The Boy from Gorge River

 From New Zealand's Remotest Family to the World Beyond

Author: Chris Long

Hi Everyone

So I took a while to read this but enjoyed the diversity of it. Let's discuss the things I found interesting:

I picked it up to see what Chris Long thought of his life growing up so far away from any towns. I could say, 'far from civilization", but as you read you will quickly find that they were not isolated from people.  I think it is easy to look at these ideas and think of their lives as being isolated just because their housing was. Not the case! There were trampers, hunters, and planes going in and out quite regularly.  Yes, Chris lived a different lifestyle than most other children but I don't think it was as isolated from people as one would think. Chris and his family made many lifelong friendships. In fact, I would go as far to say that maybe they made more lifelong friends than many of us in our frantic quick paced, media-orientated lives.

I was intrigued by the things Chris made. Whitebait stands, fishing rods, things that even some of us adults would struggle to make, out of resources from the land. As for 'Health and Safety', it came down to common sense and learning the hard way. By reading this you soon find that Chris had more mishaps after leaving Gorge River than during his time experimenting as a child.

Another thing that interested me was how Chris interacted once leaving Gorge River and entering school, followed by the big wide world.  This is all covered in Part 2, extremely well.  Chris has gone on to do far more than most of us.  He has been from one corner of the world to the other. He has attempted things that many of us wouldn't think of possible. It is quite an impressive life he has traveled to date.

Want to know more? Then take the time to read Chris Long's side of the story and his adventures at Gorge River - living remotely, homeschooling, and being connected with nature; and the life that he grabbed hold of once he ventured into the quick-paced world beyond.

Description:

The story of how an extraordinary childhood shaped an extraordinary life.

On the West Coast of the South Island, past deep fiords and snow-capped mountains, Chris Long grew up two days' kike from the nearest road. He was born into the country's most isolated family, his parents committed to freedom from capitalist society and connection to the natural world.

In this inspiring memoir, Chris describes a childhood with nature on his doorstep - helping his father catch crayfish and his mother grow vegetables, playing with toys crafted from driftwood and jade, and learning to live in the wild - until, in his teenage years, he began to wonder: could he survive in the wider world?

By the son of the authors of  'A Life on Gorge River' and 'A Wife on Gorge River', 'The Boy from Gorge River' is an enthralling account of chasing adventure while forever staying true to where you come from. 

Happy Reading

Queen of the Tearling

 Author: Erika Johansen

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Hi Everyone

What can I say about this audiobook other than I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!

The main character could have risked being a young adult generically presented heroine, but she wasn't. She was strong-willed, yes, but she was still a woman who had her own background and was thrust into a different season of life without questioning. She took on her position so well! 

There were so many parts of this book that grabbed my attention and took me deeper into the plot. These ranged from character building to world building - all fantastically written into each page. As for the narration... it was, in all honesty, the narrator that gave the story life for me. Her voice matched that of the one in my mind. The dramatization worked perfectly in every scene. The narrator - Katherine Kellgren - owned these characters. She gave them life! 

I will listen to, or read the rest of the series. I want to know what becomes of Kelsea. I want to follow her into the unknown world in between the pages of this trilogy. Yes, it is official, I will have to add these to my library.

Description:

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret after her mother - a monarch as vain as she was foolish - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...
And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, win the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

Happy reading

Anne of Green Gables

 

Hi Everyone

No one is ever too grown up to read Anne of Green Gables. Anne is just adorable! She talks more than me :)

The story is a classic, and I see why. Every page has something special. The language is witty, clever, elegant, and rich. I have read plenty of children's and young reader's books, but this one tops them all. I see history intertwined amongst the literacy, which will enable many talking points if read aloud to young people.  

Overall, I think anyone's reading list is not complete unless this is either added or already read. It is one of the best classic series on the market.  Now that is giving Anne of Green Gables some major credits because I like reading the classics and I have many of them on my favourites list.  I still think this one needs to be one of the top children's literature titles. 

When you find a copy and a spare moment, take the time to journey with Anne of Green Gables. Then we can all have a talk about Anne, literacy, and a bit of history.  I have the whole series to read so I will keep you updated.

