Literary Masters and Creatubbles: Exploring Books by Creating Art

Are you familiar with Creatubbles?  It's a safe, secure, and incredibly cool platform where children (and grown-ups) can save, share, and explore artwork from around the world.  Literary Masters recently partnered with Creatubbles so that LM members can now illustrate our monthly book and share it with other art lovers.

Today Liz of Literary Masters is honored to be interviewed by Creatubbles and highlighted on their State of the Art blog.  We discuss how books can be deeply explored by appreciating and analyzing any illustrations in a work of literature as well as by creating our own art that illuminates what that book means to us.  If you like this interview, feel free to spread the word.  More readers connecting deeply to books via artwork--that's a good thing!

Please visit the Literary Masters page on Creatubbles and feel free to share your creative side with us!

Should Your Book Club Read Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adicie?

Should Your Book Club Read Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adicie?  Yes.  Especially if your book club members have a month where there's a lot going on outside book club (did I hear you just say "That's every month!"?) because this book is SHORT but very, very thought-provoking.

The book is a letter to Ms. Adicie's friend, who has just given birth to her baby girl Chizalum and has asked Adicie for advice on raising her as a feminist.  The book is that letter, offering 15 suggestions, each of which heads its own chapter.  The entire book is only 63 pages and you can finish it well under an hour.  Or you can savor it and think deeply as you read.  Or you can return to it, dipping into its wisdom as and when you like.  You may want to order copies to give as gifts to new--and old--mothers.  Or to daughters.  Or sons!  To fathers and husbands.

I agree with much of the book, and there are parts of the book that I am still mulling over.  One stark piece of advice that I disagree with, however, is under the suggestion "Teach Chizalum to read."  Obviously I don't disagree with that advice!  However, Adicie goes on to say, "If all else fails, pay her to read."  I must say, I strongly disagree with this. 

There are many, many ways to teach a child to read and to foster the love of reading.  Paying money, in my opinion, sends the wrong message.  I'd prefer children to be intrinsically motivated to read, rather than extrinsically.

As I said, this is my opinion.  I am guessing, though, that there are studies with data out there about this.  Just using common sense, though, what happens to a child who has been 'rewarded' to read when that money is no longer paid?  I presume the argument is that the child will have developed the habit of reading and therefore will continue to do so even without remuneration.

Hmm.  Maybe.

Contrast this idea, though, with a child who has actually developed the appreciation and love of books and reading for their value, not because of the value of $$$.  A child who finds books and reading worthwhile and a reward in itself will be a life-long reader.  That's my strong bet, anyway.

You all know I am open-minded, however, so if you disagree, please feel free to weigh in--I'd love to hear from you!

AWOL Blogger: Buried Under Her Books!

Isn't this a great cartoon by Tom Gauld?  What I'm wondering is--how did he get into my house to see my library? :-)

Have you been missing my posts?  THANK YOU!  I'm sorry that I haven't written any recently.  No excuses, just the reality that I've been...READING.  I will try to post at the end of the current Literary Masters season.  I promise!  Meanwhile, let me swiftly bring you up to date with what's been happening with Literary Masters members.

We've been enjoying THE LIST so far!  The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead was a hit all around; even members who found it difficult to read at times still appreciated its worth.  Some of us, including yours truly, loved the fantastical elements in it, which carried truth to the reader in an entirely new way.

Everyone agreed that Rose Tremain's The Gustav Sonata is a little gem of a book.  We found so much to talk about!  I look forward to blogging about that one.  Rose Tremain is a real crafts person; not a word is wasted.  And there is so much beneath the surface!

December was our month for a classic, and we read Graham Greene's The Quiet American.  Every time I read that book, I close it and say "That is SUCH a good book."  Literary Masters members agreed!  And it was the perfect book to read after last season's The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen.  If you're looking for a pairing, this is a good one.

We then moved on to our nonfiction selection for the season: Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick.  Everyone agreed--this should be required reading.  Everyone learned a lot and our discussions were intense!

This month we are discussing the most gorgeous novel: The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig.  After a few pages, I sat back, relaxed, and thought "Ah...I am in good hands."  This is "poetry under the prose"--so much so that I reread passages just to experience them again.  I can't wait to "dig deep" into this book with all our wonderful Literary Masters members!

You can always visit the Literary Masters website to see what members are reading--or have read.  When are you going to join a Literary Masters book group?