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1muddy21
OK, my hat's in the ring! I started making a list of my 2008 books and it's considerably longer than I thought it would be. I'm feeling more hopeful about 75!
Books I've read in 2009:
1. Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer - Bruce Holland Rogers (msg 5)
2. Beard on Pasta - James Beard (msg 7)
3. Place-based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities by David Sobel
4. A Late Chrysanthemum 21 short stories from the Japanese, translated by Lane Dunlop (msg 12)
5. The Four Agreements: a practical guide to personal freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) (msg 15)
6. Japanese Lessons : A year in a Japanese school through the eyes of an American anthropologist and her children by Gail R. Benjamin (msg 18)
7. Start with a Scan: a guide to transforming scanned photos and objects into high quality art
8. Exeter Historically Speaking, Barbara Rimkunas
9. Mainspring, Jay Lake
10. American Nerd: the Story of My People - Benjamin Nugent
11. Spiritual Evolution: a Scientific Defense of Faith - George Vaillant
12. Mr. Popper's Penguins - Richard and Florence Atwater
13. web 2.0: new tools, new schools - Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum
14. Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society - Donna Gollnick & Philip Chinn
15. Student Successes with Thinking Maps - David Hyerle (ed.)
16. Peeking through the keyhole: the evolution of North American homes - Avi Friedman & David Krawitz
17. blink: the power of thinking without thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
18. Superparenting for ADD: an innovative approach to raising your distracted child - Edward Hallowell & Peter Jensen
19. Number One Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
20. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
21. How the Brain Learns - David Sousa
22. Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: a guide to the study of ordinary buildings and landscapes - Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley
23. American Barns and Covered Bridges - Eric Sloane
24. Social Intelligence: the new science of human relationships - Daniel Goleman
25. Landscape in Sight: looking at America - John Brinckerhoff Jackson
26. With Heritage So Rich from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
27. New Hampshire: from farm to kitchen - Helen Brody
28. I and my chimney - Herman Melville
29. The Ten Minute Activist: Easy Ways to Take Back the Planet - The Mission Collective
30. Deer Camp : Last light in the Northeast Kingdom - John M. Miller
31. The best of the best: becoming elite at an American boarding school - Ruben A. Gaztambide-Fernandez
32. Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and their food, at sea and ashore, in the nineteenth century - Sandra L. Oliver
33. Military Brats: legacies of childhood inside the fortress - Mary Edwards Wertsch
34. Beyond New England Thresholds - Samuel Chamberlain
35. Eating New England: A Food Lover's Guide to Eating Locally (from the traditional to the unexpected) - Juliette Rogers & Barbara Radcliffe Rogers
36. American House Styles: a concise guide - John Milnes Baker
37. Historic Preservation: an introduction to its history, principles, and practice - Norman Tyler
38. No Plot? No Problem: a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days - Chris Baty
39. Good Fences: a pictorial history of New England's Stone Walls - William Hubbell
40. East Kingston 1738-1800 - East Kingston Bicentennial Committee
41. New Hampshire in the Civil War - Bruce D. Heald
42. The Land Has Many Lives: the natural history of the house on Quaker Hill - Allan Shope
43. Creating Great Web Graphics - Laurie McCanna
44. Lechuguilla: jewel of the underground
45. Hidden History of New Hampshire - D. Quincy Whitney
46. Hometown Diners - Robert O. Williams
47. The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory - Torkel Klingberg
48. Test Better, Teach Better: the Instructional Role of Assessment - W. James Popham
49. Knowing What Students Know: the Science and Design of Instructional Assessment - Committee on the Foundations of Assessment, National Research Council
50. The Mismeasure of Man - Stephen Jay Gould
51. Reading the Forested Landscape: a Natural History of New England - Tom Wessels
52. Nearby History: Exploring the Past Around You - David Kyvig
53. On Doing Local History - Carol Kammen
54. A Painter's Paradise: Monhegan's Nineteenth-Century Artists - Emily Grey
55. Monhegan Island: Images of America - Margot Sullivan
2alcottacre
Welcome to the group! Cool ticker, too.
3JacInABook
Hi, oops nearly tripped over that hat there, just wanted to say I'll look forward to seeing your reading list.
Isn't that lightning a fire hazard?
Isn't that lightning a fire hazard?
4muddy21
Well, it's always nice to curl up with a good book & a cuppa on a rainy day, isn't it? The lightning bolt does seem a bit dramatic, but when I picked it I'd just spent 3 days without electricity and my mother was without it for 12 days. It's sort of a good luck charm!
Edited to add my "books patiently waiting" list (in no particular order) near the top of my 2009 thread:
1. The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair - George Plimpton
2. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008
3. Generation Text Raising Well-Adjusted Kids in an Age of Instant Everything - Michael Osit
4. The Craft of Science Fiction - Reginald Bretnor, Ed.
5. Don't Make Me Think: a Common Sense Approach to Web Usability - Steve Krug
6. The Great Meadow Farmers and the Land in Colonial Concord - Brian Donahue
7. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 101 Stories of Life, Love and Learning
8. Parnassus on Wheels audio - Chrisotpher Morley
9. Web Wisdom : how to evaluate and create information quality on the Web - Janet Alexander
10. American Photobooth - Nakki Goranin
11. Green from the Ground Up Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction - Johnston & Gibson
12. The Snakebite Survivors' Club Travels Among Serpents - Jeremy Seal
13. The Game of My Life: a true story of challenge, triumph, and growing up autistic - Jason "J-Mac" McElwain
14. Lavinia - Ursula LeGuin
15. Tiverton Tales - Alice Brown
16. Heart of the Comet - Benford & Brin
17. Find the Boy - W. H. Canaway
18. Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron
19. Net Effects How Librarians Can Manage the Unintended Consequences of the Internet - Marylaine Block
20. Mirroring People: the New Science of How We Connect with Others - Marco Iacoboni
21. Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton
22. Jack on the Gallows Tree - Leo Bruce
23. Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - David Allen
24. Education for Judgment: the Artistry of Discussion Leadership - Christensen, Garvin & Sweet
25. In War Times An Alternate-Universe Novel of a Different Present - Kathleen Ann Goonan
Edited to add my "books patiently waiting" list (in no particular order) near the top of my 2009 thread:
1. The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair - George Plimpton
2. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008
3. Generation Text Raising Well-Adjusted Kids in an Age of Instant Everything - Michael Osit
4. The Craft of Science Fiction - Reginald Bretnor, Ed.
5. Don't Make Me Think: a Common Sense Approach to Web Usability - Steve Krug
6. The Great Meadow Farmers and the Land in Colonial Concord - Brian Donahue
7. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 101 Stories of Life, Love and Learning
8. Parnassus on Wheels audio - Chrisotpher Morley
9. Web Wisdom : how to evaluate and create information quality on the Web - Janet Alexander
10. American Photobooth - Nakki Goranin
11. Green from the Ground Up Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction - Johnston & Gibson
12. The Snakebite Survivors' Club Travels Among Serpents - Jeremy Seal
13. The Game of My Life: a true story of challenge, triumph, and growing up autistic - Jason "J-Mac" McElwain
14. Lavinia - Ursula LeGuin
15. Tiverton Tales - Alice Brown
16. Heart of the Comet - Benford & Brin
17. Find the Boy - W. H. Canaway
18. Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron
19. Net Effects How Librarians Can Manage the Unintended Consequences of the Internet - Marylaine Block
20. Mirroring People: the New Science of How We Connect with Others - Marco Iacoboni
21. Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton
22. Jack on the Gallows Tree - Leo Bruce
23. Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - David Allen
24. Education for Judgment: the Artistry of Discussion Leadership - Christensen, Garvin & Sweet
25. In War Times An Alternate-Universe Novel of a Different Present - Kathleen Ann Goonan
5muddy21
Book #1
My first book for the year is Word Work: surviving and thriving as a writer by Bruce Holland Rogers. The book is a collection of essays in which the author shares some of his writing techniques and philosophy. Rather than giving advice, the author presents some of the common pitfalls and stumbling blocks that writers encounter and then explains how he deals with them and why his techniques work for him. He also explains different techniques that have worked for friends and fellow writers.
The emphasis throughout the book is on the need for self-reflection to identify the issues and for mindful awareness to keep oneself on course. This was an excellent book, filled with helpful information. My only regret is that it's a library book so I couldn't mark it up and I can't keep it at hand. Perhaps it will go on my birthday wishlist!
Definitely 5 out of 5 stars.
My first book for the year is Word Work: surviving and thriving as a writer by Bruce Holland Rogers. The book is a collection of essays in which the author shares some of his writing techniques and philosophy. Rather than giving advice, the author presents some of the common pitfalls and stumbling blocks that writers encounter and then explains how he deals with them and why his techniques work for him. He also explains different techniques that have worked for friends and fellow writers.
The emphasis throughout the book is on the need for self-reflection to identify the issues and for mindful awareness to keep oneself on course. This was an excellent book, filled with helpful information. My only regret is that it's a library book so I couldn't mark it up and I can't keep it at hand. Perhaps it will go on my birthday wishlist!
Definitely 5 out of 5 stars.
6alcottacre
Looks like you have made a good start on your reading year!
7muddy21
Book #2
Beard on Pasta by James Beard. I never meant to read this, I was just looking for ideas for dinner. In the end, thouigh, I read pretty much the whole thing. Some of the recipes seemed likely, many would require far more time and attention than I'm willing to devote to cooking. I'm quite certain, for instance, that I'll never make my own pasta from scratch, but Spinach-Anchovy Sauce or Pasta Primavera are easily within my means. Beard writes in a friendly, down to earth way that makes the reading enjoyable.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Beard on Pasta by James Beard. I never meant to read this, I was just looking for ideas for dinner. In the end, thouigh, I read pretty much the whole thing. Some of the recipes seemed likely, many would require far more time and attention than I'm willing to devote to cooking. I'm quite certain, for instance, that I'll never make my own pasta from scratch, but Spinach-Anchovy Sauce or Pasta Primavera are easily within my means. Beard writes in a friendly, down to earth way that makes the reading enjoyable.
3.5 out of 5 stars
9alcottacre
#7: One of my favorite recipes is in that book - I think it is just called Beans and Pasta. Wonderful stuff!
10suslyn
Ooh -- cookbooks are on my 999 list. I'd love to give that one a whirl. And I'm thinking of sending my dad who is writing the first book you read. Glad I stopped by! I'll do it again soon. --Susan
11muddy21
Book #3
The Reading Globally group is reading books from Japan this month and the focus is on fiction. I'm not much of a fiction reader and I hoped the short story format would make for easier reading. Sadly, I was wrong.
I chose A Late Chrysanthemum – 21 short stories by seven writers from the first half of the twentieth century, translated by Lane Dunlop.
I read the first four stories by Shiga Naoya and was singularly unimpressed. With guarded encouragement from another group member, I continued on to try other authors. I read two stories by Yasunari Kawabata, which were minimally better, and the tale by Hayashi Fumiko from which the collection took its title.
The last story relates the musings of a middle-aged Geisha-type as she mulls over love affairs from earlier days while preparing for a visit from one of the former lovers. I enjoyed this story more than the others, but not enough to finish the book, I'm afraid.
I'm feeling mired in the mud with this book. I echo the sentiments of another Reading Globally member in feeling that Japanese works are perhaps "too subtle" for me. And the sentiments of another 75 Books member who talked about a tendency to read literally, not always picking up on the hidden symbolism. The understatement and the focus on interior thoughts just moves too slowly to keep my attention. Perhaps this is a result of my mostly having read nonfiction for many years, or perhaps my liking for nonfiction is a result of this inclination – hard to tell which came first!
2.5 out of 5 stars
Certainly not poorly written, just not my cup of tea.
The Reading Globally group is reading books from Japan this month and the focus is on fiction. I'm not much of a fiction reader and I hoped the short story format would make for easier reading. Sadly, I was wrong.
I chose A Late Chrysanthemum – 21 short stories by seven writers from the first half of the twentieth century, translated by Lane Dunlop.
I read the first four stories by Shiga Naoya and was singularly unimpressed. With guarded encouragement from another group member, I continued on to try other authors. I read two stories by Yasunari Kawabata, which were minimally better, and the tale by Hayashi Fumiko from which the collection took its title.
The last story relates the musings of a middle-aged Geisha-type as she mulls over love affairs from earlier days while preparing for a visit from one of the former lovers. I enjoyed this story more than the others, but not enough to finish the book, I'm afraid.
