Saturday, April 18, 2020

Who Was? Show on Netflix

A couple of weeks ago my sons and I watched an episode on the Who Was? Show produced by Netflix about Blackbeard and Sacagewea.  I was so disappointed in how they made Lewis and Clark appear like imcompetent, worthless individuals.  In order for them to prepare and to take this journey, they had to be skilled frontiersmen. 
The boys want to watch more of the episodes (we have studied a lot of the individuals they feature), but I am not so sure how worthwhile it will be.  We did not really learn anything new about Blackbeard or Sacagewea from watching it.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen*

Finally, when I am in my forties I am reading one of Jane Austen's novel!
My husband's relative recommended starting with Pride and Prejudice. Her recommendation was perfect.
I chuckled aloud at the witty dialogue.
The second oldest, Elizabeth, is the narrator.
Mrs. Bennet is determined that her daughters marry,  and marry well.  When Jane, the eldest,  meets a wealthy Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet is elated.  Little does she realize that her own loquaciousness and her flirty younger daughters stymy the development of the relationship.  Elizabeth, meanwhile, loathes Mr. Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy.  He is arrogant and rude. 
I recently read an art poster saying that "Everyone marries" by the end of Austen's books.  It was entertaining to see how Austen allows characters to come together in marriage in the last fifty pages of the book!
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Stories from the Billabong by James Vance Marshall illustrated by Francis Firebrace

My boys and I really enjoy reading folklore/stories from other cultures. 
When we studied Australia, we began reading a story from this collection a few times a week.  I liked how after each story the author provided facts about the animal, plant etc the story featured.  The glossary and Aboriginal symbols in the back were very  helpful. 
The illustrator is from an Aboriginal tribe.
Warning: Some of the border illustrations depict a silhouette of a naked woman with her breasts exposed. 
-Borrowed from the library.