Frazz by Jef Mallett for June 23, 2016

His brain is already in vacation mode.

Some of the books I dreaded reading the most (The Caine Munity over Christmas break) were ones I ended up enjoying the most. Essays/book reports helped hone thinking and writing skills that are often lacking today. I’m quite grateful for my 3Rs education.

I always loved reading, assigned reading in school was never a problem for me. But I had problems with the questions the teachers asked about the book,

For example:Teacher: What do you think was the motivation for the author to write this book?Me: He hoped to sell it so he could buy groceries for his family.Teacher: That is wrong! His motivation was blah, blah, blah.

They must have had a lot of snow days. School has been out here for 2 weeks.

What, they don’t cram elementary school kid’s schedules with EOG tests in Michigan (or wherever this takes place)?

Bill KoenigThere are writers who have admitted as much. You needed to find them and cite the quote with your critique. Of course, there are multiple reasons for a given book. My first started as a personal reference file on cards. When it got too cumbersome for the card file, I figured I might as well put it in book form and start collecting rejection slips – which I did, including from the one who eventually published it. Since then, they all fired their first readers and expect the author to pay for it in the form of an agent. That is why there has not been a third edition.

Writing is an art, a science, and good therapy!

I have always loved reading, but I read what I want. As soon as something is assigned reading it becomes the most loathsome work on the planet. (Which still includes “Wuthering Heights,” “Les Miserables” and “The Lady of the Lake” )