I've been trying to remember a story where the bad guy wins in the end. The only story that comes to mind is THE GIVER by Lois Lowry. Even this story doesn't give the reader a clear answer, though. 


I won't tell you how it ends but can tell you that when I finished it I was left with a huge question mark inside of me. Time and again students argue this ending and its winner.

When Kyle (husband) finished THE GIVER he threw the book across the room, disparaging the author with a few not-so-nice words.


Can you think of a story (movie or print) where the bad guy(s) win?

Ring Your Liberty Bell!!

Liberty Bell:

70% copper
25% tin
traces of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver

Weighs 2,080 lbs.

Yoke:

American elm

Weighs 100 lbs.

The Inscription: 

Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.--Leviticus 25:10

One Tradition:

If you're near a bell today at 2:00 PM EST, ring it thirteen times to honor patriots from the original 13 colonies. Every year, on the 4th at 2:00 PM EST, children who are descendants of the Declaration signers symbolically tap the Liberty Bell 13 times, while bells ring 13 times across the nation. Now, set your alarm and ring your bells!

Today's fun facts can be found on ushistory.org

His and Hers of Atlas Shrugged (Don't Let The Size Scare You)

My husband (Kyle) rarely reads fiction these days, so when he bought the ridiculously thick novel Atlas Shrugged (Signet 1957) my interest was piqued--but not enough to want to read it. Come on! The book's size might equal the A B & C volumes of an encyclopedia combined. One-thousand-fifty pages for a YA writer/reader hits the old panic attack button of time. Plus, I don't like to start of book and not finish it (even the bad, bad books).

But, Kyle kept stopping and wanting to read to me. Ayn Rand's hero hooked me. I had to have my own copy so I could write in the margins, underline, and get to know the book like a writer does. From both the reader and the writer's perspective this book is amazing. OMG!!!!

It's layered and the main character (Dagny Taggart) might be one of the best female protagonists, ever. In my head, I envision Kate Blanchett playing Dagny. The 2011 movie version of the novel stars Taylor Schilling.

We read aloud (taking turns) 10-12 pages each evening, which means we'll finish about September 24th.

Stayed tuned for more updates.