Monday Musings: Busy, Busy, Busy

I'm sure some of you have been wondering where I've been.  The last entry I wrote was at the end of March, and I've been all but invisible since then.  To be honest, I've basically been really busy.  Sometimes teaching full time doesn't lend itself to be kind to the blogging world.  In case you didn't know, teaching isn't a job that lasts from only 8 to 3.  For the past three weeks I've been in conference calls concerning technology and trying to plan the school prom.  So, my time has, of course, been focused on my job.  Believe me, I've definitely missed the blogging world and reading things other than what I've got my students reading!  But it is almost summer and I hope to be catching up on my blogging.

I've got a couple of things in the works to get reviewed--Across Eternity by Aris Whittier and The Summoner by Layton Green are both on my current review list.  I'm also reading Naturally Thin by RHoNY (Real Housewives of New York) alum Bethenny Frankel.  The latter book is mainly for me, but I'll end up reviewing it, too, I'm sure.

As far as my life, things have slowed down a bit a school, so, again, I hope to be back to blogging soon.  I will tell you all that I've applied to the University of Memphis' Master of Arts in Journalism program.  It will be an online program, and I'm very excited about it.  If I'm accepted, I'll be taking classes in the fall.  The only disadvantage is that I'll probably have to end up holding off on the blogging a bit.  I also plan to do NaNoWriMo again so that will take away from blogging, too.  But I'll still be around.  

I hope to be getting a few reviews out soon, so stay tuned!

Solid by Shelley Workinger

I'm not a big science fiction fan, so when I received an email from author Shelley Workinger requesting a review for her book, Solid, I had my reservations.  But I decided why not try it.  So I emailed back saying I'd be happy to review her latest young adult sci-fi novel that is part of a series.

It took a while for me to actually have the time to pick it up and read it, but I began it yesterday and actually finished it today (a few minutes ago, actually).  A surprise to myself, I got into the book, wanting to know what happens and what kinds of twists were going to be at the end.  I can honestly say I did thoroughly enjoy reading it.  I'm a big fan of young adult novels; I suppose because there is always that little part of us that enjoys the less stressful and more fun times of those years.  And anyone, whether  a young adult or a "young at heart" adult, who enjoys reading these types of books, will enjoy Solid.  We begin with a group of similarly aged teens who, at no fault of their own, were the result of secret experiments done by a crazy military doctor after the Gulf war.  They had gone about their normal lives, not realizing that they had super-abilities, when suddenly they were asked to spend the summer at a military research facility because they had been accidental experiments and there was a need to discover just what was going on with them.  Among these students are some with super-athletic abilities, abilities to be "stars," abilities to go unnoticed, and those who can avoid people if needed or wanted.  What I found was interesting was that none of the kids actually realized that they had special abilities.  By using this literary tactic, Workinger made you want to keep reading so you could see what would happen when they did find out what was going on with each one.  This was definitely a book that I read wanting to finish so that I could find out the whole story, if you will.  Workinger didn't disappoint.  She masterfully created a novel that is appealing in its mystery, science, and general plot.  The characters are very real and you can easily relate to them, whether you are a teenager yourself or you remember what it was like being one.  The only thing that caught me as not the best part of the novel was that some things are referenced that young adults won't "get."  A few television shows or tech items that were referenced might not strike home with some teenage readers, but I don't think it is enough to stop them from reading this book or reading the rest of the series since Workinger uses several references that are a bit more up to date with today's youth.  Overall, I can say I really did enjoy this book, and I can't wait to see what else Workinger creates.

The final grade?  I give Solid a B.  Well-written book with a great and different plot line with only a few minor changes to references and maybe adding a bit more to make it a bigger book so we can see more character development.  Looking forward to reading more from this great author!

Review: Being Light by Helen Smith

I've been promising a review on this book since October, and I've finally gotten around to finishing it!  I was asked to review this book by the author, Helen Smith, quite a while ago.  Thankfully, Helen was very patient with me as I dealt with many different things throughout the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 that kept me from doing a timely review of her book.  So, without any further delay, here is my review of Being Light by Helen Smith.

