Day 31 of 31 Days of Books Off My Shelf

Day 31
Hey!

When I was in third grade, I had a teacher who loved to read us poetry.  She read this poem to us for Halloween that year so I thought I would share it with you.   Written in 1885 and originally entitled, “The Elf Child”, this poem was inspired by a young girl who came to live at the Riley home following her father’s death.  The poem can be found in this book along with many other familiar poems by well known poets such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and Edward Lear to name a few.

Favorite Poems Old and New
Selected by Helen Ferris
 

LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE
by James Whitcomb Riley
Little Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,
An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,
An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the hearth, an’ sweep,
An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her board-an’-keep;
An’ all us other children, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
Onc’t they was a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,-
An’ when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wasn’t there at all!
An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby-hole, an’ press,
An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’-wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was thist his pants an’ roundabout:-
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,
An’ make fun of ever’ one, an’ all her blood-an’-kin;
An’ onc’t, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks was there,
She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care!
An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,
An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about!
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
An’ little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo!
An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray,
An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,-
You better mind yer parents, an’ yer teachers fond an’ dear,
An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,
An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
Thank you for joining me for these past 31 days!  I’ve loved your comments and you being here.   Tomorrow, I’m going to be featuring a Bonus Book.   I really hope you’ll come back to see the book that has had the most impact on my life.  Until then if you’d like to catch up on all of my 31 Day Book posts, click here.

 Happy Reading!
Mimi
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”  
John 14:18  NIV Bible

Day 30 of 31 Days of Books Off My Shelf

Day 30
Hey!
Wow!  The month has gone by quickly and I have so many more books I would love to share.  I’m thinking of making a book post a regular feature in addition to other things.  What do you think??
Love Walked In 
Marisa De Los Santos
Love Walked In 
Told in alternating voices, the story is first narrated by Cornelia, a young woman who has a passion for  classic movies and a budding relationship with a man named Martin.
 “Maybe love comes in at the eyes, but not nearly as much as it comes in at the ears, at least 
in my experience.  As we talked, lights flicked on inside my head; by the end of the night, 
I was a planetarium.”
 
Clare, an 11 year old child of divorced parents also narrates this story.  She has been estranged from her father, Martin until the day he learns her mother has had a breakdown and she has been left to care for herself.  Through life’s twists and turns, Clare and Cornelia form an unlikely friendship and bond.
 “There’s a kind of holiness to love, requited or not, and those people who 
don’t receive it with gratitude are arrogant beyond saving.”

 A sweet debut novel about love, home and the need to be needed by another.
I thank you for coming by each day of this month to read about some of the books off my shelf.  I hope you’ll join me on Thursday, November 1st for a Bonus Book !!! 
Also, my thoughts and prayers are with all of y’all that have been affected by Sandy : )
Happy Reading!
Mimi
 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, 
his command is that you walk in love.”    2 John 6  NIV Bible

Day 29 of 31 Days of Books off my Shelf

Day 29
Hey!
When I heard another book was written about racial issues in Mississippi I cringed and began to get defensive in my spirit.  I was concerned about how this native daughter might portray her home.   Ms. Stockett writes in her comments,

“”The rash of negative accounts about Mississippi, in the movies, in the papers, on television, have made us natives a wary, defensive bunch.  We are full of pride and shame, but mostly pride.”

The Help 
 Kathryn Stockett
The Help
Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960’s,  Aibileen works as a maid for the Leefolt family.  She is befriended by one of her employer’s friends, Miss Skeeter.  Skeeter is a well to do young woman,  recently graduated from Ole Miss, who has a passion for writing and has the idea to write a book that features the experiences of the black women who serve as the help to white families.  Skeeter convinces Aibileen and several others to share their stories. 

“Wasn’t that the point of the book?  For women to realize, we are just two people.  
Not that much separates us.  Not nearly as much as I thought.””
I think one of the ways the author showed great care in writing about her home is in how she chose to write dialect.  Quite often, writers will use a gimmicky phonetic form for the dialect of a Southerner.  Ms. Stockett, however, achieved a real and authentic sound by her word choice and use of word placement and created the smooth rich lilt of the Central Mississippi dialect.

As Mississippians, we own our ugly past but we also own a bright present and future.  The Help graciously shows that hope and that people can move beyond the color of someone’s skin.

Happy Reading!
Mimi

“If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”  
Ecclesiastes 4:10  NIV Bible

Day 28 of 31 Days of Books off my Shelf

Day 28
Hey!
Today, I’m sharing with you two of my favorite books about the craft of writing.

