Comments on Sarah Laurence Blog: Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Br...

Ha, apprentice! Welcome to my blog. Humor is alway...

2009-07-08T09:03:47.948-04:00

Ha, apprentice! Welcome to my blog. Humor is always welcome.

Thanks for the information on floppy dog ears in r...

2009-07-08T08:25:29.076-04:00

Thanks for the information on floppy dog ears in relation to traits in domestication.

I'm not sure about evolution or God, I think both fell down on the job when they failed to ensure that giving birth was by means of velcro pouches :)

Jan, welcome back and thank you. Yes, I was even ...

2009-07-08T08:06:36.131-04:00

Jan, welcome back and thank you. Yes, I was even more excited than my daughter.

Congratulations to your daughter! I bet you experi...

2009-07-08T05:33:13.991-04:00

Congratulations to your daughter! I bet you experienced a real thrill of pride ...almost as much as she did.
I havent blogged for a while but thorouhly enjoying reading your posts: fun AND informative , Thanks Sarah!

Phoenix, thank you! Kaye, thanks for the link. S...

2009-07-07T15:36:35.263-04:00

Phoenix, thank you!

Kaye, thanks for the link. Somehow I accidentally skipped your book review. I’ll come visit soon.

JAPRA, Stella, as always, bounced right back to normal. I’m very proud of my daughter. It’s good to have you back online!

Tessa, that’s such a sweet comment, thank you. Half the fun of reading a good book is sharing it with friends. It's also fun to share a love of writing with my daughter.

Another wonderful post, Sarah. I do love your rev...

2009-07-07T13:01:18.502-04:00

Another wonderful post, Sarah. I do love your reviews, they are so succint and so beautifully written. I always find, when I peruse them, that I want to read each and every one. And many congratulations to your daughter - I see that the apple has not fallen far from the tree!

Oh your poor Stella! I hope she is feeling better ...

2009-07-06T09:00:26.040-04:00

Oh your poor Stella! I hope she is feeling better now.

And well done to your daughter!

nice review, and congratulations to your daughter....

2009-07-05T18:54:37.160-04:00

nice review, and congratulations to your daughter. my review

Sarah, hope you had a great Independence Day! Cong...

2009-07-05T09:43:03.422-04:00

Sarah, hope you had a great Independence Day! Congratulations to your daughter :)

Curmudgeon, it was hard to get a clear shot – my h...

2009-07-03T14:01:33.582-04:00

Curmudgeon, it was hard to get a clear shot – my hands kept shaking from laughter. I’m glad to have connected you and ACIL. Creationism/Intelligent Design continues to be issue. The latest iteration is “strengths and weaknesses” when teaching evolution. Also the Dover case in PA (ruling against ID) only applies to that court district. ID has not come before the Supreme Court yet. Even so, as long as a college/school is private, they will be allowed to teach ID. It's all so complicated - I had an educational lawyer friend check my manuscript even though it's a fictional case.

Kelly and Boomer, thanks!

Mary Ellen, that’s an interesting topic to study in high school. I continue to be an optimist about the weather. I feel like we are now owed a clear July 4th.

Thanks for the review. It's an interesting subject...

2009-07-03T08:51:55.128-04:00

Thanks for the review. It's an interesting subject. My younger son was studying the Scopes trial this past year in school.

Poor Stella! It's hard when people think you're not smart, just because you're beautiful.

Enjoy your vacation. I hope the weather improves for you - at this point, it pretty much HAS to get better, doesn't it?

Oh, goodness. I didn't know whether to laugh or cr...

2009-07-02T23:18:55.782-04:00

Oh, goodness. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the pic of the doggy! She's beautiful. And obviously smart. Knows what she wants in life.

Thank you for the always wonderful reviews.

I hope that you have a splendid weekend. ♥

Wow ... great reviews! And, congrats to your daug...

2009-07-02T20:16:54.505-04:00

Wow ... great reviews! And, congrats to your daughter too! That's wonderful! The picture of your pup cracked me up!

Congratulations to your daughter!!! Priceless shot...

2009-07-02T15:32:04.237-04:00

Congratulations to your daughter!!! Priceless shot of Stella! How did you stop laughing long enough to shoot it? I Saw your comment over at ACIL's blog. BTW, I discovered ACIL through your blog and was immediately drawn in by the "C" in his title. I don't remember it as a difficult transition--PB&J aside--but I imagine it was extremely hard on my parents.

I enjoyed this post very much. But it brought back some not so fond memories of my time spent teaching in NE. ID and C were front and center at the small college where I taught--not just an issue in the middle/high schools.

Thank you for the book recommendations. Enjoy your time at the beach!

Lakeviewer, thank you! I do hope to share my novel...

2009-07-02T07:30:49.168-04:00

Lakeviewer, thank you! I do hope to share my novel with you someday.

Andrew, thanks! It’s another first step.

Congrats to your daughter!

