Improving vocabulary

What Does Praxis Mean?

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 6 Comments

All the Light We Cannot See has so many fabulous vocabulary words in it, I have to share one more. I used an index card as my bookmark, noting all the “new to me” words and looking them up.

If you’re nerdy enough to love words and index cards, join the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme with Kathy at Bermuda Onion. Bloggers share new words they’ve learned or highlight favorites.

Here’s my word for this week: praxis. Do you know it? Before finding it in All the Light, I’d previously heard of it as the name of a test. (Quick Google search reveals… yes! It is a teaching exam for educators. Aha! Did you know I pulled a stint as a middle school teacher of kids with special needs? Whew, what a year.)

Anyway, here’s a quote from the novel:

He comes home from school, kneels on the kitchen floor, and forms airplane after airplane with unswerving, almost frightening devotion, evaluating different wingtips, tails, noses, mostly seeming to love the praxis of it, the transformation of something flat into something that can fly.

praxis \ˈprak-səs\ noun from Medieval Latin, from Greek, doing, action, from prassein to do, practice
1. Action or practice, as practice of an art, science or skill
2. Practical application of a theory

Apparently, a man named Tim Godfrey published an e-book about Internet Marketing called Profit Praxis. Pretty catchy title. Here’s a review on Profit Praxis from Tech Our Way.

Word Nerd Workout

This one is tough to use in a sentence. Here’s my try:

My daughter finally enjoys the praxis of playing her piano pieces and does so without nagging from me.

If you can’t think of a sentence, tell me about a praxis you enjoy (something you like to practice).

wondrous memeDon’t forget to visit Bermuda Onion!

Banned Book Week Giveaway Still Open

If you haven’t already, read my post Five Things You Should Know about Banned Books and leave a comment to enter my giveaway of a Barnes and Nobel gift card. The winner can buy any book he/she wants, even one that’s been banned!  Giveaway closes Friday, October 9.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to encourage reading

Five Things You Should Know About Banned Books

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 23 Comments

In one of my favorite novels, The Book Thief, Nazi soldiers burn a huge stack of books because they want to protect people from harmful ideas.

In modern-day America, some groups and individuals are trying to do basically the same thing: limit access to books deemed harmful and inappropriate.

This week, the American Library Association and book lovers across the country celebrate Banned Books Week, a time set aside to raise awareness about the problem of censorship that still nags our country, even in the 21st century.

Do you believe in free access to information and ideas? Then here are five things you should know about book banning.

1. Definitions

  • A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials. It is more than just a person or group expressing an opinion; that group or individual wants to take away access for everyone.
  • A banning is the removal of materials from a library or other point of access.

2. Reporting

The ALA compiles data based on voluntary reports of challenges or bans. It estimates that 85% of book challenges receive no media attention and are unreported.

3. Book banning can happen near you.

Perks of Being a WallflowerWhile browsing the ALA site, I learned that The Perks of Being a Wallflower, an excellent YA novel with a significant amount of controversial content, has been restricted in Fairfax County Virginia.  I was surprised that my old school system, a large, wealthy district in the suburbs of D.C., engaged in book banning.

Also, according to an article dated October 2010, only juniors and seniors William Byrd High School and Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke, Virginia had free access to Perks. Freshmen and sophomores needed a note from a parent to check it out.  I guess that’s better than pulling it all together, but I was surprised to hear about a restriction so close to my home.

 

4. Many well-loved and respected classics have been banned, including

  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • The Great Gatsby
  • The Grapes of Wrath
  • The Lord of the Flies
  • Of Mice and Men
  • 1984
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God
  • The Color Purple
  • Gone With the Wind

5.  Institutions involved

According to the Office of Intellectual Freedom, a division of the ALA, the institutions that challenged books most often between 2000 and 2009 were schools, school libraries, and (most disturbing to me) public libraries. Individuals challenging books are most often parents.

For more statistics about book banning, check out this interesting infographic from the ALA.

The Problem

Here’s the  problem with banning: Who should get to decide?  One parent might want to restrict Harry Potter for its magical elements.  I have no trouble with magic, but I don’t want my kids exposed to sexually explicit material.  What if atheists wanted to keep C.S. Lewis novels out of schools because of their Christian themes?

