“From one of the most influential women in the country and bestselling author of Revolution from Within comes a collection of provocative, entertaining, mind-changing essays. The six pieces, three of which have never been published before, explode common assumptions and propose radical new ways of looking at human possibilities.”

Thank you Cathy for this selection.  It got some great reviews on Amazon.com so even though it’s been around 10 years that this book has been written, I am certain that it is still relevant today.  Can’t wait to read it!!!!

Thank you Rebecca for this wonderful choice.  I can’t wait to read it; and then I want to see the movie.  Happy Summer Reading to all.

Margot

From Library Journal

When Gruwell was a first-year high school teacher in Long Beach, CA, teaching the “unteachables” (kids that no other teacher wanted to deal with), she discovered that most of her students had not heard of the Holocaust. Shocked, she introduced them to books about toleranceAfirst-person accounts by the likes of Anne Frank and Zlata Filopvic, who chronicled her life in war-torn Sarajevo. The students were inspired to start keeping diaries of their lives that showed the violence, homelessness, racism, illness, and abuse that surrounded them. These student diaries form the basis of this book, which is cut from the same mold as Dangerous Minds: the outsider teacher, who isn’t supposed to last a month, comes in and rebuilds a class with tough love and hard work. Most readers will be proud to see how these students have succeeded; at the end of their four-year experience, the Freedom WritersAas they called themselves, in honor of the Freedom Riders of the 1960sAhad all graduated; Grunwell now works at the college level, instructing teachers on how to provide more interactive classes for their students. Recommended for youth, education, and urban studies collections.ADanna C. Bell-Russel, Lib. of Congress, Washington, DC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Hello All,

Here is a post where you can add your book and movie recommendations and below is one that Nancy has already posted per blast email:

For those who found that the Cleopatra book is too dry, please do read this wonderful story which is written in 1977–however, you would never guess that.  It is timeless and so pertinent to today because the book also features the last BIG earthquake of 1923 in Japan.  It is a beautifully told tale. 

Review

“Marvelous” — The Spectator (London)“Wonderful” — New York Times

One of the few contemporary novels to show Japan as it was and is. — Japan Times

Product Description

Thank you Nancy for the continuation of What’s Up in Egypt.  Our Cleopatra book is ancient history; your book present history.  These times are moving fast and learning a bit more about this part of the world, is perfect for a bit of needed knowledge.  It will be interesting to comment on the differences of the “then” and “now”. 

Review

“[A] hilarious, sensual, bawdy and beautiful novel.” (Nerve )

“…tremendously likable…. This vision of life connects high with low, rich with poor, through shared vices and needs.” (San Francisco Chronicle )

Product Description

A bit of Egyptian history could be very interesting considering what’s going on today in that spot in the world.  I’ve always loved knowing more about Cleopatra and can’t wait to read Shiff’s book.  So here’s what Amazon.com has about this book:

For those who think they know enough about Cleopatra or have the enigmatic Egyptian queen all figured out, think again. Schiff, demonstrating the same narrative flair that captivated readers of her Pulitzer Prize–winning Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) (1999), provides a new interpretation of the life of one of history’s most enduringly intriguing women. Rather than a devastatingly beautiful femme fatale, Cleopatra, according to Schiff, was a shrewd power broker who knew how to use her manifold gifts—wealth, power, and intelligence—to negotiate advantageous political deals and military alliances. Though long on facts and short on myth, this stellar biography is still a page-turner; in fact, because this portrait is grounded so thoroughly in historical context, it is even more extraordinary than the more fanciful legend. Cleopatra emerges as a groundbreaking female leader, relying on her wits, determination, and political acumen rather than sex appeal to astutely wield her power in order to get the job done. Ancient Egypt never goes out of style, and Cleopatra continues to captivate successive generations. –Margaret Flanagan

What a joy for Hugo and me to wake up this morn to our favorite–snow.  It doesn’t last long, but when it’s just freshly laid on, it’s always so beautiful.  Even the birds love it. 

Leave it to red rock rimmed St. George to throw a spetacular sunset show mid-December. Even in bbbbrrrr temps, nature is the huge drawing card here. 

Thank you Celeste for your wonderful choice.