Always be a first rate version of yourself...: Paul Griffin

What's Going On Here?

There are SO MANY wonderful book review blogs out there and I can't compete with them, that is for sure. So this is not a book review blog. This is just a way for me to organize what I have read so that I can be better at matching the right book to the right person. The blog title comes from the brilliant mind of the most talented woman who ever lived, Ms. Judy Garland. The full quote is, "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else." That is what I hope to do here and in ever aspect of my life.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Being from Pittsburgh

Saving Marty just didn't do it for me. Now keep in mind that I listened to the book and it was read with a southern accent and it wasn't set IN Pittsburgh, but in Southwestern PA and I do know that some people see this region as being part of Appalachia. Indeed, it is in the Appalachian Mountain region and all. But I think it was a stretch to say that there was a Pittsburgh Jamboree. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It just didn't feel "real" to me. If you live in Southwestern PA and found this to be a correct portrayal, please correct me though!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Just Don't Read the SLJ Review!

This is one of those books that makes you thankful you are a reader. Told from three points of view: Mik, a teen with a hearing disability who often shuts off her hearing aids to shut out the world, Fatima, an illegal immigrant teen from an unnamed, war-torn African country and an eighteen-year-old, mentally ill Iraq War vet. They meet and become friends and tragedy strikes. I don't want to say too much more about the The Orange Houses. I sure don't want to be like the reviewer for School Library Journal who gives the ending away. Anyway. This is a must read. It deals with issues from Sweet, Hereafter and the one about Ask Me No Questions. Loved it. Now THIS is an award winner.