Teaser Tuesday: Jacksonland

The school year and basketball season have hit their stride and should remain there until sometime in mid-March.

With that in mind, the Wheel of Time has turned to

Teaser Tuesday

Just in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

This week’s book is Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross. and A Great American Land Grab written by NPR’s Steve Inskeep. For those that listen to him on a daily basis, one can’t help but hear him narrate his own words.

The Truly Random Number Generator send us to page 199:

But in the summer of 1829, Evarts was exactly what 
Ross needed: a genuine ally who was willing to fight 
alongside him as an equal. Evarts was different than 
Henry Clay, who supported Indian rights but also 
thought Indians were doomed. While Clay thought 
Indians' "disappearance from the human family would 
be no great loss to the world," Evarts placed them 
on the same level as white men. 

Jacksonland Goodreads cover

In Retrospect

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation

Founding Brothers Goodreads CoverAuthor: Joseph J. Ellis.

Although this book adds little new (if anything at all) to the historical record, it is both enjoyable and mostly readable – two qualities which may have helped it win the Pulitzer Prize.

My only fault is the author’s overuse of adjectives and certain phrases – after some time it felt I was reading a fluffed-up report.

4 Stars


 

The Color of Magic

The Color of Magic Goodreads coverAuthor: Terry Pratchett

This is both the first published Discworld novel & the first novel in the “Rincewind Cycle” – the series of Discworld books detailing the misadventures of the “wizzard” Rincewind.

If you picked up this book after seeing the film The Color of Magic, be aware that this book only covers the first part of the film; for the complete story, you’ll also want The Light Fantastic.

As this is the first book in the series, Pratchett spends a good deal more time (comparatively) discussing the actual mechanics of the Disc. Some may find this dull, while the more science-and-math minded may find such discussion downright enjoyable.

I personally find the Discworld series both witty and funny, but such accolades depend greatly on the individual. Much of Pratchett’s humor is dry and his wit relies on the readers’ knowledge of Earth’s workings and/or mythology.

The Color of Magic is fun as pure fantasy, but also contains splendid nuggets of joy for the more cerebral-minded.

5 Stars

Coming Soon

Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan by Douglas C. Waller

 


 

What have you been reading?

 


 

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Oc: The Element of Magic

Sign the Petition to Name Element 117 Octarine

in Honour of Sir Terry Pratchett

Discworld Librarian

The Petition

To:

IUPAC [International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

This petition is to name element 117, recently confirmed by the International Union of Applied Chemistry, as ‘Octarine’, with the proposed symbol Oc (pronounced ‘ook’), in honour of the late Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series of books.

The Discworld series has sold more than 70 million books worldwide, in 37 different languages. Terry Pratchett died in 2015 and his final book, The Shepherd’s Crown, was published in the same year. He was well-known as a lover of science and, with two well-known science writers, co-wrote a series of four books called The Science of the Discworld, which took a sideways look at ’roundworld’ (Earth) science.

Octarine, in the Discworld books, is known as ‘the colour of magic’, which forms the title of Pratchett’s first ever Discworld book. According to Disc mythology, octarine is visible only to wizards and cats, and is generally described as a sort of greenish-yellow purple colour, which seems perfect for what will probably be the final halogen in the periodic table. Octarine is also a particularly pleasing choice because, not only would it honour a world-famous and much-loved author, but it also has an ‘ine’ ending, consistent with the other elements in group 17.

Octarine is being counted as ‘a mythological concept’ under IUPAC rules, which state that elements must be named after “a mythological concept or character; a mineral, or similar substance; a place or geographical region; a property of the element; or a scientist”. The Discworld stories are certainly stories about gods and heroes, and 70 million books surely count for something.

[signed]

The Chronicle Flask & 8,000+ Others


Now, should we call it

“The Element of Magic”

or

“The Element Fantastic”


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Don’t forget to follow me on:

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Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Teaser Tuesday: King John

Yesterday, high school basketball officially began.

Today, the turning Wheel of Time turns to

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

I’m full steam ahead on my Goodreads challenge: 5 books ahead!

