National Library Week

Margie: Edna, I'm giving you fair warning that I won't be home much this week. It's National Library Week and I've been asked to help out down to the library.

I know you'll sit here all week whining and pouting so I bought you a pacifier. You're welcome to come to all the activities and there'll be free food. I've never known you to turn down a free bite.

Edna: My goodness Margie, I know you think you were insulting me but all you've really done is show our readers how mean you are. Although, I'm pretty sure they already knew that.

I'll come along with you to the library, but I bet they won't want you there with that bad attitude. You'll scare the children.

Margie: Edna, you don't make a lick of sense! You act like a baby when I make plans then you sulk and pout until I get home. If I stay home then you complain and whine about how mean I am.

You come to the library, sister, and you best act like a grown woman. You got that? Let's think up games for the children to play.

Edna: How about "Spot the Shriveled Shrew"? Or maybe "Are You Smarter than a 100-year-old"?

Margie: I prefer "Who Super Glued Edna's Tushie To Her Chair?"

Edna: My lands, listening to you yammer on has given me a megrim. Why don't you super glue your mouth and let folks get on with enjoying National Library Week?

Read A Book Day

Margie: Edna, you know how I feel about books and people reading them. It helps your vocabulary and takes you to other times and places. It's fun and educational too.

Here are some books I picked out for you to read. It's not reading when you look at fashion magazines or read about the latest celebrity news!

Edna: Margie, I am tired of you putting down my reading material! I am not so frivolous that all I ever read are those horrible gossip rags. (And, might I point out, I saw Cousin T bring you that National Enquirer the last time he was here. So don't you go pointing fingers at me.)

Why are you bringing this up now?

Margie: Edna, I was at my book club meeting last night and some of the ladies asked why you never attend. They snickered and somebody said you only looked at picture books.

I want to help you so you're not the butt of so many jokes.

Edna: Don't try and pull that helpful sister act with me. I could care less what the "ladies" in your book club think of me and my reading habits, Miss Smarty-Pants. But, if I did care, you could very easily put those unfounded allegations to rest by telling them that I have a stack of books on my nightstand a foot high. And you know perfectly well that I check a bag of books out the library every week.

But I don't have to defend myself to them or to you. I know what I like to read, and how often I like to read, and that's that.

Margie: Edna, leave it to you to be critical of my life's work of trying to get more young people to read. As usual, you care only about yourself and what you do.

You put that stack of books there to flatten out those old love letters you claim you got during the war.

Edna: Well good night nurse, you are plumb driving me to distraction! Who was criticizing your life's work? You're the one who brought up the ladies of your book club and said that they were snickering at me behind my back, I was just defending myself. I'm all for encouraging young people to read, you nitwit.

Honestly, I can't talk to you any more today, I'm retiring to my room with my smelling salts and a book. You're on your own, sister.


"Read a Book Day is today. Take time out of your busy life, and relax with a good book."

Fox's Earth

Margie: Edna would have you believe she's the only one who enjoys reading but she isn't. She recently wrote a book report about a book she'd read but I'm writing a review. Edna thinks she's still a schoolgirl.

This is my favorite book and I've read a plenty. You'll love this one too.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anne Rivers Siddons has written a riveting novel about obsession, power, and manipulation. (No, the book is not about Edna). The main character is Ruth Yancey. Ruth is the daughter of an insane father who preaches and abuses his wife and a mother who believes Ruth is destined for great things. Ruth's mother tells her that her feminine sexuality is Ruth's way out of abuse and poverty.

One day, Ruth spies the Georgia mansion owned by the wealthy Fox family. It's called "Fox's Earth" and decides she will have it. Eventually, she wins the heart of Paul Fox whose parents own the house. She ensnares him as well as his parents. Ruth then begins to transform herself into a true Southern belle with proper manners. The uneducated Ruth is left behind and the new Ruth is a sadist who intends to rule Fox's Earth. Ruth's is a story of greed, madness and murder.

She manipulates her husband and in-laws and begins a campaign to gain complete control over all who live in Fox's Earth.(Guess Edna gave her lessons). The best part of the story is about the relationship Ruth has with her children and grandchildren and with her servant, Rip.

As Ruth's grandchildren grow older, Ruth finds herself losing her control. Ruth cannot lose control so becomes more dangerous.(Think Edna and her sword).

I cannot possibly do justice to this book here. It spans decades and it is incredible. It is also the only book I have read more than twice. Take my word for it and read it for yourself.