bookstores in anticipation of the announcement. Mr. Follett is the author of the month for Fiction Views and everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon. Good for them! This is as I stated on November 1, a book unlike any other Ken has written. Pillars is based around the building of a Gothic cathedral during the Middle Ages.

Earlier in the week noted author Ira Levin passed away. Well known for Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives, his best work for me was The Boys From Brazil. All three novels were made into movies.

A novel about the Vietnam War, Tree of Smoke, by Denis Johnson won the National Book Award in Washington. From the description and interview with the author, I may have Santa bring ol' joeb this winner for Christmas!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

In Honor of My Dad - Veteran's Day

My Dad served in World War II, aboard the USS Hornet . Serving our country with thousands of others to protect our freedom, he was one of the fortunate men to return home. His timed served was portrayed as said by Dad: I wanted to help our country. I'm glad he did. http://www.uss-hornet.org/history/index.html

Here is a short biography of Veteran's Day:
In 1927 Congress issued a resolution requesting President Calvin Coolidge to issue a proclamation calling upon officials to display the Flag of the United States on all government buildings on November 11, and inviting the people to observe the day in schools and churches...But it was not until 1938 that Congress passed a bill that each November 11 "shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and ...hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day." That same year President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making the day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. For sixteen years the United States formally observed Armistice Day, with impressive ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Chief Executive or his representative placed a wreath. In many other communities, the American Legion was in charge of the observance, which included parades and religious services. At 11 A.M. all traffic stopped, in tribute to the dead, then volleys were fired and taps sounded. After World War II, there were many new veterans who had little or no association with World War I. The word, "armistice," means simply a truce; therefore as years passed, the significance of the name of this holiday changed. Leaders of Veterans' groups decided to try to correct this and make November 11 the time to honor all who had fought in various American wars, not just in World War I. In Emporia, Kansas, on November 11, 1953, instead of an Armistice Day program, there was a Veterans' Day observance. Ed Rees, of Emporia, was so impressed that he introduced a bill into the House to change the name to Veterans' Day. After this passed, Mr. Rees wrote to all state governors and asked for their approval and cooperation in observing the changed holiday. The name was changed to Veterans' Day by Act of Congress on May 24, 1954. In October of that year, President Eisenhower called on all citizens to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace. The President referred to the change of name to Veterans' Day in honor of the servicemen of all America's wars.

Excerpts from All About American Holidays by Mayme R. Krythe.

Thanks to all the men and women who served and are serving to protect our freedom!

Sunday Salon Readings - Predator

I started reading Predator last Monday after finding the Patricia Cornwell novel on my shelves hidden from view. This book was given to me last Christmas and forgotten. Knowing there is a reason for everything my sundaysalon reading was set.

Enjoying the last sixty-four pages this Sunday Salon morning, I realized how much medical jargon including autopsy advice is used in this psychological thriller. We also get advice on of all things, methods of repelling tree blight and sadomasochist torture with the use of spiders.

Ms. Cornwell's fourteenth Kay Scarpetta mystery weaves a character plot most unlike some of her other novels. Resentment, unresolved anger, and untrustworthiness are all factors of the structure of the in-groups lassitude.

Kay has moved to Florida and is now head of the National Forensic Academy in Hollywood. Pete Marino, Scarpetta's right hand man, has joined her as the academy's head of investigations. Benton Wesley, her friend and lover, is now running a reaserch study, Predator , an acronym for Prefrontal Determinants of Aggressive-Type Overt Responsivity, a project to determine dangerous murderers neuropsychological makeup.

During testing of Basil Jenrette, Benton finds out about an unresolved murder at a Christmas store in south Florida. Pete receives a phone call from Hog about the murder of a doctor and makes threats toward Lucy, Kay's niece. Another family disappears in Florida and Scarpetta's team is called in to help. The threads are finally untangled for each event, the unblurred picture emerges, and the killer is found.

This plot has squabbles, pretense, torture, disloyalty, kidnappings, disappearances, asylums, and bodies which make the gore readable for me. No one except Patricia Cornwell could make all this gobbledygook come together as a extraordinary book for her readers. Highly recommended by joeB!

Thursday Ramblings - Fact or Fiction

Chile has returned almost 4,000 books to Peru's national library, more than a century after they were taken by Chilean soldiers. The soldiers pillaged the library after capturing the Peruvian capital, Lima, in 1881, during the War of the Pacific.

Exactly 3,778 books were returned to Peru's national library and there was no talk of a fine. But it is hoped that the return of the books may go some way to improving the two nations' tetchy relations. Peru's foreign minister said the move would strengthen bilateral relations.

