Book-a-Month Club

   It's not your normal Book-of-the-Month Book Club, but rather my personal spin on it and one that has quickly become a much appreciated and anticipated tradition in our family. As a library/media specialist's daughter, my house, like my Momma's and her mother's before her, is filled with books. There are bookshelves in nearly every room filled to overflowing, there are books in cabinets, and books stacked under beds. There are books in the attic and books in the playroom. I guess you could say that books are somewhat of an obsession of mine.
   One of the best things about being a grandmother is digging out old favorites. I am thankful that in one of those many cabinets filled with books are all the oldies, but goodies, my own children loved.  Some are missing pages. Some are so dog-eared and so faded that they bear little resemblance to the original. As do many of you, I delight in reading these timeless treasures to my grandchildren. There is nothing sweeter than the joy of exploration and discovery as seen through the eyes of a child.
   Thus when my daughter became pregnant with her first child, I began a tradition of giving her a book for every month of her pregnancy. And not just any book, but a book she had loved and read as a child. The major criteria for my purchase was that it must have been a book that I remembered seeing her return to over and over again. daughter. I have continued the tradition with both of my daughters-in-law, selecting books that their husbands, my sons, had counted among their favorites.
   Everyone thus far has been gifted with a copy of the perennial touch-and-feel book for babies and toddlers: Pat the Bunny. Who can't win with this little book? It never fails to enchant with it's simplistic and 50's style illustrations!

   Don't ask me why, but Daddy's beard was everybody's favorite page and the first to disintegrate. We must have gone through five or six copies of this little treasure. Each child had his or her own copy and then I purchased a few extra for emergencies.

Next up for everyone was another classic: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Who would think that children would love a book about monsters, but there is just something so glorious about these monsters. They are just so....loveable. And every child in our family wore this book out. I don't know about you, but who doesn't want to "let the wild rumpus begin"!!!

    A few years back when we made a family trip to Boston, each adult child made it a point to stop by to see the ducklings, i.e., the brass ducklings erected in the Boston Public Gardens in honor of the wonderful Momma Duckling and her babies made famous in "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey. And here they are in all their glory: Jack, Mack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Oack, Pack, and Quack. We were on first name basis with these little guys for a long time!

This book is multi-generational in our family: it is one that I also loved as a child!

And here's another favorite that everybody gets because it reminds us all about the
 power of love and how important it is to become "real."

I'm always amazed when I stop to consider the wisdom found in this little book.
Here's a little snippet for you to enjoy.

"What is REAL?" asked the rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

   "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long,long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

     "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

    "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are REAL you don't mind being hurt."

   "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" 

   "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly except to people who don't understand. 

I really believe I learned more about life philosophy from children's books than any course I took in college. It's another reason why I love giving these books to my grandbabies.

Two of my four children were also enamored with the book about the
 little bear who lives in a department store, waiting for someone to take him home.

And while my daughter loved anything illustrated by the inimitable Tasha Tudor...

the boys, on the other hand were completely besotted with any
 and everything written and illustrated by Richard L. Scarry

These books were so "busy" that they drove me crazy at times, 

but everybody loved looking for goldbug!

See if you can guess the name of this famous book...??

Yes, that's the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Who wouldn't love a caterpillar who eats Swiss cheese, cupcakes, sausages, lollipops and watermelons, among other things!

Next up is a series of books that make me smile. They weren't around when my children were little, but I am giving them to the grandchildren for one major reason.
Baby Llama has lots of drama...and so did all of mine!

My children were also great friends of the Man in the Yellow Hat and his famous sidekick, George.
Somehow, George's antics seemed all too familiar!

And for some reason, Babar was a much beloved read-aloud for everyone. There is something magical about an elephant in a green suit and the little old lady from Paris who takes him in. I am certain
that De Brunhoff may now be viewed as being politically incorrect, but I will not be teaching
Babar as a purveyor of truth...he is the product of a vivid and and incredible imagination ...
something I hope to inspire in my grandchildren, as well!

Happy Reading!

