Flash Player Upgrade Required

Here is where I get all erudite and ‘I am reading this amazing book right now.’ So I am reading this amazing book right now, pictured above. Andy suggested I read it, for a deeper look into inner city schools. So this amazing guy, Geoffrey Canada, started the Harlem’s Children Zone in an effort to better the quality of life and FUTURE life for Harlem kids. He raised millions of dollars, and started programs for high schoolers on down to pregnant Mothers.

Basically, he grew tired of only being able to save / help a few children, whoever he could afford to let into his programs – he wanted to impact EVERYONE. His solution: to start early. Before birth. Because there is this huge discrepancy in the cognitive and learning abilities between poor and middle / upper class children.

When I was little, without even KNOWING it, my parents made education and success a priority – I was constantly instructed, learned social codes, and was encouraged to ask questions (Mom/ Dad do you remember doing this? I bet you did, and I bet YOU didn’t even realize it.) But kids from lower-class homes: their parents have a COMPLETELY different set of priorities, and raise their children  differently. Not that it’s all bad. Kids from lower-class homes are more inclined to talk about how they feel, express themselves, but aren’t as familiar or comfortable with rules / the structure of school as their peers.

I haven’t finished the book yet, but so far, I’ve watched Canada struggle through pouring all of this funding into a new school for middle school kids, Promise Academy – and STILL the kids can’t get their test scores up, with extra attention, test prep, etc.

All in all, it makes me grateful that I was raised how I was. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I spent a fair amount of time outside making ‘stew’ out of grass and rocks, and playing circus, and reading babysitter’s club, but somehow somewhere, education as a priority was ingrained in me.

I just wrote a 5 paragraph essay. Look at me, doing my homework. This is the fifth paragraph, in which I sum up, so uh, thank you for reading this essay.

 ’Word’ is an amazingly well stocked little book store in greenpoint by steve’s house, the epitome of local-business classy and cute.  We try and buy books there when we need books, to give money where $ is due. Today I was happy to find this  little bulliten board – a missed connections of book likes, if you will!

T’were I single and really cute and awesome, I would definitely do this (Sarah Kilby/ cough cough / you should do this / cough.)

Hi, I read what everyone else is reading, or Read last year. I am entirely unashamed to admit that I am LOVING this book. It’s hillarious and pretty and self-depricating in that wonderful american woman way, but also just really well written. So glad I am finally reading it! As for the writer and her adventures –  I think it’s so great that at any point in time, God willing, you can sort of re-invent your self or life.

Well, I’ve got to go now. I’m going to abandon my life, move to Italy, learn the language, and be fat. (And also happy.)

Don’t tell anyone, but I actually once fancied myself a fiction writer!  I did my thesis in fiction writing in college, penning a book of short stories shrewdly titled ‘ salad.’ So when one of my professors was asked to be the editor this book of short fiction, she asked me to write something for it. And it’s ready! Buy a copy! Buy it!

http://uncpress.edu/books/T-8537-html

 I did that thing where I found a book amongst by books and I was like, why and how do I have this book? Where did it come from? I picked up a book of short stories ‘In the Land of Dreamy Dreams’ by Ellen Gilchrist. I have  faint recollection that a writing teacher in college gave it to me? But anywhoo, amazing. Sweaty love stories of child murderers, imaginary pregnancy, and suicidal twins, with delicious specifics, subtle and HEARTBREAKING turns and twists all in a matter of 3-10 pages. I reccommend! I do I do! 

In the spirit of finally reading a book that most people read in high school, I’m slowly getting into it. I’m kind of obsessed with how sweaty and visceral and descriptive it is. I’m also kind of obsessed with the melancholy-looking girl who wrote it:

and I kind of want to go back in time and hang out with her and I don’t know, kick cans and trim each other’s bangs. Also, I’d like to steal her shoes.

Thar’s a play in here.

I don’t mean Don Imus, though maybe I sort of do. Terrifying. I DO mean Ellen and Sherrie, also pictured above – co-authors and co-founders of this crazy book called The Rules.

Have you heard of this book? It’s a self-helpish best seller, about how, by playing by the ‘Rules,’ a lady can land a dude by playing some serious hard-ish to get.

While I want to think that if you like someone, you should be able to be ‘eeeee! Guess what! I like you!’ It does make sense that some coyness / mysterious is better than ‘eeeeeee!! Guess what, I like you all the time!’ Being mysterious / unattainable requires a bravery that I, and I bet most gals, do not naturally possess. So I think I respect this book and it’s subsequent success.

 Amongst the many many things I am trying to do as of late – I’ve been trying to read my first Tom Robbins. People, I am trying.  For some reason I have yet to latch on! I kind of wish that the can of beans would stop talking, and that I could hang out more with the heroine. Heroin? Heroine. This is advice that I should perhaps take myself. We want the person. Kindly make the inanimate object shut up.  I forge ahead, though, as it is the favorite book of a few people whom I consider to be extremely smart. SUCCESSFULLY, though, I’ve been trying to read more New Yorker and New York magazine (sad that I never picked this up as ideal subway reading before.) But in terms of a bleary eyed, 7:30 train ride – people, it’s gotta be captivating. Skinny just isn’t doing it for me yet. I tend to read a book that I love and can’t put down (see Easter Parade, Time Traveler’s Wife, the Lovely bones, Heartbreaking work, No one belongs here more than you.) In between these books, I start and subsequently stop reading some 2-4 books before finding one that I can finish. I don’t want skinny legs to be one of these, but it’s lookin like it. 

…So. Good.

 Instead, you should really read This. Love. Time Travel. People making out while Time Traveling.  Best book I have read since the Bible or perhaps the Babysitter’s Club.