My book club is reading “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are,” by Brene Brown.
Admittedly, I have only read the introduction so far, mainly due to ridiculous time constraints, not for a lack of interest. But I think this book will be thought-provoking and will generate a good discussion. It definitely warrants serious highlighting.
Here’s a gem from the intro:
“The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button.”
Lt. Col. Jesse Wilkins (Ret.) of Chico has written “My Flight from Farm Boy to Flyboy” about his adventures as an Army pilot during World War II.
The author’s website says: “It gives readers a bird’s eye view of what it was like for a young man to serve in World War II away from home and nearer to threats of death. More importantly, this memoir gives tribute to the many known and unsung heroes of the war, those men who gave up their lives to save those of others.”
The book is filled with Wilkins’ memories and recollections of his time during the war and that of his growing family. It also features a generous number of photographs and is dedicated to his wife, Jimmie.
It’s just a short description of each, and it mentions their most well-known work. If you’re looking to read more “classics” in 2011 or just feel the need to educate yourself in American literature, this list is a good place to start.
I’ve never been a big fan of English literature, always favoring early American authors. And reading through this list confirmed what I already suspected: My favorites are from the early 1900s. It’s funny because in my mind the list automatically split into pre-1900s and post-1900s (my favorites).
I came across several authors, novels and short stories that I plan to revisit. Happy reading!
My book club discussed “Welcome to Utopia: Notes From a Small Town” last week, but in the days since, my mind keeps wandering back there. Back to the coffee drinkers and the little cafe. Back to the gym and the general store …
The author, Karen Valby, tells about the book in the above video. I really enjoyed it, and I think it’s because I related to it on so many levels. Having grown up in a small town, the people of Utopia were familiar, and being a writer/reporter I understood the challenges Valby faced with this project.
She was able to establish relationships with the people in town so that they trusted her with their stories, and that’s no easy task, especially as an “outsider.” I’m from Wise County and now write for the Messenger … in Wise County … and it’s still hard to establish that trust with people sometimes. Valby even made friends with the local coffee drinking group, forever earning my respect and admiration. That’s a tough crowd.
Last summer I joked with a friend about “breaking into” a local coffee drinking group to find out what was really going on in the county, so the following quote hit home with me. This is Valby describing what happened when she asked coffee drinker and new friend Ralph if she could join him and his buddies.
“When I asked Ralph if I might join the men for coffee one day, he sat there dumbfounded a bit before saying, ‘Well … sure … you’d be welcome. They all might think it’s a little different now with you and all … being different.’ He scratched his forehead nervously. ‘A woman might pass through the store but to just come and sit down and talk? Nope, that hasn’t really happened much. But you just come and I’ll see that they be nice.’”
While discussing the book, some of the events reminded us of similar things that had happened around here, and we laughed, celebrating the good and poking fun at the bad. Those of us who had grown up in a small town even felt slightly protective of the story. One friend commented that she didn’t want to recommend it to her sister-in-law in Houston because she was afraid she wouldn’t “get it.”
Valby did a good job of describing the good and bad things about life in a small town, and she pointed out in the introduction “‘utopia’ comes from the Greek, and is literally translated as ‘no place.’ There’s no such thing as an ideal community, not when real people with richly dramatic lives clutter up the picture.”
My 6-year-old asked me tonight what I write about for the paper. I said, “well, it depends. I write about whatever they ask me to, so it varies from week to week.”
“Oh,” she said. “So like Curious George.”
Ummm … okay, sure. I’m assuming she’s comparing me to Curious George because he’s always getting into something, and his adventures vary in every story. I’ll take that as a compliment.
Anyway, it reminded me of an Associated Press story that was posted Dec. 26 about George’s wartime escape. According to the story, while the famous monkey is known for mischief, he helped his creators escape the Nazi invasion, and there is now an exhibit about the escape in New Hampshire.
From the article:
“Margret and H.A. Rey are the husband-and-wife team behind the famous children’s books. They fled Paris in June 1940, two days before German troops marched into the city. Both German Jews, they rode bikes for several days and then traveled by train through Spain and Portugal before boarding a boat to the United States.
The Reys later built a summer cottage in Waterville Valley, N.H., where an exhibit about their escape is on display at a center dedicated to the couple’s legacy. Based on a 2005 book, it describes how they were allowed to continue their journey after showing their Curious George manuscript to suspicious officials.”
The Bridgeport Historical Society is declaring Nov. 11, 2010, Ken Sprecher Day. Sprecher wrote “Bridgeport,” a book filled with more than 200 vintage images of the town and anecdotes about its history.
Sprecher grew up visiting his grandparents in Bridgeport, and after retiring from law enforcement, he and his wife, Cheryle, moved here. He’s been active in the historical society, and he will be honored with a reception 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bridgeport Heritage Museum, 812B Halsell St.
“Bridgeport” is part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, and it was released Sept. 27. Looking at the book is like turning the pages of a family album. Readers will likely see locations and last names that are familiar, and Sprecher says in the acknowledgements that he hopes the book will encourage others to collect their photos and tell the stories associated with them.
Profits from the sale of the book are being donated to the operation of the Bridgeport Heritage Museum. It can be purchased at the museum, the Bridgeport Visitors Center and at online retailers, like Barnes and Noble.
There are several events in Wise County and the Metroplex this week for the literary-minded. If you plan to go to any of these events, let me know!
DECATUR
A free resume workshop is 1 to 3 p.m. tomorrow at the library. Call (940) 627-5512 to register.
The library’s book club meets at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. The group will be discussing “The Professor and the Madman,” by Simon Winchester.
RHOME
The library is having an open house 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at its new location, 265 BC. The library has been in operation 50 years and is the oldest in the county.
DALLAS
Former President George W. Bush will be signing his new book, “Decision Points,” at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at Borders at Preston Road and Royal Lane, 10720 Preston Road. Customers are asked to arrive early because everyone will be required to go through a security checkpoint. Leave all bags, coats and cameras in the car. Wristbands will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis when the store opens the day of the event. Call the store at (214) 263-1977 for details.
Lori Ann Stephens will read excerpts, discuss and sign her book, “Song of the Orange Moons” 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the SMU Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 3060 Mockingbird Lane.
Growing up, I loved Beverly Cleary books. Oh, who am I kidding. I still love them, and for good reason. They’re delightful and make me laugh out loud, so you can imagine my excitement/disdain when I first heard about the movie “Ramona and Beezus.”
I’m always excited to see that one of my favorite books will be made into a movie, but inevitably, I’m always disappointed because (say it all together now) “the book is always better.”
A couple of weeks ago I caught part of Selena Gomez’s media blitz promoting the movie before it came out on July 23, and I have to say, she piqued my interest. She said that previously Beverly Cleary wouldn’t allow this movie to be made, but finally conceded a few years ago because she decided if a movie was going to be made (I guess she thought it inevitable), she wanted to be around to see it. Cleary is 94.
For this reason, and their love of the book, Gomez said great care was taken when making the movie to make it live up to the book. She said Cleary even has a small cameo in the film, and that the author reportedly loved it when she screened the movie with the cast and crew.
I’m looking forward to taking my kiddos. Anyone else out there seen it and wish to chime in?
Lt. Col. Jesse Wilkins (Ret.) of Chico has written 