Bird by Bird inspired me to start writing again.  During college, I wearied of writing after so many English assignments which was my major.  I dabbled off and on but mostly, I didn’t do it.  I struggled with the process.  Anne Lamott’s honesty about her own struggles made me realize I wasn’t very different in my battle to put pen to paper.

Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”


Bird by Bird
Anne Lamott
On Writing Well was a required reading for a college writing class.  The main emphasis of this book is nonfiction writing. What struck me most about this book was the discovery that a textbook could be written in a way that was actually enjoyable to read!

“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components… 
clear thinking becomes clear writing.”

On Writing Well
William Zinsser
Happy Reading!
Mimi

“The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give 
you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.”” 
Exodus 24:12 NIV Bible

Want to catch up on all of my 31 Day posts about books? Click here

Day 27 of 31 Days of Books off my Shelf

Day 27
Hey!

This historical fiction story set in London during the 1930’s is a nice blend of drama and mystery.  

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie is a sharp, independent young woman who serves as a housemaid.  Her employers recognize these qualities in her and through their encouragement and financial support  Maisie pursues her education.  When World War 1 breaks out, Maisie enlists to serve as a nurse.   After the war, Maisie takes over her mentor’s private investigation agency.

“Truth walks toward us on the paths of our questions,” Maurice’s voice once again echoed in her mind. “As soon as you think you have the answer, you have closed the path and may miss vital new information. Wait awhile in the stillness, and do not rush to conclusions, no matter how uncomfortable the unknowing.”

Maisie’s first case seems to be a simple one of proving infidelity but turns out to be much more and involves Maisie’s own past.

Happy Reading!
Mimi
“Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings 
and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.””  
Daniel 2:47  NIV Bible

Day 26 of 31 Days of Books off my Shelf

Day 26

Hey!
If you don’t live here in Mississippi, you probably aren’t familiar with this one.  
But trust me, it’s good : )

Bell’s Best Cookbook (volume 1)


Published in 1981  and reprinted 29 times by the Mississippi AT&T Pioneers Chapter.
This cookbook is their best seller and is still in print. 

Here’s my copy…. just keeping it real!  As you can tell I’ve used it a few times : )

I’ve included one of my family’s favorite desserts.  Very yummy!!

Mississippi Mud Cake  (Bell’s Best   recipe from Joan Hairston)
1 cup Wesson oil                                       1 1/2 cup of self-rising flour
1/3 cup cocoa                                           2 teaspoons of vanilla
4 whole eggs                                            2 cups of chopped nuts,  (I like pecans)
1 3/4 cup of sugar

Mix ingredients and bake in oblong cake pan at 300 for 30-45 minutes.  Cover with small marshmallows when removed from the hot oven.
Icing:
1 1/2 sticks margarine                             1/3 cup of cocoa
1 Tablespoon vanilla                               1/2 cup of Pet milk
1 box of powdered sugar                         1/2 cup chopped nuts  (pecans!)

Mix all ingredients well.  DO NOT COOK.  Pour over cake while still warm.  

Happy Reading and Cooking !

Mimi

“Taste and see that the LORD is good..” 
Psalm 34:8  NIV Bible

Over 1200 bloggers joined the 31 Day Challenge, check them out here!

Day 25 of 31 Days of Books off my Shelf

Day 25


Hey!

Sorry for the delay in posting a book today… I am still having computer problems accessing my dashboard with my blogger site.  Is anybody else having similar problems?  

84 Charing Cross Road 
 Helene Hanff
84, Charing Cross Road
84 Charing Cross Road is a delightful tale of friendship that evolves via correspondence over a 20 year period  between freelance New York writer Helene Hanff and secondhand book dealer Frank Doel in London.   Their friendship spanned from 1949-1969. 
Of books, Helene writes,

“I shall sprinkle pale pencil marks through it pointing out the 
best passages to some book lover yet unborn.”
I’m one of those people who *gasp* underlines and writes in their books.  Most books get this treatment though not all.  In fact, one of my friends and I have been known to share a book and share the comments in the side margins.  I know… rather dorky and strange : )  Perhaps that’s why I like the above quote so much.

When we share a book we’ve loved, don’t you think in essence we’re sharing a little part of ourselves, making ourselves vulnerable in the hopes that the other person will love those quotes and that book as much as we did?

What are your thoughts??  I would love to hear them and what book you would love to share with me!

Happy Reading!
Mimi
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.”  
2 Corinthians 3:2  NIV Bible
Over 1200 bloggers joined the 31 Day Challenge, check them out here!