We live in a free country, with many different world views affecting our choices and behavior.

Instead of banning books, teachers, librarians, and parents can encourage good reading habits and responsible thinking by:

  • educating themselves and the children they work with about controversial content in books
  • guiding young readers to make wise choices
  • discussing controversial content in an open, constructive way

I always tell my kids that effective communication is one of the most important skills they can learn.  Guess that means I’d better be ready to talk about edgy content.

Word Nerd Note:  Common Sense Media is fantastic resource for finding out about controversial content in books, movies, TV and video games.  It also offers discussion starters to get you through those tricky topics.  I have the app on my phone, so I can get the info any time, like in the bookstore.

Giveaway

Leave a thoughtful comment below and you’ll enter a giveaway for a Barnes and Noble gift card to buy any book you choose.  Even The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  Just tell me what you think about book banning, if you’ve ever experienced censorship, or your ideas for handling sensitive content in books.  I’d like to hear from all sides – because, as I said, good communication is key.  Giveaway closes Friday, Oct 9, 2015.

More Thoughts on Banned Books

banned 2015

Sheila at Book Journey has links to more posts and giveaways about Banned Books on her blog.  Please visit!

Thanks for adding to the discussion!

Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to encourage reading/Improving vocabulary

Vocab for Banned Books Week: Censor

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 8 Comments

 

Guess what? It’s Banned Books Week, an event sponsored by the American Library Association to highlight the importance of free and open access to information. The ALA wants to make sure that you know that people and organizations still try to restrict access to books, and that book lovers must fight censorship and protect the freedom to read.

My word today honors Banned Books Week. If you like learning about words, visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion for Wondrous Words Wednesday. You can comment on other people’s words and add your own in a blog post.

Censor \ˈsen(t)-sər\ from Latin, Roman magistrate, from censēre to give as one’s opinion, assess

  • A person who supervises conduct and morals: as
    • an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter
    • an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful
  • one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct
  • a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness

Censorship

  • the institution, system, or practice of censoring

censorship

The photo above comes from the novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It’s a letter written by young Werner, a German student at a prestigious school supported by the Nazis. It’s a work of fiction, but let it be a bold reminder that we do not want to practice what Nazis did.

Word Nerd Workout

Tell me what you think about banning books, and if you think it qualifies as censorship.  I’m a conservative mother, and I’ve banned books from my children’s eyes, but I would never try to take books out of a library.  Where do you stand?

More workouts

wondrous memeDon’t forget to visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to encourage reading

Do More of What You Love

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

Here’s why we still need brick and mortar book stores: the cool bookish gifts in the front. My current favorite items from Barnes and Noble are magnets with literary and inspiring quotes on them. I have a stack, and each month I put a new one on the fridge.

Here’s the September selection:

Happy

 

I love this quote because it gives me permission to indulge in the things that fill my spirit: reading, writing, photography.  I’m a big list maker, but frequently my to do lists don’t include anything that I love, just things I have to get done. At the end of the day, I know I’ve been productive, but my spirit is sapped.

Lately, I’ve been trying a new approach: include the things that make me happy on the to do list. Crazy, I know! Or better yet, do what makes me happy first, before tackling the list. Guess what? My attitude about folding underwear and paying bills improves immensely after I allow myself thirty minutes to write, read, or observe the world through my camera.

Here’s a powerful quote from Entrepreneur and Leadership Mentor Michael Hyatt:

You must schedule the important things so they don’t get crowded out by the urgent things.

By important, he means the things that promote personal growth and strengthen relationships. Creativity and innovation. The things that matter. This does not include sweeping the mud room or scrubbing toilets. Those are, depending on the size and activity level of your family, the urgent things.

I’m getting better about telling myself, “Don’t fret about the laundry. It will always be there. Even twenty minutes from now.”

What are the things that you love, and how do you make time for them each day?

Thanks for getting thoughtful with me.

Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Improving vocabulary

What Is Atavism?

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 11 Comments

I’m almost done with All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and I can’t rave enough about this book. Fantastic writing, beautiful description, excellent pacing. I know you’ve probably read plenty of books about WWII, but trust me, you can’t skip this one.

