Books: American Literature: Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888)

In Memory Of Louisa May Alcott (Nov 29, 1832 – Mar 6, 1888).

Image credit: Amazon.com

This blog post is in celebration of her birthday. Most people know her as the author of "Little Women", which was adapted for film several times. The film adaptation I remember starred Elizabeth Taylor, released in 1949. There was a much later remake with Winona Rider, { Little Women (Collector's Series) }.  Of course, Ms. Alcott wrote many more novels and poetry; and she also did other interesting things in her life during a time when the movements, actions, and decisions of women were restricted or limited.  She is worthy of double honor.

Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania and she had three sisters. Her father made sure that they were all educated. Louisa began her writing career publising poetry and short stories. She used a pen name, Flora Fairfield. Before she became famous she also published Gothic thrillers under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard. At the age of 35, in 1868, she published “Little Women”, an autobiography, which was an overnight success and has become a classic. Her company of friends included successful authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

Her life was far from glamorous and sophisticated, but she lived a life worthy of admiration. She volunteered as a nurse to serve during the Civil War; however contracted typhoid fever and was sent home. She was a suffragette and in 1879 when the laws were passed allowing women to vote in Concord, Massachusetts, she was the first woman who registered to vote. She never married and her health was very poor. Nevertheless she took care of her parents when they were ill until their deaths, and adopted and cared for her niece when her sister died. Louis May Alcott died of a stroke, two days after her father's death. She was 55 years old.

• LOUISA MAY ALCOTT Ultimate Collection: 16 Novels & 150+ Short Stories, Plays and Poems (Illustrated): Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, ... The Abbot's Ghost, A Garland for Girls...

• A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories (Penguin Christmas Classics)  A treasury of treasured holiday tales written by Louisa May Alcott, painting a vivid picture of Christmas in America during the 19th century.

glitter-graphics.com

Treasure for Readers: Where To Find Reading Material in Digital Format

I know a person who said that he believed one day all books would be in digital format.  I disagree.  For one thing, there are often times when we don't have Internet access.  Thank goodness we did not throw away our books!  For me, nothing can take the place of curling up in a sofa or your bed with a good books that has pages that I can touch and turn!  You can't get that from reading digital content.  Nevertheless, I am very pleased that there are many sites online where you can find really good reading material.

📚  Find Fairy Tales for Children at World of Tales ~ www.worldoftales.com/fairy_tales...

📚  Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 FREE eBooks. ~ www.gutenberg.org

📚  14 Websites To Find Thousands Of Free Audiobooks Online | Book Riot ~ https://bookriot.com/11-websites-find-free-audiobooks-online/

📚  Archive of 6,000 Historical Children's Books, All Digitized and Free to Read Online | Open Culture ~ www.openculture.com/2016/08/enter-an-archive-of-6000-historical-childrens-books-all-digitized-and-free-to-read-online.html

There are some sites online where you can read novels for free. This is one of them. ~ onlinereadfreenovel.com It's has lots of different book genres: romance, history, mystery, etc. Image is an example of a book categorized under “History & Fiction”.

Free Audiobooks by Sanity Audio Apps https://t.co/mWahmIjPQg via @amazon #books #audiobooks #reading #Goodreads #readinglist #gifts #giftideas @goshoppingbees pic.twitter.com/0XmwnQjOj4

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 22, 2021

GOOD READS: Charles Dickens Wrote More Than One Ghost Story

 “Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.” (Wikipedia)

Since readers seemed to appreciate my post about William Shakespeare, I decided to share a short post about another famous British writer, Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870). Unlike Shakespeare, hardly anybody challenges or questions whether Dickens is the true author of any of his works.  He is known by almost everyone as the man who wrote “A Christmas Carol“.  This novel is a literary masterpiece that has been adapted to film numerous times and has become part of the holiday tradition.  Every Christmas people want to see those ghosts! The popularity of this original work has overshadowed the fact that it wasn’t the ONLY ghost story Charles Dickens ever wrote.  Dickens had a fascination with supernatural phenomena and the existence of spirits or ghosts.  Because of his avid interest, he wrote several ghost stories. Enough to have them compiled into one volume for your reading pleasure.  That’s if you like a good ghost story!

