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Anahita’s Woven Riddle – A Book Review

Posted on June 28, 2011 by auburnchick

Hello, my name is AuburnChick, and I’m an English teacher, but I haven’t read much, for pleasure, during the last four years.

Shhh…don’t tell anyone I said that.

😉

It’s not because I haven’t wanted to.  However, when I took online classes to finish my Bachelor’s degree several years ago, I got burned out from all of the reading I had to do.

At the same time, I taught myself how to knit.

Listening to audio books is just not my cup of tea.  I have difficulty focusing when books are read aloud.

I do so much better when I can see the words…allowing them to seep into my mind and soul.

When I started teaching last year, I discovered how much I had missed my books.

Then, EPI took over my life.

Well, that’s over now, and I finally have had time to reacquaint myself with my former hobby.

Before I closed up my classroom for the summer, a book on one of my bookshelves caught my eye…

The main character of this book is Anahita, a seventeen year old girl growing up in rural Iran during the late 1800’s.

Anahita is told, by her father, that it is time for her to marry, and that the khan has asked for her hand.

Instead of meekly complying with her father’s wishes, she asks for permission to choose her own suitor, through the clever use of a riddle, which she weaves into her wedding carpet.

Although this book is intended for “young readers,” I found this book quite enjoyable.

In fact, parts of the book were breathtaking.

As a knitter, I appreciated the many references to yarn dyeing, spinning, knitting, and, weaving.

Because I taught Muslim students last school year, I appreciated the history, told in story form.

Another thing I love about this book is that all proceeds benefit development enterprises for woman and children who suffered after the 2005 Iranian earthquake.

If you’re looking for something to read this summer, I highly recommend this book.  It was an unexpected treasure that I found tucked away right in front of me.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

A Book That is a Keeper

Posted on May 6, 2010 by auburnchick

I rarely read books for pleasure any more.

This would surprise those who know me personally, because there used to be a day when you could not find me without a book in my hands.

My journey back to college a few years involved so much reading that I simply could not stomach the thought of ingesting a book for the fun of it.

However, this week, I have been spending quite a bit of time in the high school’s library – the site of the AP testing I’ve been involved with.  As such, it has been hard to ignore the plethora of books surrounding me.

A couple of days ago, when passing by the circulation desk, I noticed a book sitting on a stand…

The book is Keeper, by Mal Peet.

Now, I’m sure I know what you’re thinking…a soccer book…no surprise as to why AuburnChick might have been drawn to it.

Well, maybe initially, much as we’re drawn to members of the opposite sex because they appeal to us physically.

However, I am not one to “judge a book by its cover,” so I read the first page…and I was hooked.

Folks, I read this book in only a few short hours’ time.

The storyline immediately captivated me.

A young boy, heralding from a small town in South America, discovers a soccer goal in a clearing the middle of the forest.  A mysterious man emerges from the trees and begins teaching the boy the finer points of goal tending.

The boy grows up to become the world’s best goalie.  The story is told from his perspective.

You guys…even if you aren’t a soccer fan, this story will grip you.  It is about more than just soccer but of a coming of age, with a bit of mystery thrown in.

I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed when I closed the book upon finishing it.  I wanted the story to continue.

I am so happy I came upon this unexpected gem.  I hope you’ll take the time to pick it up and read it.  You won’t be disappointd!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Mother-Son Weekend

Posted on August 1, 2009 by auburnchick

Soccer season has officially begun.

Chicky and the Mr. left for the other side of the state for her first weekend of practice.

That left Rooster and me at home alone.

It’s actually a good combination, as our personalities mesh quite well.

This morning, he casually mentioned how we had not been to Such-and-Such Restaurant in a long time, and how we’re the only two in the family who really like it.

Gee, boy, could the hint be any more obvious?

I had to laugh.  You see, when the other two members of the family are gone, we have a couple of things we like to do together…eat at this restaurant and watch movies.

We knew that a movie would push the budget too far, so we opted for lunch out instead.

But first, I wanted to get in my workout.  After biking 5.6 miles with a minimal amount of pain and a lot of sweat, and a nice long shower, we settled in to watch the X Games.  I find it difficult to watch these sports…too many people falling down wrong on ankles and elbows.  Ouch!

We finally got around to our lunch plans.

It was so much fun!  Rooster is a cute kid (did I actually just type that?) teenager with the personality to match.  The conversation was easy, and lunch was terrific.

Then, we drove to the bookstore on the beach.

Ahhh…the smell of new books.  It’s almost as satisfying as a a Godiva Caramel Chocolixer (almost but not quite).

I had a $2 coupon that I simply could not allow to go unused.

I headed straight for the knitting books.

In my heart, I knew what I wanted, but I looked, disinterested, at some of the other books before walking away from that aisle.  In my hands?

Ahhh…Cookie A…you’ve just got to love her patterns!  I’ve made a few of the patterns available on Knitty and love how creative she is!  I’ve already googled for pattern errata and found a list here.

Rooster was ready to go by then, but when he mentioned that Brad Thor has a new book out…well, I had to take a peek.

Thor is the author of the series of books I’ve recently read my way through…with the exception of the second to the last one.  Its paperback version was a temptation that proved too much for me.

I mean…I had to find out what happened between the last book I’d read and the final one in the series.  It would be like reading the first and third Lord of the Ring books and skipping the second (were there only three?).  This one went in my hands with the knitting book…

I figured we’d better get out of the store after that.

We had a rather mellow afternoon followed by more X Games.   We watched one gal, a deaf young lady, win her Super X race (dirt bike).  It was very inspirational to see her fly through the course using her other senses and raw talent.  Wow!

Tomorrow will be a day of church, NASCAR, and knitting…maybe even a little napping.

Boy, do I love these Mother-Son Weekends!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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