I'm feeling mired in the mud with this book. I echo the sentiments of another Reading Globally member in feeling that Japanese works are perhaps "too subtle" for me. And the sentiments of another 75 Books member who talked about a tendency to read literally, not always picking up on the hidden symbolism. The understatement and the focus on interior thoughts just moves too slowly to keep my attention. Perhaps this is a result of my mostly having read nonfiction for many years, or perhaps my liking for nonfiction is a result of this inclination – hard to tell which came first!
2.5 out of 5 stars
Certainly not poorly written, just not my cup of tea.
12muddy21
Book #4
Icarus at the Edge of Time by Brian Greene, a physicist and author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, is a very quick read and absolutely delightful. It's a retelling of the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wings made with wax. This time it's told in an outer-spacey sort of way, illustrating Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
I suppose it's considered a short story, done in a boardbook format and illustrated throughout with stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Do yourself a favor and find this book!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Chosen because it came across my desk at the library, destined for the New Book Shelf
Icarus at the Edge of Time by Brian Greene, a physicist and author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, is a very quick read and absolutely delightful. It's a retelling of the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wings made with wax. This time it's told in an outer-spacey sort of way, illustrating Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
I suppose it's considered a short story, done in a boardbook format and illustrated throughout with stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Do yourself a favor and find this book!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Chosen because it came across my desk at the library, destined for the New Book Shelf
13alcottacre
#12: Sounds interesting and something I would look at for the pictures alone. Thanks for the recommendation!
15muddy21
Book #5
The Four Agreements: a practical guide to personal freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz. The author, from a family of healers and shamans in rural Mexico, chose medical school and a career as a surgeon. A near-fatal accident caused him to rethink his career choice and he eventually returned to the traditional Toltec ways. He serves now as a Toltec nagual, or shaman, and argues that each of us lives a life inextricably tied to our perceptions of the external world, both people and events.
Ruiz's guidance is that we should each make four agreements with ourselves:
1) Be Impeccable with Your Word
2) Don't Take Anything Personally
3) Don't Make Assumptions
4) Always Do Your Best
There is also a chapter titled Breaking Old Agreements addressing ways to break free from our old perceptions, allowing us to develop and live in a new reality.
There were some very good insights in this book. It's a little awkward to read in the beginning because the author assigns quite specific meanings to words that have more general connotations in common use. Once his vocabulary is familiar, the going is much easier. I think a re-reading will be valuable.
Information contained: 4 out of 5 stars
Delivery: 3 out of 5 stars
Chosen because the subject matter sounded interesting
The Four Agreements: a practical guide to personal freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz. The author, from a family of healers and shamans in rural Mexico, chose medical school and a career as a surgeon. A near-fatal accident caused him to rethink his career choice and he eventually returned to the traditional Toltec ways. He serves now as a Toltec nagual, or shaman, and argues that each of us lives a life inextricably tied to our perceptions of the external world, both people and events.
Ruiz's guidance is that we should each make four agreements with ourselves:
1) Be Impeccable with Your Word
2) Don't Take Anything Personally
3) Don't Make Assumptions
4) Always Do Your Best
There is also a chapter titled Breaking Old Agreements addressing ways to break free from our old perceptions, allowing us to develop and live in a new reality.
There were some very good insights in this book. It's a little awkward to read in the beginning because the author assigns quite specific meanings to words that have more general connotations in common use. Once his vocabulary is familiar, the going is much easier. I think a re-reading will be valuable.
Information contained: 4 out of 5 stars
Delivery: 3 out of 5 stars
Chosen because the subject matter sounded interesting
16suslyn
Sounds like something all of us could benefit from doing (his agreements). Thanks for the informative post.
18muddy21
Book #6
Japanese Lessons : A year in a Japanese school through the eyes of an American anthropologist and her children by Gail R. Benjamin. This was a very interesting book that aimed to provide some insight into the Japanese education system from an American perspective. The author’s intention was to “…find out what really happens in Japanese schools that is different from what happens in American schools and how those differences in practice affect differences in outcomes…to find paths for improvement in American education.” The author combines her professional analysis of the cultural bases for Japan’s educational structure with anecdotes and observations from the daily experiences of her children, who were attending Japanese schools for the year (one in fifth grade, the other in first grade). There was a lot of thought-provoking material presented in a way that was easy to follow and enjoyable to read.
As Benjamin describes it, the American view of child development is that children begin as helpless dependents and schools need to encourage students to learn about themselves through introspection, to learn to recognize their own individual strengths, and to form personal individual values that will allow them to withstand dangerous peer group and social pressures. The Japanese view is that children begin life as isolated individuals and that it is only when they learn to function well as group members that they will be able to successfully avoid the selfish inclinations of the individual and will live a more complete life filled with the social interaction that is such an important human trait.
Overall, the Japanese system sounds like it is much more deliberate and mindful of intended educational goals, which makes for a much more cohesive and equitable system. The differences between the two national educational philosophies seem to be largely a reiteration of the “nature vs. nurture” debates. American schools assume our personal qualities are inborn; that their goal is to help children discover who they were born to be. Japanese schools assume that it is our experiences that make us who we are as adults; that ensuring that all children have similar educational experiences will ensure that all children have the same opportunities to succeed in school and in later life.
Thirty years ago many scientists were agreed that Nature was a much more significant force than nurture, so our American educational assumptions seemed sensible. Recent advances in neuro-cognitive science are indicating that nurture has a much greater effect than was previously believed to be the case, in particular that nurture continues to be a strong developmental force throughout our lifetimes, rather than just for the first few years of infancy. Hmmmm….
4.5 out of 5 stars
Chosen for a Reading Globally theme read
Japanese Lessons : A year in a Japanese school through the eyes of an American anthropologist and her children by Gail R. Benjamin. This was a very interesting book that aimed to provide some insight into the Japanese education system from an American perspective. The author’s intention was to “…find out what really happens in Japanese schools that is different from what happens in American schools and how those differences in practice affect differences in outcomes…to find paths for improvement in American education.” The author combines her professional analysis of the cultural bases for Japan’s educational structure with anecdotes and observations from the daily experiences of her children, who were attending Japanese schools for the year (one in fifth grade, the other in first grade). There was a lot of thought-provoking material presented in a way that was easy to follow and enjoyable to read.
