The Idea

I have long been a great lover of books, ever since I can remember beginning to read. I can vividly recall the wonder with which I discovered such favorites as My Father's Dragon or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Reading allowed me to step into other worlds, to explore other time periods, to listen to the voices of people who lived thousands of miles away and sometimes thousands of years before me. Today, I can seldom be caught without a book in hand, and whenever I have the chance I love to slip away into the pages of a book, laughing at Hawkeye's schemes to save his friends in The Last of the Mohicans, drawing inspiration from Jean Valjean's nobility and selflessness in Les Miserables, or gasping in shock over surprises in Rebecca.

For some time now, I have enjoyed keeping track of what I've been reading with a brilliant website: Goodreads.com. However, I'd like a place to keep track of my reactions to the books I've read. That's where this reading log comes in. If I can stay disciplined, I hope to post my reactions here, so that in the future I can look back at my notes and refresh my memory.

Another reason for beginning this blog: I'm a seventh grade English teacher, and I love discovering and developing new ideas for my classroom. I've played with the idea of having my students create their own blogs, which would provide a valuable venue through which to respond to their reading.

In any case, I hope you enjoy my reflections, and perhaps you will find some useful ideas. ;)

Cheers,

Ms. Cochran