Mirkwood Reflections

I have thoughts to share. Really I do. But when I start writing them down, I judge every one. That's not interesting. That's not insightful. That's not original. That's not even grammatical. Why am I so hard on my own writing? I read lots of other people's words. I used to read many blogs. Before I was so busy, I spent lots of time reading other people's writing. I read books, magazines, blog posts, Facebook posts - all kinds of things. Most people don't worry very much about their writing, at least from the evidence. I teach writing. My goal is to help students write concisely and correctly. I sometimes feel like a fraud because teaching writing doesn't leave me time for actual writing. But this year is going to be different. I am going to write daily. Why? Well, I can blame NaNoWriMo this past November. My daughter asked me to write her some fanfiction. I'd never written fanfic before, especially not in the Harry Potter wizarding world. I did...

  Cranford  by Elizabeth Gaskell - 3/13/2013 Good -  Classic 138 pages, Kindle The old ladies of Cranford live their lives traditionally and quietly.  Book club selection for March. I took a while to get into this choice, but eventually liked it. I did find the narration to be uneven; portions of the book moved me to tears, others were skillfully drawn characterizations, but some were just dull. Heaven for Kids  by Randy Alcorn - 3/25/2013 Excellent - Inspirational 224 pages, Kindle Alcorn answers questions that kids might ask about what heaven will be like.  Loved this and read aloud it to the kids. The questions are practical and thoughtful and the answers are backed up with Scripture wherever possible. When not backed with Scripture, Alcorn admits it and gives his reasoning.  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  by J.K. Rowling - 3/29/2013 Excellent - Children's 435 pages, Audio/Print Re-read of the 3rd Harry Pott...

... then just stay fat. by Shannon Sorrels -2/1/2013 Good - Non-fiction 120 pages, Kindle A no-nonsense in-your-face guide to the only true way to lose weight - eat less, move more. Blunt and motivating. Kindle freebie. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - 2/1/2013 Excellent - Children's 341 pages, Audio Re-read - In Harry's second year at Hogwarts, someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone. When a friend is accused, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are determined to find out the truth about the Chamber of Secrets. Yes, I am re-reading the Harry Potter series within a year of my first reading. Since my time is limited, I am listening to the audiobook. The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier - 2/21/2013 Excellent - Historical Fiction 305 pages, Print Honor Bright, a Quaker, travels to America in 1850 and finds herself enmeshed in the slavery debate. Does she act on her principles an...