The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer

8/17/08 Each summer I try to read some of the William Allen White books so I can somewhat keep up with children's literature. One of my favorites from this summer is The Mailbox. It's the story of an orphaned boy who is taken to live with his crochety old uncle. Eventually the boy is left on his own, and he learns of the heroic efforts of his uncle during the Vietnam War. The ending is very touching. I held back tears as I read while walking on the treadmill at the gym.

Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf

8/17/08 Even after finishing this book, I still can't tell you the meaning of the title! However, I would say this is an excellent book if you want to understand what happens in our mind when we read. It's also a great resource for learning how to help students who struggle to read. Several times the author emphasized an idea that sort of bothered me. She shared the history of how humans have learned to read and the importance role language development has played in this history. Then she goes on to question whether our current uses of technology promote this language usage that has been so important. In a way, she alluded to the notion that we are going backwards mentally with our emphasis on technology for communication. Hmmm, think about texting.

Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters

8/17/08 This was my trip book for my visit to the Grand Canyon with my husband for our anniversary. There is no direct shot to the Grand Canyon, so we flew into and out of Phoenix and drove to the Grand Canyon on another day. Needless to say, I had lots of time to read!

I found Barbara Walters to be a fascinating person before reading the book, and even more so after. She is a strong woman and has had a difficult life, so I consider her a good role model. The book basically tells of her life childhood to present day. There is lots of great historical content and many interesting black and white photos of Barbara with some of the famous people she has had the chance to meet.

I did find the memoir format to be a bit draggy - you already know how the book ends!