Wordsworth Classics: “Complete Ghost Stories” by Charles Dickens

Original source

THE 16 GREATEST CHARLES DICKENS NOVELS

Books: "The Man Who Planted Trees" by Jean Giono

Searching for inspiration?  "The Man Who Planted Trees" by Jean Giono is a beautiful and inspiring tale about a man who single-handedly transforms a barren landscape through his dedication to planting trees.  It is a "timeless eco-fable about what one person can do to restore the earth."

Story Summary:

Set in the early 20th century in the desolate and barren region of the French Alps. The narrator, who is on a walking tour, meets a shepherd named Elzéard Bouffier in a remote and lifeless valley.

Elzéard Bouffier is an elderly man who lives alone with his sheep and his dog. Despite the challenging and isolated life, he is determined to bring life back to the land. He starts by planting acorns, and over the years, he tirelessly plants thousands of trees. He tends to them with care and devotion, and as a result, a lush forest begins to grow.

The transformation of the landscape is nothing short of miraculous. The once-barren valley becomes a haven of greenery, wildlife returns, and the water sources flow again. The forest that Elzéard Bouffier has created is not just a symbol of nature's resilience, but a testament to the power of one person's dedication and commitment to a cause.

The narrator, deeply moved by Elzéard Bouffier's selfless work, visits him again several times over the years. He realizes that the shepherd's actions are not driven by any environmental movement or ideology but by a simple desire to make the land more beautiful for future generations.

The story ends with the narrator visiting the valley again many years later, during World War II. He is amazed to find the forest untouched and thriving, despite the destruction of the war. Elzéard Bouffier's legacy lives on through the forest he planted, a testament to the idea that individual actions can have a profound and lasting impact on the environment.

"The Man Who Planted Trees" is a heartwarming and inspirational novella with two (2) clear takeaways:

1. the importance of conservation, perseverance, and saving planet earth; and 
2. the positive impact one person can have on the world, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

(Content written with the help of the ChatGPT AI tool.)

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LINKS OF INTEREST:

• The Olive Tree has been highly regarded since ancient times ...
• Home and Garden: Sharing My Fascination With Bonsai Trees
• Mother Africa : Trees of Africa : Baobab Tree

Faith, Fiction, Friends: “Bartleby, The Scrivener” by Herman Melville (Reblog)

Thanks to my high school English teachers I developed an appreciation for American literature and especially for short stories. Below is a link to an excellent review by a fellow blogger who often shares links to his posts via a Facebook Grop called "Authentic Blogger".  Herman Melville was one of the authors my teachers introduced me to; however, I don't remember reading this particular short story. The review has piqued my interest.  If you don't already know, Mr. Melville is famous for writing "Moby Dick". 

• "In two installments in November and December of 1853, Putnam’s Monthly Magazine published a longish short story by Herman Melville (1819-1891) ... It’s a lot of weight for a short story to carry. ..."  Read more: Faith, Fiction, Friends: “Bartleby, The Scrivener” by Herman Melville

Related Links of Interest:

• Putnam's Monthly Magazine of American Literature, Science, and Art Volume II Bartleby the Scrivener. A Story of Wall Street 2 July - December 1853 | Herman Melville
• Free e-Books by Herman Melville

Continuing Education: Introduction to Arabic Philosophy (with Suggested Reading)

When you tackle a topic like this the best place to start your research is in a reputable and reliable encyclopedia like the Encyclopedia Brittanica. A perusal of several EB articles revealed the following eye-opening facts:

 
~ Islamic philosophy and Arabic philosophy, are phrases that are used interchangeably and the beginning of the philosophical movements in the Islamic world dates back to the 9th century.

~ Arabic philosophy combined the Western philosophies of Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism with other ideas introduced through Islam.

~ Al-Kindī is honored as being the first Muslim philosopher. He was known as “the philosopher of the Arabs”. How did he know so much about Western philosophy? Because he was appointed by the Abbasid Caliphs to work alongside his contemporaries, and translate Greek philosophical and scientific works into Arabic.

~ An important distinction must be made between Islamic philosophy versus Islamic theology (or religion). That distinction is that … it is very similar to Western philosophy in that the philosophers sort of try to eliminate God or Divine Intervention from the picture and rely on non-religious secular human reasoning and science to explain TRUTH and the UNIVERSE.

~ In addition to Al-Kindī, others who made significant contributions to Arabic philosophy in the medieval Islamic world include: al-Farabi and Avicenna (Persia); Averroës (Andalusian Spain); and Ibn Khaldūn (Egypt).

