List #2 Word Challenge

These are some of my dad's favorite words. Can you put them all into one sentence? (it's OK to vary the forms if you need to)

Something like: The niggardly neo-platonist committed a nefarious travesty which caused the hoi polloi to fall into conniptions...

Surely someone can do better than that?

Slake
Travesty
Flippant
Nefarious
Neoplatonism
Conniption
Tirade
Fatuous
Frivolous
Niggardly
Gossamer
Fiat
Laissez-faire
Hoi polloi
Pathetic

List #1 Childhood Read-Aloud Favorites

My parents gave me a great gift as I was growing up: they read to me. Not just once in a while, but every day. When I was little, I never knew what excitement was in store for me when Daddy walked in the door. He was always bringing home books--books from the library, books to keep. My dad has wonderful comic ability that lends itself well to voice characterization. And he's a great hand at improvisation--stories are never the same when he reads them! Mostly, we read to ourselves now, but every once in a while he will take up an old favorite and bring back some good memories.

I've been trying to remember which books I liked to hear the most as a young girl. I thought it would be a small list, but I keep remembering ones that just MUST be added. So think of this as just a small cross-section of the books that started me off on my literary adventures...

Honey Rabbit by Margo Hopkins

One of my first board books. "What is spring?"

Cowboy Dan

Daddy didn't read this--he sang it. "I'm a rootin', tootin' cowboy, and my name is Cowboy Dan. I can ride a horse and rope a steer as fast as any man..."

Ten Apples Up on Top by Theo Le Sieg (Dr. Seuss)

The pictures still make me laugh.

The Bear's Picnic by Stan and Jan Berenstein

Sometimes I think of this book, when we're on a long road trip and trying to decide when and where to stop for lunch. ;)

All of Beatrix Potter's animal stories

Hop on Pop

My favorite page: "Night, Fight: We fight all night!" And of course, that wonderful run-together list of words at the last. I still try to read them as fast as possible.

Fox in Socks

OK. I have to confess. This wasn't a childhood favorite. I just read it for the first time last year. But it should have been! This has some of the best tongue twisters ever!

The Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown

This was my little brother Tim's favorite book when he was a toddler. A sweet story.

The Plant Sitter by Gene Zion

I just have to laugh at the dad's dream sequence!

Laurie and the Yellow Curtains by Sara Asheron

I honestly don't know why I liked this. Maybe it was the colours in the pictures. My mom says it's because all little girls want a house of their own to play in.

Corduroy by Don Freeman

A classic.

Stop that Ball! by Mike McClintock

"I hit my ball. I made it fly.
I hit my ball as it went by.
It went around and then came back.
I gave my ball another WHACK!"


Most of these books I still find a pleasure to read. And that is as it should be, for as C.S. Lewis wrote, "a children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. The good ones last." --Of Other Worlds

Listless? Not for long!

I love making lists. I'm not exactly a scatterbrain, but I do find it hard to focus until I take pencil and paper in hand! My writing notebook is full of lists, including the ubiquitous "to do" as well as a wide variety of book-related ones. (of course!) Lists are a way for me to record past progress, as well as to outline goals for the future. They are a way for me to set priorities and organize my thoughts.

I wonder if it's true that “Lists are the most necessary literary accessories of all." (Umberto Eco--HT to George Grant) I do know that they are a lot of fun. I'm not the only one to be fascinated with lists: there was a recent book published devoted to the topic.

Over the next few days, I'll share some of my own lists. I intend to focus on those related to books, in keeping with my blog theme, but a few others may make it into the mix. (for variety!) In the meantime, here are some lists others have made:

George Grant's Literary Lists

Top 10 Lists from Buried Treasure Books
(I found several new-to-me authors to check out from here!)

100 Most Influential Books Ever Written
(Interesting from a historical viewpoint...haven't read many of these, and don't intend to!)

Do any of my readers share my fascination with lists? I'd like to hear from you! Do you make lists simply as a way to outline things to be done, or do you make other sorts?

Collecting "isms"

No particular reason--I'm just a bit fascinated with them at the moment. Have one that's not on the list? Please share it!

anachronism
dualism
feminism
monism
patriotism
fatalism
existentialism
environmentalism
conservatism
teetotalism
perfectionism
idealism
protectionism
skepticism
communism
creationism
romanticism
cynicism
deism
hedonism
plagiarism
terrorism
feudalism
catechism
totalitarianism
antinomianism
narcissism
socialism
liberalism
pessimism
baptism
realism
optimism

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott

It has become semi-traditional at our home to read this book aloud sometime during the holiday season. I always enjoy hearing of the adventures (and misadventures) of the seven young Bassett children as they set out to make Thanksgiving dinner on their own. Set in turn-of-the-century rural New Hampshire, this is a story of family togetherness well worth reading. Jody Wheeler's illustrations add to the humorous, nostalgic feel of the book.

New Poll: please answer

I've added a new poll to my sidebar. I plan on asking new questions periodically. This one's quite easy: how many books have you read this year?

This question was inspired by an appalling poll result reported by the Associated Press: 1 in 4 adults read no books last year. This is quite unthinkable for me, a confirmed bibliophile--but it should be equally disturbing to any Christian, given the fact that God chose to reveal Himself to us through the written word.

HT: Crystal

The Blogger's Return

A bit of bad news for those who thought I might have, mercifully, slipped from the blogging scene: sorry, the Biblio-File is back. After an extended break from writing, and a lovely month in the land of Lewis, Shakespeare, Tolkien and Sayers (more about that later), I am back filled with ideas to scribble about. Dusting off my writing notebook having been accomplished, I now take up pencil again to tackle the literary wonders of the world.