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Sunday, February 10, 2013

Public Reading Ideas

If you are interested in reading a text on Thursday but are having a hard time coming up with something, I have some ideas that you might find worth taking a look at.

Songs:

Freewill by Rush

That Was Your Mother by Paul Simon

Excerpt from book:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

He sat the boy on the footlocker under the gaslamp and with a plastic comb and a pair of scissors he set about cutting his hair. He tried to do a good job and it took some time. When he was done he took the towel from around the boy's shoulders and he scooped the golden hair from the floor and wiped the boy's face and shoulders with a damp cloth and held a mirror for him to see.

[The Boy:] You did a good job, Papa.

[The Man:] Good.

[The Boy:] I look really skinny.

[The Man:] You are really skinny.

He cut his own hair but it didn't come out so good. He trimmed his beard with the scissors while a pan of water heated and then he shaved himself with a plastic safety razor. The boy watched. When he was done he regarded himself in the mirror. He seemed to have no chin. He turned to the boy. How do I look? The boy cocked his head. I don't know, he said. Will you be cold? (225.1-225.6)



Poem

How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give 'em.

Shel Silverstein

Short Story


The Giving Tree (video presentation)

The Giving Tree (text only)


2 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed this short story. The happiness of giving, even when there is nothing left!

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    Replies
    1. I am glad you liked it. Shel Silverstein is normally considered a children's writer, but I have found that I get more out of his work now that I am older. He has a few books of poems (don't let that scare you) which you might enjoy.
      "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "A Light in the Attic" and "Runny Babbit" are some of my favorites.

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