This book is definitely a different comedy novel than I've read before.  We begin with our "main character" Roy, who happens to be suddenly swept away by a strong gust of wind while trying to install one of those bouncy castles (You know, the ones you can't keep the kids off of at the fair, flea market, etc.).  So, Roy is swept away to former circus performer/trainer Sylvia's farm.  Roy actually believes that he has made it to heaven.  Smith's description of Roy's views of the farm really make you see how dumbfounded Roy is at his circumstance, making for a wonderfully funny story.  Our absent Roy has also left behind a loving wife--Shelia.  Shelia, not wanting to believe Roy is really gone forever, goes on a hunt to find him, ultimately believing that he has been kidnapped by aliens, so she enlists Mrs. Fitzgerald (and her missing persons bureau) to help find him.   We also meet many other characters such as Alison, Jeremy, and others, who all end up somehow being a part of this crazy chase to find long-lost Roy.  It is almost a comedy of errors as Smith takes us through different scenes in each character's life, and it becomes almost a six-degrees-of-separation type of story that keeps you reading until the end to discover how everything will be brought together and whether or not we will ever see Roy reunited with Shelia again.  I really did enjoy Smith's story telling ability with this book.  The only thing that could have been improved was the connection of the characters.  This could have been only my taking so long to read it due to different circumstances, but I thought some more information on each set of characters would have been nice so we could enjoy the reaction of the ending scene a bit more.  I suppose I would have liked to have seen them be a bit more relevant to some of the story than it seemed some were. Overall, however, Being Light was a great read and very entertaining.  I will most likely revisit this book in the future in the hopes to be able to read it straight through with no distractions.

Coffee & Literature gives Being Light a B.  Great work, Helen!  I look forward to reading much more from you!

Monday Musings: I'm Still Here

Before I say anything else, I want to apologize to my readers, followers, & authors.  I have not posted in over a month, and I truly am sorry.  I have had a rough December, January, & February, and blogging has not necessarily been my first priority, but I do wish I'd take more time to devote to Coffee & Literature lately.  Why?  Because it is like my therapy, so to speak.  I love writing.  I love reading.  What I'm struggling with is teaching three different books while trying to read another three at the same time...if you can do simple addition, that would be six books at the same time.  My brain feels as if it is going to explode, honestly.  So, I've been trying to do my job (teaching English to teenagers-which obviously has to be a top priority), deal with things that deal with my job (I'm in charge of prom committee & yearbook-exciting, but time consuming during the spring), deal with some issues that deal with everything from work to home to me, and a thousand other things that have zero to do with my writing.  So, given all of that, I have sadly neglected Coffee & Literature, Women that WOW!, reviewing books, and editing my own book.  

However, it is my plan that I am going to organize my time better this week and next week to get some things done for me, while making sure to not neglect my "official" duties of work and teaching.  After giving it lots of thought, I know that working on my blogs and working on my own literary works is true therapy for me and helps me to "escape" from the stress of everyday life.  Yes, I know what you are thinking.  I either sounds completely mental or I'm just strange.  Ok, that's fine.  It doesn't bother me if you think that.  You are entitled to your own opinion, and I to mine.

Keeping all of this in mind, I'll run down what I will be doing on Coffee & Literature in the next month or so...

I have roughly 3-5 books that I have lined up to review for some authors, so those, right now are my priority for this blog.  I've also got a few lined up that have been some I've wanted to read for my own that will be reviewed periodically.  I also plan to do a couple of movie reviews over The Social Network & Black Swan, both of which I've seen but have yet to review them.  I also plan to change up the blogging schedule as well as the look of the blog, but that may come last.

So, I hope you all are still with me and haven't forgotten me like it seems I have done to you, faithful readers.  I promise I will be back with you fully soon!

Happy reading!

-Kristy

Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo is Finished & I won!