As Benjamin describes it, the American view of child development is that children begin as helpless dependents and schools need to encourage students to learn about themselves through introspection, to learn to recognize their own individual strengths, and to form personal individual values that will allow them to withstand dangerous peer group and social pressures. The Japanese view is that children begin life as isolated individuals and that it is only when they learn to function well as group members that they will be able to successfully avoid the selfish inclinations of the individual and will live a more complete life filled with the social interaction that is such an important human trait.
Overall, the Japanese system sounds like it is much more deliberate and mindful of intended educational goals, which makes for a much more cohesive and equitable system. The differences between the two national educational philosophies seem to be largely a reiteration of the “nature vs. nurture” debates. American schools assume our personal qualities are inborn; that their goal is to help children discover who they were born to be. Japanese schools assume that it is our experiences that make us who we are as adults; that ensuring that all children have similar educational experiences will ensure that all children have the same opportunities to succeed in school and in later life.
Thirty years ago many scientists were agreed that Nature was a much more significant force than nurture, so our American educational assumptions seemed sensible. Recent advances in neuro-cognitive science are indicating that nurture has a much greater effect than was previously believed to be the case, in particular that nurture continues to be a strong developmental force throughout our lifetimes, rather than just for the first few years of infancy. Hmmmm….
4.5 out of 5 stars
Chosen for a Reading Globally theme read
19muddy21
Book #7
Start with a Scan : a guide to transforming scanned photos and objects into high quality art, Janet Ashford
A useful book with lots of clearly illustrated projects for adapting and enhancing scanned photos and other odds and ends. I read the older edition, though, and I think the information is a bit out of date, just because there have been so many refinements to PhotoShop and the other programs they discuss.
3 out of 5 stars, mostly because it was dated
Start with a Scan : a guide to transforming scanned photos and objects into high quality art, Janet Ashford
A useful book with lots of clearly illustrated projects for adapting and enhancing scanned photos and other odds and ends. I read the older edition, though, and I think the information is a bit out of date, just because there have been so many refinements to PhotoShop and the other programs they discuss.
3 out of 5 stars, mostly because it was dated
20muddy21
Book #8
Exeter Historically Speaking, Barbara Rimkunas
This was an enjoyable read, mainly a compilation of local history columns from the local paper. Some were about people (including Abraham Lincoln's son who went to school here and George Washington who stopped at the local tavern one day for lunch and a short speech), some were about buildings, one about a life-sized statue of a Civil War soldier that disappeared ninety years ago and hasn't been seen since. There was even one about Dick, the fire horse, beloved by all and able to get into his engine harness faster than the firemen could get into their suits. Exeter was founded in 1638 and lays claim (along with a few other places) to being the birthplace of the Republican party (or the Democratic-Republican Party, as it was then known). Lots of interest in a small-scale local sort of way.
4 out 5 stars
Exeter Historically Speaking, Barbara Rimkunas
This was an enjoyable read, mainly a compilation of local history columns from the local paper. Some were about people (including Abraham Lincoln's son who went to school here and George Washington who stopped at the local tavern one day for lunch and a short speech), some were about buildings, one about a life-sized statue of a Civil War soldier that disappeared ninety years ago and hasn't been seen since. There was even one about Dick, the fire horse, beloved by all and able to get into his engine harness faster than the firemen could get into their suits. Exeter was founded in 1638 and lays claim (along with a few other places) to being the birthplace of the Republican party (or the Democratic-Republican Party, as it was then known). Lots of interest in a small-scale local sort of way.
4 out 5 stars
21muddy21
Book #9
Mainspring, Jay Lake
Mainspring, Jay Lake
22muddy21
Book #10
American Nerd: the story of my people, Benjamin Nugent
American Nerd: the story of my people, Benjamin Nugent
24drneutron
What did you think of Mainspring? I liked it - haven't read the sequel yet, though.
25muddy21
#24 I liked Mainspring very much. I used to read a lot of science fiction and fantasy but haven't read any in a long time. This was my first foray into "steampunk" territory and it was even more fun than I thought it would be. Maybe all the machinery gives me the illusion of nonfiction :o) The whole premise of clockwork planets and the Equatorial Wall was fascinating. The religion part was laid on a bit thick but it was tolerable. The love interest was a bit more explicit than what I'm used to, though it wasn't overly graphic. Still, I don't think it's quite the thing for my younger son, who was expressing interest. I'll have to look for some steampunk that's a bit more kid-friendly.
26drneutron
That tracks pretty well with my thoughts. I can give you some more recommendations if you're interested in steampunk.
27muddy21
Yes, thanks, I am interested. We have one at my library that's titled Steampunk by Ann VanderMeer and is a collection of short stories, but it's checked out at the moment. I've also heard good things about Gibson's The Difference Engine, which we also have but I haven't read yet.
28muddy21
#23 suslyn - It's one of the hazards of my job. Most of the books I read are ones that come across the circulation desk at work and catch my eye for one reason or another. I'm always afraid that if I just put them away where they belong I'll never remember to go back to them again, so I check them out and bring them home. Now, with the encouragement of all of you, I'm actually making my way through some of them. Of course, with that same encouragement I'm also ending up with more lists of things to look for, but, hey, what are friends for? It does make for terrific variety, doesn't it?
29drneutron
Both of those are good. Steampunk's a bit up and down - some stories are better than others. Gibson's great, though! Wikipedia's got a pretty decent page on steampunk with a list of books, movies, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
30muddy21
Book #12
Took some time off for classes, but I'm back for the moment. Here's a review of my latest for a Polar Regions theme read with the group Reading Globally...
Thought I’d start with a quick read to ease back into the swing of things…so I started the Polar month with Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, a children’s book published in 1938 and a Newbery Honor winner of 1939.
The setting for the story is actually a town called Stillwater in some unspecified state in mid-US, where Mr. & Mrs. Popper live with their two children. Mr. Popper paints houses and spends his free time absorbed in stories about the far-away places of the world that he’s never seen.
Mr. Popper is particularly taken with the Polar regions and writes a letter to Admiral Drake, Antarctic explorer. To everyone’s surprise a large crate arrives by return post, the contents of which turn out to be a live penguin sent by the Admiral himself.
Various adventures and merriment ensue. Eventually the Poppers are proud owners of a traveling road troupe of twelve penguins. The act is so successful that the penguins are offered a lucrative movie contract by a Hollywood mogul, but Mr. Popper sorrowfully decides that it is best for the penguins to be returned to their proper icebound surroundings.
