My Reading Frenzy

The Well-Read Wife — Proud Purveyor Of The Reading Lifestyle Since 1975

I found this on one of the blogs I read regularly and thought it was worth re-blogging.  I work at a school where many students would be labeled with "the r word" in a different time, but here they are gifted as well as autistic or Asperger's syndrome. 

When You Use The R-Word It Offends Me.

by Mandy B on March 2, 2011

in Personal Notes

I don’t often post about my personal life here at The Well-Read Wife. Usually it’s strictly all book related material, but today I couldn’t sit by and not use my spotlight to draw attention to an organization doing wonderful work. After reading posts on Love That Max and Attack of the Redneck Mommy I learned of a movement supported by Special Olympics called Spread The Word To End The Word. The word in question is “retard” or “retarded”, but I’ll refer to it as the r-word for the rest of this post. Today, March 2nd is National Spread The Word To End The Word Day.

Why is this cause important to me?

My little brother has Autism. His whole life has been a struggle for my family. 31 years of beautiful, tireless struggle that we wouldn’t trade for anything. His life has meaning and worth. Not that I should have to make that statement. Shouldn’t it go without saying that every life has worth and meaning?

Some of you may think that using the r-word as slang to mean stupid is not hurtful, but I want to tell you that it is very hurtful. When I hear someone use that word. Especially if it’s someone that knows me. Someone who knows what my family has been through. It is a verbal face slap.

To read more of this interesting post...

"13" Trilogy - IS OVER!

I finished The 13 Secrets yesterday and I can now say definitively that I did not like it as much as the first two books. 

1.  There was more violence in this book and it was more graphic than I would prefer for the age group.  These books are really aimed at tweens (11-13) not full-fledged young adults (YA) so I think the violence was too much. 

2.  I was not sure what would go on in book 3 because two ended so nicely, but Harrison did a good job of bringing an element of book 2 in as the conflict for book 3.   However, I felt the explanation of the "13 secrets" was sort of.....lame.  I can handle figurative meaning but it felt like a stretch. 

3.  I was happy with Tanya, Fabian, and Rowan, but felt Rose and Florence were not strong characters.  It would have been nice for the last book to go back to the strengths and unique qualities of these role model women and they were just a let down. 

 

PICOULT UPDATE:

So I bought the Picoult book yesterday, but felt I should finish the last 40 pages of The 13 Secrets first, then my sweetie wanted to watch a movie (We watched Red, which reminded me yet again why I get a little swoony over Bruce Willis.), then I had to sleep (Not having to sleep would be the only reason I would want to be a Twilightseries type vampire.). SOOOO, I have not started the book yet...but I will right after work TODAY!

Dirty Little Reading Secret

I LOVE JODI PICOULT!

Her newest book is out today and I may have to stop at the bookstore on the way home to buy it.  It is likely my car will uncontrollably steer right to the parking lot of my nearest emporium of the printed word and I will dash in to buy Sing You Home.

It all began with Second Glance a book I read in my book club in 2003ish.  I have read everything she has published since then and have gone back to read older books as well. 

Here's why I like her books:

1.  They are topical...this means my kids (if I ever have any - besides cats that is- how stereotypical for a librarian, but that's the way it is) will not be reading them in high school English class, but that is OK!

2.  The characters are real and well developed...maybe not all the minor characters but certainly the main ones.

3.  Somehow, someway she just manages to suck me in right from the beginning.  Some books take a while to pique my interest but hers just have me at "Hello."

** I have even read the four installment series she wrote of Wonder Woman comic books.  I cannot help myself.**

 

Dark Road to Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn

I am continuing to enjoy the Lady Julia Grey series.  I was afraid they were becoming too predictable, but not so.  While I knew I was being misled by the assumptions of Lady Julia, I did not figure out the truth until she did....that makes for a satisfying mystery.  Sadly I do not have any connections to publishers so I have no idea when the next one will be out. 

I am looking forward to finishing The 13 Secrets sometime today.  So far I do not....well I will just save my comments until after I have finished it.  I often feel differently about a book after I am done than when I was reading it....it really is all about the ending.  (Incidentally, Michelle Harrison has the same number of letters in her first and last names and they line up really aesthetically on the cover.)