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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


30 / 30 books. 100% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (3)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (10)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (5)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)

International:
- Argentina (1)
- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (4)
- China (2)
- England (27)
- France (2)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (2)
- Russia (2)
- Scotland (4)
- The Netherlands (1)

My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 50 books. 104% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


51 / 52 books. 98% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


37 / 40 books. 93% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


25 / 25 cozies. 100% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


5 / 26.2 miles (4th lap). 19% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


51 / 100 books. 51% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


99 / 109 books. 91% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


139 / 165 books. 84% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


88 / 100 names. 88% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


45 / 80 skills. 56% done!
Monday, August 02, 2010

Thumbing Through Thoreau: An Avowed Hater (Me) Gives Poetry A Chance

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

You may have noticed that, for a literary blog, there's an alarming lack of poetry reviewed here at Bloggin' 'bout Books. Yeah, about that ... I'm just not big on the stuff. Most of it sails right over my head, too cryptic to make any sense without a thorough dissection. In general, I read for entertainment; the more a work makes me think, the less I tend to enjoy it. Poetry simply demands too much brain power. I prefer to avoid it at all costs. Which explains why I, the proud possessor of a degree in English, am appallingly ignorant of all things poetry. In an effort to combat that, I agreed to review a new book of quotations by Henry David Thoreau (a poet, if you recall). To my great surprise, I even liked it.

Thumbing Through Thoreau is a collection of quotations taken from Thoreau's many journals, writings, and personal letters. The thoughts, collected and compiled by journalist Kenny Luck, address a variety of subjects, including nature, love, politics, individuality, and God. Enhanced with serene drawings by artists Jay Luke and Ren Adams, the selections urge us all to live simpler, but fuller lives. As Thoreau discusses the dangers of wealth, the importance of nature, and the cowardice of following the crowd, it's apparent that Richard Smith of the The Thoreau Society is absolutely correct:

"Thoreau's quotations, all of which were written 150 years ago, are indeed very timely for today's modern, over-worked, over-stressed and over-materialistic world. Thoreau's ideas about the search for a simpler way of life ring truer now than they did in the nineteenth century" (from Thumbing Through Thoreau's title page).

Many writers, leaders, philosophers and readers have been heavily influenced by the poet's wisdom. Until today, I was not one of them. However, as I sat in my recliner, reading through an unbound galley of Thumbing Through Thoreau, I found myself exclaiming over and over to my husband, "Wow, listen to this!" Never would I have imagined that the man (a deep-thinking poet, of all things) could be so quotable. Sure, I've heard "Simplify, simplify" and other popular Thoreau-isms, but I never really appreciated them until I discovered this book. Considering the clean, eye-pleasing format of this volume, I can even see myself reading through it again. And again. I can see that you're shocked. Well, so am I. And pleasantly so.

Whether you're a Thoreau expert or a newbie like me, Thumbing Through Thoreau is an excellent way to explore the poet's work. Familiar quotations intermingle with the not-so-well-known in this lovely, gift-worthy volume. If an avowed poetry hater like me can enjoy it, anyone can. After all, as the Man Himself said, "It is never too late to give up prejudices."

(Readalikes: I don't read poetry, remember?)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: G - Although there's nothing offensive in the book, it would be most appropriate for readers above the age of 12 or so.

To the FTC, with love: I received an unbound galley of Thumbing Through Thoreau from the generous folks at Tribute Books. Thank you!

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2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
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2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction

2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction

2023 - Middle Grade Fiction

2023 - Middle Grade Fiction

2022 - Middle Grade Fiction

2022 - Middle Grade Fiction

2021 - Middle Grade Fiction

2021 - Middle Grade Fiction

2020 - Middle Grade Fiction

2020 - Middle Grade Fiction