Reading

Some outstanding books I've read over the past few months:

What To Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.

The subtitle is: How Alice Roosevelt Broke The Rules, Charmed The World, And Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!

This is a gem of a picture book. The author captures Alice's vivaciousness with the most delicious words that are fun to read out loud. The illustrator brings Alice to life on the page.

If I recall correctly, Barbara took an honor prize for an article in Highlights the year I judged the Magazine Merit Awards. I love watching authors grow! Well done, Barbara.

The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon: An amazing memoir. Brent set himself on fire at the age of fourteen. He was depressed and suicidal, but nobody knew it. The Burn Journals are an honest portrayal of his recovery back to life.

Algernon, Charlie and I: A Writer's Journey by Daniel Keyes: I always enjoy the stories behind the story and Keyes chronicles his journey beautifully. The short story, Flowers for Algernon, made me cry at the end. Again. This is a must read. I prefer the short story to the novel. In the novel, you stay in Charlie's world more, learn about his past, and more of his life when he's intelligent, but the short story has a greater punch. I haven't seen the movie, but I'm compelled to rent it.

Some others that I also enjoyed:

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp -- the title says it all. Get into the habit.

Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life (translation by Mirabai Starr) -- an account of a saint-in-progress.

What I Learned When I Was Ten: Lessons That Shaped My Life and Faith by J. Ellsworth Kalas

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Happy Reading.

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