The history of democracy starts this book off.  It is dry at first.  When Mrs. Roosevelt then goes into her idea of democracy and Christianity it gets much better.  I like how she corresponds how if we are living a truly Christian life we will think of the greater good of the community instead of the individual then democracy will happen because democracy is for the greater good of the community.  Democracy is where equality exists or at least a level playing field exists.  Differences in lifestyles will still exist because of people's skills, talents, and abilities but everyone has an equal chance in a democracy.  I also liked how she states that we have a way to go still (and it is just as true today as in 1940) because we think more of the individual than the community.  This is a book we all need.  It is a timely today as it was 70+ years ago.

My latest podcast is up on the New Books Network website! In it, I interview John Torpey about his elaboration of Karl Jaspers's concept of the "axial age" of historical development. Enjoy!

Brief Review:

The giving tree is about a young boy and a tree. The young boy played with the tree growing up and the tree would do anything to make the boy happy, till the very end where she has no more left to offer the boy but the sat with the tree and the tree was happy.

Idea of how it can be used in a classroom:

The giving tree could be used in the classroom to describe what the tree did for the boy and what the boy did to the tree. The teacher could have the students write about a time where they were taking too much from someone or someone took too much from them and explain how they felt about it. 

Reading Level & Leveling System:

Accelerated Reader

2.6; Second Grade Six Month

Book Rating:

I would rate this book a 5 because the moral of the story is how the tree would do anything to make the boy happy and when the boy was happy she was happy. It shows how much the tree loves the boy… more than herself.

"True art is moral. We recognize true art by its' careful, thoroughly honest search for an analysis of values. It is not didactic because, instead of teaching by authority and force, it explores, open-mindedly, to learn what it should teach. It clarifies like an experiment in a chemistry lab, and confirms."

- John Gardner, On Moral Fiction, 1978

Okay, so this is a bit high-minded, but still it's something I aspire to in my writing.

I've tried to write strictly commercial fiction, but my characters and plots won't let me. At some point they tell me, "Hey, I'm not that shallow, superficial person and I won't let you portray me as such." At this point the vapid story I've been writing takes an unexpected direction and everything gets out of control and I'm back dealing with three dimensional characters in complicated situations that test their integrity.

Or at least I'm trying to.

How then does a writer, if so inclined, build their fiction on strong, ethical ground?

I subscribe to the method suggested by Carol Bly, Author of The Passionate, Accurate Story: Making Your Heart’s Truth into Literature. She suggests that even before beginning to write a story, consider composing a “Values Listing,” a written record of the things that are most important to you.

Then, throughout the writing process ensure these values continue to be identified in your work. That means these values are present in the issues and conflicts your characters confront and that they themselves are grounded in or address these same principles.

Here's the Value's Listing Questions. My answers are in capitals

VALUE’S LISTING:

1. Two goals or values which make life good or bearable or would if they were in operation. PRESERVING ENVIRONMENT/ ENCOURAGING THE HUMAN SPIRIT

2. Two goals or values which cause injustice and suffering or lessening of joy. WEALTH/MATERIALISM and the NEED TO CONTROL

3. Two missing goals or behaviors. As a child, you thought grown-up life would have these. Now that you are an adult you don’t see them around. HONESTY/INTEGRITY and RESPONSIBILITY/CREDIBILITY

4. Two injustices you see about you and should keep an eye on, even on your wedding day. RACISM/DISCRIMINATION and DESTRUCTION OF WILDERNESS

Considering my the list of my values, it's not surprising four of my novels could be categorized as Environmental Fiction, interpreted as a story of any genre; romance, mystery, literary, etc., with a subplot that addresses an important environmental issue.

In writing ECO-FI my hope is readers will be entertained by all the elements of a good story and will also come away a little more wiser about the environmental issues important to me and that effect us all.

ECO-FI TITLES:

SAVING SPIRIT BEAR - What Price Success?

LOVING THE TERRORIST - Risking it All

MAD MAGGIE - And the Wisdom of the Ancients

FOREST - Love, Loss, Legend

This stand-alone series will be part of my back-list promotion throughout 2018 and 2019 that will include upcoming FREE book days on Amazon. To be included in free offers of my existing books or the opportunity to receive Advance Reading Copies on new work, consider joining my ADVANCE READING TEAM at http://eepurl.com/cj5wjj

Buy links for these books include:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com

Draft2Digital - https://www.draft2digital.com