How to encourage reading

Vocab from a Political Battle: Vertiginous

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 10 Comments

Word Nerds, I’m joining Bermuda Onion for her “ Wondrous Words Wednesday” meme.  It’s a chance to share interesting words and to learn something too!

Last week, I heard an interesting NPR Story called The Fiscal Cliff for English Majors.  (Perfect, right?)  The reporter compared to the political rhetoric surrounding the looming fiscal cliff to great pieces of literature.

For example, he mentioned how in act four of Shakespear’s play King Lear, The Duke of Gloucester, a blind man, stands at what he believes to be the precipitous Cliffs of Dover.  But he’s not.  However, his son, taking advantage of Gloucester’s disability, describes vertiginous cliffs, hoping to convince his father of imminent danger.

Forget the relevance to the modern political battle; what interested me was the word vertiginous.  Of course, being a P.T. on eternal maternal hiatus, I’m familiar with vertigo, but I didn’t know an adjective about it existed.

Here’s some info from Webster’s:

Vertiginous  \vər-‘ti-jə-nəs\ adj from Latin vertiginosus, from vertigo; it can mean:

  • suffering from vertigo
  • characterized by frequent and pointless change
  • causing or tending to cause dizziness
  • marked by turning

Clearly, the example from the story above uses the “causing dizziness” definition, but I like the “characterized by frequent and pointless change” usage too.

 Word Nerd Workout

Use today’s word to describe a vertiginous situation you’ve found yourself in- using any of the definitions above.

My example:

While my husband drove our rental car along the vertiginous Road to Hana, I stared down at the surfers paddling in the turquoise water off of the coast of Maui.

And for those of you interested in politics, the point of the comparison between the looming fiscal cliff and Shakespeare was that the cliff might not be as vertiginous as some  politicians would like us to believe.

Other word nerdy words:

A Gift For You!

As the year ends, I’d like to thank my readers with the My Favorite Things Giveaway!   Readers leaving a reply will enter into a drawing to win one my favorite books of 2012.

 

 

 

The details:

  • You may enter by commenting on the blog between December 7 and December 19.
  • Your comment must include your favorite book from 2012 and a short explanation of why you  recommend it.
  •  Available anywhere Amazon ships.
  • I will announce the winner on December 21.
The winner will choose his or her prize from my favorite two reads of 2012:

If you don’t want either of these two, I’ll send you a B&N gift card and let you choose your own.  I’m hoping that this giveaway will help us all find great books to read in 2013!  Thanks for sharing your favorites!

 


 

 

Book reviews/How to encourage reading

Skipping Christmas: A Humorous Break from Holiday Stress

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 14 Comments

The Shopping Trip

Last year, my friend Leslie suggested we spend a day in November going Christmas shopping.  She’s a mom of four, like me, and understands the need for escape.

But an entire day of shopping?  My husband has ruined the thrill of a mall for me.  And at Christmas, everything is worse.  More signs, more sales, more BUY, BUY, BUY!

But Leslie loves Christmas, and she assured me we’d have a great time.  So I went.  She wore a red sweater and jingle bell earrings, and we listened to Harry Connick Jr.’s Christmas album (the first one, the good one) on the way to Roanoke.

I must admit, we got a lot accomplished on that shopping trip, despite my distaste for flashing lights and consumerism.  I even had to get my own cart at the Toys R Us!

So this year, we went again.  But my occasional grumbling (is anyone else tired of being asked to fill out another survey about customer satisfaction?) earned me the nick name “Scrooge” from my Christmas loving friend.  The day after our shopping trip, she handed me a book:  Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.

“It’s funny,” she said, and pointed a finger at me.  “But don’t get any ideas.”

The Book

Luther Krank, one of the main characters in Skipping Christmas, hates the crowds and the commercialized chaos that has become the American Christmas.  He convinces his wife Nora to give it up for a year.  Take a cruise instead.

This doesn’t go over well with the people they know.

Colleagues snicker.  The neighbor concerned with appearances (you know the type) confronts Luther about his missing Frosty decoration.  However, Luther holds firm, until…

Things don’t turn out as you might expect, and who knew that John Grisham could be funny?  Skipping Christmas pokes fun at our ridiculous holiday customs, and the stress we foolishly choose to embrace each year.  It also encourages readers to pause in the midst of holiday haste to consider what really makes a Christmas special.

There’s also a humorous scene involving a five foot tall plastic snowman, an icy roof top, and a life saving extension cord.

The book was made into a movie, Christmas with the Kranks, but whew, it only gets 4.9 stars on IMDB, so I’d skip it.  Read the book instead – it’s always better.

Thanks Leslie!   And good luck to everyone with managing your Christmas chaos.  Remember, the spirit of the season should be gratitude, not grumbling.

Can you share a book you enjoy during the Christmas season?

A Gift For You!

As the year ends, I’d like to thank my readers with the My Favorite Things Giveaway!   Readers leaving a reply will enter into a drawing to win one my favorite books of 2012.