Admiral Drake intercedes, though, to say that the US government is concerned about the unfortunate Arctic explorers who must go about their lonely expeditions without the benefit of penguins for company. The Admiral proposes to take the Popper penguins north to the Arctic, with the intention of establishing a breeding colony there. Mr. Popper is invited to accompany the expedition as penguin-keeper.
“Mamma,” shouted Mr. Popper to Mrs. Popper…”I’m going, too! I’m going, too! Admiral Drake says he needs me. Mamma, do you mind if I don’t come home for a year or two?” This passage brought to mind one of the titles timjones recommended...I may be some time: ice and the English imagination, though I suspect that one has a bit more of a firm purchase on reality than does Mr. Popper's Penguins!
Silly and somewhat dated, but still quite an enjoyable read.
Took some time off for classes, but I'm back for the moment. Here's a review of my latest for a Polar Regions theme read with the group Reading Globally...
Thought I’d start with a quick read to ease back into the swing of things…so I started the Polar month with Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, a children’s book published in 1938 and a Newbery Honor winner of 1939.
The setting for the story is actually a town called Stillwater in some unspecified state in mid-US, where Mr. & Mrs. Popper live with their two children. Mr. Popper paints houses and spends his free time absorbed in stories about the far-away places of the world that he’s never seen.
Mr. Popper is particularly taken with the Polar regions and writes a letter to Admiral Drake, Antarctic explorer. To everyone’s surprise a large crate arrives by return post, the contents of which turn out to be a live penguin sent by the Admiral himself.
Various adventures and merriment ensue. Eventually the Poppers are proud owners of a traveling road troupe of twelve penguins. The act is so successful that the penguins are offered a lucrative movie contract by a Hollywood mogul, but Mr. Popper sorrowfully decides that it is best for the penguins to be returned to their proper icebound surroundings.
Admiral Drake intercedes, though, to say that the US government is concerned about the unfortunate Arctic explorers who must go about their lonely expeditions without the benefit of penguins for company. The Admiral proposes to take the Popper penguins north to the Arctic, with the intention of establishing a breeding colony there. Mr. Popper is invited to accompany the expedition as penguin-keeper.
“Mamma,” shouted Mr. Popper to Mrs. Popper…”I’m going, too! I’m going, too! Admiral Drake says he needs me. Mamma, do you mind if I don’t come home for a year or two?” This passage brought to mind one of the titles timjones recommended...I may be some time: ice and the English imagination, though I suspect that one has a bit more of a firm purchase on reality than does Mr. Popper's Penguins!
Silly and somewhat dated, but still quite an enjoyable read.
32muddy21
Book #11
Spiritual Evolution : a scientific defense of faith by George Vaillant
An interesting discussion about the importance of personal connections and faith to a long and healthy life from an author who is a highly-respected member of the scientific and medical community.
Spiritual Evolution : a scientific defense of faith by George Vaillant
An interesting discussion about the importance of personal connections and faith to a long and healthy life from an author who is a highly-respected member of the scientific and medical community.
34muddy21
Book #13
web 2.0: new tools, new schools by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum.
A book that was used for a class I took recently, Teaching and Learning in the Networked Classroom. Provides explanations of internet tools like blogs, wikis, podcasts, electronic portfolios, and RSS feeds. Discussions of ways these tools can effectively be used in the classroom are combined with anecdotal examples of on-going projects. Also addressed are factors that need particular consideration in a school setting.
An excellent book!
web 2.0: new tools, new schools by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum.
A book that was used for a class I took recently, Teaching and Learning in the Networked Classroom. Provides explanations of internet tools like blogs, wikis, podcasts, electronic portfolios, and RSS feeds. Discussions of ways these tools can effectively be used in the classroom are combined with anecdotal examples of on-going projects. Also addressed are factors that need particular consideration in a school setting.
An excellent book!
35muddy21
Book #14
Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society by Donna Gollnick and Lynne Schrum.
Another textbook and another good one. Not as easy a read as #13, but only because it was more dense and written with a more academic view. A lot of good information and reflection on culture - what it is, how it colors our individual worlds, and ways to work on an atmosphere of multicultural inclusion and acceptance, inside or outside the classroom. Also, comes with a CD and an associated interactive website that provide a lot of additional resources.
Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society by Donna Gollnick and Lynne Schrum.
Another textbook and another good one. Not as easy a read as #13, but only because it was more dense and written with a more academic view. A lot of good information and reflection on culture - what it is, how it colors our individual worlds, and ways to work on an atmosphere of multicultural inclusion and acceptance, inside or outside the classroom. Also, comes with a CD and an associated interactive website that provide a lot of additional resources.
36muddy21
Books just posted - will add reviews when I can...
15. Student Successes with Thinking Maps - David Hyerle (ed.)
16. Peeking through the keyhole: the evolution of North American homes - Avi Friedman & David Krawitz
17. blink: the power of thinking without thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
18. Superparenting for ADD: an innovative approach to raising your distracted child - Edward Hallowell & Peter Jensen
19. Number One Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
15. Student Successes with Thinking Maps - David Hyerle (ed.)
16. Peeking through the keyhole: the evolution of North American homes - Avi Friedman & David Krawitz
17. blink: the power of thinking without thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
18. Superparenting for ADD: an innovative approach to raising your distracted child - Edward Hallowell & Peter Jensen
19. Number One Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
37dianestm
You have read some good books so far this year and have added to my TBR mountain. Happy reading.
39muddy21
20. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
21. How the Brain Learns - David Sousa
22. Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: a guide to the study of ordinary buildings and landscapes - Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley
21. How the Brain Learns - David Sousa
22. Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: a guide to the study of ordinary buildings and landscapes - Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley
40alcottacre
#39: Book 22 looks interesting. Thanks for the mention!
41Whisper1
I read Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and enjoyed it. Did you like this book?
42muddy21
>#41 Hi Whisper - yes, I did enjoy the book very much. I'd read and heard so much about it that I was a bit doubtful about whether it would live up to its reputation. I knew very little about the occupation of the Channel Islands, so that part was interesting, and I'm always amazed at how much character development can occur just with a series of letters. The personal relationships were a little confusing for me at first for some reason, but once I got that sorted out it was a quick read - I wished it had gone on longer! Reminiscent of 84, Charing Cross Road, which I also liked a lot.
