A.M.A.Z.I.N.G....

I have experienced something that hardly anyone ever gets to do... So this past weekend I went to the Mammoths and Mastadons Training at the Field Museum of Natural History. It was amazoing. For months on my coffee table sat a National Geographic Magazine with a baby mammoth on the cover. Never had I thought that I would actually get to meet the scientist that found her, and studied her. Meeting Dr. Daniel Fisher of the University of Michigan, was one of the most beneficial learning experiences I have ever encountered. His journey with Lyuba, and what he has uncovered about Mammoths and Mastadons is truely revolutionary.Lyuba was found in 2007 in Siberia. She was completely unvocered and required no excavations. Her body was what scientists would call "pickeled." She was in a condition that was described as perfect. There was even hair on her body, and skin that was 42,000 years old. AMAZING!!

Seeing him talk in front of Lyuba in the exhibit of the Field Museum, was extreemly moving. When asked, " How do you feel about working and disecting with Lyuba? He responded, " How do you think it feels holding a 42,000 yr old heart in your hands." Most often when people come into the Field Museum they have no idea what they are looking at. They have no idea the history that goes into studying these artifacts, let alone the entire process of how it was discovered. Because of my expereiences at the Field Museum, I can only imagine how my students will benefit in my classroom.

"Remarkable Creatures" Epic Adventures in the Search for the Orgins of Species

This book is amazing. I bought it in DC when I went to visit my sister. Its about the many adventures of major scientific explorers-Darwin,Bates, Wallace, Debois...etc and their discoveries in the persuit of the transitonal species between man and ape.It also breifly mentions predator and prey relationships, as well as the discovery of Batsian Mimicry- by who else Mr.Bates. If you have a science background, or are interested in science this book is excellent.However, if you don't have a science background, it might be a hard read. This book uses a great deal of scientific vocabulary. I would give it Five Stars!

What are you reading?

Life has been busy. However, I have managed to start another book. Tess; I decided that 'Dear John' would be worth the read. I don't think that I am going to go see the movie though. I have read Nicholas Sparks before and they are usually a fast read for me. So far so good.

Don't Discriminate: JUST READ....

Yesterday, while I was returning," The Dive from Clausen's Pier," to the 25 cent rack at the Library, I thought about how often I make choices about the books that I read based on the cover of the book. Publishers know this because they change the book covers of classics every 2 years or more. Look....

Three different covers of the exact same book. Which one would you choose based on looks alone? What does that say about your generation, country(where it was published)age group...etc? We all know this and yet we still pick the flashy, new-looking books without reading the jacket or back of the book. Think about the Harry Potter/ Stephanie Meyer phenomena...(we must read these books). I get it, it is one big marketing ploy, but how can we as 'lovers of books" teach others to not discriminate against good books, without the good looks....?

The Dive from Clausen's Pier- Ann Packer

So I just finished reading," The Dive from Clausen's Pier," by Ann Packer. Out of a possible 5 stars I would give it 3. At times I felt that this book was a bit depressing and felt that the plot was a bit smooshed together.The story opens with a group of friends at a Memorial Day weekend celebration. The friend are having a good time, when one of the guys dares another guy to jump from the Pier. Mike, the diver, ends up becomeing a quad- and will never walk again. The story the moves through his struggle as a quad,and his girlfriend's struggle with him being a quad. All in all I felt that the characters were extreemly relatable to any age group.

So this book blog might not be turning out how I wanted it. I have been thinking though of changing the purpose of this book club. Instead of all of us reading the same book, we could talk about the different books that we are currently reading. This way we arr not spending enormous amounts of time and money on some book that we might or might not like. Tell me what you think...

Love and Rockets,
Maggie

Check this Blog Out!

This is a really cool blog about People Reading.

I Love it!

Some books to get us started....

Okay, so I really like the idea of starting with Sarah's Key -Tatiana de Rosnay. Here is a short summary.

Summary

What do you think???

I think that you can also get it in paperback from Amazon for eight bucks, or you local library.
Please also add your suggestions for the next book. I though that we could decide after we read the first book.....:)

Also please tell your friends about the book blog, and feel free to share the link with them as well.


An Abundance of Katherines- John Green
Looking for Alaska- John Green
1984
Catch 22
Where the Wild Things Are
Feed
The Catcher in the Rye- Salinger
Push
Eat, Pray, Love
Dear John