~ Curiously, Christian and Jewish thinkers also participated in and influenced the Islamic or Arabic philosophical movements.

~ The first period from the 9th to the 12th (or 14th) century is referred to as classical or early Islamic philosophy. After that time, interest in the movement declined due to lack of supporters. However, there were and are still those who pursued a course of philosophical study to this day.

* * *
The articles in the Encyclopedia Brittanica provided a great introduction to Islamic/Arabic philosophy. Additionally, I would like to recommend one more article published via Encyclopedia.com which is a much easier read. Arabian Philosophy | Encyclopedia.com. ~ www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/arabian-philosophy
- Image credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_philosophy
- Secondary source link: tinyurl.com/3uze7k9a

Suggestions for Additional Reading:

The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy (Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic) 1st ed. 2015 Edition

Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early 'Abbasaid Society (2nd-4th/5th-10th c.) (Arabic Thought and Culture) 1st Edition

Four (4) Authors of Books Recommended for Juvenile and Young Adults

At one time I wanted to write children's books. But that aspiration was never achieved. In the process of trying to learn how to write books for children, I developed a guilty pleasure. I started reading books for children. There are four (4) authors who writes books for juvenile and young adults. There is no reason why old adults can't enjoy reading their books too.

Madeleine L'Engle ( 1918-2007)

The late Madeleine L'Engle (born in New York City) established herself as a young adult writer. Her last book, The Joys of Love, was published in 2008, posthumously. But I will always remember her for her book A Wrinkle in Time, published 1962. Like Ms. Paterson's book, Ms. L'Engle's book was also turned into a movie . Per Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac: "On March 12, 1963, the New York Times wrote 'A housewife and an artist today won the nation's top awards for the most distinguished children's book published in 1962.' This statement doesn't even hint at the truth-that the most courageous committee in the history of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards had just announced its results. [...]" There is only one thing that puzzled me about this book. Why wasn't this book listed as "required reading" in my school curriculum? That was then. Perhaps it's different now, as my teenage daughter has Ms. L'Engle's book on her desk, along with other books that were required reading during my school days. Books like: Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird; George Orwell's, Animal Farm; Charles Dickens', Great Expectations, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter. Madeleine L'Engle's, A Wrinkle in Time has earned a place among them.

Katherine Paterson (1932 -)

Katherine Paterson (born in Huai'an, China) is another writer of books for young readers who may now be well known because of the movie Bridge to Terabithia , which was based on her book by the same name. I know Ms. Paterson because of her book "Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom", a tale about a secret God-worshipping group and the Taiping Rebellion,set in 1851 in China. Ms. Paterson was born in 1932 in China to missionary parents and was a teacher and a missionary in Japan. No doubt this background was integral to the writing of this piece of historical fiction. Oprah recommends her!

Laurence Yep (1948 -)

Laurence Yep (born in San Francisco, California) holds the reputation as the premier Chinese-American writer. He is best known for his book Dragonwings . Dragonwings is the first in a series of nine books collectively called the Golden Mountain Chronicles . It is a fictional work that combines the historical event of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the experience of Chinese immigrants in California and a flying machine. I'm sure that unique mix sounds intriguing and you want to know more.

JaneYolen (1939 - )

I stumbled upon Jane Yolen (born in New York City), in the juvenile section of the library, when I was trying to get ideas for subjects to write about. To date, Ms. Yolen has authored 300 children's and fantasy/sci-fi books. In addition, she has written thousands of poems and short stories. Ms. Yolen has been called, "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" by Newsweek; and the "modern equivalent of Aesop" by The New York Times. It is very difficult to pick a favorite from her writings, because every time I read one of her works, it easily makes it to the list of "Favorites". I love reading Ms. Yolen's fantasy writing. According to Fantastic Fiction Limited, a UK based website, which provides bibliographies for over 30,000 authors of fiction, "Jane Yolen is one of the acknowledged masters of fantasy today."

Books written for young adults are often a very quick read (less than 300 pages). You should try it. Select any of the books by the authors profiled above. If you would like more suggestions, check Al's Book Club for Kids or the Kids' Reading List published by Oprah Winfrey. Or, if you have an opportunity to go to your local public library, consult the librarian for advice. Go ahead and indulge your inner child.

