Goodreads.com's perhaps most respected reviewer, Dr. M of the department of theoretical physics and Pooh-studies, has perhaps written his most eloquent entry on the 1965 science fiction blockbuster, DUNE. M relates how it is the world, rather than the book, which has changed, such that if written today, the book would seem to be an endorsement of radical Islamic politicism, led by a charismatic leader, whereas at the time--and therefore now inaccessible to the younger reader, was the fact that the book was a sort of distillation of American Romanticism about the Arab world. There was once an America that rooted for the sand-dune dwelling nomads! Once Islamic revolt was an appealing possibility!in my own central focus, military writing, a similar but not exactly corresponding phenomenon exists. the US BLACKHAWK DOWN and the UK BRAVE TWO ZERO are two works that are quintessentially 90s. in the 90s, special operations consisting of noble, highly-trained professionals at war against the environment, the mob of humanity, the ruthless seemed to be the tone of the future. then came 9/11. instantly these books were relegated to the back shelf of war non-fiction, as once again the idea of country vs. country, national invasion vs. national army, republic vs. republic became the seeming tone of the 2000s. even today in 2013 the possibility of an armed incursion into a secular republic does not seem incomprehensible. the idea of a small forces hostage-rescue mission or special forces decapitation mission would be less fascinating, less studied. Ancient Greek Philosophhers might warn us that therefore such an incident is all the more likely, but who knows, who can say...well how does this relate to RAMONA AND HER MOTHER. well, possibly Democritius aside or the Heraclitus or whoever that proto-Stoic was, we're going to understand this work in reference to the fact that the reviewer is abroad, looking at Americana, or overworked and absurdist, who knows. or no, actually, the important thing is that Israelis and Arabs went like this:1948 Arabs try to destroy Israel1956 Israelis try to punish Egypt1967 Israelis preemptively strike United Arabs1973 Arabs suddenly shock Israel in the October Warnow whether you believe the US airlift to Israel was a massive and material change in a regional "fairly fought" surprise war, or whether the notion of a world without Israel is something that makes your blood boil and causes you to consider enlistment in the IDF, the Arab reaction of the "oil embargo" was either (a) a fascinating case of life imitating art (Dune was published in 1965 and discussed 'spice embargo', or (b) the important predecessor reason for why the US economy fell into recession in 1974, why the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations were therefore a bit subdued, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the cause of Beverly Cleary's "dark period" of Ramona 4 and 5.the Quimbys are hit by a recession! this squeaky clean 50s family explores family strife and economic reversal! but the depression or loss suffered by the artist is ultimately the gain of the reader, for whom these two children's books remain readable, even in one's later years. yes, I guess, ultimately, Ramona 4 and 5 probably just about equal the rest of Cleary's output. it's tough. Ralph the motorcycle-riding mouse is also entertaining. but... then again, wouldn't I rather have Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan than all of George Selden's output? hmm. tough questions. the famous "burning Louvre" problem seems to bring up conundrums as well even for kids' lit.complicated, ,twisted individuals, I guess, are just better. hmmm wasn't there some female CEO who supported one obscure brand of German opera. maybe a more valued addition to the gang we call humanity than a thousand apple-pie baking moms.
I still have two chapters left, but I am getting ready to go to bed so I thought I would go ahead and add this to my list of books I have read.This is probably my second favorite book of the series. I crack up at the parents quarreling about their grandmas and pancakes, it reminds me of the stupid quarrels my family has lol. I also felt bad for Beezus when she wanted to get her hair cut at the cosmetology school and ends up with the hair of a 40-year-old women (at the time the book was written anyway). I had a similar experience around the same age as Beezus. My hair was down to the middle of my back and I was letting it grow. My mom decided that I needed a trim when when she had her appointment and I specified just a trim. Well, the lady that did it ended up cutting my hair off to about my shoulders and did the big 80s bangs so that was it for me. I decided after that I was going somewhere else. I like the woman that did it, but she was too old-fashioned.My favorite part of the book has to be when Ramona squeezed an entire tube of toothpaste into the sink. You don't know how badly I wanted to go in to my bathroom and try it! Even though I am way too old to be doing stuff like that lol. It grossed me (and Beezus) out when she wanted everyone to dip their toothbrushes into a bag or jar. I would've made Ramona use all of it herself as well since she was the one that did it. I wonder how long it took her to use all of it.My second favorite part of the book is Ramona wearing her pajamas to school. I'm not sure how she managed to do it for as long as she did. Anymore I'm burning up even when I'm wearing shorts lol.I can't wait until I start the next book. I can't even remember what the next book is about.
What do You think about Ramona And Her Mother (2013)?
سری 8 جلدی کتابهای رامونا رو به پیشنهاد و برای همراهی و تشویق خواهرزادهی 10 سالهام که تازه شروع به مطالعه کرده است خوندم. خیلی خیلی از خوندنشون لذت بردم. کتابها با اینکه در غالب داستان برای بچهها نوشته شده بود ولی در اصل روانشناسی کودک بود. بعد از خوندن این سری کتابها دیدم نسبت به دنیای بچهها و کارهایی که میکنند عوض شد. فکر میکنم از بعد از اون روابطم هم با بچهها بهتر شده. از سری کتابهایی هستند که حتما باز هم میخونمشون.
—Maryam Shahriari
Ramona is a very fun character and young children can relate to her. The Ramona Quimby books are great transitional books for students who are reading their first few chapter books. I would use this with 3rd grade because that is about the age that Ramona is and I think the kids can relate to the things that she does and the ways that she feels sometimes. Ramona is 7 and a half right now and is facing life in school and with her family especially with her mother in this book. The cover is inviting to students because seeing someone squirting a tube of toothpaste all over the place is something every kid wants to do! You can see her mother not looking too happy in the background and I think it makes kids want to know who this girl is and what her life is like. Ramona wonders if growing up is as good as it seems and all kids wonder this at some point. Will she always be her mothers little girl?This book is good for students just reading chapter books and for read alouds because the chapters are short enough to allow for good stopping places and aren't too overwhelming for young readers. I remember reading the Ramona series in elementary school and they helped encourage me to go on reading other things.
—Samantha Mcdowell
No one captures the epitome of a precocious little firecracker of a girl better than Beverly Cleary! I read my first ‘Ramona’ book when I was in the 2nd grade (“Ramona Quimby, Age 8” – still my favorite) and my enjoyment of them has not waned in the slightest 21 years later! I absolutely adore these books. They convey such a warm sense of family, even when times are tough (and they have to “scrimp and pinch to make ends meet”). Cleary’s ability to write from the perspective of a “seven and a half” year old is so spot-on that you’ll find yourself remembering what it was like to be that age. I have read that not being able to find books containing characters she could relate to frustrated Cleary as a child; she went on to earn a library science degree and spent a lot of time around children who felt the same way she did. In writing her books, Cleary created a world of wonderful characters and stories that children could relate to for decades, and I would just like to say THANK YOU!!Much to my utter amazement, there is a new (to me) Ramona book that came out in 1999 called “Ramona’s World”. I will be adding this one to my To Read list!
—Kristen