Books Under the Christmas Tree

   I have the honor of having a personal acquaintance with a couple of authors and artists who have new works that have made their debut this fall. Any or all would be a wonderful gift for a special someone in your life.
   Without further ado, I am pleased to introduce you to a few of my friends:
 

1. I wrote about the author Lisa Patton and a very special occasion in her life here. I am honored to count her as a close friend. Lisa is one of the most delightful women I know and has made quite a name for herself as a Southern writer, in addition to her other gifts. This last book, which boasts my favorite title to date, is the final installment in a trilogy, but don't worry...you don't have to have read all three to enjoy this marvelously well-crafted and engaging story. Southern as a Second Language can certainly carry its own weight. I am happy that much beloved character Leelee is back in all her glory. She is a friend that will stay with you long after you have closed the pages of the book. She is delightfully and totally "Southern"... and this book is filled with the things that make Southerners endearing to many. Yet if you are looking for a perfect book to curl up in a corner with, a book that will bring you to laughter and tears, this is the one for you. Oh, and there is also a thread of suspense that pulls you in and along just like an undertow. You'll keep turning page after page just to find out what happens in the end. And if you are not Southern when you pick up the book, when you finish you are going to have a better understanding of the rest of us Southerners. You are also gonna wish you were one of our much vaunted tribe.

2. I have been in community with Reggie Anderson's' family for many years. His wife, Karen, and I are dear friends and we have prayed for one another and for each other's children. She is one of the most tender and wise women I know. I remember when her husband mentioned one evening at dinner that he had begun writing down the special experiences that he had had through the years with his patients who were close to death or dying. I was curious at the time, but forgot about the conversation for many months until Karen told me that Reggie had acquired an agent, met with several publishers and had signed the contract: the book was going to be published. I could hardly wait to open Appointments with Heaven by Dr. Reggie Anderson. It is a deeply personal story and Reggie shares much about his Southern upbringing in a small town not far from Selma. Alabama. His walk with God is an integral part of the story, as is the story of how he met Karen and fell in love with her, but the treasure of the story lies in the way that God reveals himself over and over again in Reggie's life and in the lives of those he serves. If you want to be encouraged, about not just what lies ahead for believers, but what is ours for today, read this lovely gem of a book. It will warm your heart and satisfy your soul.

3. Singer/songwriter Ashley Cleveland has the gravelly power house voice of a rock-and-roller. Think Janis Joplin in her prime. Yet the woman can belt gospel with the likes of Mahalia Jackson. When she performs this woman is a combustible force onstage, and with three Grammy's to her credit, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her voice, if anything, has become more powerful and angst-filled as she has aged. This is not a vocal artist who will lull you to sleep. My life connected with Ashley's when she had just moved to Nashville and had begun attending the same church as I. Our daughters were the same age and in the same small school. She and I also were part of the same small women's Bible study group. After I heard her sing, I always wondered why she had not hit the "big-time" as the world knows it. She seemed immensely more talented that other artists who were singing in the same genre. I'm still puzzling over that one. But enough about the music and onto the book. It's a fairly slim volume but like the woman who wrote it, it conveys powerful truth. This is not a story for cowards. This is a book about the childhood roots of adult addiction, redemptive grace and the love of God for broken people. If you can identify with any of these, this book will carry a ring of truth. Ashley is fearless. She leaves no holds barred in her autobiographical work, Little Black Sheep. If you want the truth about how hard life can be, and how powerful and good God is, read this story. It will be freeing for your soul, and keep you searching for more. Trust me when I say that this is a uniquely Southern voice that must be heard.

 

Real...a Profound Truth in a Child's Book

  We all know that sometimes the wisest words come from the simplest of places. Thus, it is no surprise that children's books are often filled with indelible truths...truths that stay with you long after the books themselves have been returned to the shelf.
     The Velveteen Rabbit is one such book. It has long been a favorite of mine. My dear Momma gave each of my children a copy one year for Christmas when they were very young, and as I read the book to each child, it became his or her favorite, as well. I cannot wait for the opportunity to share the timeless story with the next generation. I think Little One is just about ready.
    Moreover, at this juncture of my life, I am drawn once again to the poignant story and the wisdom found in this very lovely children's story by Margery Williams.

Source: photos2.meetupstatic.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: 123freegiftscardsforu.com via Nikole on Pinterest

Source: amazon.com via Helen on Pinterest

As I have reconsidered Margery Williams' words, the application to my faith journey is obvious. 

The truth is that Real is what my faith is all about. 

Real is The Way that has been made for me.

It began in a manger, revealed its purpose on a cross, and found its victory in an empty tomb.

Real is the gift freely offered to me. 

A gift I can never deserve, but a gift nonetheless.

It is who I am, what I believe that I am becoming and what I long to be.

It is the now, the not yet, the promise of what is to come, and the everlasting.

It is a conundrum. 

Real means having my heart of stone become a heart of flesh.

It means dying to self. 

It means letting go.

It means vulnerability.

Authenticity.

And a stripping away of the vain things that charm me most. 

Real means freedom.

It means moving closer and closer and closer to the

loving arms of the Savior.

It means leaning so near to Him that I feel his breath on my face.

It means never wanting to leave His embrace.