Description: 

People are surprised when Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, both very set in their ways, decide to adopt an orphan boy. But no-one is more astonished than Marilla and Matthew themselves when the boy they are expecting turns out to be a very talkative, very imaginative, very read-headed, very female girl. Anne has arrived at Green Gables. Her adventures, dreams, sorrows and joys are set down here in one of the most popular books ever written.

Happy reading

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The Atlas Six

 Author: Olivie Blake

ISBN: 9781529095241

Hi Everyone

Okay. I had big expectations for this novel and I didn't get what I wanted. The concept was good but it went on way more than it needed to.  I felt like I was reading forever, continually finding out a little snippet about the characters. It didn't nearly as far into the plot as it could have. This plot could have really grabbed my attention had it had more action and suspense. I'm giving my honest review here.

Again this was based on my expectations. I did enjoy the book.  I just wanted more than it gave me. I have read so many good books but this one isn't in my top 10. 

Maybe you could read it and then let me know whether I should try reading it again, from a different perspective, at another time of my journey through literature :)

Description: 

Six young magicians are chosen for greatness. But as they study to become the best among rivals, the stakes are higher than they know.

Paperplus.co.nz

The Library of Alexandria has never perished, it has kept the darkest secrets of mankind hidden for thousands of years. Every ten years, the most talented magicians of their generation are given the opportunity to study the ancient knowledge: those who survive the initiation await tremendous wealth, power, and wisdom. But of the six chosen, only five will survive.

This time they are joined by Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona, two gifted physiomagicians from the New York University of Magical Arts who can't stand each other. The telepath Parisa Kamali and the empath Callum Nova, both masters of manipulation. Tristan Caine, the cynical son of a London gangster who can see through any illusion, and Reina Mori, a mysterious nature magician from Japan.

A game of life and death begins between the powerful adepts.

Audible.com.au

Happy Reading

Thoughts... A little poetry

 Hi Everyone

I was feeling like reading a little poetry and came across this little piece.  It is in the public domain, I found it over at https://poets.org/poem/thoughts-0 It was originally published in 1915. If you take a look over at poets.org I am sure you will find a lot more things that you will enjoy.

Happy reading

Lifes Too Short to go ***ing Slow

 Lessons from an epic friendship that went the distance

Author: Susan Lacke

Hi Everyone

I wasn't sure what to expect from the description of this book. I couldn't tell if it was fiction or non-fiction, so had to do a little digging to find out. It turns out that this is a memoir and non-fiction. It also turns out that this is a page-turner that will have you soul-searching.

I plugged into this at an event that I was running. I like to listen to audiobooks while I run, it's relaxing, and I listen rather than think of the distance or the pain 😁. So that morning I looked for a little inspiration and tuned in to Lifes too short to go *** slow. I ran down hills while listening to Susan be told to bike faster, work harder, and that she could be better. I heard her talk of Iron Man challenges and I took every piece of information and ran harder myself. Then the turning point of the book came when Carlos fought his own battles. Susan and Carlos tell their own stories along the journey and the book gives every reader an insight into the value of friends who inspire and push each other to be all they can be, no matter the challenge or pain they have to endure along the way.

Inspirational to say the least.  This book will be listened to more than once by me!

Description:

Susan and Carlos were unlikely friends. She was a young, overweight college professor and a bit of a trainwreck juggling a divorce, a pack-a-day habit, and hiding empty boxes of wine under her bed. He was her boss, an Ironman triathlete, with life figured out. She was a whiner, he was a hard-ass. He had his shit together, she most assuredly did not.

Trash-talking workouts, breakdowns, and a devastating diagnosis this heartwarming story of training buddies reveals a deep and abiding friendship that traversed life, sport, and everything in between. Their journey reveals the inspiring power of sports and friendship to change lives forever.

Amusing and poignant, Life’s Too Short To Go So ***ing Slow is about running and triathlon, growth and heartbreak, and an epic friendship that went the distance.

Goodreads.com

Happy reading

For private tutoring with Richelle

Today's Quote

 

Hi Everyone

Just a little reflection from a book I am reading, The Boy from Gorge River - From New Zealand's remotest family to the world beyond.  Keep looking back in for my review which will be coming soon.

Happy reading

Be Useful Seven Tools for Life - Arnold Schwarzenegger

 Author: Arnold Schwarzenegger

ISBN: 9781529146547

Hi Everyone

When I look at Be Useful Seven Tools for Life - Arnold Schwarzenegger on Goodreads I am told it belongs in the following categories:

• Non-fiction
• Self-help
• Biography
• Memoir
• Philosophy
• Business
• Autobiography

Let's start analysing these and see what I come with.

Memoir and autobiography 

Definitely a yes for belonging in this category. Most of the book centers around Arnold Schwarzenegger and where he has come from, what he has achieved, and who he has become.  I spent my most informative years watching Arnold Schwarzengger on the big screen and our TV screen. Movies like 'The Terminator 'were the most captivating and thought-provoking movies of the generation. The lines he spoke were flicked around in conversations all across the school grounds. Arnold Schwarzenger was one of the best.

So when I picked this up, it was his story I was interested in. I had no idea how much Arnold had done in his lifetime. He is living proof that if you put hard work into what you want to accomplish then you can get the results. It is worth the read just to know all that he has achieved.

Quote - " I'll be back" - Terminator 

And Arnold Schwarzengger keeps coming back with something new for us. Time after time.

Biography

Not really. This is Arnold's story told by Arnold.

Business

If you want inspiration then this is a good read. Don't read this if you want a quick fix though. You will be told to work! Work! Work! You have 24 hours in a day, Arnold Schwarzengger tells us. If you want results then pull up your socks and use them. Stop scrolling and wasting time. You know how you are wasting time... sort it. If you want results then put the time in. Make the time. Get up early. You get the picture.

Quote - "Selling your vision means being open about what you're trying to achieve and telling your story in such a way that it is perceived in the most positive light possible by the people you need or want to get a yes from. Your customers, in other words" - Page 119

Philosophy

Be Useful. Arnold was ingrained with this as a child and has taken it into his adulthood. With good results. As you venture through the book you will see that it ends with the same concept put differently. He calls it -  breaking the mirrors. Helping others is what the book ends with. Take your usefulness out to others near and far. That is the foundation of his philosophy but not nearly the end. 

He starts the book with - Have a clear vision and ends the book with - breaking the mirrors. The whole book is a philosophy book. From having a vision and working hard, to taking it to the world. Every chapter has something to take from it.

I had to start the book again just to highlight and tab the pages. I got 118 pages in and decided this needed to be annotated. It didn't matter who else was going to read this book, I was going to get every little piece of inspiration from every single paragraph. 

Quote - "...everything good, all great change, starts with a clear vision" - Page 4

Self-help

If you are willing to read this book not just by turning the pages but by reading every paragraph and then taking a moment to reflect, you will find this deserves more than a self-help category. We can all read self-help books. They line the shelves of every library and bookstore. There is a market out there making millions from our need to be told what to do. 

In my hand, I have a book that will tell me in Arnold's written word to... Get clear with your vision. Never think small. Work your ass off. Sell, sell sell. Shift gears. Shut your mouth, open your mind. And, break the mirrors.  They are chapters!

If you want inspiration and someone to tell you to do the work, then you know what book to pick up. You will get something from this book.  I don't know what that is for you. But you will get something.

Quote - "Use it or lose it. These words apply to so many areas of life, they should be considered a law of the universe" - Page 216

Description: 

If there is one unavoidable truth in this world, it's that there is no substitute for putting in work.

There is no shortcut or growth hack or magic pill that can get you around the hard work of doing your job well, of winning something you care about, or of making your dreams come true.

People have tried to cut corners and skip steps in this process for as long as hard work has been hard.

Eventually, those people either fall behind or get left in our dust, because working your ass off is the only thing that works 100 percent of the time for \ 100 percent of the things worth achieving.

Happy reading

 

Today's Quote

 Hi Everyone

A little quote from my 'Kitty' (yes that is her name)

Autumn has arrived and we have been snuggling in enjoying the beginning of the season. As the weather changes to a colder air, the books come back out and so does Kitty. 

Happy reading

The Race Against Time

Adventures in Late-Life Running

Author: Richard Askwith

ISBN: 978178729525

Hi Everyone

Every time I go away on holiday, I have to purchase a new book. It is a tradition that cannot be denied. Of course, I am amongst other things a 'runner'. I have been since I was 10 years old and I will be for as long as my body allows. 

This book caught my eye because Richard Askwith was asking the question "Why do some runners seem to be untroubled by age?" I don't know about anyone else, but I am finding that the people around me and the internet have a belief that the older we get the more we should sit on the couch and admit defeat. Take a look at mid-life on any platform and you will find a few that say "go for it" while the rest say things like: don't do cardio you will gain weight; cardio will up your cortisol (well so will sitting around eating the cake that I do instead of running); exercise this much or that much or this little.

NO! I'm done with all this nonsense.

Running and in fact any form of exercise, is the best way for me to de-stress. I wish I had known this about myself years ago as the world around me got busier. I tried to slow down - people told me I should - they were wrong. 

Get outside and run! If you can't (we aren't all born to run) then walk, skip, hop, dance. The options are endless, just find the things that light you up like they did as a child. And stop with all the 'I need to exercise antics"..... call it "Play" like you did as a child. It is all the same thing but if you call it "play" then it is much more enjoyable.

Anyway, this book is full of examples of people continuing to run way beyond the expected:

• Angela Coson, winning another gold at seventy-five
• Charles Allie, running 400m in under a minute on the eve of his seventy-fifth birthday
• Alan Carter, racing to world championship gold at eighty-one

And how about Ilda Keeling, 104 pictured doing press-ups at 104 years of age.

Come on, don't use the I'm too old to start excuse either. Many of the people in this book started running in mid-life.  I tell you this book is inspirational in many ways. I am impressed by the easy-reading language, the photos, and both Richard Askwith's journey and the people he met along the way as he sought to find the answer to his questions.

Description:

Richard Adkwith, a long-term running enthusiast, was sunk in mid-life despair. Plagued by injuries and demoralized by failing strength and speed, he was on the point of giving up for good. first, though, he wanted to solve the mystery: why do some runners seem to be untroubled by age?

The result is a thrilling life-affirming quest, culminating in a transformative adventure at the World Masters Athletics Championships. Colourful, informative and inspiring, The Race Against Time offers a resounding message of hope for any runner who has felt their joy in their sport fading as they grow older.

It is a story of cold science and heartwarming resilience; of champions and also-rans; of sprinting centenarians and forty-something super-athletes barely touched by age. Its heroes are experts and enthusiasts - scientists, coaches, runners - from many countries, each with a different story to tell. What unites them is a belief that you don't have to take growing old lying down.

This is a book for anyone who has ever felt the healing power of running. A moving account of one man's journey from despair to hope, it is also an exhilarating guide, showing how timely adjustments to lifestyle and training can slow the effects of aging, while sheer human spirit can, if you are lucky, keep you running happily and healthily, all the way through life's later decades. 

About the author:

Richard Askwith has been a journalist for over forty years. He has written six previous books, including his modern classic on fell running, 'Feet in the Clouds', which won the Best New Writer category at the British Sports Book Awards and was shortlisted for the William Hill and Boardman Tasker prizes. He is now one of the UK's most celebrated writers on sport. 'Running Free' was short-listed for the Thwaites-Wainwright Prize, and his evocative biography of Emil Zatopek, Today We Die a Little, was shortlisted in the Cross Sports Book Awards. 

Happy reading

The Girl and the Clockwork conspiracy

 Author: Nikki McCormack

Narrated by Grier Cooper

Hi Everyone

I first started to listen to this on Audible and for some reason, I didn't continue with it. I can't remember my reasoning but I obviously wasn't ready for reading/listening to it. 

Well, I came across it in my archives and decided to give it another go. I couldn't remember a reason for not continuing with it, so it couldn't have been that I hated it. I plugged it back in.

And really enjoyed it!

It was a little predictable but in a refreshing way. 

I got extremely annoyed with Lucian's brother, he drove me nuts. Em, I didn't trust at all but was that valid (you will have to read). As for Macak... now he was my favorite character. Everyone else just played their parts as I expected and I enjoyed following their journey.  

I particularly like that this book could be read by all ages. I would consider it to be a young reader novel but having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I listened while I walked and I listened again while I was domesticated at home. It was narrated just perfectly for listening while I worked/walked. It was the perfect distraction from domesticated chores :)

So yes, I recommend 'The Girl and the Clockwork Conspiracy' for when you don't want a heavy long-winded book. Or when you want to block out the quiet. I think you might just enjoy it like I did.

Description:

Maeko hasn't been long away from the gritty London streets and she's already learning that her new "civilized" life comes with its own challenges. She has to dress proper, eat proper and be a proper lady. She can't even talk to a boy without a chaperone. She's got proper coming out of her ears. If not for her feline companion Macak, she might go mad.

Her one hope for some freedom and excitement comes when the moody detective, Em, asks her to be an apprentice. But that apprenticeship comes with a price. She must agree to spy on Macak's owner, Lucian, the wealthy businessman and inventor whose life she saved.

Everything changes when Lucian's brother dies in an explosion while visiting Lucian's home in the heart of London. The Literati--a powerful group vying for political control of London--say it was murder and Maeko is on their suspect list. With Macak at her side, she must turn once more to her allies, Chaff and Ash. They will have to brave city streets torn by rebellion and conspiracy to find the truth.

Goodreads.com

Happy reading

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Todays Quote

 Hi Everyone

I love this!  I just have to share it.  I'm reading  Be Useful - Seven Tools for Life and on page 63 this took over my whole mind. I pondered this for at least 10 minutes before picking the book up again. Then I had to put my book down again just to share this thought with you.

My review of Be Useful - Seven Tools for Life will be coming your way soon.

Happy reading

Worthy of Repeating

 

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Someone We Know

 Author: Shari Lapena

ISBN: 9780525557654

Hi Everyone

A simple read this time.  

I can't say I loved it but 'Someone We Know' was a pleasure to read or in my case - listen to. It is one those - who did it - novels that will have you flicking your suspicions from one character to the next. Very well done. it did keep me listening and making my own viewpoints as I read along. 

But for me, I found it kind of predictable too much. 

The opening introduction made me wonder if I could keep reading or if it was going to be a little too much for me. The rest of the book was a standard kind of read that you would pick up and read on a quiet afternoon or weekend. 

Description:

Maybe you don't know your neighbors as well as you thought you did . . .

"This is a very difficult letter to write. I hope you will not hate us too much. . . My son broke into your home recently while you were out."

In a quiet, leafy suburb in upstate New York, a teenager has been sneaking into houses--and into the owners' computers as well--learning their secrets, and maybe sharing some of them, too.

Who is he, and what might he have uncovered? After two anonymous letters are received, whispers start to circulate, and suspicion mounts. And when a woman down the street is found murdered, the tension reaches the breaking point. Who killed her? Who knows more than they're telling? And how far will all these very nice people go to protect their own secrets?

In this neighborhood, it's not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . .

You never really know what people are capable of.

From: Goodreads

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Today's Quote

 

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The Book That Wouldn't Burn

 Author: Mark Lawrence

ISBN: 9-780008-456726

Hi Everyone

I picked this book up Paperplus (our local bookstore). My daughter took it from my hands and stated it was now one of my Christmas presents. 

It turned out to be one of my best Christmas presents!

The twists and turns; the time travel beyond anything I have read; the connections that I didn't expect; and the things I just simply didn't see coming. What more can I say about this book to make you find a copy. I have already looked into the date and calendar noted it, for the release of the second book in this trilogy. 

I was drawn in by the unique imagination of this author. The plot hooked me in and sent me on a rollercoaster through a city, a library, and the lives of Evar and Livira.  I am very impressed by the plot of this one.

So what are you waiting for? Go find a copy and start delving into the trilogy. Take the journey with me, Evar and Livira, and see where it takes us

Description:

A boy has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities.

A girl has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes.

The world has never even noticed them. That's about to change.

Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty, and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.

Description from: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence | Goodreads

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Worthy of Repeating

 

Hi Everyone,

This is taken from 'The Book That Wouldn't Burn" by Mark Lawrence.  I am really enjoying this book... review will be up soon.

Happy reading

The Dictionary of Lost Words

 Author: Pip Williams

ISBN: 9781925972597

Hi Everyone,

I had no idea what to expect from this book. I don't think I even read what the book was about. In this case, it was the title that took my eye first.

So then, what was the come of a book read totally by random choice?

I enjoyed every minute of it! Absolutely brilliant piece of literature.

There is a warning that comes with this purely because some of my followers are younger. That being that some of the words found by Esme are 'colourful' if I could put it that way :)

The whole point of 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' was that the choice of words being put in the Oxford English Dictionary were analyzed, and these words used by the women of the time in different social levels were being left out, eliminated, unheard, and lost. 

Esme collected these words and hid them in a trunk. It started with a single slip and ended with a whole lifetime of collected slips. The outcome of Esme and the slips are written in this historical fictional novel. Everything is interwoven so brilliantly that I continued to turn the pages and grew to envision Esme and her friends amongst the back-drop of the era.

Brilliant, just brilliant.

Description:

In 1901, the word ‘Bondmaid’ was discovered missing from the Oxford English Dictionary. This is the story of the girl who stole it.

Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the ‘Scriptorium’, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day a slip of paper containing the word ‘bondmaid’ flutters to the floor. Esme rescues the slip and stashes it in an old wooden case that belongs to her friend, Lizzie, a young servant in the big house. Esme begins to collect other words from the Scriptorium that are misplaced, discarded or have been neglected by the dictionary men. They help her make sense of the world.

Over time, Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and meanings relating to women’s experiences often go unrecorded. While she dedicates her life to the Oxford English Dictionary, secretly, she begins to collect words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Set when the women’s suffrage movement was at its height and the Great War loomed, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. It’s a delightful, lyrical and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words, and the power of language to shape the world and our experience of it.

Description taken from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49354511-the-dictionary-of-lost-words#CommunityReviews

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Today's Quote

 

Hi Everyone,

So this is the first page of a book I was given for Christmas.  Let's see how this one turns out.

A review will be up when I finish. Let's hope it's a page-turner.

Happy reading

The Cost of Daydreams

 Author: Melissa Bergsma

ISBN: 979-8808529748

Hi Everyone

I have had this book for a while now but poetry is something that you don't just read, you absorb and ponder. You listen to sounds that the words make and you make pictures and possibilities for the language, sounds, and metaphors. Then, and only then, will you find a world of language play within a poem

If you have been following me for a while you will know that I love poetry of all sorts. Old and new. I had the right teacher when I was 16, who brought poetry alive. I don't know how they did it, but from the first poem that they handed me, I was hooked line, word, and sinker :)

Melissa Bergsma reached out and offered me a copy of her book "The Cost of Daydreams". I could have quickly read it and written my first impressions but that is just wrong in so many ways. This author has poured imagery and sounds onto 200 pages. Isn't it worth the time to give credit to a poet and read the peoms over and over until they are absorbed into ones mind. Until you can envision the language as the picture and stories hidden beneath every sound. 

The thing I like about Melissa's poetry the most is the sounds her peotry makes. Each word is created to be in the exact placement. I was enticed by her use of language more than the content in each poem. That isn't to say that each poem doesn't show me a picture, because they do. It is just that Mellissa Bergsma has a way with words and sounds that when gathered together it take you to another place beyond your everyday reading.

I encourage everyone to pick up a poetry book this Christmas. If you are not a poetry reader then try taking the risk, you may just enjoy the challenge. A challenge that I ask you tackle in depth, and rather than read take the time to absorb each word, line, and stanza.

Description: 

In this comprehensive collection of poetry, you are immersed in a world of exploration and mischief, discovering that shadows are nothing to fear and pain is often the scalpel that carves the strongest of people. There will be gut wrenching truths, adventure, loss, imagination, and an epic love that pulls at the very core of her existence.
Dip your toes into a land of magic and beauty, losing yourself in the study of the sky’s embrace, as words reverberate across your skin. You’ll be left looking at the world differently, seeing the art (and maybe a touch of humor) in everything around you.

About the Author:

Melissa resides in a quaint town in southern Michigan with her husband, their two boys, and a spirited Boston terrier. She enjoys exploring many different styles of poetry from conversational, to abstract and everything in between. While keeping to her passion for rich imagery and unique metaphors, she finds the spark of hope inside even the darkest of corners.

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CONGRATULATIONS!

 

Hi Everyone,

There has been some great work put in this year by all my students.  Some of the work was way beyond their comfort zone but everyone has put in 100% and the results have shown.  We have students who have achieved their internal assessment credits for NCEA and are waiting for their exam results to come through. Students that have been given awards at their school prize givings. And, let's not forget the homeschoolers who don't get school awards but they too have given the year 100%. 

Well done each and every one of you.  Great work!!!

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Today's Quote

 

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