I can't believe it!  I actually was able to write a 50,000 word novel in less than 30 days!  I kicked NaNoWriMo's butt!  Ok, well not exactly since there were several days I didn't write anything, but I still persevered and made it through 30 days of crazy noveling.  My novel is still quite rough, but at least I now have something I can work with to make it better.  To give a short synopsis, my novel is about a girl who moves to a small Tennessee town and discovers she has a deep rooted connection to it.  It's sort of like The Crucible meets The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane meets Gallows Hill meets a typical ghost story.  People always say write what you know, and ever since I was little I was fascinated with the supernatural.  I was the one who was addicted to the R.L. Stine Fear Street series and the Christopher Pike books in junior high.  I loved anything about the Salem Witch Trials after reading The Crucible in high school.  I remember writing a short story in junior high and I wrote it about a lake where people were haunted and then died.  Morbid, I know.  But I promise I'm not a weird, recluse-type of person.  To look at me you would have zero inkling that I loved books, movies, and TV shows about the supernatural.  I would have liked to have written a chick-lit sort of book or a good funny romance, but honestly, I don't know how to write that stuff.  So, for National Novel Writing Month, I wrote what I knew--ghosts.  I think the book is a good read.  Once I get through editing over 50,000 words and 256 pages, I will probably be the typical first-time novelist who self-publishes it only to be struck down by the hardest critics, but hey, if one person enjoys my book, then I'll be happy.  I'll try to keep you updated on my editing of the novel, and if it ever does happen to be published you all will be some of the first to know.

Now, on to the business of books.  I can now start reading and reviewing again!  Yay!!! I'm about half way finished with On Writing by Stephen King, so that will probably be one of the first I review.  I've also got a few books by up and coming authors that I will be reviewing at their request.  One is Being Light by Helen Smith.   It looks to be a good book, and I'm anxious to get started on it.  So, be watching for new review posts and of course I'll get back with my reviews of other things as well as my "Whats in Your Bag?" posts that seem to be enjoyable.  So, I hope everyone has a good end of November, and I'll see you in December!

Happy Reading!

Halloween Review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays for various reasons, so I always try to read a scary, semi-scary, or strange book around that time.  This year my Halloween related read was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe.  I read through several reviews of the book before I decided to buy it--some were scathing and some were good.  I decided it would be best if I just picked it up and read it to decide for myself.  I'm glad I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I'll agree that there were some things I would change, but overall, the book was well written and historically accurate, which was a must since it is technically a work of historical fiction.

The book draws its story on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.  Connie, the main character, is a PhD candidate at Harvard who is struggling to write her dissertation in American colonial history.  Ultimately she picks the Salem Witch Trials as her focus, but she doesn't yet know what exactly she will be writing.   While working on her dissertation, she has to go to Marblehead to prepare her grandmother's antique house for sale. In the process of cleaning the house, she discovers a key with a hollow interior in which she finds a slip of parchment with the name Deliverance Dane written on it.  I'll interject here that, yes, Deliverance Dane was a real person accused of witchcraft at the end of the Salem trials, although very little is known about her.  Anyway, back to the book.  This discovery leads Connie to discover many oddities about herself and her family.  It also beckons the question, "What if the Salem hysteria was really based on real witchcraft?"  Thankfully, the book doesn't turn into a strange, new age, Wiccan type story, but stays true to the Old World idea of witchcraft complete with old incantations in Latin and descriptions of the "physick" that really was used to help people.  I won't give away much so that you can read this book for yourself.

I could really put myself into the place of Connie since historical research and writing are my passion.  I'm sure the first short story or novel I produce will be a historical fiction book.  Howe beautifully describes her characters and the different settings from Harvard Yard to the old house on Milk Street, and I think this is really what helps the reader get into the story.  I also liked that a small romance is included in the book, but it doesn't dominate the entire story line.  There wasn't a character in the story that wasn't a real character that one could relate to, even the one who ultimately became the villain.  As I mentioned before, Howe's description of the settings--the hallowed halls of Harvard, the libraries filled with the ancient texts, the inviting streets of Massachusetts, the antique house on Milk Street--all really help the reader picture each place down to the tiniest of details.  Some reviews I've read didn't like the fact that Howe included so many details, but in a work of historical fiction, I think this is key to making the book work as both historical fiction and an enjoyable novel.  I think the book is simply wonderfully well written and intriguing.

Now, what would I change about the book...  As I said, it is a well-written and intriguing work of historical fiction, and being a history major and being fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials, I enjoyed the treatment and use of them in the book.  One of the things I liked and disliked at the same time was Howe's inclusion of chapters that take the reader back to the 1600s & 1700s so we can learn more about Deliverance and the trials.  I think that these should have been included but they were at such sporadic points that you sort of lose the back story and lose the connection to the main "modern day" characters with the back story.  I also loved the way Howe ended the book; however, I found it to be a bit predictable, at least for me.  But I'm also notorious for figuring out endings of lots of books that many people don't, so that may just be a "me" problem.  There were also a few inconsistencies in the book, but I'll chalk that up to this being a beginning novel for Howe.