“A book, too, can be a star, “explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,” a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.”

~ Madeleine L'Engle, "A Wrinkle in Time"

“Houses don’t mean much. It’s the people inside them that are important, ...”

~ Laurence Yep, "Dragonwings"

“Under Heaven all men are brothers....”

~ Katherine Paterson, "Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom"

“The thing I want to know is, if you tell your brain not to do stuff... and it keeps doing it anyway, does that mean your mind has a mind of its own? And if it does, then who's in charge here, anyway?”

― Jane Yolen & Bruce Coville, "Armageddon Summer"

♦ ♦ ♦ REFERENCES:

Paterson, Katherine. Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1983. Print.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Print.

"Jane Yolen." Fantastic Fiction. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

"Al's Book Club for Kids.", TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, TODAY Show Video, News, Recipes, Health, Pets. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

"Kids' Reading List - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

"Author Katherine Paterson After Bridge to Terabithia - Oprah.com."Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

"FIND A BOOK: L'ENGLE, MADELEINE." Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

Book Suggestions for Those Who Love to Read Ghost Stories

Do you love to read ghost stories?  

If so you might appreciate these suggestions.

PETER ACKROYD

Peter Ackroyd is an award-winning writer. He’s a poet, a biographer, a historian, and a mystery writer. He is prolific.  He even writes ghost stories!  The English Ghost: Spectres Through Time is one of his most popular writings.

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CHARLES DICKENS

Almost everyone knows "A Christmas Carol" is the most famous ghost story written by Charles Dickens. But did you know he wrote lots of other ghost stories?

"Throughout his literary career, he wrote more than two dozen ghost stories, many of which appearing as smaller tales tucked into larger novels, including The Pickwick Papers, Bleak House, and Nicholas Nickleby."  (Source)

The publishers of Oldstyle Tales Press describe their blog as "The Classic Horror Blog".  They published a list of "7 Best Ghost Stories by Charles Dickens (Not Including 'A Christmas Carol')".  But none on this list were buried inside another story.  There is one Dickens' tale that is credited with inspiring Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart.

• Charles Dickens Was a 'Fascinated Skeptic' of the Supernatural | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine
• Complete Ghost Stories of Charles Dickens (Wordsworth Classics)

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SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is beloved for his the fictional sleuth he crested, Sherlock Holmes. But he also published ghost stories. Much like Dickens he had a fascination with the paranormal or supernatural.  Unlike Dickens he is recognized by many as "the writer of one of English literature's best ghost stories".  He has even written "true" ghost stories, i.e. "supernatural non-fiction by Arthur Conan Doyle: "The Ghost of The Moat" & "A London Ghost".

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Read these ghost stories ny time/ Don't wait for Halloween.

Books: Joseph Jacobs – Father of Fairy Tales

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."

This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein.  But do you know who they call the Father of Fairy Tales?

Fairy tales or stories about fairies are probably in every culture but with regard to fairies in British folklore, many would be happy to thank Joseph Jacobs. In England, he is called the “Father of FairyTales”.

Have you always been fascinated by legends, myths, and folklore – giants, ogres, and fairies (faeries)? Especially, fairy tales? To me, they reflect the wonder of a human’s uninhibited imagination. There is no reason to restrict the flow of creativity. Why not let your mind wander and explore “worlds” that you would probably never get to visit otherwise?

“Fay” is the archaic English word for faeries (fairies), and it means“enchanted” or “bewitched”. Fairies are very popular imaginary creatures, particularly in British folklore. Interesting that just like they were supposedly good witches and bad witches, apparently some fairies or faeries were thought to be mischievous and malicious, while others possessed more noble characteristics and helped the human race.

In England, Joseph Jacobs (1854-1916), is considered the “father of fairy tales”. He is credited with collecting them and then presenting versions of these stories in a form suitable for reading to young children. His diligent preservation efforts helped transform these traditional tales into timeless children’s classics.

Original source

● Where To Find Fascinating Facts About Fairy Tales

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Book Lovers ~ An Assortment of Books to Add to Your Reading List

Once stayed in a temporary residence when my family was being relocated from one state to another.  We stayed in this house for a few months until we found our permanent home.  What a memory! 

This house was right out a dream home magazine.  My favorite room in this house was the office/library.  Public libraries have always been one of my favorite places.  But I had never lived in a house that was big enough to have my own personal library where I could retreat to and shut off the rest of the world.  