The details:

  • You may enter by commenting on the blog between December 7 and December 19.
  • Your comment must include your favorite book from 2012 and a short explanation of why you  recommend it.
  •  Available anywhere Amazon ships.
  • I will announce the winner on December 21.
The winner will choose his or her prize from my favorite two reads of 2012:

If you don’t want either of these two, I’ll send you a B&N gift card and let you choose your own.  I’m hoping that this giveaway will help us all find great books to read in 2013!  Thanks for sharing your favorites!

 

How to encourage reading

More Vocab from Jane Eyre: Fulminating Anathemas

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 22 Comments

I’m joining in Burmuda Onion’s Wonderous Words Wedneday meme, a chance to share interesting words we come across in books or other places.

This week, I’m going back to Jane Eyre.  So much to learn!   This excerpt is from early in the book, after Jane douses a fire set in Mr. Rochester’s bed while he was sleeping:

Though it was now dark, I knew he was awake; because I heard him fulminating strange anathemas at finding himself lying in a pool of water.  [The punctuation is from the original text.  I’m cringing at that semicolon; are you?]

Here’s the information from Webster’s:

fulminate \’ful-mə-nāt\ verb, from Latin fulminare, to flash with lightening; to utter or send out with denunciation; to make a sudden loud noise; to send forth censures or invectives

anathema \ə-‘nath-ə-mə\  noun, from Greek anatithenai, a thing devoted to evil ; a ban or curse pronounced by ecclesiastical authority, a vigorous denunciation, curse; one who is intensely disliked

Word Nerd Workout

I could ask you to share the most memorable anathemas you have used or heard, but I like to keep this blog PG.  Instead, think of a memorable character, from fiction or your life, and imagine him or her “fulminating anathemas”.  Now tell us about it, using one or both words, please.  Here’s my example:

 

Henry DeTamble uttered a string of vile anathemas when he landed on his knees in a foot of snow; he was naked, of course.

(For those of you who don’t know, Henry travels through time.  But he can’t take his clothes with him.  This presents problems.)

Your turn.  Share your replies below, and thanks for stopping by!

A Gift For You!

As the year ends, I’d like to thank my readers with the My Favorite Things Giveaway!   Readers leaving a reply will enter into a drawing to win one my favorite books of 2012.

The details:

  • You may enter by commenting on the blog between December 7 and December 19.
  • Your comment must include your favorite book from 2012 and a short explanation of why you  recommend it.
  •  Available anywhere Amazon ships.
  • I will announce the winner on December 21.
The winner will choose his or her prize from my favorite two reads of 2012:

If you don’t want either of these two, I’ll send you a B&N gift card and let you choose your own.  I’m hoping that this giveaway will help us all find great books to read in 2013!  Thanks for sharing your favorites!

 

 

 

How to encourage reading

Four Great Gift Ideas for Readers and Word Nerds

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 22 Comments

Are you wondering what to give to that wonderful word nerd in your life this holiday season?  

You could browse at Barnes & Noble and find some beautiful journals, bookmarks, or book lights.  If you love bookstores like I do, you can already smell the coffee and feel the crisp pages of new books under your fingers.

As tempting as it sounds to indulge your senses at the store, I urge you to also consider these distinctive gift ideas I found on-line.

Some Cool Gift Ideas

 

  1. An Invisible Floating Bookshelf – barnesandnoble.com  The shelf attaches with hardware to your wall and grips the cover of a single book.  You can then stack other books on top of it, up to 20 pounds.  Wouldn’t this look so cool in your family room- books as art.  Warning- don’t make it too heavy; one reviewer complained that hers fell out of the wall!

 

 

2.  Book Lover Design Kit– barnesandnoble.com  This kit comes with book themed stamp designs, as well as a stamp pad and stationary.  You can use it to personalize book marks, book plates, and cards, all with a book lover’s theme.

(Honey, are you reading?  I want this.  Maybe for my birthday.  Hint, hint.)

3.  Personal Library Kit – amazon.com  My friend Caroline gave me one of these for my birthday several years ago, and I love it.  (See picture at the top of the post.)  I use it to keep track of my most cherished books- I can stamp or put a book plate with my name inside, and keep track of who I’ve loaned my books too.  Because, as I word nerd, I love sharing my books, and this is a benefit to buying printed books instead of ebooks.  But, I want those books back!  This is the perfect gift for the word nerd who craves organization. (Ok, fine, I’m anal.  I admit it.)

4.  Little Librarian–  amazon.com  Same idea as number three, but for a child in your life who also loves books and organization.

I hope that helps!  If you have any other great gift suggestions, please leave them in the replies below!

A Gift For You!

As the year ends, I’d like to thank my readers with the My Favorite Things Giveaway!   Readers leaving a reply will enter into a drawing to win one my favorite books of 2012.  