Overall, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane was a very easy and enjoyable read even if it was 376 pages long.  There were nights that I would read it that I didn't want to put it down.  So, with the mixture of good and mediocre things in the book, I give The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane a B.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction, books about the Salem Witch Trials, or anyone who wants to read a good spooky book.

Monday Musings: Site & Blog Recommendations

I don't usually make posts recommending other sites, simply because I don't normally have a chance to browse often, but I wanted to give my readers a chance to see some of the sites or articles that have intrigued me since I've been blogging.

Top 5 Blogs That I Read Most Often:
1.  English Major's Junk Food.  Ash's great blog sort of inspired me to begin reviewing books, which was something that I'd wanted to do for a long time.  Her site is great, and she is very honest about her reviews, and they are quite enjoyable to read.  I highly recommend reading her blog!
2.  Book Chick City.  This is another great blog that has great book reviews and features such as "Where Stories are Made" and  "Cover Crush."  Carolyn (the blogger) has created an awesome site that Book Chicks like me can enjoy!
3.  Petit Fours and Hot Tamales.  This is actually a writers' blog that features a writer friend of mine.  They state it best when they say, "Our blog serves a selection of writing and reading styles to satisfy any palate, from sweet inspiration to hot and spicy and everything in between."  They have reads and reviews on their site.  I definitely recommend checking these ladies out!
4.  SuperWriterMom.  This is the blog of my writer friend.  She is a really great writer, and it is wonderfully entertaining to read about the antics that go on in her life with her two children.  You can also follow the progress of her writing, as well.
5.  Stephanie's Written Word.  Stephanie really does a great job with her blog.  She even hosts the "Everything Austen" challenges that have become popular among other book bloggers.  You can find anything from reviews to special guest posts on her site.


I also want to recommend an article that was brought to my attention that I think all my bookish readers will enjoy.  It is called "Famous Last Words:  50 All-Time Best Last Lines in Literature."  This article is great for those of us who love to quote from books and love to just know quotes from books.  Many authors choose to make either the very first or the very last line in a novel the most important.  After all, the thing that is remembered most often is either the first or last thing said or read.  How many of us remember the last line of the epic tale of war and romance, Gone With the Wind?  I bet you do..."After all, tomorrow is another day" is what is said by Scarlett as she realizes that she must fight to get Rhett back.  From the Bible to To Kill a Mockingbird, this article has something for every taste.  Go check it out!


On a side note, I've got several reviews that will be coming this week and next so keep a look-out!  Happy reading!

Ariel: The Restored Edition

Having read The Bell Jar within the past month or so, I thought that it would be good to also read Sylvia Plath's collection of poems entitled Ariel, after one of the poems in the book.  I actually taught both The Bell Jar and a few of the poems out of Ariel to my students this year, and I have to say, they all seemed to really enjoy Sylvia Plath's work.  Plath is one of the most haunting modern authors that I have read, and Ariel truly reveals to us her haunting way of delving into the innermost thoughts that she had as well as those that we all have.  Many of the poems were written about people in Plath's own life such as her husband, Ted Hughes, her parents, her extended family, and even some neighbors.  But I think they yield so much more than descriptions and metaphors describing those close to her.  They reveal to us many things about Plath herself.  We are led into her mind.  She shows us what it is like to be her.  She shows us what was going on in her mind, however strange it may be to some.  Plath, who suffered from mental disorders, uses her poetry to bring out the reality and depth of what she suffered, I think.  She was truly a great artist in that respect.

I enjoyed reading the poems in Ariel.  In fact, I had thumbed through it several times while reading other books but I had yet to actually finish it.  But I sat down tonight after finishing To Kill a Mockingbird, and I read through Ariel in its entirety.  It took me roughly a couple of hours since I spaced my time out by watching a bit of The Breakfast Club and playing Frontierville.  About halfway through reading, I decided to have a couple of glasses of wine, and, I swear, that helped me understand her poetry a bit.  I doubt she was drinking or drunk when writing them, but I think that helped clear my mind a bit while reading them.  I found them to strike me in the depths of my heart and soul.  I kept thinking to myself, "What does that show about me? Am I mentally ill like Plath?"  I finally concluded that, no, that is not necessarily what it means.  Maybe it means that I am more sensitive to people and their emotions.  I've always thought of myself as that type.  I personally don't think you can be a good writer if you are not.  So, Ariel touched me on a personal level.  I think that is why it is one collection of poetry that I will probably read several times. Maybe I will learn a bit about myself while I continue to re-read it.