If you had your personal library, what kinds of books would be on your bookshelves?  Here are some of the books you might find in my library.


♦ Picture Books for Children (or for grown-ups who never grow up)

• "The Eagles Are Back" : Jean Craighead George tells the story of how the American bald eagle was saved from extinction.
• "Annie and the Old One" : Written by Miska Miles.  It is an introduction to the customs and traditions of  the Navajo people and touches upon a very sensitive subject for children: explaining the death of a loved one.
• "The Emperor and the Kite":  Jane Yolen tells the tale of a young child who saved a kingdom all because she knew how to fly a kite.  So the next time someone says to you "Go fly a kite!", just imagine yourself on a secret mission saving an empire.

♦ Hot and exciting reads. Suspense Thrillers or Romance.

• FC Etier Writes Political Thrillers : "The Tourist Killer" was FC Etier's first novel; followed up by "The Presidents Club". Two novels written for those who enjoy a web of conspiracy and intrigue with lots of political overtones.
• Two Thrillers and One Romance : Just the titles of these books should tempt you. "Power Of Persuasion"; "Trusting Evil"; and "All the Beautiful Sinners".  Which one do you think is the romance?  :)
• Irresistible Historical Romance Novels : “A Rose in Winter” and “Shanna”  ~ Both books authored by the late Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, the lady who pioneered the historical romance genre and should be credited with it being one of the most popular book genres, based on book sales in the USA.

♦ History or Mystery.

• Dickens Junction Mystery Series : Love Charles Dickens and murder mysteries? Perfect!
• The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence : History and mystery set in the ancient Roman empire, written to encourage children to learn history but adults will equally be fascinated.
• Book Selections From the Vintage Series : Choose from reading about the American Civil War to life in 1930s Bombay.

♦ Science Fiction or Fantasy.

• Books by Kev Heritage, S. M. Reine and other popular authors in the sci-fi genre
• Gifts for the Tolkien Enthusiast - Can't say the word fantasy and not mention Tolkien.

♦ Inspiring Biographies.

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Now that you've picked your book (or books), 

settle down for some good reading!  :)

Also published at partner blog.

First Books in Every Child's Library Should Be Fairy Tales

For the first tender years of my life (ages birth to 7 years), I grew up in the James E. Scott Community Housing Projects. Folks who lived there just called it “the projects”. My older siblings told me that we were poor so I believed them. They were older than me! They must know everything. Right? It didn't help that when I asked my mother to buy me certain things her answer was always “We don't have the money for that.”

So I resigned myself to believing that poor people don't have much to look forward to in this world. Until one day my mother gave me some books. My mother had a lot of friends who were school teachers and they always gave her books. The books my mother gave me were mostly fairy tales but they opened up a whole new world for me. The storyline of most fairy tales are universal and everyone can relate. The stories are about good overcoming evil and the main characters triumphantly living happily ever after. That gives a young child something to look forward to if they are going to live in this world.

Even though I'm now an adult, I still enjoy reading fairy tales. The world is full of them, so it's not likely that you will run out of reading material. Practically every country has its own wonderful tales.

I truly believe that all children, no matter the income level of the parents, or their ethnicity or their religious beliefs, etc. … all children should …

• Number 1: Be taught how to read; and
• Number 2: Be given a set of fairy tales to begin their reading adventures.

Do you agree?

If you agree, then allow me to introduce you to Denise McGill, aka PaintDrips, a fellow freelance writer and also a children's book illustrator. She has a few suggested fairy tales for you to read for your own pleasure if you're an adult; and if you are creating a library for children, you might want to add these books to the collection.

Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer @cmoneyspinner

Kiigbo Kiigba and the Helpful Spirits, A West African Folktale | HubPages Kiigbo Kiigba and the Helpful Spirits, A West African FolktaleKiigbo Kiigba is the name of a contrary boy who doesn’t like to follow the rules and gets himself into trouble. This is another of my fairy tales from around the world; this one from West Africa. From the book The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.hubpages.com

April 10th 2020

Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer @cmoneyspinner

The Lute Player, A Russian Fairy Tale | HubPages The Lute Player, A Russian Fairy TaleThe Lute Player is a Russian fairy tale about a princess who rescues her father the king, from a neighboring kingdom by being crafty and resourceful. From the children’s book The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.hubpages.com

