Unsettled

December's Reads

The Bookseller of Kabul
by Asne Seierstad. I've started reading this several times, but now I finally got the audiobook. We'll see if that helps me finish.
Sleep Tight, Little Bear (with DVD)
by Martin Waddell. Oh my sweet goodness. If you can get the book with the DVD, then you'll be treated to Waddell reading the story in his beautiful Irish accent. THIS is the book (and DVD) to get for wee children this season.

Big Reads

Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer. You know what? It wasn't half bad. I'm going to finish the series and then write a full review.
Brooklyn: A Novel
by Colm Toibin. Even though it was slow, I was totally captured by the plot. The story is about an Irish girl's new life in America. I found it engaging, but then the ending was flat for me. (Odd since that's what seems to redeem it for most people.) (***)
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion. (audiobook version) After my summer of grief (which seems to be following me into my autumn), this was the book I needed to read. Cathartic. If you have ever experienced the loss of a loved one, you need to read this book. Absolutely. (*****)
Reading in the Dark: A Novel
by Seamus Deane. Read it again with my Irish lit class. Haunting, mythic, and reads like a memoir. Happy to say my students enjoyed it as much as I did. (*****)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith. A wonderful coming-of-age story. I read it on the airplane and cried. Beautiful blends the identities of being Irish, being American, and growing up poor. (*****)
Where the Heart Is
by Billie Letts. I was very skeptical about this book, and it ended up being such a delight. Really loved it. (****)
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger. I liked it. It surprised me in some parts, but it was a good story. (****)
Becoming the Parent You Want To Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years
by Laura Davis. I skimmed a lot, but really found the chapter on discipline and how to keep your emotions under control very insightful. (****)

When I got home from school today, I asked Jason if he had heard about the shooting. Yes, he said. His mom told him when he had gone to pick up the girls from school.

"How'd you hear about it?" he asked.

"NPR." I have an 80-minute commute home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There's little world news I don't hear these days.

"NPR?" He was momentarily confused, and we realized we were talking about different things.

I was talking about Fort Hood, of course.

He wasn't, and had confused me talking about shooting with the topics of guns in general.

He was talking about a local school where our friend works--and where Jason subbed a couple weeks ago. A kid brought a loaded gun to school. In his backpack. Which he may or may not have intended to use. (This news report says he wasn't going to use it; our friend says otherwise. Either way there are some serious issues going on at the school.)

Today feels crazy.

I know my grandma--who loved the Army and the life it gave her--would have been so sad about Fort Hood.

I am.

Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 10:38 PM in Current Affairs, Grandma | Permalink

Comments

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Jeez, that's scary about Battle Ground. It's frightening that we have to worry about kids bringing guns to MIDDLE school. I was on Twitter when the Ft. Hood news was breaking all over...really hard to read tweets from people who couldn't reach loved ones there. My heart goes out to those who lost their loved ones today.

Posted by: Marilyn | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 11:43 PM

Wow. That is a bit crazy. You really don't know any more.
There are two MOPS groups at Mt.Hood. Keep those young moms in your prayers as well.

Posted by: Karen | Friday, November 06, 2009 at 01:32 PM

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