The Goldilocks Problem by Gregory Benford

by Carol4 Comments
"The Goldilocks Problem" by Gregory Benford I've been reading a lot of fairy tales lately, both the original versions and modern interpretations. A couple of weeks ago, I talked a little about "The Three Bears" so when I ran across this short story, I had to read it. Benford takes the the classic and transforms it into a story about planet and life creation. Three gods are each given a planet by Omega, the creator. Like the bowls of porridge, one turns out too hot, one too cold, and one just right. Such stately rhythms graced the waltz of the worlds, but only on Gamma's did the music play on. And it's only on Gamma's world, the just right world, that life truly takes hold. Omega stroked Gamma, imparted fresh vision—and on the green face of Gamma's World, a slow kindling began. In what is to gods a mere tick of time - and to Gamma, a nothingness, for it stands outside of Time—crafty cognition...
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Another Week in the Books

by Carol6 Comments
This week at our house was all about my husband, David, graduating. After 8 years, he finally received his Associates in Drafting and Design. We are all incredibly proud of him. It took a lot of hard work, and some classes he wasn't too fond of, but he finally did it. We had a party at our house that evening to celebrate. Needless to say, I didn't get much reading done, between attending the Honors Convocation, and planning and cleaning for the party. I do have two audiobook giveaways going on right now, though, The War Lovers by Evans Thomas and Eat the Cookie...Buy the Shoes by Joyce Meyer. I received a few books in the mail this past week. Put on Your Crown by Queen Latifah (a win from Freda's Voice. Thanks!) How to Never Look Fat Again by Charla Krupp (a win from Metroreader. Thanks!) The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham (a win from Devourer of Books. Thanks!) The Bordeaux Betrayal by Ellen Crosby...
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Three Billy Goats Gruff

by Carol9 Comments
"Three Billy Goats Gruff" is a traditional Norwegian fairy tale, but for me it's one of those troll stories I loved when I was a kid. A couple of months ago, the Fairy Tale Friday focus was a childhood favorite and I talked about "The Stone Cheese" from Favorite Tales of Monsters and Trolls retold by George Jonsen, illustrated by John O'Brien. The spectacular illustrations on this post are from that book. One of the other stories it features is "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." The story, as first recorded by Peter Christen Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe is simple. Three goats want to go across a bridge to a hillside where there's a field of sweet grass. The problem is that under the bridge is a troll "with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker." The smallest goat goes across first and when threatened by the troll tells the troll to wait, his larger brother...
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Giveaway of Eat the Cookie…Buy the Shoes by Joyce Meyer

by Carol13 Comments
Eat the Cookie...Buy the Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten Up by Joyce Meyer Here's the blurb: Engrained in our culture is the belief that unbending discipline is the only sure way to success. You must go to the gym five times a week, never order the dessert, and don't even think about buying that dress you keep staring at in the store window. Breaking from such a regimented lifestyle is a sign of weakness, right? Wrong!-and Joyce wants to tell us why... Though setting rules in our lives are important, it's just as important that we break them from time-to-time. Structure is a powerful tool, but when diverging from your own goals is seen as catastrophic, it can have a hugely negative effect on us. Balance is a core value in life and every once in awhile we deserve to indulge in a guilty pleasure or two. So don't feel bad about ...
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Choose to Read Ohio

by Carol3 Comments
I wasn't aware of the Choose to Read Ohio program until I went to the Ohioana Book Festival last weekend, but it's a really cool idea. "Choose to Read Ohio spotlights Ohio authors and promotes reading across Ohio. The State Library of Ohio, in partnership with Ohioana Library Association and other Ohio partners, developed this initiative to encourage Ohioans of all ages to share literature by authors native to, residing in, or associated with Ohio." I don't have a local book group to discuss the selections with, but I'm going to participate here at my blog. The '09 - '10 titles are: Children's Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden Trouble Don't Last by Shelley Pearsall Where the Steps Were by Andrea Cheng Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Young Adult Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper Deadline by Chris Crutcher After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline...
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Donner the Western Dragon by Suzanne Davis Marion

by Carol5 Comments
Donner the Western Dragon: A Hero's Tale by Suzanne Davis Marion, illustrated by Marj Hales Amber (10) loves dragons, so when I saw this book I couldn't pass it up. The story is a cute book to read aloud with younger elementary children. Donner and his family live in a cold northern forest along with several other dragon families. Unlike the other young dragons, Donner does not like to play rough games, wrestling and snorting fire. He would much rather spend time with his best friend Una, a unicorn. They enjoyed the vivid colors of the flowers, and sometimes they would watch the dragonflies skating on the water for hours, admiring their pretty iridescent colors and their graceful flight. (pg. 7) All the other dragons, even Donner's father, make fun of him, but one day when disaster strikes he is the only one the dragons and unicorns can turn to. His unique personality and talents help him become a hero. The story is a...
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