He'll Be OK

Over the last couple of days I have been avidly reading He'll Be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys Into Good Men by Celia Lashlie. I have been wanting to read this book since I listened to Celia Lashlie speak at a school conference.

Lashlie became the first female prison officer in a male prison in 1985. She has also written another book called Journey to Prison (which I am hoping to find in the library this afternoon). In this book Lashlie made the now-famous statement: ′There is a blond, angelic-faced five-year-old sitting in a classroom in New Zealand and he is coming to prison . . . On his way, he will probably kill someone.′ Not only did this statement bring her to the attention of the public at large, it also lost her her job.

In He'll Be OK, Lashlie writes as she speaks...it is very easy to imagine her speaking to you as you read along...she has an easy, funny, honest and no-nonsense attitude to her writing. While she makes it clear she is no expert, she does have a lot of experience with boys - during her days as a prison officer, years of research involving discussions with school boys from 25 boys schools throughout the country, and she has raised a boy herself.

According to Lashlie (and I would have to agree) the best thing a mother can do for her teenager son is to...back off! This is the time for the father to step in, and if there is no father, then the nearest male role-model. Lashlie outlines the differences between female parenting to that of male parenting. When I listened to her speak at a conference, I can always remember a story she told: during the school lunch time a young boy fell out of a tree and broke his arm. The female duty teacher wanted the tree cut down so it wouldn't happen again, and the male duty teacher said to the boy "you won't do that again, will you?". I think this rings so true! I do admit though, that not ALL female teachers (or mothers) carry on in this way, however. Lashlie tells many sotries like this in her book. Another advocate for boys education, Norm Hewitt (ex All-Black) has written of Lashlie's book: Celia doesn't tell men how to raise their boys...instead she provided tools for parents who want their sons to become good men. She is a significant asset to this country and personal inspiration.

Off to the library to find more books to read!

It's Now or Never and more...

Again, it has been a while. Since the earthquake I have been relishing any 'down time' to relax and try to sleep though the aftershocks, rather than read. But things are settling down now, so I have a couple of books to add to my blog.

Although I really enjoy purchasing books to add to my green bookshelf, I have been enjoying using the local libraries in Christchurch.

A wee while ago I completed It's Now or Never by Carole Matthews, which was a hilarious read! If you like to read the books by such authors as Marian Keyes then you will enjoy this one. It tells a very light and funny story of middle-aged twin sisters, Annie and Lauren, who vow to make changes in their lives so they can lead more fulfilling lifestyles. Annie is married to someone who spend ALL of his time fishing, and Lauren's lover has spent the majority of the last 5 years at home with his wife and children. So...it's time to turn things around!

I finished It's Now or Never the night before Christchurch's big 7.1 earthquake. None of the council libraries were open for a week after the quake, due to safety concerns, so I thought I would have another go at reading the 3 Joanne Harris books which were lent to me a while ago. I began to read Coastlines...and I managed to plough halfway through the book. But, should one have to PLOUGH through a book? I have no doubt that Joanne Harris is a successful and talented author. I just don't like how I feel I am while I am reading, she is hiding something from me? I feel like I am always wondering if I have missed something...

Luckily once the libraries were open I found that Amber by Deborah Challinor was available. I have been wanting to read this sequel since I read Kitty a few months ago. I just wish it would take me more than 2 days to read her books...it is always sad to get to the last page.

Amber carries on the journey of Kitty, now that she is happily married to Captain Rian Farrell and is travelling the seas of the world. The time has come for Kitty and Rian to return to Australia and retrieve Wai's bones to take back home to New Zealand. During this time, however, there is turmoil in the North Island as there is a war between Maori and the English. Rian decides to send Kitty to safety in Auckland. While Kitty is in Auckland she takes in a small mute, orphaned child, Amber.

I am now taking a break from fiction and have started He'll Be OK by Celia Lashlie. Lashlie has dedicated her life and wisdom towards the education of boys. I have heard Lashlie speak several times at teacher conferences, and found her to be inspiring. He'll Be OK is only one of her books...