I highly recommend Ariel to anyone who enjoys reading Sylvia Plath's work or who enjoys reading poetry.  It is well worth your time.  I give it an A.

To Kill a Mockingbird

It has been many years since I have read Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird.  I read it the last time as a freshman in high school because it was part of the required reading.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the book, so I thought,"Why not read it for Banned Books Week 2010?"  Although I didn't finish it within Banned Books Week, I was able to finish it roughly a week or so later.

I remember enjoying this book when I was in my teens.  It was one of the few books that I had to read that I truly did enjoy.  This time, I enjoyed it even more.  To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most "real" books ever written.  Taking the reader through the story of a Southern town's biggest hurdle--the trial of a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman--we are shown the 1930s through the eyes of Scout Finch and her brother Jem.  The story takes us from the innocence of Scout and Jem's imaginative play time to their maturing into a wise-beyond-their-years knowledge of the world's ways.  I would dare say that most of us see a little bit of ourselves in either Scout, Jem, or even the comedic relief of Dill.  We all have our own coming-of-age story.  Harper Lee created a true masterpiece with To Kill a Mockingbird.  Rarely does one come across such a well-written, heartstring-tugging, simple-but-complex novel.  I think that's why most readers find this one such an enjoyable read.

Since I hadn't read it in such a long time, I opened the book with no pre-concieved notions of what I would determine the review to be.  However, I find that I was not disappointed at all in this masterpiece.  It was just as good as I remember it being and as most people say it is.  Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird receives a solid A from Coffee & Literature.

Booking Through Thursday (October 7)

Today's Booking Through Thursday question is:

When you travel, how many books do you bring with you?  Has this changed since the arrival of ebooks?

Honestly, that depends on where I am traveling.  This summer when we travelled to the beach, I brought about six books with me.  I read two while relaxing in the warm sun.  If we are just traveling overnight somewhere or if we are going somewhere that I will stay busy with other things, I tend to carry only one or two.  I always end up bringing more books that I will ever read on vacation, partly because I like the comfort of having those books there just in case I finish one.

With eBooks, I've not yet become a part of the eReader family.  As much as I love and am for technology, I have yet to "cross over to the dark side" as some refer to it.  Although, that will change by Christmas as I am planning on getting an eReader.  Once I do that, I'll have plenty of books to read so I won't have to worry about finishing one and not having another.

Monday (well, really Tuesday) Musings

Since I completely forgot to post in Monday Musings yesterday, I'll make a special "Tuesday Musings" post!  I've been trying my best to read more or at least keep reading since school has started back.  Currently, I'm reading five books:  Ariel by Sylvia Plath, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, On Writing by Stephen King, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird in honor of Banned Books Week 2010, which actually ended on October 2.  But I knew when I began it that I wouldn't be able to finish it due to trying to work on school stuff, home stuff, etc.  That's ok though.  I'm still really enjoying reading it and On Writing.  Believe it or not, I have never read anything written by Stephen King.  Shocking, I know.  Although it was more shocking that I encountered someone today who had never heard of King's book Carrie or the movie based on it.   That and Dracula are the epitome of classic horror in my opinion.  Anyway, as I've been reading On Writing, I have found that Stephen King is an author that I have missed out on reading!  I thought to myself, "If I am enjoying reading a 'technical' book on writing by him, I know I would enjoy one of his actual novels or short stories."  So I will be adding Stephen King to my list of authors that I need to read.

As far as the other books are concerned, I'm really enjoying all of the books I'm currently reading.  Will I rate them all an "A"?  No, probably not, but I can see that I will be enjoying reviewing the current reads in my stack.  Hopefully I'll have a review ready soon!

What's in Your Bag? (September 29)

What's in your bag today?  Anyone can play along!  Here are the rules:

1.  Grab your bag AND your current read.  If you are using an eReader, phone, or computer that goes with you in your bag, make sure to include it!
2.  Take a picture (or pictures) of the contents & bag, including your current read.  It can be a picture where you just dump everything out of the bag and snap a pic, or you can neatly arrange everything.  Your choice!  For some ideas on pictures check out the What's in your bag? Flickr group.
3.  Tell us what you are carrying in your bag in your post. You can label the picture or just describe it.
4.  Tell us a little about your current read...title, author, how much you've read, a short review so far, some quotes, etc.
5.  POST A COMMENT with either the link to your own "What's in Your Bag?" post, or share a link to the bag's picture (if you don’t have a blog).


