WRAD Blogging Challenge Post 2

Week 2: February 17 - February 23

Now & Then

Answer the following questions twice. The first time, answer how you would have when you were 10 years old (or any age from elementary school that you remember clearly) and the second time, answer in the present.

1. I think everyone in the world should read...

When I was 10:
I have no idea.

Now:
I think everyone in the world should read whatever makes them happy. I spent far too many years reading the books I "should" read. Some of the books were marvelous, and some were simply not for me. If asked which books I have loved and have recommended to people time and time again in the past year I would mention the books I have read that are examples of what I call truth in fiction.

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be...

When I was 10
I have no idea.

Now
My husband. I love being on the receiving end of a read aloud. There is nothing that makes me feel cared for and pampered  like having the person I love read to me. After a frustrating day... read to me. After a great day... read to me. When I am tired... read to me. When I am excited...read to me. 

3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is...

When I was 10
I have no idea.

Now
Donald Zinkoff's little sister when she goes bananas at his graduation. Everyone deserves to have someone cheer wildly for them at some point in time. I love to read aloud Loser by Jerry Spinelli. I love Donald Zinkoff and I love how my students respond to Donald's development.

4. The genre that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is...

When I was 10
anything and everything that could be checked out from the library across the street.


Now
African-American Literary Fiction. My favorites include James Baldwin, Countee Cullen, J. California Cooper, Phillis Wheatley, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, Tananarive Due, and the list goes on and on and on.

5. The last book I wish I’d written or inspired me to write my own story is...

When I was 10
I have no idea.

Now
I am a reader, not a writer. I enjoy reading the work of others who are called to write their stories. I thank all the writers of the world for sharing their gifts with readers.

Truth in Fiction - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

It is never too late to be what you might have been ~ George Eliot

With such an opening I should have known that I would fall totally and completely in love with The One and Only Ivan.

Me being me, I would have to disagree with the use of the word 'never", but I generally agree with the premise of the above statement . If I didn't, I wouldn't have entered library school after 16 years as a classroom teacher, joined the Peace Corps (twice), or joined the blogging community.

"There's a difference, " Stella says gently, 

"between ' can't remember' and 'won't remember.'"

 "Memories are precious," Stella adds. "They help tell us who we are'

There is indeed a difference between can't and won't. Sometimes we won't remember because we can't deal with what the events in our past say about ourselves and others. Memories are indeed precious and are to be treasured. Memories are not who we are, nor are past events all that we are, but memories do help tell us who we are.

"They think I'm too old to cause trouble, " Stella says.

 "Old age," she says "is a powerful disguise."

This is SO true and it just made me laugh. HARD. It is truly amazing how some people, communities, institutions,  underestimate old people. Truth be told old people cause the most trouble in my experience.