beautiful day

[ciroccoj]

Spent about an hour on the computer this morning, then got the hell out. Tidied around the house, then went shopping, walking to the grocery store and back. Came back, set the slow cooker for chicken and garlic, and headed out again for a picnic on the mesa. Wandered around a little, then went to pick up Daniel from the bus. It's amazing how quickly and pleasantly the day goes by when we're not indoors.

Must. Remember. This. Always.

It helps that it's a gorgeous day, too. A little chilly, but the sun is shining and the world looks sparkly and spring fresh. And right now the slow cooker is filling the house with the scent of baking chicken in herbs and garlic... ::happy sigh::

Going back outside. The kids are all playing tag (neighbourhood children! Outdoors! It's a Miracle!) and they need somebody to make sure none of them keels over from the excitement of not playing video games.


Later Edit: Oh! I just remembered something!

We finished Moby Dick yesterday, and the boys were somewhat upset at the ending. They eventually said that overall they liked the book, thought it was really cool, and were glad we'd read it, but the ending kind of put a damper on their spirits. So now we're trying to decide which Illustrated Classic to tackle next. The choices are:

1. David Copperfield (Charles Dickens)
   
2. Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
   
3. Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens)
   
4. Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Hound of the Baskervilles (Arthur Conan Doyle)
   
5. Mutiny on Board HMS Bounty (William Bligh)
   
6. The Oregon Trail (Francis Parkman)

I've only read David Copperfield and Great Expectations, so I need help from anybody who's read any of the above. Basically, what's your impression of the story? Which one(s) would you recommend? Which ones do you think might/might not be interesting to a 4.5 & a 7.5 year old boy? Anything I might want to know about?

Comments

[bast2.livejournal.com]

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Hound of the Baskervilles (Arthur Conan Doyle)


i think this would really appeal to boys their age because of the "supernatural" glowing hound. (think you might like it, too)

[snarkhunter.livejournal.com]

They might like it, but if either of them suffers from a hyperactive imagination or are prone to be disturbed by illustrations...I'd vote against it.

Um. Yeah. But that's just b/c I couldn't even have my children's illustrated copy of Hound of the Baskervilles in my bedroom until I was in my teens. If it was in there, I couldn't sleep b/c I was terrified.

[bast2.livejournal.com]

not every kid is a skeerdy wimp, jael. :)

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

if either of them suffers from a hyperactive imagination or are prone to be disturbed by illustrations...

I'm taking a careful look at it. Daniel's never had a problem, but Justin occasionally gets very, very scared of spooky stuff in movies. I don't think any of the illustrations in the book are that vivid, but I'll make sure before starting it.

Here I am, two degrees under my belt and working on the third one, and I'm wending my way through a half dozen Children's Illustrated Classics. Motherhood is such a strange state ;)

[tobiascharity.livejournal.com]

Sherlock Holmes! Sherlock Holmes!

(Not just because I'm Sekritly convinced that I'm his 21st century "spunky female reincarnation." Hot damn.)

[snarkhunter.livejournal.com]

I'm sekritly convinced that you're Mary Russell in disguise.

[tobiascharity.livejournal.com]

duuuuuude that would rock i'd be a living mary sue!

(can you tell i just took painkillers? mmmmmnomorepain.)

[latara.livejournal.com]

Can I just say, I have nightmares about having to read Great Expectations again. *shudders*. Also, I doubt it would mean much to a young boy. Or me.

Probably Sherlock Holmes. Mysteries are generally appealing.

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

Can I just say, I have nightmares about having to read Great Expectations again. *shudders*

LOL! I think I may be one of the only humans alive who actually enjoyed reading Great Expectations. Possibly because I didn't have to - I picked it up on my own one summer.

And yet even I, when asked if it was worth reading, had to say no, not really. It wasn't hideous, but for the life of me I can't imagine why it's assigned so often in English classes. Must be some rite of passage: ie, you can't truly call yourself an English teacher if you haven't forced a group of surly teens to slog through Great Expectations ;)

Yeah, I think we'll go with Sherlock. Should be pretty cool.

[latara.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the best thing I can come up with. There doesn't seem to be much educational merit in it, except maybe how not to progress a plot.