How To "Kindle" A Fire In My Heart!

The Rogue Speaks:

Jenny has given us an easy lesson for this week about the new year that is almost upon us. I am resolving to read more during the winter. I am usually so busy during the fall and winter that I don't have much time to sit down and read a good book. I try to make up for that in the summer, as witnessed by my reading list on the left-hand side of my blog. That has changed! I got a great new toy for Christmas! A Kindle! It was given to me by Rod's daughter, Allison! I was overwhelmed! As soon as Keil set it up for me, I was off to download books from Amazon.com, including one really low-priced one (.99) about where to download FREE books!

I have already read one of the books I downloaded. It is by Pat Conroy, one of my and Rod's favorite authors. Everyone who loves to write should read "My Reading Life." It is like a book list of all Pat's favorite books, and a list of his favorite people. It is also a book about how to be a better writer. I really need that part in a bad way, so I devoured Pat's book in two sittings!

The most important element in Pat's book is how a love of reading, instilled in him by his mother, helped ease the hurt in his life from having an abusive parent, his father.

Actually Pat and I have a lot in common. He was born in Atlanta--so was I. He suffered from child abuse--so did I. He has been married three times--so have I. His current marriage is wonderful--so is mine. He has published ten books-- so... oops! I guess that's where the similarities end! The only thing I publish are posts!!

The first of his books that gained notoriety is "The Water is Wide." This book tells the story of his teaching assignment on Daufausky Island, on the Carolina coast, and how he was fired from that job for his unconventional teaching practices. He won a humanitarian award from the National Education Association for that book. It was also made into a movie, "Conrack," and if you haven't seen it, well you just should!!

His novel, "The Great Santini," was also made into a movie. The main character in this one is based on his father, who ruled with a military hand, and lots of general meanness!!

The book most people know Pat for is "The Prince of Tides," which was ALSO made into a movie starring Nick Nolte, Barbra Streisand, and Blythe Danner. I have no idea just how many times I have read that book, or seen the movie, for that matter. Whenever Rod is channel-surfing and happens to find it playing, he stops what he is doing to watch it again. He claims he has never seen it all the way through, but that is just a ruse to watch it again.

Pat lives on Fripp Island, very near to where my favorite cousin has a home on Harbor Island. The next vacation we take (now that I have a Kindle) will be to visit her, and I just might go knock on Pat's door. Oh, yeah! You are all laughing at that! Uh huh! But I actually have an "in!!!" Yes, I do!! Pat worships Thomas Wolfe! He probably knows more about Thomas Wolf than anyone, and that is the truth. If he could, he would like to come back as Thomas Wolfe in another life! I happen to have two things that Pat would love to see--I have a picture of the boarding house in Asheville, N. Carolina that was owned by Tom's mother, and where Tom lived as a child. The picture is VERY old!! Some of the boarders are lounging around on the porch and front yard, even!! AND I have a letter that was written by Tom to one of his family members. Well, do you think that will let me in the door???

"Show us!" you are all saying. You want me to show you that picture! You want me to post it on my blog! O.k., well, I would do that, and I WILL do that just as soon as I can find it in my studio. You see, several months ago I was FORCED to do some serious cleaning in my studio in order to make room for a bed for guests, since Keil was sleeping in our guest bedroom. I worked really hard on that project. I worked so hard that I cannot remember just what box that photo is in. BUT I will find it withing the next few days, and attach it to this post so you will know that I am not full of bull baloney, if there is such a thing.

While you are waiting to see that picture of Julia Wolfe's boarding house, please read "My Reading Life." You will really be glad that you did!!