Friday Books: Cinderella & LFLs

This is sad, but the only book I can tell you about that I actually finished reading this week is a child's book, The Gospel Cinderella by Joyce Carol Thomas.

I sometimes volunteer in an elementary school, and I happened to read this book. It was sitting on the table, and I was between tasks, so I read it. Turns out the teacher was glad I had read it, because she'd not had time, and she was soon to be working with kids and their writing about the story; she needed me to give her a quick summary.

It pretty much follows the Cinderella story line, except there's no handsome prince, and no marriage in the end (hooray). This one is a child who can sing beautifully. She lives with a mean "foster" mom and two mean twin girls who make her do all the chores. When a singing competition comes up, she is made to teach the twins a song (they bellow it very badly) and to sew them beautiful, new dresses. When she sneaks to the competition later, of course, she is overheard singing and wins the competition.

I have now spoiled it for you by telling you the entire story and the ending. That's not a good review practice, I know. Somehow I'm pretty sure none of my readers is itching to race to the bookstore this minute to buy this children's book. I liked the book, was glad it had no handsome prince, and the illustrations were nicely done. You may race out and buy it if you wish.

I did decide to finish reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand (see last post; I was stuck and wondering if I should give up). I like the book but am making very slow progress -- am still not done.

Meanwhile, I have discovered that Little Free Library stewards have a Facebook page of our own - for stewards, of which I am one. It has been fun to get some inspiration and ideas from other stewards, and to see an array of beautifully designed and/or painted LFLs. I am eager to install a bench near "mine" (ours - it belongs to our church) this spring.

And next time I travel, I am going to make whoever is driving STOP so I can visit other LFLs. (Recently I was too timid to make the driver stop when I really, really wanted to. Never again!)




and the last one has... drum roll.... a GIRAFFE on it!