43muddy21
23. American Barns and Covered Bridges - Eric Sloane
Recommended to anyone with even a minor interest in Early American settlement and architecture. A short, quick, and easy read that's filled with information about those who came before us and how they lived. Lots of surprising factoids. God bless Eric Sloane for investing the time and energy in recording this information before it was gone forever!
24. Social Intelligence: the new science of human relationships - Dan Goleman
Everybody everywhere should read this book! There is so much new understanding in the field of neuroscience, most of it connected one way or another with how we think and feel, how we learn, and how we interact with others. You could read this book twice a year for the next ten years and get new information out of it every time!
Recommended to anyone with even a minor interest in Early American settlement and architecture. A short, quick, and easy read that's filled with information about those who came before us and how they lived. Lots of surprising factoids. God bless Eric Sloane for investing the time and energy in recording this information before it was gone forever!
24. Social Intelligence: the new science of human relationships - Dan Goleman
Everybody everywhere should read this book! There is so much new understanding in the field of neuroscience, most of it connected one way or another with how we think and feel, how we learn, and how we interact with others. You could read this book twice a year for the next ten years and get new information out of it every time!
44alcottacre
#43: As someone originally from Pennsylvania, I hold dear to my heart covered bridges. I will look for the book, if only to look at pictures from a part of the country that I love.
45muddy21
See, isn't that funny? I always thought of covered bridges as a New England thing, but in fact Pennsylvania leads the pack! Or, at least, it did in 1954, with 390 covered bridges, followed by Ohio with 349... Vermont was a considerable way down the list with 121, New Hampshire even farther down with 54. Who knew? Well, maybe you did, but I sure didn't!
46alcottacre
#45: I did not know that Pennsylvania was the leader, but I am not terribly surprised.
I see that Sloane has several books of Americana out, so I am going to be reading a bunch of his, I suspect.
I see that Sloane has several books of Americana out, so I am going to be reading a bunch of his, I suspect.
47loriephillips
#43 I read Social Intelligence last year and thought it was surprisingly well done. I'm glad you like it too!
48muddy21
25. Landscape in sight: looking at America - John Brinckerhoff Jackson
49suslyn
I'm wanting the bridge book too. Lived in Allentown as a wee thing and I think covered bridges are deeply imprinted in my psyche (along with massive trees). Thx for sharing!
51alcottacre
I am hoping to head up that direction next July!
53alcottacre
My family is having a reunion in Pennsylvania July 10, 2010 and I am hoping that my mother and my family all can make it up there. While there, I am really hoping to meet some of the Northern LT contingent!!
54muddy21
26. With Heritage So Rich from the National Trust for Historic Preservation...a stirring read, originally published in 1966 as a call to arms for the preservation cause. Combines a brief history of land use and settlement patterns of the US with a discussion of the importance of historic preservation - not restricted to our architectural heritage, but clearly considering our cultural heritage as well. Lots of photos - sadly, many of the buildings are no longer with us.
27. New Hampshire: from farm to kitchen by Helen Brody. Short profiles of 30 family farms in New Hampshire along with product-associated recipes. Almost makes me want to spend time in the kitchen...or in the field.
28. I and My Chimney by Herman Melville. This is my absolute favorite so far this year! At 33 pages, it’s a much faster read than his considerably better-known Moby Dick. A must for anyone interested in historic preservation or familiar with old-house living (mine was built c.1771). I never dreamt Melville would have me laughing out loud…who knew?
ETA Touchstones are there, but don't seem to be working tonight.
29. The ten-minute activist : easy ways to take back the planet by the Mission Collective. As the title promises, lots of basic steps we can each take to make a difference.
27. New Hampshire: from farm to kitchen by Helen Brody. Short profiles of 30 family farms in New Hampshire along with product-associated recipes. Almost makes me want to spend time in the kitchen...or in the field.
28. I and My Chimney by Herman Melville. This is my absolute favorite so far this year! At 33 pages, it’s a much faster read than his considerably better-known Moby Dick. A must for anyone interested in historic preservation or familiar with old-house living (mine was built c.1771). I never dreamt Melville would have me laughing out loud…who knew?
ETA Touchstones are there, but don't seem to be working tonight.
29. The ten-minute activist : easy ways to take back the planet by the Mission Collective. As the title promises, lots of basic steps we can each take to make a difference.
55alcottacre
#43: I just read Sloane's A Reverence for Wood last night and it was very good. With your interest in Americana and historic preservation, you might be interested in checking this one out. I appreciate your recommending Sloane as an author because without your recommendation, I would never have stumbled across the book on my own.
57alcottacre
#56: Thanks, Linda, so am I!
58muddy21
#55: Thanks for the tip about Sloane's other book - I'll watch for it.
30. Deer Camp : Last light in the Northeast Kingdom - by John M. Miller. Miller is a Vermont native who returned as an adult to spend three weeks each November for five years documenting the deer season in the family hunting camps dotted around the mountains of his home range. The book interweaves the author's own reflections and memories along with quotes from oral history interviews and a wonderful collection of photographs taken in the camps.
Mirroring my own internal conflict every time this season comes around, the book eloquently portrays the paradox of those who so love the outdoors and the creatures that inhabit it yet whose sparse lifestyles and cultural heritage revolves so deeply around the conquest of those magnificent animals, the white-tailed deer.
30. Deer Camp : Last light in the Northeast Kingdom - by John M. Miller. Miller is a Vermont native who returned as an adult to spend three weeks each November for five years documenting the deer season in the family hunting camps dotted around the mountains of his home range. The book interweaves the author's own reflections and memories along with quotes from oral history interviews and a wonderful collection of photographs taken in the camps.
Mirroring my own internal conflict every time this season comes around, the book eloquently portrays the paradox of those who so love the outdoors and the creatures that inhabit it yet whose sparse lifestyles and cultural heritage revolves so deeply around the conquest of those magnificent animals, the white-tailed deer.
60alcottacre
#58: Ditto what Linda said!
61muddy21
31. The best of the best: becoming elite at an American boarding school - Ruben A. Gaztambide-Fernandez. The book relates the results of an ethnographic study of the students at a New England prep school. In particular, it looks at social inequalities (race, class, gender) and how students from a wide variety of backgrounds and outlooks on life are able to find common ground and form a cohesive community. The formation of those bonds depends in no small part on each student's ability to internalize, validate and accept the part they each play in the community as a whole.