The details:

  • You may enter by commenting on the blog between December 7 and December 19.
  • Your comment must include your favorite book from 2012 and a short explanation of why you  recommend it.
  •  Available anywhere Amazon ships.
  • I will announce the winner on December 21.
The winner will choose his or her prize from my favorite two reads of 2012:

If you don’t want either of these two, I’ll send you a B&N gift card and let you choose your own.  I’m hoping that this giveaway will help us all find great books to read in 2013!  Thanks for sharing your favorites!

 

How to encourage reading

A Cautionary Word for the Holidays: Surfeit

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 14 Comments

Drum roll, please!

First, thanks to everyone who tried November’s Word Nerd Challenge.  I had two winners!  Applause now for:

  • Khara House of Our Lost Jungle.  Khara is a writer, poet, and educator who shares writing tips, encouragement, and inspiration at her blog.  Go visit her!
  • Kelly of The Well Read Redhead.  Kelly shares book reviews, cute pictures, and, hey, she’s a red head.  Gotta love her.  *Congrats to Kelly on her second win.*

New Word Nerd Word

This week, I’m joining Bermuda Onion’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, so you and I can learn even more word nerdy words.  I’m going to step away from Jane Eyre to share a word fitting for the season.

My son and I looked it up after reading a warning from the Gospel of Luke last Sunday.

 

surfeit \’sər-fət\ from Middle French, via Middle English, to “overdo”

noun- an overabundant supply; excess; an immoderate indulgence in something (food or drink)

verb- to feed, supply, indulge

This word is so cool; you can legitimately use it as a noun or a verb.  (Note: at this point, Websters doesn’t recognize “friend” as a verb!)

Let me tell you, to surfeit, or to indulge in a surfeit, won’t make you feel good.  So think twice before reaching for that third piece of fudge.  Go for a walk/run instead!

Word Nerd Workout

Use surfeit in a holiday themed sentence.  For example:

If I allowed it, my children would gorge on a surfeit of frosting and cookie dough while we bake for Christmas.

Now it’s your turn.  Leave your reply below, and thanks for stopping by!

P.S.  Don’t surfeit on too many sweets this week.  🙂

Other Word Nerdy Words

salacious

confabulation

How to encourage reading

Another Reason Why Reading is Good For Your Brain

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 12 Comments

Even though my friend Caroline is an avid reader and enjoys classics (she suggested our book club read Great Expectations last year), she avoids Jane Austen novels.  They feel like work to her.

Do you struggle with Jane Austen as well?  I came across an interesting story last month that might persuade you to pick up Pride and Prejudice.

The New World of Literary Neuroscience

NPR featured a story on the work of Natalie Phillips, a professor of 18th  century English literature at Michigan State University.  Ms. Phillips studies cognitive approaches to narrative; more specifically, she’s looking at how Enlightenment ideas shaped 18th century literature, and if literature in turn influenced theories about cognition.

Sounds deep, doesn’t it?  Basically, Phillips wants to know more about how our brains work while we concentrate, and if 18th century authors, like Jane Austen, incorporated scientific theory about cognition into their writing.  For example, Phillips has hypothesized that Austen made Elizabeth Bennett, the heroine of Pride and Prejudice, bright, but also very distractable, based on theories about cognition at the time.

To further explore the link between cognition and literature, Phillips ran a study to see how people’s brains behaved while reading Austen.  She asked her participants to read while lying in an MRI machine.  Sometimes subjects were directed to skim, and at other times they were asked to read analytically.  Researchers monitored several things during the trials, including:

  • brain activity
  • eye movement across the page
  • breathing
  • heart rate  
Phillips  expected to see changes in the attention centers of the brain when comparing close versus casual reading.  However, results showed activity throughout the brain when readers altered their concentration on the narrative.  Most surprisingly, the centers of the brain involved in motion and touch were activated during close reading, as if participants had actually placed themselves into the story!  
Does that ever happen to you?  Do you sometimes get so totally absorbed in a book that you feel like you’re living in the world with the characters?  Ms. Phillips only tested brain activity while subjects read Austen, but I wonder if we would find the same results with other authors.  A new field is emerging, called “Literary Neuroscience,” and it’s exploring things like the effect of metaphors on the sensory areas of the brain.

The Good News for Word Nerds

Why did I share this?  Because it gives word nerds everywhere more ammo for defending our bookish habits.  Not only does reading improve our vocabulary, but it also may be stimulating our minds in unexpected ways.  I can’t wait to learn more about how reading affects our cognitive abilities!

I also won’t feel guilty anymore about getting lost in a story when I should be doing a comparatively menial chore.  I’m generating important brain waves!  (Of course, I need to remember this when my children tune me out to pour over the pages of their latest book.)

And finally, for readers like Caroline who struggle with Austen, perhaps now you’ll think that the effort might be worth it and give P & P another try.

How do you feel about Jane Austen’s work?  Can you share any other research about how reading affects the brain?