I left present-day Discworld for Roundworld in the 12th and 13th centuries with Marc Morris’ King John: Treachery and Tyranny in Medieval England: The Road to Magna Carta.

Yes, this book has two subtitles!

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 191:

Yet the impression, from both the chroniclers and
the official records, is that John indulged his whim
in this way a great deal more than any of his
predecessors.  With increasing frequency, men and
women, great and small, were deprived of their lands
simply because they had somehow incurred his
displeasure. 

King John coverSounds like John will live up to his nickname:

John the First and John the Worst

In Retrospect

The Shepherd’s Crown by Sir Terry Pratchett earned 5 stars.

When Books Went To War by Molly Manning also earned 5 stars, and in my opinion should be required reading for anyone who doubts the value of the printed word. It is by far the best book about books I’ve read.

 


 

What have you been reading?

 


 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Teaser Tuesday: The Shepherd’s Crown

Like a centuries-old Spanish church emerging from the depths of drought-ridden Mexico, the turning Wheel of Time has brought up

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

Given my hectic schedule, I’ve fallen slightly behind pace on my Goodreads challenge; I am now only four books ahead of schedule.

In an attempt to salvage victory, I’ve decided to finally read The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett. I received it on release day, but haven’t had the heart to read it . . . yet.

This week, the Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 192:

They brought actual terror, and horror, and pain. 
. . . And they laughed, which was bad enough
because their laughter was actually musical, and
you could wonder why such wonderful music
could come from such unpleasant creatures.
They cared for nobody except themselves and 
possibly not even that.

Shepherd's Crown Cover

In Retrospect

I’m slowly working my way through Fur, Fortune, and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America by Eric Jay Dolan. The story is interesting, but the prose is lacking. I may abandon it . . . or not.

 


 

What have you been reading?

 


 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Sunday Snapshots

Thanks for stopping by to see what’s gone on in the last week! Indeed, it was quite busy:

The Shepherd’s Crown arrived; I already wrote about its unboxing and shared some photographs.

One of my 9th grade students drew what I’m calling “Sumerian Olaf”.

Yes, she simply misspelled “summer” but also realized her unwitting pun and asked me to take a picture before erasing it.

Sumerian Olaf

A very large praying mantis came to visit; this dude measured at least 8 inches long!

We moved him safely outside before the cat did something mean to him.

Huge Praying Mantis

I picked up an uncut straw from Subway.

Seriously, straw machine – you had one job . . . one job!

Uncut Straw

World History students presented their explorer reports; one group made a spice game: students had to guess what a spice was based on color, texture, and smell. The spices included cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, pepper, and turmeric. The group was about to throw away the piles when I noticed how they’d run together on the plate.

Explorer Spices

Just for fun I participated in one of those silly Facebook “quizzes” that assigns you random results based on your name.  This time, I liked the results.

Weird Test

The mailman brought a surprise on Saturday: a postcard from fellow blogger Vanessa of Petal and Mortar!

Thanks, Vanessa!

petal and mortar postcard front petal and mortar postcard back
 


What Did You Do This Week?


 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Unboxing The Shepherd’s Crown

Tuesday was bittersweet. I received a package: the American release of The Shepherd’s Crown by Sir Terry Pratchett! This is also the first book I’ve ever pre-ordered – the first book I’ve ever received on the very day of its release.

However, many of you know The Shepherd’s Crown is the last Discworld novel; Sir Terry passed away 12 March, 2015.

I’m not ashamed to say it:

I took my time opening the box.

I savored the new book smell.

I read the dust jacket.

Then, I placed The Shepherd’s Crown back in the box,

closed the lid,

and cried.

No man is ever truly gone until the ripples they make in the world die away

May Sir Terry’s ripples last forever.

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His fantasies sit alongside – and are the equals of – those of Rabelais, Voltaire, Swift, Kurt Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams. . . . But whereas all these are neatly arranged on the bookshelves, my Pratchetts are strewn under the beds, in the bathrooms, the glove compartments. They have shopping lists, takeaway orders, and Scrabble scores scribbled on the fly leaves. They were part of life. – Frank Cottrell Boyce

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