Anna Karenin

I (The Mom) was told by a wonderful professor that I "must read Anna Karenina", over twenty years ago. That week I headed to John King Books* and picked up a 50 cent copy, well worn and

Anna Karenin or Mary Poppins
(you decide)

marginalia filled. 

And I began reading. About 20 pages in, gave up. And several times over the next dozen years tried again and again. But never made it past the first hundred pages, until 2003.

In 2003, pregnant with The Little Sister I tried again. And this time the words came to life. 

I was pulled from page to page, and thanks to a queasy first trimester, had a perfect excuse to read for hours, and hours, and give Tolstoy's masterpiece all of the time it deserved. 

I was rewarded in three ways:

One: I finished. And completely understood why my professor said I must read it, and yes, he was right. 

Two: The Big Sister decided that she wanted to read it too. Her sweet 3-year-old self carried that copy around in her backpack for months, pretending to read it. 

Three: When Little Sister was old enough to appreciate a good book she also got attached.  However, she thought Anna (see photo) looked like Mary Poppins and also carried around the well worn edition, even loaning it to her Nana (The Bean) to read, "the goooooood book." 

 While the girls are not ready to read Anna quite yet, techincally, they already love it. 

One day -if they can make it past page 20- I have a good feeling they will agree: Anna Karenina is a must read. (2018 update: The Big Sister loved it.)

Ways to enjoy Anna: 

• Online, Project Gutenberg, click here.
• The Masterpiece Theater 1977 Version is available, try your local library.
• (2018 update: we cannot, however, reccommend the 2012 version, perhaps we'll write about it one day soon...)
• Read it. Find at your local library: www.worldcat.org

*One of the most wonderful used book stores in the world! Favorite location: Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, wish they had one in Northern Michigan. Check it out online: John King Books

Reading Aloud: The Best Thing in the WORLD. (...and what are you reading?)

Chapter 1: Exeunt on a Leopard

In Which a Girl Names September is Spirited Off by Means of A Leopard, 


Learns to Rules of Fairyland, and Solves a Puzzle

Right now The Mom and The Little Sister are reading:

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making 

by Catherynne M. Valente

While at first it was hard to read aloud --so many new things, wild words and spelling, but THEN, BAM, MAGIC... Catherynne's fantasy pulls you in and we are THERE! We can't read fast enough. Today is a rainy day. We might just try to finish it!

Here's a little more if you're interested in reading this wonderful book along with us! 

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

Now, Tell Us:

What are you READING? 

Share in the comments!