I've swapped bags quite a bit these past few weeks, but I've settled into my favorite bag for a while.  I'm starting to carry my Roots Small School Bag as my main bag.  It's big and can hold quite a bit, so I opted to use it for a while.  Below is my "What's in Your Bag?" picture for this week.

Roots Small School Bag, Coach Wallet, Vera Bradley pen case, Brighton Sunglasses, Clinique mirror/brush, The New Yorker from Sept. 27 I think, 31 gifts i.d. holder, Vera Bradley pouch holding my iPod nano, Rosary & St. Michael Chaplet cases, headphones, Brighton tape measure, change purse, iPod classic, Moleskine notebook, lipstick, Tide pen, Reusable shopping bag, Splenda tablets, To Kill a Mockingbird, Keys, Moleskine planner, Luna bar

As you can see, this bag fits quite a bit.  As for my current reads, I am reading several books, but I've been working dilligently on To Kill a Mockingbird since it is Banned Books Week 2010.  I've read Mockingbird before while in high school and one or two times after, but I am really liking it much better this time around.  I'm only on Chapter 5, but I'm really enjoying it.  To make a small mention of The New Yorker magazine, I have actually not read the articles yet!  Sad, I know, but I'll get to them eventually!  


Leave a comment with your own "What's in your bag" post!

Wednesday Poetry Café (September 29)

At long last, I've finally been able to do another Poetry Café post.  I've been reading Ariel by Sylvia Plath, and it has honestly taken me longer than any book of poetry should simply because I've been only reading a poem here and there instead of reading straight through.  Plath is one of my favorite poets, which may seem odd since much of her poetry deals with darker subjects that many don't care to read.  Personally, I find her poetry very deep and, at times, very true.  I find her poetry very well written; although, sometimes it is a bit hard to swallow, both in subject and in form.  One of the poems I've particularly enjoyed is the poem that gives the book its title--"Ariel."  If my research is correct, "Ariel" was Plath's last poem before she tragically took her life.  Plath is truly the "master of the metaphor" with this poem.  She wrote the poem with a deeper meaning.   Re-birth is the main theme since the poem's title comes from Hans Christian Anderson's story "The Little Mermaid," which is a bit different than the way Disney portrayed it.  The mermaid at the end of the real story attempts suicide, thus becoming the foam of the sea, which goes with Plath's line "foam to wheat, a glitter of seas."  In its entirety, the poem deals with the freedom of being reborn psychologically and breaking free from the societal norm, not unlike the experiences and feelings of Esther, the main character in Plath's semi-autobiography The Bell Jar.  For your reading enjoyment, here is Sylvia Plath's "Ariel."

Ariel by Sylvia Plath

Stasis in darkness.

Then the substanceless blue

Pour of tor and distances.

God's lioness,

How one we grow,

Pivot of heels and knees! - The furrow

Splits and passes, sister to

The brown arc

Of the neck I cannot catch,

Nigger-eye

Berries cast dark

Hooks -

Black sweet blood mouthfuls,

Shadows.

Something else

Hauls me through air -

Thighs, hair;

Flakes from my heels.

White 

Godiva, I unpeel -

Dead hands, dead stringencies.

And now I

Foam to wheat, a glitter of seas.

The child's cry

Melts in the wall.

And I

Am the arrow,

The dew that flies

Suicidal, at one with the drive

Into the red

Eye, the cauldron of morning.

Current Reads (Booking Through Thursday)

What are you reading right now? What made you choose it? Are you enjoying it? Would you recommend it? (And, by all means, discuss everything, if you’re reading more than one thing!)


Currently, I'm in the process of  beginning or reading several books:  Ariel: The Restored Edition by Sylvia Plath, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, & Emma by Jane Austen.  The only ones that I'm actually into right now are Ariel & Emma.  I'm actually enjoying Ariel.  Plath's poetry is very hauntingly real.  I just finished reading The Bell Jar, so naturally I thought this should follow.  Emma, however, is a different story.  I've had a TON of trouble actually getting into this book.  I normally love Jane Austen, but for whatever reason I cannot get into Emma!  I'm looking to get into the other books this weekend, so hopefully I'll like them!