No matter what it costs.

all photos from Pinterest

Llama Llama or Yamma Yamma?

   Once a week, Little Two and I carve out time for ourselves. I pick her up early from school for some special girl-time. As I open the door to her schoolroom, she usually gasps as soon as she catches a glimpse of my face. There is nothing much better than the adoration of a grandchild. It stops my heart every time. Most days Little Two drops what she is doing, and runs to me yelling "Nonna, Nonna..." at the top of her little toddler voice. It is music to my ears.
   This last week when I opened the door, Little Two was sitting at the tiny table with her classmates having her afternoon snack, some delectable yogurt concoction. Immediately, I could see the conflict on her face. She kept looking from me to her bowl and back again. That yogurt was just so good. I solved her problem. I pulled a chair up to the table and sat down beside her. To my delight and surprise Little Two proceeded, toddler fashion, to introduce me to all of her teachers and classmates. She pointed and named each person, nodding and grinning with obvious pride. I would repeat each name and she would move to the next. Then she would start all over again. It was hilarious.
    After we packed her things up, we headed back to Little Two's house. Other than playing outside and watching Elmo, Little Two loves nothing better than reading books. (She is part of a long line of book lovers: most notably her great-grandmother, BaBa, and her great-great-grandmother, Lou Lou.) And of course, being the opinionated almost-two-year old that she is, Little Two has her definite favorites...mostly those toddler books with flaps and things hiding behind them, but there is one book to which she returns over and over again: Llama Llama Red Pajama, except she calls it Yamma Yamma Red PaYamma.
     We have our routine down. Little Two reads Llama Llama to me and then I read it to her. She laughs. She takes the book from me, goes back to the beginning, and then we do it again. And again. I am not certain what it is about toddlers and the act of repetition, but doing the same thing over and over again must bring them a sense of comfort and security. All I know is that Yamma Yamma Red PaYamma is burned into this grandmother's brain.

And by the way, if you have not met Llama Llama, you must do so quickly!

Nonna needed a break from Llama Llama, so we headed outside to pick the last of the summer's tomatoes. 

Little Two had to test them to be sure that they tasted just right. They did.

Isn't she just precious?!!!

She undoubtedly has my heart in the palm of her hand....

Bookworm Redux

    I am four weeks out from my Total Knee Replacement, and I am starting to regain my strength and my energy. Even though I love to read, the first couple of weeks I was too easily distracted and had trouble remembering plotlines and characters, but now that I am off all pain medication, I have dived right back into this pastime that has afforded me the opportunity to satisfy my hunger for knowledge while exploring and  travelling to worlds unknown. The challenge for me has always been finding enough good literature. Here is a link to my last updated Booklist of Favorites (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5825185899033315719#editor/target=post;postID=3916534244983086065), and below are some new acquaintances I am happy to recommend.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Magical, evocative and intriguing. I thought about the novel long after I closed the last pages of the book. Set in the 1920's, this poignant tale counterbalances the mystery of a Russian fairy tale against the backdrop of the harsh and unforgiving landscape of Alaska, yet is filled with touches of clarity and beauty that are startling. I fell in love with the landscape of winter as seen through this author's eyes. As a debut novel, this gem ranks high on my list, and rest assured, I will be waiting with anticipation for the next superb work from Eowyn Ivey.


State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. As Nashvillians, we have a particular affinity for Patchett. She lives among us and is frequently to be seen about town for those who would recognize this lovely and unassuming woman. In addition to being an author of note, in our midst her most recent fame has come as a result of the opening of a small independent bookstore, Parnassus, of which she is the co-owner. I have read nearly everything that Patchett has written and until State of Wonder, my favorite novel by far was her first, Patron Saint of Liars, followed by Run; however, State of Wonder has vaulted itself to the top of the heap over the her six previous novels. I cannot say enough about this book. It surprised me at many turns. With but a few questionable and predictable plot turns, it was a book that I would happily rank among my top 100 (and for me, that is saying a great deal). This is a story that encompasses the multivarious aspects of journey from beginning to end: metaphorical as well as physical. And while Patchett ever so gently raises questions about Western civilization and the tribal culture, she stops short of the indictment we are expecting to encounter. There is great food for thought here and an opportunity for a good discussion for many a book club.


Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Another debut novel. Another author to watch. My friends loved this book and recommended it highly to me. I found it charming, engaging and captivating. The protagonist Victoria stealthily wormed her way into my heart with her story of loss, suffering, and betrayal. I found myself rooting for her and celebrating each cathartic change that came her way. This was another book that kept me reading into the wee hours of the night.



Happy Reading!

Oh to Be Young Again!