Chile's director of Libraries, Archives and Museums said it signalled a deep commitment to building a relationship of brotherhood between the two countries.

Relations have been strained ever since the books - 2,500kg (5,500 lbs) of them - were stolen by Chilean soldiers occupying Peru's capital more than 120 years ago. In the war, which lasted from 1879 to 1883, Peru lost territory and neighbouring Bolivia lost its coastline. The theft of the volumes - written in Greek, Latin, French and Spanish, many dating back to the 16th Century - is an example of how, historically, many Peruvians see their neighbours to the south. It will take more than a return of a few library books to quell the countries' historic rivalry. - Dan Collyns BBC News, Lima

I remember being a teenager and not returning library books till I needed more and "No, Sir" fines had to be paid! Books as you see mean so much to everyone including countries. I've thought many times of my collection and how I need to get these books in the hands of new readers. Maybe it is time for action! Have a great weekend everybody!

You've Got Mail or The Book Angels?

Ran across an interesting article on a small independent bookstore on 7th Ave. in New York. Community Bookstore was purchased a month before 911 by Catherine Bohne who began working there as a clerk in 1994. Ms. Bohne borrowed the money using her mother's home and her apartment as collateral.

Now the story really starts to sound like one of my favorites movies, You've Got Mail , starring Tom Hanks as Joe Fox the big box bookstore owner. Remember The Shop Around The Corner and financial troubles for Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly whose mother owned the shop she inherited.

Like the movie, Ms. Bohne had a Barnes and Noble open close by, plus internet sales through Amazon contributed to the little store's demise. Her huge debt caused her to cut employees and titles, but this only added to lost sales.

Several customers stepped up including Erika Doering, David Sweeny, and actor John Turturro to help with an investment in the store to keep the charming bookstore solvent. Well as the great American dream continues Community Bookstore's sales have been ahead of projections!

Yes, I shop at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Books-A-Million because we do not have the charming little independent bookstores here. I wish we did! Some where over the rainbow!

Sunday Salon Readings - an old favorite

Having selected Ken Follett as author of the month for November, reading an old favorite for sundaysalon was a pleasure. Hornet Flight is a prime example of the author's taking us back in time when sometimes brains and proficiency mattered more than hi-tech and mercilessness.

Time to read on Sunday morning, lets me go to another generation of time when professors, clergy, artists, and the highbrowed were used and actively mobilized to become spies and spymasters. So when all of the above fail our hero is an eighteen year old physics student who discovers a German radar installation on the island where he lives.

Germany has invented radar which inflicts heavy losses on the British Air force because of early detection. A Danish resistance group, the Nightwatchmen, are helping the Brits uncover the reasons behind their horrific deficit. As the Germans ravage Europe, we see a prism of light in Denmark as the Olufsen family joins the network of secret agents.

Harald Olufsen and his girlfriend Karen take pictures on the island of Sande of the aforementioned installation and must get them to England. So they establish a desperate plan to fly an old Hornet Moth that Harald discovers in a broken down barn. Mr. Follett paints a descriptive picture of life under the Nazi regime as it affects the Danish society.

Not wanting to go in to much detail so others may want to read this excellent novel that is fast paced, rich in ambiance, and a top-notch cliffhanger. I believe Hornet Flight shows Follett at his compelling best!

I encourage all bloggers and readers to join us for Sunday Salon!

Author of the Month - November

Ken Follett

As a long time reader of the very distinguished British author, Ken Follett, my choice for the first author of the month award was very untroublesome. Mr. Follett who started writing in the seventies because his auto needed repair has become world renowned for mysteries and thrillers.

Eye of the Needle published in 1978 was his first best-seller. Before that he had written thirteen novels which included two children's books. Follett soon learned his personal writing skills were better fulfilled revealing the past. His reasoning was he was not very good at giving readers a feel for the everyday grain of life.

Not being a writer one doesn't understand all the intricacies of putting a well written novel together. Mr. Follet puts in about a year on each book he writes. Meticulously outlining each chapter before sitting down to write, Follett says and I quote: " to keep readers engaged I need a plot twist, a major revelation, or a consequential event for a character every four to six pages." Thinking back on the many reads I have had with Mr. Follett, his novels do follow this approach.

In 1989 when Pillars of the Earth was published, I thought please Ken do not do this! Was I wrong! Read the book three times and wanted more! Now with World Without End my fascination with ol' England gets affected even more. Being this is a new read, I'm not going to review the book so that you can enjoy the epic yourself.

Each month we will explore a different author and their writings. I hope this will encourage you to read and put yourselves in places you have never been before. Have a great weekend everyone!