April 10th 2020

Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer @cmoneyspinner

The Sage’s Daughter, A Folk Tale from India | HubPages The Sage’s Daughter, A Folk Tale from IndiaThe Sage’s Daughter is a charming story of a girl mouse and how she finds a husband. This is one more story from my The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.hubpages.com

April 10th 2020

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Related or Similar Content:

● Where To Find Fascinating Facts About Fairy Tales

● Aesop: unclear biography, unwritten fables, timeless morals

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♥  Original Source

Books: Children's Books: Korean Folktales

Reading to children is a wonderful activity for both the child and the reader.  They are saying that coloring books are proving to be an excellent therapeutic activity for senior citizens.  I'm not really into coloring because I spend so much time online blogging,  They should also say that reading books for children is great therapy for adults as well.  This I know for a fact!  Children's books are usually very quick reads and provide me with a delightful escape.  They have tremendous therapeutic value.  

A specific genre that I enjoy reading is folktales from different countries.  I discovered folktales because when I first decided to work from home, one of the work-at-home ideas suggested was translating folktales.  I did not pursue this endeavor but I did find that our local public library had a treasure trove of folktales in the children's literature section.  I could suggest several; however, for this blog post, I'll only suggest one. Tales of a Korean Grandmother: 32 Traditional Tales from Korea

There is a description on Amazon that described this book better than any words I could come up with.

"This multicultural children's book presents classic Korean fairy tales and other folk stories—providing a delightful look into a rich literary culture."  

Tales of a Korean Grandmother: 32 Traditional Tales from Korea

Enough said. Need a diversion from the arduous grind of your daily work? Read a children's book. Pick a folktale.  Do you have a favorite folktale?

Four (4) Books by Jude Deveraux to Add to Your Reading List

Jude Deveraux is an American author who has been publishing books since 1980.  Many of her books have been on The New York Times Best Seller list.  I personally fancy her historical romance novels set in medieval England; specifically her books about the Montgomery men and the women they loved. 

The first novel by Ms. Deveraux that I read was about Gavin and Judith Montgomery. He stood tall like a tower over her and was ruggedly handsome; and she was just a pretty little thing, on the outside, that is. But once she got him to realize that she had no intention of becoming an adornment for his arm nor a little toy to be used for his amusement, they began to see eye-to-eye. Even if he did have to lift her up so that she could look him straight in the eye. Gavin not only loved and cherished her, but he had the utmost respect and admiration for her strong character and will. Their initially unhappy union turned into wedded bliss and their happiness was so wondrous that even the servants were happy that the master and the missus were finally getting along. The name of the first Deveraux book I read is The Velvet Promise. 

After being introduced to Gavin Montgomery, I just had to know what his brothers were like. I followed it up by reading Highland Velvet, Velvet Song, and Velvet Angel ~ the love stories of Gavin's brothers, the other Montgomery men ~ Stephen Montgomery, Raine Montgomery, and Miles Montgomery. 

These four books together are called The Velvet Montgomery Annals Quadrilogy. The primary theme of each book is the age-old truth: “Love conquers all.” Corny. But if you enjoy reading passionate historical romance, you'll love these books!

Jude Deveraux books on audiobooksnow.com

Publishers Weekly Books by Jude Deveraux and Complete Book Reviews

* Similar or Related Content:

Books: American Author: Horatio Alger Jr. (1832 – 1899)

Horatio Alger Jr. (1832 – 1899) could be looked at as an American Charles Dickens; although his writings never reached the level of popularity where so many of his books were so good they were adapted to film and often quoted.  The similarity is in the subject matter of his books.

Horatio Alger Jr. wrote young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty. Does that plot sound familiar?  You're right.  Charles Dickens often wrote stories like that.

Alger didn't just write juvenile novels. He also wrote for novels for adults, poems, short stories, and biographies of famous people, such as American presidents James A. Garfield and Abraham Lincoln. His first work was published in 1849 and several of his writings were published posthumously after his death on July 18, 1899.  If you collect or read vintage books, Alger's writings are recommended.

Strive and Succeed by Horatio Alger Jr.

List of works by Horatio Alger Jr.
Buy books written by Horatio Alger Jr.
(various formats: hard copy, paperback, audio, Kindle editions, etc.)

(* Just 99 cents.)