62muddy21
32. Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and their food, at sea and ashore, in the nineteenth century - Sandra L. Oliver A fascinating look back at the kitchens and galleys of early New England and a selection of recipes to enjoy, as well.
33. Military Brats: legacies of childhood inside the fortress - Mary Edwards Wertsch A million thanks to Mary Edwards Wertsch for writing this book. The story of my childhood - but who knew it was the story of so many others as well??
From the final page of the book, "...'Home' for a rooted civilian is a place to return to so that love and values and memories and a sense of continuity can be replenished. What I found is that we military brats have a home like that too, a home that we all share, that lives in each of us, that we can visit in one another.
"...The sharing of stories, I learned, is what roots are all about. Subtract the sharing, and what do you have? Only a bit of dry knowledge fit to be filed in a dusty folder somewhere. Real roots are about connection - the bonding with others who share a similar lived experience - and the recognition that who we are individually is due in large part to that lived experience."
It would be very hard to explain the emotional impact of this book to anyone who did not grow up as a military brat, and impossible to overstate its relevance to one who did!
33. Military Brats: legacies of childhood inside the fortress - Mary Edwards Wertsch A million thanks to Mary Edwards Wertsch for writing this book. The story of my childhood - but who knew it was the story of so many others as well??
From the final page of the book, "...'Home' for a rooted civilian is a place to return to so that love and values and memories and a sense of continuity can be replenished. What I found is that we military brats have a home like that too, a home that we all share, that lives in each of us, that we can visit in one another.
"...The sharing of stories, I learned, is what roots are all about. Subtract the sharing, and what do you have? Only a bit of dry knowledge fit to be filed in a dusty folder somewhere. Real roots are about connection - the bonding with others who share a similar lived experience - and the recognition that who we are individually is due in large part to that lived experience."
It would be very hard to explain the emotional impact of this book to anyone who did not grow up as a military brat, and impossible to overstate its relevance to one who did!
63muddy21
34. Beyond New England Thresholds - Samuel Chamberlain - a brief but enjoyable pictorial survey of some of the older homes in New England with minor commentaries
64muddy21
35. Eating New England: A Food Lover's Guide to Eating Locally (from the traditional to the unexpected) - Juliette Rogers & Barbara Radcliffe Rogers
36. American House Styles: a concise guide - John Milnes Baker
37. Historic Preservation: an introduction to its history, principles, and practice - Norman Tyler
36. American House Styles: a concise guide - John Milnes Baker
37. Historic Preservation: an introduction to its history, principles, and practice - Norman Tyler
65alcottacre
Books 36 & 37 look like ones I would enjoy, especially since I live in a house that is over 75 years old. I will look for them. Thanks for the mention.
66muddy21
Mine's about to hit 240 years old - give or take a year or two. The books were for a course in Historic Preservation, but they were surprisingly good reads, particularly the Tyler.
67Whisper1
While I love older homes, when I was single and owned one, it was an albatross. I spent $17,000 in one year and it felt like a bottomless pit.
Still, I love the feel of an older home--all the memories that the walls hold...good and bad. I shared my house with some spirits that did not feel all that friendly.
Still, I love the feel of an older home--all the memories that the walls hold...good and bad. I shared my house with some spirits that did not feel all that friendly.
68alcottacre
#66: 240! That is so cool. I love old houses - one of the things I appreciate in the area that I live is the architecture. I could look at some of the buildings here and study the architecture for hours.
69muddy21
Yes, I do love my old house - but there's no doubt that it's a money sink for sure! We're fortunate that the spirits here are of the friendly sort.
One of the things we've talked a lot about in this class is the way houses are added on to over the years and how to pick apart the bits to see the different styles. Very interesting.
38. No Plot? No Problem: a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days - Chris Baty
39. Good Fences: a pictorial history of New England's Stone Walls - William Hubbell
40. East Kingston 1738-1800 - East Kingston Bicentennial Committee
One of the things we've talked a lot about in this class is the way houses are added on to over the years and how to pick apart the bits to see the different styles. Very interesting.
38. No Plot? No Problem: a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days - Chris Baty
39. Good Fences: a pictorial history of New England's Stone Walls - William Hubbell
40. East Kingston 1738-1800 - East Kingston Bicentennial Committee
70alcottacre
#69: One of the things we've talked a lot about in this class is the way houses are added on to over the years and how to pick apart the bits to see the different styles. Very interesting.
It sounds like a very interesting class!
It sounds like a very interesting class!
71muddy21
41. New Hampshire in the Civil War - Bruce D. Heald
72muddy21
42. The Land Has Many Lives the natural history of the house on Quaker Hill - Allan Shope The pictorial history of a marvelous house - one that was built from natural materials found at hand on the site. The local natural history provided the raw materials for the house and, in return, the house provides an acknowledgement of respect and gratitude for nature's bounty.
43. Creating Great Web Graphics - Laurie McCanna
43. Creating Great Web Graphics - Laurie McCanna
73alcottacre
#72: The Shope book looks very good! I will see if I can find a copy.
74muddy21
It's definitely worth looking at - if only to see how many things can be done with a tree!
75muddy21
44. Lechuguilla: jewel of the underground
Hidden in the depths of New Mexico's Guadalupe Mountains lie some of the US's greatest caves. The first known views of Carlsbad Cavern were in 1901, the discovery went public in the 1920s.
Over the years many curious visitors have explored other sections of the Guadalupes in hopes of finding another cave system of the majesty of Carlsbad. Beginning in 1984 explorers began to open the way into a new system known as Lechuguilla Cave.
This book is written by various members of the Lechuguilla Cave Project, a group organized by the National Park Service to explore the caves, and is filled with photographs of some of the most astounding cave views I've ever seen.
Expeditions to date have revealed a cave that is over 90 km long and 475 m deep, as compared with Carlsbad Cavern's 32 km length and 316 m depth. Concerns for both the safety of the expedition members and for the physical integrity of the cave itself have led the National Park Service onto new ground in developing a management plan for the site. Exploration is limited to certain "expedition periods" and result in a steady flow of cavers in and out, in a style now known as "tag-team caving."
The photographs are stunning and the text is fascinating. It is hard to believe that there are still places of this magnitude that have yet to be discovered!
Hidden in the depths of New Mexico's Guadalupe Mountains lie some of the US's greatest caves. The first known views of Carlsbad Cavern were in 1901, the discovery went public in the 1920s.
