Not only is Baiba Svenca a creative and  inspiring teacher and person, she is also a fellow booklover! We often discuss books. She can read in THREE languages! So when she tagged me with her Eleven-Questions I decided to answer in a “bookish manner”!

 

1. A book related to my birthday? This question caused me to recall a book I hadn’t thought about in YEARS – “Thursday’s Child” by Noel Streatfeild. I was born on a Thursday (in June). I had never asked my mother what day of week I was born on till this book and for a while it made me feel special.

2. A book related to my place of birth? I was actually born in Philadelphia, but I remember very little and can’t recall any books I’ve read particularly related to the City of Brotherly Love. However, I grew up in a suburb of Boston and I have read SO many books that take place in that area! “Run” by Ann Patchett was the most recent one. Really enjoyed that one!

3. Morning Reads? On mornings when I eat breakfast alone (and am not running late) I prefer to read my magazines and not a book. They easily lie flat while I make sure the slices of tomato don’t slide off my toast with cottage cheese.

4. Relaxing? I reallly do relax when reading!

5. I don’t like circuses but I did enjoy “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen! I have learned in recent year to appreciate the complexity of clowning (there’s even Theatre clowning!) from my friend Dorit, but I still don’t like circuses.

6. Asking about a “sleuth vs. a sloth” reminds me of the wordplay of Dr. Seuss or The Phantom Tollbooth by Juster. Characters such as “The Whether Man” (not the weather man) or “Faintly Macabre, the not-so-wicked which” (not witch!) are unforgettable!

7. I do know how to swim but I go to Yoga or Pilates classes instead. I’ve run into trouble in such classes by recommending books to people, some of whom did not enjoy the books recommended. I have never had this problem on my blog, perhaps since my recommendations aren’t personal. Though I’m not sure about that…

8. The first three books that come to mind when I hear the word school? “Up the Down Staircase” by Bel Kaufman” “Teacher Man” by McCourt” and “Little House on the Prairie Series” by Wilder (because of the way I teach I identify with one room schoolhouses!).

9. Repetition? When I was a kid I reread books a lot (I read the whole “Narnia” series three times)  but now I can’t recall the last time I reread a book. There are so many books waiting to be read…

10. Music? Two great books come immediatly to mind: “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchet and “An Equal Music” by “Vikram Seth”

11. Makes my Day (or month) when all four members of my family read the same book and can share the experience. We’ve all read books such as “Holes” by Sacher, “Fragment” by Fahy and “Ender’s Game” by Card, just to mention a few.

* Note: I’ve reached page 1,100 of “The Suitable Boy”!