Banned Books Week 2014

The last week of September is celebrated as Banned Books Week.  Click here for info on how you can celebrate literary freedom, and learn the effects of censorship on schools, libraries and communities.

Happy FREE reading,

Christine

Anne of Avonlea

Just read chapter 11, "Facts and Fancies," of Anne of Avonlea to my children.  Adorable!  If you don't remember, this chapter contains the letters of Anne's students. It is sure to bring a smile to the face of any teacher or parent.

Happy reading,
Christine

A Dash of Magic

Enchante`!  That is how I felt after reading A Dash of Magic, by Kathryn Littlewood.  Set in France, with allusions to the Mona Lisa, the Louvre, Versailles, Marie Antoinette and the Eiffel Tower, this confection of a cooking-contest story contains all the ingredients of a good read!  I can't wait to start the next book in the series.

Happy reading,
Christine

What Is In A Name?

One of my relatives graciously brought a bottle of "Morning Fog" Chardonnay over to a family dinner that I was hosting and I thought, what an unfortunate name for an alcoholic beverage.  Who was the employee who came up with the name, Morning Fog?  This got me thinking about names in general; names of products and names of characters in writing.  Obviously, there are some classic names in literature that work perfectly, like Mr. Grumps, Lyle the Crocodile's cranky nemesis.  But what about others?  How much thought do you put into the names of the characters you create?

Happy reading and writing,
Christine

Friday Film Clip - Summer Solstice

Happy summer!  If you are a parent of a young child, you may remember the Little Bear episode in which the characters  plan a Summer Solstice Party.  If you love literature, you may remember that in The Great Gatsby, Daisy looks forward to the longest day of the year.  Although I have always loved the book, (I just reread it yet again) I think the longest-day-of-the-year scene is one of the most irritating scenes in the 1974 version of the film.  I don't know why, but it is like nails on a chalkboard to me.  (Which probably means the scene is well-acted/well-directed.  Both Daisy and Tom seem too rich, too spoiled, too whiny to be remotely likeable.)  Watch it below and decide for yourself:

Happy summer reading,
Christine 
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