Over the years many curious visitors have explored other sections of the Guadalupes in hopes of finding another cave system of the majesty of Carlsbad. Beginning in 1984 explorers began to open the way into a new system known as Lechuguilla Cave.
This book is written by various members of the Lechuguilla Cave Project, a group organized by the National Park Service to explore the caves, and is filled with photographs of some of the most astounding cave views I've ever seen.
Expeditions to date have revealed a cave that is over 90 km long and 475 m deep, as compared with Carlsbad Cavern's 32 km length and 316 m depth. Concerns for both the safety of the expedition members and for the physical integrity of the cave itself have led the National Park Service onto new ground in developing a management plan for the site. Exploration is limited to certain "expedition periods" and result in a steady flow of cavers in and out, in a style now known as "tag-team caving."
The photographs are stunning and the text is fascinating. It is hard to believe that there are still places of this magnitude that have yet to be discovered!
76alcottacre
I will be honest - I have never heard of Lechuguilla! I need to do some reading about it, that is for sure. Thanks for the recommendation!
77muddy21
45. Hidden History of New Hampshire - D. Quincy Whitney A fascinating collection of short vignettes showcasing the "...resourcefulness of Granite Staters in their efforts to innovate and improvise..." The names are often familiar but now I certainly have a clearer understanding of what they did and where it led.
46. Hometown Diners - Robert O. Williams A very enjoyable photo-journey to visit some of the finest examples of diner architecture in New England and the mid-Atlantic states. Definitely needs a cup of coffee and a piece of pie to go with it!
47. The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload the the Limits of Working Memory - Torkel Klingberg The author reviews much of the research that has been done on understanding working memory and follows up with some suggestions for understanding the reasons for our burgeoning lack of ability to bring focused attention to bear on problems at hand. He posits that the rapidly rising levels of attention deficit issues we're seeing can be largely attributed to our difficulties in reconciling the physical constraints of our working memory capacity with the mental processing demands of our current world.
46. Hometown Diners - Robert O. Williams A very enjoyable photo-journey to visit some of the finest examples of diner architecture in New England and the mid-Atlantic states. Definitely needs a cup of coffee and a piece of pie to go with it!
47. The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload the the Limits of Working Memory - Torkel Klingberg The author reviews much of the research that has been done on understanding working memory and follows up with some suggestions for understanding the reasons for our burgeoning lack of ability to bring focused attention to bear on problems at hand. He posits that the rapidly rising levels of attention deficit issues we're seeing can be largely attributed to our difficulties in reconciling the physical constraints of our working memory capacity with the mental processing demands of our current world.
78muddy21
48. Test Better, Teach Better: the Instructional Role of Assessment - W. James Popham A highly readable review of the topic of tests, what they can and can't tell us, and how we can best interpret and utilize the information gained from their use. Should be standard issue for teachers and parents everywhere!
49. Knowing What Students Know: The Science and Design of Educational Assessment - Committee on the Foundations of Assessment, National Research Council. A review of where we've come from in terms of both small and large scale assessments and twelve recommendations about where we should be headed.
50. The Mismeasure of Man - Stephen Jay Gould. Considered to be a classic work refuting "scientific" claims of superior mental abilities based on race divisions. I'm sure it served its purpose well, but seems pompous, long-winded, and tedious to me.
51. Reading the Forested Landscape: a Natural History of New England - Tom Wessels I can lose myself in this book for hours on end - and start re-reading it as soon as I finish. It's like taking a leisurely walk in the woods with a good friend, one who knows the "language" of the natural world and can help interpret the signs that are all around us.
52. Nearby History: Exploring the Past Around You - David E. Kyvig A discussion of the broader importance that can evolve from looking at history with a fine focus, either at a local geographic level or a genealogic family level. The small scale allows us to develop a much clearer understanding of community connections and details of daily living that can then be extrapolated to increase our grasp of the workings of the greater cultural whole.
53. On Doing Local History - Carol Kammen A book about what it means to be a historian in general terms, and more specifically, how to work with local history in ways that are inclusive, respectful and accessible to all.
49. Knowing What Students Know: The Science and Design of Educational Assessment - Committee on the Foundations of Assessment, National Research Council. A review of where we've come from in terms of both small and large scale assessments and twelve recommendations about where we should be headed.
50. The Mismeasure of Man - Stephen Jay Gould. Considered to be a classic work refuting "scientific" claims of superior mental abilities based on race divisions. I'm sure it served its purpose well, but seems pompous, long-winded, and tedious to me.
51. Reading the Forested Landscape: a Natural History of New England - Tom Wessels I can lose myself in this book for hours on end - and start re-reading it as soon as I finish. It's like taking a leisurely walk in the woods with a good friend, one who knows the "language" of the natural world and can help interpret the signs that are all around us.
52. Nearby History: Exploring the Past Around You - David E. Kyvig A discussion of the broader importance that can evolve from looking at history with a fine focus, either at a local geographic level or a genealogic family level. The small scale allows us to develop a much clearer understanding of community connections and details of daily living that can then be extrapolated to increase our grasp of the workings of the greater cultural whole.
53. On Doing Local History - Carol Kammen A book about what it means to be a historian in general terms, and more specifically, how to work with local history in ways that are inclusive, respectful and accessible to all.
79muddy21
54. A Painter's Paradise: Monhegan's Nineteenth-Century Artists - Emily Grey An exhibit catalogue from Monhegan Museum with many fine reproductions of paintings from the exhibit along with a brief narrative history of artists and their time on island.
55. Monhegan Island: Images of America - Margot Sullivan A delightful photographic journey through time, meandering through the village, meeting up with people and houses that once were or that live on in slightly altered states.
55. Monhegan Island: Images of America - Margot Sullivan A delightful photographic journey through time, meandering through the village, meeting up with people and houses that once were or that live on in slightly altered states.
81alcottacre
You have done some interesting reading in 2009, Marilyn. I am glad you are joining in the 2010 challenge so I can keep up with your reading in the coming year.
82muddy21
Thanks, Stasia. I keep getting caught up in school work, so my readings (& postings) haven't been as regular as I'd like. It's always nice to get your replies, which keep me from feeling like I'm talking strictly to the ether!
See you in the new year...
See you in the new year...
83alcottacre
I'll be there!