I keep a note card tucked inside my hardback copy of this novel so that I can jot down words I don’t know. Believe me, I’ve found plenty.

If you like learning about words, visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion for Wondrous Words Wednesday. You can comment on other people’s words and add your own in a blog post.

Here’s the quote for my Wondrous Word of the week:

Werner keeps to the center of the group as it strings out, his heart beating in dark confusion, wondering where Frederick is, why they’re chasing this boy, and what they’re supposed to do if they catch him.
Except in some atavistic part of his brain, he knows exactly what they’ll do.

Atavism \ˈa-tə-ˌvi-zəm\noun from the Latin atavus, ancestor

  • recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination
  • recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, approach, or activity
  • adjective = atavistic – reverting to a past outlook, activity, approach

This quote comes from a scene of bullying encouraged by warped (Nazi) school administrators. I guess Werner has experienced the “pack mentality” of aggression and knows what to expect.

Word Nerd Workout

wondrous memeUse atavism/ atavistic in a sentence. This is a tough one for me.

Fashion rotates through atavistic cycles of style. The geometric prints in stores today remind me of the 80’s.

Don’t forget to visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book reviews

Three Great Books You Should Read

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 10 Comments

I give in, summer is over. But I did manage to read several books over the past few months that I’d like to tell you about.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Rosie ProjectI’ve wanted to read this book for a long time because my daughter is named Rosie. Even though she’s not much like her namesake character, The Rosie Project was a good pick. Don, a super intelligent college professor, likes organization, schedules, and lists, and he has developed a questionnaire to help him find a wife. A very detailed questionnaire.  Enter Rosie, a spirited red-head who is about to disrupt Don’s structured life.

This novel works well because Simsion never slips out of Don’s distinct and hilarious voice. At times, because Don’s view of the world is so peculiar, he becomes a somewhat unreliable narrator, leaving the reader to make inferences about what is actually going on. Very fun, with a few thoughtful insights on human behavior. Fans of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory should definitely read this book.

Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes

me before youThe writing style and main character of Me Before You are so fun and easy, you start off the novel thinking it will be a whimsical read. You’d be wrong. In Me Before You, Moyes explores a difficult subject- assisted suicide- with a delicate balance of thoughtfulness and humor. Her characters feel real, imperfect, and compelling. Louisa, the main character, deals difficult family members, a self-absorbed boyfriend, and a job that ultimately challenges her moral beliefs.

Moyes adeptly describes the life of a quadriplegic spinal cord patient.  I also admire how she covers the various arguments for and against assisted suicide without ever falling down on one side – she is simply making the reader more aware of a complicated issue. I cried a little, but it’s worth your time.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

The Forgotten GardenThis novel blends historical fiction and mystery with a dash of fairy tale. When Cassandra’s grandmother dies, Cassandra inherits a mysterious sea-side cottage her grandmother never mentioned owning. Cassandra’s investigation into the history of the cottage sends her deep into her grandmother’s past, unveiling multiple family secrets and tragedies.

Morten’s writing is lovely, and she beautifully weaves a complicated story line using characters in multiple places and times. Many people say The Forgotten Garden is their favorite book. I enjoyed it, but it’s not my favorite of the year.  It got long, and sometimes, I couldn’t connect with the actions and emotions of the main characters.

 

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Girl on the TrainI listened to the audiobook of The Girl on the Train, and I’m gonna boldly say that I’m the only person on the Internet who did not like it. The narrative alternates point of view between three women but spends the most time with Rachel, a fumbling alcoholic who is struggling to get over her ex-husband and remember exactly what she did on a hot night in August when she came home with a cut on her scalp.

The Girl on the Train has all the makings of a good thriller- a disappearance, missing information, suspicious men- but I didn’t like any of the characters, especially the pathetic Rachel, who dominates the story. The writing was okay,and at times the plot dragged (I got tired of hearing about Rachel screwing up, yet again). I’m not much for thrillers, but I liked Gone Girl better, even with its ridiculous last third of impossible twists. Actually, the thriller I recommend is the YA novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.  The writing is superb and the twist completely unexpected, although it did leave me feeling a bit cheated.

What did you read over the summer?  Can you add any recommendations to this list?  

For more reading suggestions, visit my Book Reviews page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia