Shakespeare/ No Fear-Hamlet

There is a running debate between students and teachers about the benefits of studying Shakespeare. It is beneficial to study earlier periods and become familiar with their culture but the language can be daunting. I was so excited to find a resolution to this debate. It is at No Fear Shakespeare. Through this site, you can study the original and the modern translation of most of Shakespeare's work. I found it by accident looking for an online version of Hamlet so that I could prepare to go to the theater the other night. I was so excited! See if you aren't, too!

Benson, Ezra Taft "The Proper Role of Government"

Several years ago while I was in college, I took a Political Science class. It was a beginning government class. Our professor made a statement that has impressed my mind deeply. He commented that once a program is in place, very seldom do political folks step back to see how it is working for if they did, they would often find themselves out of a job because in so many cases the program wasn't working.In The Proper Role of Government former Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson talks about how men seldom step back to review their choices except in the light of what is currently politically popular. I hope that you enjoy this thought provoking essay, especially in light of our current political climate and the up-coming elections.

Bastiat, Frederic

The focus and emphasis of my blog is finding resources and making them available to those who are seeking literature of an earlier, conservative era. My findings are especially targeted to home schooling families who are seeking resources sometimes found in a school library.

In furtherance of that aim, I have found the following link regarding Frederic Bastiat. Mr. Bastiat is a well known French nationalist, economist and author, who developed an interest in the law. His biography can be found at the following link:
Fredric Bastiat

Many of his works, including "The Law" and "What is Seen and Not Seen" can be found at the following link: Works of Bastiat The table of contents listing all of his books can be viewed in the main body of the link. Individual books have buttons on the left that can be clicked on to take you directly to that book.

I recommend Mr. Bastiat as he shows the relationship between the proper role of government, the economy and the free enterprise system. I hope they are helpful to you in your study of those and related subjects.

Good reading!

Rand, Ayn

Published in 1957, Ayn Rand's work "Atlas Shrugged" is a masterful story of society and man's place in it and his responsibility to society. There is a foundation dedicated to Ms Rand's philosophy that can be found at the following site. This is especially interesting to those who are looking for financial aid to further their education. Ms. Rand awards over $80,000 every year to graduating seniors, undergrads and graduate students. The details can be found on her site but the basic requirement is a written essay on one of the prompts regarding any of her novels. For those of you looking for some financial help, this might be a great way to go. Needless to say, in the process, it might open and bend your mind.

Enjoy!
Ayn Rand

Austen, Jane /Pride and Prejudice

Once again we have been blessed with the ease of a key stroke. The following link will take you to a website that is completely devoted to Jane Austen. You can discover the history of the period, the clothing, and several of Miss Austen's works are entirely on line. Please enjoy them and let me know what you think.

Happy reading!

Jane Austen

The Impossible Dream

The internet has opened horizons that many of us never dreamed of when we were young. It makes knowledge and information available at the touch of a key. It can bring both happiness and harm. Therefore, I have chosen to use it for happiness.

In the definition of a library, I found the following link that brings world class music into the homes of those who will never be able to travel to the great capitals of the world to hear it. I hope you enjoy!

The Impossible Dream Fabian Robles

This masterful musical is based on the classic "Don Quixote" written by Don Migel de Cervantes. The book can be found in its entirety at
Don Quixote. It is translated from the original Spanish to English.

Core Books

In the educational world, you will often hear the term "core" in association with books, curriculum, standards, etc. As it is used in those circumstances, everything is built around a certain standard or "core" knowledge.

In our personal reading, most of us have "core" books that attract us over and over again. These are the books the touch our hearts each time we read them. They teach us something new or rejuvenate our belief in mankind each time we pick them up. Some of those books can become sacred to us as individuals because they teach so deeply.

We also have books and/or documents that do the same thing for nations. Here in the United States, we have the Holy Bible as one of our core national books. Another core document would be the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution; Patrick Henry's famous quote "Give me liberty or give me death; Martin Luther King's speech "I Have a Dream"; "The Star Spangled Banner" all of these are national books or documents. They make a statement of who we are and what is important to us.

It is also core books that help give us the love of reading--something that will draw us back again and again. As you read, see if you can find your core books. They will be a sustaining influence during your life-time.

Good reading!

The Rain Maker/110 in the Shade

One of my favorite plays has always been The Rain Maker. Only recently I learned about 110 in the Shade. It is the musical adaptation of The Rain Maker. The New York review of the Broadway performance can be found at the following link.

Review-110 in the Shade

For a preview of the music of this catchy theatrical presentation, go to Lizzie's Commin' Home.

Broken, bent, whole and healing books

As I have discovered my own personal reading preferences, I have come to realize why I am attracted to certain types of books. The four types of books discussed by Daniel Taylor has had great significance for me. I have added a short description of his books. I hope it helps you in your reading choices!

There are four types of stories (as discussed in the excellent book The Healing Power of Stories by Daniel Taylor): Bent, Broken, Whole and Healing.
Bent stories portray evil as good and good as evil. Such stories are meant to increase the evil of the reader, such as pornography and many horror books and movies. The best decision regarding Bent stories is to avoid them like the plague.

Broken stories portray evil as evil and good as good, but evil wins. Something is broken; not right; in need of fixing. Such books are not uplifting, but can be very inspiring. Broken stories can be very good for the reader if they motivate one to heal them, to fix them. The Communist Manifesto is a broken classic, so are Lord of the Flies, and 1984. In each of these, evil wins. But they can be very motivating to heal something broken in the real world.

Whole stories are where good is good and good wins. Most of the classics are in this catagory, and readers should spend most of their time in such works.

Healing stories can be either whole or broken stories where the reader is profoundly moved, changed, significantly improved by their reading experience.

Do you want to travel in time?

As I designed my blog, I wanted to find a background that would catch your interest. I loved this particular one because it takes me to a different time in history. Books can do that, too. They can educate, fascinate, and transport you beyond the confines of your current time. For example, consider the fanciful story of "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle.

A Wrinkle in Time is a book of fantasy. One of the greatest challenges of fantasy writing is being able to create believability for your reader. That is done by creating the rules and then having your characters consistently abide by those rules. Ms. L'Engle did that multiple times as she created the Murray family. Not only is her book believable, there is symbolism to catch your attention if you happen to get bored.

Madeline L'Engle is one of my favorite authors. She has an official website that can be accessed at Madeline L"Engle This amazing woman was a prolific writer, publishing her last book in 2008. It was published after her death in 2007.