What are your current reads?  Join the discussion at Booking Through Thursday!

Weekly Update

Hello, faithful readers and book lovers!  Many, many things are going on with me this week.  I will be reviewing Lord of the Flies by William Golding today, and I hope to also get reviews on either today or tomorrow for The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath & The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  These are some great classics that I am teaching and discussing with my students, who appear to like them for the most part.  Either that or they want to make sure they get a good grade!  :)  Also this week, I will be doing the Wednesday Poetry Café over Sylvia Plath's book Ariel if I can get it completely read by then.  Bronte's Wuthering Heights and the ever present Emma by Jane Austen will also be coming up soon.  I've currently got a HUGE stack of books to read, including some review copies by new authors that I am really looking forward to reading.  Also still on the waiting list is the coming eReader review once I decide what I'm going to buy as far as eReaders are concerned.  I'm holding out for the Nook 2, and I'm hoping it will be released before Christmas.  So, I hope you are looking forward to the coming reviews.

Also, the infamous Banned Books Week will be September 25 to October 2, and I do plan on reading several of the "banned books" that have been challenged over the years.  Most of these books are wonderful old and new classics and in my opinion, have not been treated with the respect that literature deserves.  If you are curious, The Scarlet Letter that I will be reviewing later this week is considered a "banned book" and has been since its first publication.  Lord of the Flies has also had its share of challenges.  It is sad to me that so many great books are being taken out of our schools for one reason or another yet the students are still expected to know something about them when they get to college, which is why I still choose to teach most of them.  You'll be hearing more about Banned Books Week later!  Have a great week!

Weekly Update. Yep, I'm still here!

Just a tiny update to let you know what is coming soon on Coffee & Literature.  I will have reviews on at least three books this week:  Golding's Lord of the Flies, Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, & Plath's The Bell Jar.  Hopefully I'll have those up soon.  Why those three you ask?  Those are the three books I'm currently teaching to my students.  I have several more lined up after those that are some of my own choosing, but many I will be reviewing in the school year will be those that my students are also reading.  I also will be reviewing Sylvia Plath's book of poetry, Ariel, as well.   This week's poetry café will more than likely be a poem from that book.  A note on my eReader decision...I'm almost positive I'm going to either get an iPad or a Nook.  I'm holding out to see if Barnes & Noble comes out with a Nook 2 or if Apple comes out with a different iPad, both of which have been rumored to be released by Christmas, which is when I'm looking to get one.

For those of you who have followed my "What's in Your Bag?" and "Project 365" posts, never fear, I'm still doing those.  I've got a back log of photos to post for Project 365, actually.  Hopefully I can get to those tomorrow since I'm off work.  (Yay, Labor Day!)  I'm also going to do a quick review tonight of a new planner I got that I think book lovers in general will appreciate....the filofax planner that is ever so popular in Europe.  Stay tuned!

What's in Your Bag? (August 3)

What's in your bag today?  Anyone can play along with "What's in your bag?"; here's what you do:


1.  Grab your bag AND your current read.  If you are using an eReader, phone, or computer that goes with you in your bag, make sure to include it and tell us!
2.  Take a picture (or pictures) of the contents, including your current read.  It can be a picture where you just dump everything out of the bag and snap a pic, or you can neatly arrange everything.  Your choice!  For some ideas on pictures check out the What's in your bag? Flickr group.
3.  Tell us what you are carrying in your bag in your post. You can label the picture or just describe it.
4.  Tell us a little about your current read...title, author, how much you've read, a short review so far, some quotes, etc.
5.  POST A COMMENT with either the link to your own "What's in Your Bag?" post, or share a link to the bag's picture (if you don’t have a blog).

Actually, what is in my bag today is exactly what was in it yesterday since I didn't go anywhere today.  I've been going back and forth to work, which requires me to carry my laptop, so my Roots Small School Bag works best for that.  I've got my wallet, germX, iPod, Moleskine planner, MacBook Pro, keys, and my current "read".  Don't see a book, you say?  That's right!  My current "read" for today was actually my paperwork for school so I can work on my syllabus and such.  I didn't get a chance to read a book or magazine today, but that should be changing in a couple of days when school stuff is done.

