I first heard about this nonprofit organization when I attended a literacy conference at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (you know, the home of the 2009 National Champions!!) back in 2007. I'm sure that many of you have heard of it, but if you haven't, you should really check out the website. They provide books for kids in an attempt to foster early literacy and a lifelong love of reading. I chose this organization to read for during Dewey's Read-a-thon last weekend. Even though I didn't get much reading done, I still wanted to donate to this very worthwhile cause. I know many of the read-a-thon participants read for a worthy cause during the event, as well. In fact, there was a nice list of possible charities on the Dewey's Read-a-thon site you may want to check out if you haven't been there already.Oh, and as most everyone in the world knows by now -- she won!! For the first time ever, the person I was rooting for actually won. Elizabeth Strout won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her book Olive Kitteridge. I loved this book and have gushed about it often.
I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes over the last week. I'm much better and actually glad to be back in a routine and at work. :) It sure is nice to know that there are so many wonderful book bloggers out there who care.
9 comments:
First Book looks like a great organization! I'm sure every donation is greatly appreciated.
I can't wait to tell my book club that Olive Kitteridge won the Pulitzer! I spent a lot of time raving about that book, too. We meet on Friday and I doubt many will have heard about it.
Oh...and congrats to the 'Heels'! I think it might have been an even better game if they played UConn (although they still would have won). Watch out for Syracuse next year...
Joann, I've been impressed by everything I've read and heard about FirstBook. I know, I've sung the praises of that book, as well. I'm going to suggest it to my book clubs, as well. There is so much to discuss with this one. I think it'll be great for book clubs.
I'll look forward to reading Olive Kitteridge. It's on my list because of the Pulitzer, but you've given it an extra boost t in cyberspace. It's good to know someone who has read the book...
What a wonderful organisation and a very worthwhile cause. I'm just reading back over your posts here and wanted to send belated sympathy for your illness. I get that kind of low blood pressure problem, too and it is horrible - really scary when it happens. I do hope you feel much better now.
Also I wanted to say I was very glad to see Olive Kitteridge won. Even though it wasn't the right book at the time for me, I could appreciate the beauty of the writing and the strength of emotion infused into it.
mad housewife, I do hope you like it. At first glimpse, Olive is not very lovable. However, her humanity shines through and you can't help but sympathize with her even if you want to choke her at times.
litlove, it is a great organization. Have you ever been given any explanation for your low blood pressure episodes? It would be great to know what triggers them. I know what you mean about the wrong book at the wrong time. It happens to me quite often, and I always feel as if I've missed out. But, things often change with a rereading. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Isn't it nice having read something, really loved it and admired it and then it ends up winning such a distinguished prize?! I really must get a copy!
Danielle, it is nice. I know what I like, but I don't ever pretend to be a literary critic, so it's always nice when my thoughts are validated to a degree. Not that it should matter, but hey...
I almost added in my comment that if we were living in France, low blood pressure would be treated as a condition the same as high. But alas, here in the UK people snap at me that I should be grateful it's so low. So no, never any explanation. But I do find that any episodes I have are linked to both stress and my hormonal cycle. One doctor when I was in my early twenties said there was a thing called 'mittelschmertz', a mini-crisis mid-cycle, and it does seem to occur about then. A low sugar, low salt diet, rich in orange coloured vegetables can help. I know it sounds mad, but there's some vitamin in them that's very good at calming hormones.I love butternut squash and sweet potato anyway, so it's no hardship to have more of them in my diet! If I ever come across any more information, I'll certainly let you know.
litlove, thank you so much for letting me know this. I'm willing to try anything!!
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