   The Treehouses Outdoor Exhibit at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens here in Nashville (now through September 3) is a place where the magical world of fantasy collides with reality. There are seven imaginative treehouses, created by local architects, each one inspired by a classic work of literature. The effect is just what you would expect: the imagination explodes with delight. Children and adults alike can appreciate the whimsical nature of this interactive exhibit. Little One was fortunate enough to be able to explore some of the houses on her own. She went with our newest daughter-in-law and her mother. Thanks to Miss Debbie for her wonderful photographs that have allowed me to vicariously share in the experience.

This shimmering fish is inspired by the children's book, The Rainbow Fish

How incredible is this treehouse, suspended over the water, no less!
 It gives a new vision to the work Sea of Stories by Salmon Rushdie

Where will we go? What will we see? I can't read yet, but you would never know it, would you?!

Little One is searching for booty on the Jolly Roger, a treehouse that gives homage
 to J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, Wendy, and Captain Hook!




 

   Little One finds buried treasure!                                                         

 

Many thanks to Miss Debbie and Aunt Betta for a very special day!

Go here to read more about the exhibit and the different treehouses and inspiration behind each one:
http://www.cheekwood.org/Gardens/Treehouses.aspx

The Updated Book List from The Mom

   

I have been second guessing myself about this update for about a year. If I add another book, does it mean I have to remove one? My favorite books are like old friends. They hang around in my head for a long time. As I have said before, the List is almost akin to a living entity for me; it is in a fluid state, a state of flux, and I am constantly sifting through various books in my mind to see if they are worth making it onto "The List." So, please bear with me; I will probably find myself continuously editing this, or at least adding to it. I am already asking myself, "Why, oh why, did I ever commit to listing my 100 favorite books?" They are not in order of preference, because on any given day, the order can change.
   A special note: I am not listing the Bible on my list because it is THE BOOK, the one book that has ultimately changed my life more than any other, and I believe with all of my heart that it was not written by mortal men, but is the inspired Word of God. The Bible therefore has a separate category all its own so that is why you will not find it on the list, even though I am tempted to put the Psalms of David, Job, Romans, and Revelation as four of the books on my list...

Again, in no particular order:

My Top Twenty-Five  -- Give or Take a Few

1. East of Eden ~ John Steinbeck
2. Brothers Karamazov ~ Dostoevsky 
3. Chronicles of Narnia ~ C.S. Lewis
4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Fountainhead ~ Ayn Rand
6. Absalom, Absalom and Go Down Moses ~ William Faulkner
7. The Great Divorce ~ C.S. Lewis
8. Night ~ Elie Wiesel
9. King Lear, Hamlet, Twelfth Night ~ William Shakespeare
10. The Man Who Was Thursday ~ G.K. Chesterton
11. All the King's Men ~ Robert Penn Warren
12. Shadow of the Wind ~ Carlos Ruiz Zafon
13. One Thousand Gifts ~ Ann Voskamp
14. Frederick Buechner's Autobiographical Series: Telling Secrets, Sacred Journey, Now and Then
    
15. Can You Drink the Cup and The Wounded Healer ~ Henry Nouwen 
16. The Scent of Water ~ Elizabeth Goudge
    
17. Anna Karenina ~ Leo Tolstoy
18. Hyperspace ~ Michio Kaku
19. Wise Blood ~ Flannery O'Connor
20. The Sparrow ~ Mary Doria Russell
21. Tale of Two Cities ~ Charles Dickens
22. Pride and Prejudice ~ Jane Austen
23. The Glass Castle ~ Jeanette Walls
    
24. Prince of Tides, Beach Music, South of Broad ~ Pat Conroy
25. Cry the Beloved Country ~ Alan Paton
26. Out of Africa ~ Isak Dinesin
27. The Dispossessed ~ Ursula Le Guin
28. The Dune Series ~ Frank Herbert         

The BEST of the REST, at least according to The Mom...

• Pensees ~ Blaise Pascal
• Seven Storey Mountain ~ Thomas Merton 
  
• Ulysses ~ James Joyce
• Paradise Lost ~ Milton
• Odyssey ~ Homer
• Inferno ~ Dante
• The Art of the Commonplace ~ Wendell Berry
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek ~ Annie Dillard
• To Kill A Mockingbird ~ Harper Lee
  