So, What's in YOUR bag today?

What's in Your Bag? (July 27)

What's in your bag today?  

Anyone can play along with "What's in your bag?"; here's what you do:


1.  Grab your bag AND your current read.  If you are using an eReader, phone, or computer that goes with you in your bag, make sure to include it and tell us!
2.  Take a picture (or pictures) of the contents, including your current read.  It can be a picture where you just dump everything out of the bag and snap a pic, or you can neatly arrange everything.  Your choice!  For some ideas on pictures check out the What's in your bag? Flickr group.
3.  Tell us what you are carrying in your bag in your post. You can label the picture or just describe it.
4.  Tell us a little about your current read...title, author, how much you've read, a short review so far, some quotes, etc.
5.  POST A COMMENT with either the link to your own "What's in Your Bag?" post, or share a link to the bag's picture (if you don’t have a blog).

You can see I was only taking the minimal stuff with me today.  I had to go to work to clean up my classroom, and I wanted to work on my syllabus, etc. so I needed my computer.  So, I carried my Roots Small School Bag. In the bag I carried my 13" MacBook Pro in its Incase sleeve, the charger for my MBP, some GermX, my Vera Bradley pencil case with pens, keys with my hand painted U of Florida keychain with my initial (Go Gators!), my Moleskine planner, some receipts from Starbucks & a local pizza parlor, my iPhone 4 & iPod, and some paperwork for school.  Instead of carrying my big Coach wallet, I decided to carry my 31 Gifts i.d. holder.  Worked great!  

I'm going to bet that you think something is missing from this picture...something like my current book I'm reading, right?  Nope, it's there!  Since my bag was a bit crammed today, I have Emma, which is what I'm currently reading, loaded on iBooks on my iPhone.  I don't normally like to read on my phone, but I knew I'd kick myself if I got the chance but didn't have my book with me, so this was the solution.  I'm about half way through with Emma, and I just can't seem to get into it like I normally do with Austen.  I'm going to keep trying, though!

So, what's in your bag today?

What's in Your Bag?

What's in your bag today?  This is the first "What's in your bag?" post!  I'm doing this quite late so the post will be on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, but it will be on Tuesdays normally.

Anyone can play along with "What's in your bag?"; here's what you do:


1.  Grab your bag AND your current read.
2.  Take a picture (or pictures) of the contents, including your current read.  It can be a picture where you just dump everything out of the bag and snap a pic, or you can neatly arrange everything.  Your choice!  For some ideas on pictures check out the What's in your bag? Flickr group.
3.  Tell us what you are carrying in your bag in your post. You can label the picture or just describe it.
4.  Tell us a little about your current read...title, author, how much you've read, a short review so far, some quotes, etc.
5.  POST A COMMENT with either the link to your own "What's in Your Bag?" post, or share a link to the bag's picture (if you don’t have a blog).

This week I've been a busy blogger!  I've been out of town one day already, and I have to go out of town again today, so I have been carrying more than the normal things in my bag.

So, what's in my bag?  On the left, the panda bag was a bag I've had since college (hence, my sorority letters on it) and I use it to hold all the little stuff under it--Tide pen, GermX, gum, almonds, candy, Clinique mirror.  My bag is a Roots Canada Large Hobo in Vintage Prince Leather; on top of it you can see my iPhone 4, receipt from Starbucks, calorie counter book, mini-Moleskine, Coach wallet & Brighton change purse, and my bag hook from Glassworks in Louisville.  On the right, I've got my Moleskine planner & another mini-Moleskine, rosary & St. Michael chaplet, Coach keychain/id holder, iPod classic, Vera Bradley pouch with my iPod nano & thumb drive, Brighton tape measure (more handy than you think!), Splenda tablets for when I go somewhere that only has sugar & sweet-n-low, Vera Bradley pen/pencil pouch with lots of pens, and my keys with various membership cards, etc. attached.  Today was a minimal day, actually!

The book I'm currently carrying with me is 1984 by George Orwell.  My 10th grade students are reading this for their summer reading, so I'm rereading it, too.  It is still as good as I remember!  For a teaser from 1984, see this week's "Teaser Tuesday" post.

I hope you enjoyed my version of the strange, but curiously addictive, "What's in your bag?" phenomena.  Let's see yours!