Our reading room is divided into the following three sections: periodicals, fiction, and non-fiction.
Non-Fiction:
"The Internet Public Library (IPL), is a public service organization and learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan School of Information...."
They "[p]rovide library services to Internet users. Activities include: finding, evaluating, selecting, organizing, describing, and creating information resources; and direct assistance to individuals."
Rabbi David J. Wolpe, "[a]n author of several books...addresses contemporary spiritual issues in what has been called writings of "remarkable clarity and wisdom," "eloquent and impassioned," and "profound (and) lyrical."" "The noted author Chaim Potok stated [In Speech and in Silence: The Jewish Quest for God, Rabbi Wolpe's second book] "uses language in a way that is in itself miraculous."
Rabbi David Wolpe is the "young and vigorous spiritual leader", of the Sinai Temple. "He is recognized in the world community as a profound, new contemporary voice for Conservative Judaism." I learned of Rabbi Wolpe through A&E's Mysteries of the Bible series, which he was a featured contributor to. You too will be riveted to his "profound (and) lyrical" speech.
The memoir that I was reading and enjoying immensely when I wrote this Web site was "Looking for my Country" by Robert MacNeil.
"Former PBS news anchor Robert MacNeil was born in Canada, and remained a Canadian citizen until a few years ago, when he made a momentous decision. This memoir helps illuminate his decision to finally become a U.S. citizen."
Despite the generation that separates us, he describes many of my feelings towards and experiences in Canada precisely.
Robert MacNeil was a student of RCS Netherwood in Rothesay, New Brunswick.
Essays: English and American. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
"The preeminent Internet publisher of literature, reference and verse providing students, researchers and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on the web, free of charge."
This is the most beautiful essay that I have ever read. It was written by the late Honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
"This is the official transcript of the address given to the United States Congress by the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair."
This is one of the most beautiful and funny speeches that I have ever heard by one of the greatest orators of our time.
"Dive into a good book" at this Web site, or do the weekly crossword. Visit the recipe corner or visit SimonSaysKids.com.
"David McCullough[, born on July 7, 1933,] has been called a “master of the art of narrative history.” His books have been praised for their exceptional narrative sweep, their scholarship and insight into American life, and for their literary distinction.
In the words of the citation accompanying his honorary degree from Yale, “As an historian, he paints with words, giving us pictures of the American people that live, breath, and above all, confront the fundamental issues of courage, achievement, and moral character.”"
While my son an I were living in Montreal, I read his "monumental Truman," for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. Last year, I read John Adams. While at this Web site, you can read excerpts from both of these books at this Web site and you can also read a conversation with David McCullough about John Adams.
"Distinguished historian David McCullough, whose just-published book, John Adams, is already a best-seller, delivered the address at the University of Delaware's 152nd Commencement, held Saturday, May 26, in Delaware Stadium. McCullough, whose honors include the Pulitzer Prize, two National Book Awards and the prestigious Francis Parkman Prize, is also well-known for his work on public television, serving as host of The American Experience and narrating the award-winning documentary series The Civil War."
"Editor's Note: David McCullough delivered this lecture immediately following President George Bush's historic address to a joint session of Congress on U.S. response to terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. More than 1,000 people in attendance watched Bush's nationally televised address before McCullough took the podium. He was introduced by Gov. Mike Johanns."
He concluded his lecture, as follows:
...
"A rain had fallen from some warmer region in the skies when the cold here below was intense to an extreme. Every drop was frozen wherever it fell in the trees, and clung to the limbs and sprigs as if it had been fastened by hooks of steel. The earth was never more universally covered with snow, and the rain had frozen upon a crust on the surface, which shone with the brightness of burnished silver. The icicles on every sprig glowed in al the luster of diamonds. Every tree was a chandelier of cut glass. I have seen the queen of France, with 18 millions of livres of diamonds upon her person, and I declare that all the charms of her face and figure added to all the glitter of her jewels, did not make an impression on me equal to that presented by every shrub. The whole world was glittering with precious stones.""
Fiction:
My favourite short story is O'Henry's "The Gift of the Magi."
I read this essay after I read in Tom Brokaw's autobiography, "A Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland," that his teachers, Mrs. Petersen and Mr. Holmes, introduced him to Robert Benchley's witty essays. It is evocative of Tom Brokaw's style on NBC's Nightly News.
"Project Gutenberg is the Internet's oldest producer of FREE electronic books (eBooks or eTexts)."
"Project Gutenberg is the brainchild of Michael Hart, who in 1971 decided that it would be a really good idea if lots of famous and important texts were freely available to everyone in the world. Since then, he has been joined by hundreds of volunteers who share his vision. Now, more than thirty years later, Project Gutenberg has the following figures (as of November 8th 2002): 203 New eBooks released during October 2002, 1975 New eBooks produced in 2002 (they were 1240 in 2001) for a total of 6267 Total Project Gutenberg eBooks. 119 eBooks have been posted so far by Project Gutenberg of Australia."
Harry Smith, co-host of A&E's Biography, hosts CBS' prime-time coverage of Boston's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular.
"Every life has a story." Search over 20,000 personalities! Learn who was born on this day.
This Web site is a great resource for "good FOOD," "at HOME, and the "yankee STORE"
"[T]he popular Jewish Heritage Online Magazine" is "now entering its sixth year of online publication."
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