• The Tapestry ~ Edith Schaeffer
• Peace Like a River ~ Leif Enger
  
• Ragamuffin Gospel ~ Brennan Manning
  
• A Wrinkle in Time ~ Madeleine L'Engle
  
• Winston Churchill, The Last Lion Multi-volume Biography ~  William Manchester
  
• Of Human Bondage ~ Somerset Maugham
• Walking the Bible and Where God Was Born ~ Bruce Feiler
• Reading Lolita in Tehran ~ Azir Nafisi 
• Anne of Green Gables (Series) ~ Lucy Maud Montgomery
• The Dark Is Rising (Series) ~ Susan Cooper
• The Children of Men ~ P.D. James
• The Collected Poems of Robert Frost ~ Robert Frost
  
• Exodus ~ Leon Uris
• Jane Eyre ~ Charlotte Bronte
• Wuthering Heights ~ Emily Bronte
• Age of Innocence ~ Edith Wharton
• Huckleberry Finn ~ Mark Twain
• On Walden Pond ~ Henry David Thoreau
• Lost Horizon ~ James Hilton
  
• Tess D'Urbervilles ~ Thomas Hardy
• Contact ~ Carl Sagan
• Candide ~ Voltaire
• The Road ~ Cormac McCarthy
• Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns ~ Khalid Hosseini 
• House of Sand and Fog ~ Andre Dubus
  
• A Lesson Before Dying ~ Ernest Gaines
• The Awakening ~ Kate Chopin
• Beloved ~ Toni Morrison
• Time Traveler's Wife ~ Audrey Niffenegger
• The Historian ~ Elizabeth Kostova
• Edgar Sawtelle ~ David Wroblewski
• Integrity ~ Stephen Carter
• Redeeming Love ~ Francine Rivers
• Catcher in the Rye ~ J.D. Salinger
• 1984 ~ George Orwell 
• The Stranger ~ Albert Camus
• Metaphorphosis ~ Franz Kafka
• Faust ~ Goethe
  
• Doctor Zhivago ~ Boris Pasternak
• Mists of Avalon ~ Marion Zimmer Bradley
• Le Morte D'Arthur ~ Thomas Malory
• Bullfinch's Mythology ~ Bullfinch
• The Constant Gardener ~ John Le Carre
• Hunger Games ~ Suzanne Collins
• A Severe Mercy ~ Sheldon Vanauken
• Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret ~ Howard Taylor
  
• Amy Charmichael: A Chance to Die ~ Elizabeth Eliot
  
• Christy ~ Catherine Marshall
• Catherine the Great ~ Henri Troyat
• Ten Little Indians, et al ~ Agatha Christie
• Works of Edgar Allen Poe ~ Edgar Allen Poe
  
• The Civil War ~ Bruce Catton
  
• Band of Brothers ~ Stephen Ambrose
• Lonesome Dove Series ~ Larry McMurtry
  
• Snow Falling on Cedars ~ David Guterson
  
• Joy Luck Club ~ Amy Tan
• Memoirs of a Geisha ~ Arthur Golden
• Shogun ~ James Clavell
• Pillars of the Earth ~ Ken Follett

My Favorite Books I Read as a Child and Loved Again When I Re-Read Them as an Adult

• Winnie the Pooh ~ A.A. Milne
• Black Beauty ~ Anna Sewell
• Little Women ~ Louisa May Alcott
• Black Stallion Series ~ Walter Farley
• Last of the Mohicans ~ James Fenimore Cooper
  
• The Velveteen Rabbit ~ Margery Williams
  
• The Secret Garden ~ Frances Hodgson BurnettE.
• Where the Wild Things Are ~ Maurice Sendak
  
• Heidi ~ Johannah Spyri
  
• Treasure Island ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
• Peter Pan ~ J.M. Barrie
• The Sword in the Stone ~ T.H. White
• Charlotte's Web ~ E. B. White
• A Swiftly Tilting Planet ~ Madeleine L'Engle
• Misty of Chincoteague ~ Marguerite Henry

Addendum: (I knew that this was going to happen)
Special Note: There are so many books that I could have included and did not include, but I tried to list those books that changed or altered my perspective on life, influenced my worldview, or challenged me in some way; I have also tried to remember those books that stayed with me long after the pages were closed. Some might quibble with the fact that the list is so weighted heavily in the area of fiction, but the majority of my lifetime experiences with reading have been for pleasure and therefore I have been drawn to books that offered the best hope of escape, travel, or adventure!

• Diary of A Young Girl ~ Anne Frank
• The Killer Angels ~ Michael Shaara
• The Bright Shining Lie ~ John Paul Vann
• We Were Soldiers Once...and Young ~ Harold G. Moore
• Siddhartha ~ Hermann Hesse
• The Glass Menagerie ~ Tennessee Williams
• The Scarlet Letter ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
  

P.S. My apologies to one of my favorites apologists, Chesterton, for listing him as Chesterfield...what was I thinking ?