Book Review: The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

The Review: I don't remember how long ago I first read this book. No doubt I discovered it as I worked my way through the Newbery Challenge, and selected it because it won that award back in 1997. I fell in love with it then, and I love it even more now. Reading a book that feeds my soul as well as my imagination is rare, and quite satisfying. Today, on my last day of 'freedom' before I return to work as an elementary school librarian, I reached for it again, and in a couple of hours, was reminded as to why I love it. Did I choose it, or did it choose me? The answer is "Yes!" The main characters in this story are 4 very individual and intelligent children and their 6th grade teacher, who also has traits and circumstances that single her out. Their qualities and life experiences set them apart from their peers, and not always in a pleasant way. However, through their individual, and then combined, experiences, they discover the best of themselves, and learn to appreciate the best in each other. This book has the courage to applaud kindness, courtesy and fair play. It has the courage to shine a spotlight on meanness, cruelty and selfishness, and to let the reader know that this kind of behavior is NOT OK, and should be dealt with. This book shows how the lives of people can intertwine in the most interesting ways, and if embraced, can expand horizons and lift individuals into a larger, better whole. It is clever, intelligent and touching. 

It's just a little trophy, but I'm actually quite proud of it!

The Explanation: When I first started this blog, I indicated that one of my main reasons for creating it would be to publish my book reviews.  I don't claim to be the Gene Shalit of the literary world, but reading is a passion that I've had ever since I learned how, and I actually became hooked on writing reviews when I undertook the Newbery Challenge several years ago. * Back story:  The librarian at the school where I worked encouraged her students to tackle this Challenge, and once I learned what it was, I wanted to participate as well.  The Newbery and Caldecott challenges are to read every book that won those prestigious awards.  I completed both, taking a mere 3 years to do it! And even though I have the little trophy to prove it, I make a point of continuing to read each winner, and often one or two of the "honor" (runner-up) titles, each year. Part of my co-worker's requirement for participation was to complete a short synopsis of each book as it was completed, using short prompts that she created. (After all, we had to prove we'd actually read the book, right?!)  "Who was the main character?" or "Where did the story take place?" or "What was the main conflict in the story?".....etc.  Her prompts were designed to be answered by the older elementary students that typically took on this challenge, but I found that I really enjoyed pondering and then recording my thoughts about these topics.  The librarian did, too, apparently, because she started asking me to read books that she was considering for the library, and respected my opinion enough to make her decisions based on my reviews.  It was a huge compliment, and I'll confess, a bit of an ego boost for me!*  Long story short (oops, too late!), I've decided that today's book, and review, are the perfect start to this branch of my blog.  If you read the review, I hope it makes you want to read the book.  And if you read the book, I hope it makes you want to come back and share YOUR review!  Whether you comment on goodreads, or here, it doesn't matter to me!  One of the most rewarding things for me EVER is to share something that means a great deal  with others, and have that something mean a great deal to them because of it!

Ode to Hobbes

On Saturday, Aug. 4, we had to put our sweet golden retriever out of his misery.  He lived with us his entire life, from March of 2000 until the day he died.  Many people will attest to the fact that you can't go wrong with a Golden for a loving, gentle, loyal family pet.  But Hobbes was exceptional.  He came to us as our children were primed to leave the nest...Jen was actually in college, but had moved back home, and Adam graduated from high school the year we brought that puppy home.  But Hobbes remembered, and loved, them all.  As the kids left home over these last 12 years, college, marriage, Marine Corp, he was never quite as content.  But whenever they came home, his world was complete.  He was a 'talker'...the more you sweet-talked to him, the more he moaned, groaned and whimpered back to you!  We joked that if we'd waited a little before naming him, he would have been Chewbacca!  If anyone sat still for more than 3 seconds, he'd be at your side with a giant, teddy-bear paw resting on your leg.  He loved tennis balls.  When he was young and fit, he'd chase them until YOU were done.  In his 'golden' years, (pun intended), he kinda gave up on actually chasing the ball, but he had Kelli trained so that when he came up and put his head on her lap, she'd just take the ball away from the puppy and hand it to him.  At that point, he'd carry it away, lie down and chew it to his heart's content.  He had a favorite blanket, an old comforter that we put on our bedroom floor and he'd dig at it and nest before bed each night.    Now I know you all have stories like this about your furry companions, but I get to take my turn now and share all the little things about Hobbes that made him....Hobbes.  The story about him that breaks my heart, other than him being gone, was what happened when our older dog, Riley, passed away.  Riley was 9 when we got Hobbes, and Hobbes worshiped him.  When Riley died 5 years later, Hobbes stopped eating.  The kids would sit on the back step with dog food in their hands in order for him to eat.  I was so sad that he was so lonesome, but not really anxious to rush out and get another dog.  However, my mind was changed when I took Hobbes to the park one day.  I hoped that by letting him run around and play, he'd feel better.  But as I let him out of the car, a man and his dog were walking clear on the other side of the field, and the dog was black and white, just like Riley.  Hobbes caught sight of them, and his whole body came alive.  His ears went up and he took off like a shot, thinking that he'd finally found his buddy.  I hollered at him and he came back, but I was sobbing as I put him back into the car and went home.  Enter Lizzie.  And yes, in a few years, if this blog still exists, I'll have an ode to her.  Why do we do this to ourselves?  Well, because every memory, every experience we share with our pets improves our lives and allows us someone who loves us unconditionally.  Not many times we can say that about anyone.

Good Ol' Hobbes - January 14, 2000 - August 4, 2012