NPM - Poem 2: Book Clubs

Book Clubs

Gathered - with friends, some near, some far.
Gathered - with peers, some new, some aging stars.
Gathered - with characters, some adoptable, some not.
Gathered - with foes, some conquered, some detained.
Gathered - with loves, some lost, some gained.

Around - tables, knees nearly touching.
Around - computers, fingers quickly typing.
Around - questions, diving into the nuggets.
Around - answers, securing needed knowledge.
Around - coffee, meals, feeding us as these literary creations astonish.

Books - our friends.
Books - our dreams.
Books - our journeys.
Books - our destination.
Books - more than a collection.

Gathered around books.

National Poetry Month: Poem 1

Today, welcomes National Poetry Month (as well, as Easter and April Fool's Day...but not fooling here!)  Serious we are about filling these blank canvas posts this month with poetic creations.

This, the Epic for me!  Also posted at Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

________________________

Oh, the Challenge

Once a year, for 31 days,
creative juices blaze,
as word by word
line by line,
a literacy creation amazes.

This year, the epic.
A poem a day, creating such aesthetic
Images, appeals, memories, nothing generic.
Creations so unique,
Making here and there a tweak
Until draft becomes final.

Ideas sparked day by day.
To the brain they do convey.
Continuing to nag,
Treating that gray matter, much like a punching bag,
Until...until fingers meet keyboard,
Words no longer to horde.

Challenges issued.
The Epic.
The Sonnet.
The Limerick.
The Haiku.

Choose your challenge.
Join the fun!
The words you choose to manage.
By signing up below,
Prepare for the overflow
Of words, one by one,
Of lines, not to be outdone,
Of stanzas, of lines stacked.
Excited for your soon to be impact.

Here's to a month of poems,
Whether 21, 14, five, or three.
All beginning now you see.

Welcome to National Poetry Month!

TG's Poetry Challenge 2018 - Sign UP!

I initiated this challenge last year on Treasure Chest of Thoughts.  Yes, I love the idea...almost as much as I love the month focused on writing poetry.   The idea is to write poetry.  Just that simple!

Without further ado, please read on.  Won't you join me this year?

Dates:  April 1-30 - Yearly

Choose an Option:

1. Challenge 1 - The Epic:  A poem a day...yes, everyday!  You choose the topics and types of poetry you prefer.
2. Challenge 2 - The Sonnet:  A poem every other day (evens or odd) and write at least 14 days this month.
3. Challenge 3 - The Limerick:  A poem at least five times, for you are just here to have a good time and learn about yourself as a poet (aren't we all, though?)
4. Challenge 4:  The Haiku:  Three poems...as short as you would like them, for you just prefer to dabble a bit and want to attempt this challenge.

Winners!

One winner from each category will be awarded a prize!  

How to Sign UP:

Sign UP below in the comments by giving your name (first name is fine!) and a link to where you will be publishing your poems.

OR

Post a link in any TG Poem Post (I plan to post daily!)  in the comments, being sure to include a link to your blog.  Add another comment when you have completed the challenge.  

I look forward to your endeavor and the spirit behind the challenge being met.  

Good luck!

2018....So Far

In my goal to read 52 books this year, I am a bit behind...for am I?  Shall we dive and discuss?

So far, chronologically, I have read the following:  

1. The Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer (Paper Chase/January book):  This one is the second in the series.  We read the first last year in this same book club and enjoyed it enought to read the second one...or so we thought.  While it was okay,  I did enjoy the first one more.
2. The Broken Road by Richard Paul Evans:  Another series by one of my favorite authors.  From the prologue, I was not sure if I would be as hooked, but I quickly caught onto the story line.  Just a thought...it does seem to echo the plot line of his The Walk series.  We'll see as the second one comes out later this spring. This time instead of walking across America, the main character will travel Route 66.  
3. Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones (Paper Chase/Heasley Prize author):  This one we added to our book club reading list when we learned this author will be Lyon College's Heasley Prize author.  Then, this past week, I learned Jones' latest novel has been chosen for Oprah's Book Club.  Nice.  Hope to read that one before her May appearance here in my home town.  Nice.
4. Camino Island by John Grisham:  This one I picked up at my mother-in-law's.  Seemed to have a slow start...or maybe so because I have other reads going on at the same time and I kept putting it down?!  Then, I became hooked and learned much about selling of rare books.  Interesting!

The books in bold?  Books in my TBR pile...that I already owned.  Yes, of that goal of 52 reads, hope that 26 of those are books I already own.  Hummmm...we'll see.  So many good books out there!

Books I Am Currently Reading:

1. To Kill a Mockingbird...with my sophomores.  Such a good novel!  So happy to be reading and teaching/leading the discussion on this one again!
2. The Crucible...with my seniors.  I am enjoying the discussions on this one also as we make many connections to fake news.  Good stuff.
3. Content-Reading That Rocks and Works by Rebecca Harper:  the current book club read for ARA's book club.  We meet live with author four times!  Yay!

Current Bible Studies/Devotions:

1. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:  a devotion I read each morning as part of a Joanna Weaver's daily study
2. Awaken by Priscilla Shirer:  a devotion I read each morning
3. The Patriarchs by Beth Moore with my Making Choices Bible Study
4. Kingdom Authority by Adrian Rogers for our Sunday evening study
5. The Bible...every day in my Quiet Time

Maybe?  Just maybe...I am not too far off my book-a-week goal!

What are YOU reading good?!  I would love to hear your recommendations!

Enjoyable Seasonal Reads

It's the most wonderful time to the year...to continue reading!

Following is the list of Christmas novels which I have read...thus far...:

1. The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson - Dec. 4
2. The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Dec. 19
3. The Christmas Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Dec. 20
4. The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans - Dec. 22

The Christmas Angel Project:  This one is a re-read, a book I chose for our Paper Chase Book Store Book Club.  Enjoyed it just as much the second time as it reminds me of this very book club, a group of ladies who gather to chat about books and just enjoy their time together. Then, one of the ladies passes...and life continues.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase:  A re-telling of A Christmas Carol, this young adult novel introduces the reader to Holly who has been the Ghost of Christmas Past for five years now.  Do people deserve not just a second chance...but a third chance?  Maybe?  Grace says yes.

The Christmas Secret:  A novella centered around a diary and an entry that reveals a secret, this one introduces a young bride-to-be who suddenly finds her world upside down, but one who continues to turn to the Lord.  Her Man is persistent, digging for answers, traveling to tell the story further, accepting the results.

The Noel Diary:  The first in a series of three (the next two to-be-released) reads, as the author tells us, very similar to his life as a writer.  An author, the main character's mother passes, resulting in his returning home to face what he left behind, what is there now, and what will be.  Yes, this one also centers around a diary!

Still to read this season:

1. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
2. A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Yes, 'tis the season...to read!

What are you reading good this Christmas?

ARA Book Club Reads

This year we began something new:  ARA hosted its first ever book club.  Seems fitting does it not for the state reading group to read?!

This has been the best experience for me!  If the other participants have enjoyed this as much as I, then, we have had some ecstatic readers!  AND these authors will meet with the participants at conference next week!  Fun!

AND...I have the six authors/books lined up for 2018!  More about that later!

This year, we hosted these reads:

1. Teamwork by Amanda Mayeaux and Monique Wild
2. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
3. Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen 
4. The Reading Makeover by Danny Brassell
5. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

The authors of the first four met live with the book club participants on Facebook.  Brassell met via Facebook video.  Fun.  Interesting.  

For most of the meetings, I sat right here in my chair, in the comfort of my own home, with a cup of flavored coffee nearby (tonight's drink is hot apple cider...yum!)  For some, though, I was in a different state; for another, I sat in a Sonic parking lot, for I could not arrive home in time to post the 5-7 questions every 7-10 minutes or so.

Having spent several hours with these fellow readers, I am really looking forward to meeting the book club participants...I hear their voices.  I have appreciated their input and thoughts and suggestions.  Now, I just would like to see their faces!

Won't you join us in 2018?

Grand announcement coming next week:  authors...titles...going to be fun!  Right here!

July 2017's Reads...

Only two...this makes me a bit sad...but...I attended meetings for 19 days straight  (back to back...with no overlap)...AND I am reading several others right now!

So about those two, which totals 30 books (so far) for 2017, which means I am a couple of books behind my goal to read a book a week this year...

29. Teaching Reading with YA Literature - Jennifer Buehler - NCTE Reads Bk Club - July 12
30. Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen, July 30