I remember my mother telling me when I was about seven, “You can read any book in this house.” The books in our house were my dad’s history and science related books from Book of the Month Club, and my mom’s books about having and raising children and lives of saints and other holy people.Continue reading “My Life as a Reader”
Tag Archives: reading
Who Loves Lady MacBeth?
Writers often create characters who are not likeable, to serve as foils or antagonists for the main characters. These antagonists exhibit qualities in opposition to the main characters in order to create conflict. Readers love an evil character. Think of the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz. We love to have someone toContinue reading “Who Loves Lady MacBeth?”
The Importance of Reading Fiction
I read an interesting article in the New York Times yesterday entitled “What Should Children Read?” I am providing the link so you can read it for yourself. Whatever the “experts” who have written these national standards might think, reading fiction has a value far more than just time-filling entertainment that has no practical useContinue reading “The Importance of Reading Fiction”
It’s Always in the Details
Someone said that “life is in the details.” I take that to mean that we really only see the big picture of life when we look at the past or the future. In the present moment, we only see the details. I see the computer screen, I feel my fingers typing, I see my orangeContinue reading “It’s Always in the Details”
How much do writers read?
I was a guest author on a mystery panel at a local library last week, and we were asked the question: How much do you read while you are writing a book,and do you worry that what you are reading will influence your writing? I read constantly. I read before I go to sleep, whileContinue reading “How much do writers read?”
A Beautiful Sight — A Child Reading a Book
As a teacher and a life-long reader, I have come up with ten ways to encourage your child to enjoy reading. Even if you are not a habitual reader yourself — Are you saying you don’t have time? — these are simple ways to instill the habit of reading in your child. She will doContinue reading “A Beautiful Sight — A Child Reading a Book”