Possession by A.S. Byatt

In Possession, A.S. Byatt powerfully creates characters so believable that I found myself assuming that the events she writes of really happened, that the feelings described were truly felt, and that the characters actually lived.

For me, Possession‘s strength lies in this powerful creation. While I enjoyed the developing action (it is a literary mystery) and the powerful underlying themes, the story itself was not as fascinating to me as were the basic descriptions and the power of the characterization. They were marvelous: I am in awe of Byatt’s power with words. Continue reading »

Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn

While very few parents and parenting books still argue that corporal punishment will help turn out a well-balanced child, most do propose time-outs, bribes, and praise as successful disciplining techniques for raising well-behaved children.

In Unconditional Parenting, Alfie Kohn goes further. He argues that conventional techniques (such as time-outs, bribes, and even praise) may harm our children emotionally. Kohn argues that time-outs and bribes, for example, may get children to do just what they are told to do (“well-behaved”), but they fail to help a child learn for themselves and they fail to engage the child in life. Even praise stifles the child’s creativity rather than encouraging the child to evaluate their work for themselves. Rather than “doing things to” their children, parents should “work with” them at all times. “Doing to” techniques, Kohn argues, only represents love that is conditional on the child’s behavior. Parents should always show unconditional love for their children.

Kohn’s arguments are compelling and convincing, and I highly appreciate some of the advice he imparts. Unconditional Parenting is apparently well-researched, and the end notes provide lots of further information.

In the end, however, I dislike the authoritative tone Kohn imparts for his ideas; I found myself repeatedly wondering why he’s an “expert.” His oldest child is ten years old; how is he to say what will work for the long-run? He has yet to parent through the teenage years. Besides, I think any “successful” parenting requires more of a balance than he seems to propose. Continue reading »

Present and Future Challenges – 2009, 1st quarter

When I first began book blogging, I told myself I wouldn’t join challenges because I’m just reading and blogging for myself. But I have given in. The appeal of reading challenges is that it helps me get organized in my reading. Besides, they are fun to plan. Most of my challenges are personal, ongoing challenges without a time limit. (I posted about those yesterday.) The ones below are blogging community challenges.

I’m realizing that, as my son’s napping schedule changes (read: decreases) in the coming year, my reading (and blogging) time will be decreasing. In time, I may have to completely rework these goals to be more realistic! For now, these are my preliminary goals.

I realize this post is very, very long. Read any or all that may interest you. I also wanted to wait until I knew which challenges I was joining before posting my “reading lists.” I’m glad I did, because I’ve been changing these around for weeks! Continue reading »

Ongoing and Personal Challenges – 2009

I hope your Christmas was merry! Mine certainly was. Now that the new year is actually coming next week (!), I guess I should share some of my reading plans for the coming year.

I have a number of personal challenges for myself in 2009. Links below are to pages on Rebecca Reads where available. I also have a hub page for personal reading lists here on Rebecca Reads. Continue reading »

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

I was looking for something else light to read before Christmas when I found, via the Book Review Blog Carnival on Maw Books, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum, reviewed at The Movieholic and Bibliophile’s Blog. Best of all, because it is in the public domain, I could jump over to Project Gutenberg and read it without having to face snowy roads trying to get to a library.

I really enjoyed this short children’s novel about Santa Claus. Claus was orphaned near the woods of Burzee, and the immortal wood nymph Necile adopted him. He is raised by the wood nymphs, with other immortals to guide him: the Knooks, who direct animals; the Ryls, who color the flowers; and the fairies, who guard humans.

As a young man, Claus learns that he is from a race of humans, completely different from the immortals, and that many humans, including children, live in poverty and lack joy in their lives. In compassion, he leaves the sheltered life of the forest to minister to these children by making toys. The rest, you could say, is history. Continue reading »

Four Christmas Novellas by Charles Dickens

Most people have heard of A Christmas Carol, but few are familiar with Charles Dickens’ other Christmas novellas. I read his other four this season. Some were more interesting than others. The superiority of A Christmas Carol makes it clear to me why it has lasted as a “classic” through the years, and while most of these have not. Continue reading »

Martel-Haper Challenge (First Quarter 2009)

In the fourth quarter of 2008, Dewey began the Martel-Harper Challenge. This challenge is to read two books during the quarter from the list that Yann Martel sends Stephen Harper, a list that is always growing.

I am quite excited about this list of books because of the variety (old classics and new classics). In Dewey’s honor, I’d like to continue this challenge for the first quarter of 2009.

To join for first quarter 2009, commit to read and review two books from the Martel-Harper challenge list between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2009. You can choose the books now or as you go. Continue reading »

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

If you like Harry Potter’s world, you’ll like J.K. Rowling’s latest edition to the cannon: The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

After each tale, which has been carefully “translated” from the ancient runes by Hermione Granger, we read Dumbledore’s commentary/critical analysis of the tale, with Rowling’s special notes for Muggle audiences. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is cleverly developed and my only complaint is that there are so few. Continue reading »

Poetry Friday: Christmas Poems

I mentioned previously that I love the Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets series. So I ordered myself the volume Everyman’s volume of Christmas Poems in honor of the holiday. (Thank goodness for Amazon’s Marketplace where I could get it for half price!). I really enjoyed a retreat in to poetry about my favorite holiday and season, Christmas.

Christmas Poems has an eclectic mix of modern and old poems, from John Milton to W.H. Auden and Chinua Achebe. Continue reading »

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I reread A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens just about every Christmas. I love the story of personal redemption as Ebenezer Scrooge learns from his past, recognizes the facts of the present, and learns to hope for the best in the future. For me, the appeal of this ghostly tale is the recognition that I likewise forget the past, present, and future; hopefully I can recognize my errors before I become a “ba-humbug!”. Continue reading »