Posted on 08/22/2003 6:27:29 PM PDT by ancientart
Posted on Fri, Aug. 22, 2003
Reading - a worthwhile activity
Recently there was an interview quoting a Minnesota Twins player saying he was reading a book. Why is this newsworthy? It seems that this young man had never finished reading a book and he was determined to do so because he thought he could learn something from a book written by a great pitcher.
I started wondering, are there actually people out there who have never read a book? To me, this seems impossible since I have always lived in a home where reading is as essential as breathing or eating. Maybe some people do not know what they are missing. Maybe they need the key to open this door to wonderful experiences.
One book I would suggest as a starter is Prairie Summer by Bonnie Geisert. Bonnie is a Faulk County native and wrote about her childhood experiences as fiction for 8 to 12 year olds. However, those of us who grew up with her in the 1950s can enjoy the exploits of a 10-year old farm girl. It is reminiscent of the Little House series but uses Bonnie's distinct style depicting a time 50 years ago. Anyone who lived through those years or wants to learn about those years will enjoy this book.
Another enjoyable book is the autobiography Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Even if you are a "Hillary basher" this is a must-read book. We have heard too much about the Clinton years from partisan writers and commentators. Now we have the chance to read "the rest of the story." A reader could get bogged down in the thousands of people and events mentioned in this book, but it is a comprehensive look at those events that have been reduced to sound bites in the media. This autobiography is told from the author's point of view as are all books, but it must be pretty accurate. I haven't heard of any lawsuits being brought against Mrs. Clinton and there certainly would be if she was not telling the truth.
Certain commentators tried to discredit the book before it came out, but even Tucker Carlson of Crossfire on CNN had to back down when he faced the prospect of "eating his shoe" as he boasted he would do if the book sold 1 million copies. Mrs. Clinton offered him a graceful way out when she presented him with a cake in the shape of a shoe. She had a friend bake the cake because she was worried about Tucker's digestive system. This showed true class. There is a reason why this book has remained on the best seller list ever since it was released in June.
If you are Norwegian and interested in tracing the family tree, I would suggest Between Rocks and Hard Places by Ann Urness Gesme. This book gives an interesting look at the traditions, customs and conditions in Norway during the 1800s. It tells of the intricate naming system the Norwegians used that is totally confusing to someone who is new to tracing family history.
Another book a friend shared with me is They Had Stores. . . We Had Chores by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann (Johnson) Nelson, which is a town-country lexicon. It is a contrast of phrases used by country folk/town folk. It is worth a chuckle for us older folks and is written in two-line phrases for those who are not accustomed to reading long books.
These are just a few of the books that have been passed around my circle of family and friends. It seems the topic of reading is inevitable when we get together and books are exchanged. The only thing the books have in common is that someone in the group has enjoyed reading them and wants to share them with others. I hope one of these enjoyable books will unlock the door to the marvelous adventure of reading for you.
Ruth Wood, Cresbard, is a retired teacher, farmwife, the mother of three and grandmother of 11. Write to her at the American News, P.O. Box 4430, Aberdeen, SD 57402, or e-mail americannews@aberdeennews.com.
This Ruth Wood has good advice.
LOL!
What she doesn't get is that the book is a defensive, CYA job. And no one can sue Clinton just because she lies. Someone's reputation has to be hurt by such lies. Moreover, anyone Clinton does attack is bound to be a public figure, and hence free from legal recourse under our legal system. Obviously no one's going to sue, but that's no reflection on the accuracy of the book.
If all it took to cause a lawsuit was a Clinton lying, the judicial system would have been brought to a standstill! Of course, everyone in their knows that she has the FBI files. Then there is the question of the WHOLE truth. Look at the stuff she omitted. There is the real story!
Does that help?
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