Perilous Undertakings
Hope you liked that reading-late tip from last week. As Michelle, Terry and Zanna (who commented on it) I think would agree, there is something special about staying up with a book. If you’re at all open to the thought, please give it a try with your kid and—in a month or so—let me know how things worked out.
This time, I thought I’d just pose a thought-starter that occurred to me while Sue and I were up in New York so I could do publicity stuff for the latest Alex Cross novel, Double Cross, and meet with my publisher—about this year’s awards for volunteers, booksellers, teachers, librarians, and other people who are out there spreading the joy of reading. (If you’re in this category, or know somebody who is, please go to pattersonpageturner.org.)
Jack, my son, was a little mad at us for going without him—especially since I had a talk at the original Apple Store in SoHo and he’s an Apple fanatic—but fourth grade comes first. (If you have iTunes, give it a *free* listen here.)
While we were at the Apple event, he e-mailed Sue with his spelling homework. He did well except for spelling “perilous,” which he had as “perilles,” but that’s not an easy word.
English, of course, is full of not-so-easy words, and it’s no wonder lots of people never get proficient at reading, much less confident enough to enjoy books.
But, of course, if we hadn’t learn to read, we’d all probably still be living in trees and caves, and maybe I’d be logging rather than blogging.
All that to say when we get our kids reading, we need to remember it’s a big challenge, perhaps the single biggest challenge in their entire education. And that’s why we need to be really smart and take advantage of the best tools out there to encourage them.
More to come next Thursday on just that subject.
JP
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When I was a child, reading was a way to escape my home life. I would walk the two miles to the library, and then borrow as many books as they would allow, and read them avidly until I could go back and get some more. The Librarians knew me by name. Still to this day when I read I get to live someone else's life for a day or two. What a great escape.
I just wanted Mr. Patterson to know that I am his numero- uno fan from India- being the proud owner of all novels (including Double Cross) i own 48 james pattersons with copies of 2 non fiction works and also the photostat copy of an uinpublished novel which mr. Patterson had submitted as treatise for his English graduation degree. here is my review
REVIEW: BRICK LAYER’S MYTHS AND MISCELANIES
Title: Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies
Author: James B. Patterson
Year: 1970
Publisher: Never published.
Genre: Literature
I am the owner of 40 James Patterson titles- including the author’s two non-fiction titles, and the latest Beach Road (an Advance Reviewer Copy, I got for review). And I don’t think anybody in India would have a collection of James Patterson as large as mine.
But the pride among my collection is Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies- the first fiction work written by James B. Patterson. It is not the story, nor the narration, nor the plot that makes Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies the pride of my collection. It is the simple fact that the book has never been published- and that what I hold is the Photostat copy of the typed manuscript written by Mr. Patterson. This book has an interesting history. James Patterson as a student of Masters in English at Vanderbilt (in 1970) decided to submit a work of fiction as the subject of his thesis. An unusual choice, but it was accepted and the resultant work is Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies.[Some references, like Joan Kotker’s James Patterson: A Critical Companion have quoted this title as Father Wrote a Hemmingway Novel, but the catalogue of Vanderbilt has this book under the title first mentioned].
A local publishing house in this part of the world had decided to publish a series of works about bestselling American and English authors like John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, Sidney Sheldon (from United States), Jeffrey Archer, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth and John Mortimer (from England)- authors who have made their mark in India. I was given the task of writing about James Patterson, and I considered the task not as a labour of toil, but one of love and passion. Thus when during research when I came to know about Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies - I had to read it, and I had to include it in my work. And through a friend at Vanderbilt University, I succeeded in getting a copy of this work.
Little known except for the ardent fan… no, make that an ardent fanatic- Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies is one rare read. Now, Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies is not made of the same stuff as of Patterson bestsellers of today. And were it not for the title page containing the name James Brendan Patterson, I myself would have been in doubt. It is a Sixties novel written in the style of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 and Richard Hooker’s M.A.S.H. Though not a war novel per se- the sarcastic and subtle humour often associated with Heller and Hooker is felt in abundance over here. And through the eyes and words of Vietnam returnee Brick Lair life in late Sixties America is showcased in the novel. Though at some times confusing, the end result is one subtle read, which clearly reveals that James Patterson the student had a great future in literature. But I don’t think even the teachers who evaluated Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies would ever have imagined the heights of the scales of success climbed by Mr. Patterson.
James Patterson has tried his hand in every genre of popular fiction writing psychological thrillers (Alex Cross series); legal thrillers (Beach House, Beach Road), Teen fiction (Maximum Ride series), children’s books (Santa Kid), fables (Miracle on 17th Green), horror (Virgin and Cradle and All) Romance (Sam’s Letters to Jennifer and Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas), historical thriller (The Jester), Police procedural mysteries (Women’s Murder Club Series), science fiction (When the Wind Blows and The Lake House), traditional suspense reads (Honeymoon and Lifeguard). But till date Patterson has not delivered a fiction work that can be called “hard-core literature”- you know the stuffs penned by Salman Rushdie, Toni Morrison, Gabrial Garcia Marquez et al. And after reading Brick Layer’s Myths and Miscelanies, I wouldn’t be surprised, if in the near future Patterson writes something that comes within the realm of pure literature. Watch this space.
I read to my children all the time. On my nights off, right after they go to bed, is mommy time. I take a bubble bath and will stay in there until i finish my book, the water goes cold (and sometimes I stay in the cold water if the book is really good), or until my husband drags me out. Unfortunatly, I am a speed reader and finish some books so fast it leaves my mouth watering for more. As I have no sense of time management, I don't use the library much ($65 overdue fees) and I buy most of my books. I have thousands.
I like the idea of allowing kids to stay up only if they spend it reading. My 13 year old does it without permission. Her grandmother gave her a book light and she hides under the covers. She doesn't think we know but at least she is reading so we let her get away with this little piece of "naughtiness". I think one of the most important things we can do for our children, in addition to reading to them when they are too young to read for themselves, is to have them see us enjoying reading. Both my husband and I enjoy reading and our girls see that every day. As I said earlier, our 13 year old has followed in our footsteps and her 9 year old sister is getting there. She is still finding the type of books she likes but the American Girl series is becoming a fast favorite. So my advice would be to not only read to your children but read to yourself. Children learn what they see.
My daughters are both required to read 5 out of 7 days a week for school. They enjoy it so it's not much of a task!
And I LOVE your books! Thanks!
Thank you so much for this blog. I grew up an avid reader, but I almost always hated what I was force fed at school. I'd much rather spend hours at the library picking out my own books! For a long time I never quite understood how people could just not love reading, but my husband, a very smart man, hates to read. Now, I want to make sure that my kids get my love of reading. I hope your blog will give me some tips.
I love to read and was turned on to James Patterson this past year, specifically his series on the bird children. I so enjoyed this series, I shared it with my mother, my 17 yr old son AND 14 yr old daughter. They all loved the books/series, and now make recommendations to me! :o) Thank you for sharing your gift!