2009-07-02T07:24:55.718-04:00

Congrats to your daughter!

Congratulations to your daughter on her achievemne...

2009-07-01T21:58:13.369-04:00

Congratulations to your daughter on her achievemnet. I enjoyed the review and the accompanying background on the issues covered in the book. I look forward to your book as its premise is intriguing.

Barrie, thanks for hosting another fabulous book r...

2009-07-01T20:38:45.534-04:00

Barrie, thanks for hosting another fabulous book review club. Yes, I’m a proud owner of a freak of nature. I guess garbage scavenging could be adaptive, IF the dog had a better sense of spatial relations.

Congratulations to your daughter! I really enjoyed...

2009-07-01T20:09:37.804-04:00

Congratulations to your daughter! I really enjoyed this review. And I love how you tied your dog in with Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature!

Sarahlynn, Brande’s novel works. There is more go...

2009-07-01T18:50:12.579-04:00

Sarahlynn, Brande’s novel works. There is more going on than just meshing faith with science. It’s also a coming of age story about first love, self-discovery and taking chances. I love books that make me think as well as feel. Your book ideas sound interesting and original, either way you take it. I often find that a story evolves as I write it. Good luck with it!

Alyssa, I’d love to hear what you think of it. Thanks!

ACIL, the novel was quite a dramatic story on a personal level. I am enjoying some down time to read, but I still hope the rain will stop. At least we made it to the beach this morning before the storm came. I can’t remember such a wet summer as this in New England.

Many thanks for such a fantastic review. I love th...

2009-07-01T18:23:19.477-04:00

Many thanks for such a fantastic review. I love the way religion is woven into the story and I can only imagine what that little kid is feeling when she gets all that opprobrium heaped upon her by her family. Many thanks and I hope you have a fab holiday.

Greetings from London.

This sounds like an excellent book--great premise ...

2009-07-01T18:17:50.675-04:00

This sounds like an excellent book--great premise and some really unique characters.

Lovely review--I'm putting it on my list! Enjoy your mini-break and big congratulations to your daughter!

Your review of Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nat...

2009-07-01T18:02:58.637-04:00

Your review of Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature is compelling. It's hard to imagine such an issue specific book where the main conflict is internal rather than external that does not sound forced. I'm impressed that Brande pulled it off!

This might be a factor of where I am in my career, but I find it very difficult to write fiction about political hot topics where the politics doesn't get a little ahead of the plot.

(I threw out the first draft of my current work-in-progress for exactly that reason. It used to be about church groups protesting a religiously themed video game, now it's about someone targeting the game's designer for more personal reasons. The politics and churches are still there, just a step removed.)

Laura, the topic is endlessly fascinating. We are...

2009-07-01T13:38:10.425-04:00

Laura, the topic is endlessly fascinating. We are enjoying our beach time and trying to keep Stella out of the garbage.

David, retrievers are great family dogs, but they are mischievous. Brande does find common ground for science and religion while still keeping them separate.

Mama Shujaa, I like your new profile photo. My daughter wants to read this book too. The magazine is only available through the website for purchase, either individually or year subscription. I’ll email the poem to you when I can.

Elizabeth, I had to wait to stop laughing before I could snap the photo. You make an excellent point about proving the existence of God, which is why scientific theory can’t include divine causation. Scientific theories must be falsifiable. I don’t support fundamentalism, but many of the evangelicals that I’ve known are good people and kind.

Sapphire, scientists do not consider intelligent design a scientific theory (see Elizabeth’s comment and my reply.) The distinction is explained well in Brande’s book. In my novel I try to express the range of beliefs that is out there and let the reader draw his or her own conclusions. To learn more about the intelligent design vs. evolution debate on Wikipedia follow the link (from intelligent design) in my blog. I hope you do get to read my book some day. Thanks!

Bee, I think this book would be right for your younger daughter. Stella loves the beach. We swam with her this morning. I guess my daughter got the genes and the environment. I’m very proud of her getting published at 11. Her brother is a talented writer too but prefers facts. For humans there is a lot of choice on how we employ our gifts of nature.

Troutbirder, you would LOVE this book. The teacher is a wonderful character, and you’d appreciate the humor and the pups. Let me know what you think of it.

Rose, it probably already is in most school libraries after the ALA notable book award. My first golden was less mischievous than this one, but they do stay puppyish. We’ve clipped her fur short for the summer and everyone thinks she’s a puppy, but Stella is almost 5. At least her appearance matches her behavior now. I’m looking forward to reading your review.

Linda, welcome to my blog! Stella had to wear her “necklace” for as long as it took me stop laughing and snap a shot. I hope she’s learned a lesson but fear she hasn’t. I’d be curious to hear what you think of Brande’s book.

Pamela, I do prefer floppy eared dogs for pets. Casey and his pups are fun. Stella sends a wagging tail back to Edward.

Makes sense...both my dogs have floppy ears, and b...

2009-07-01T12:36:37.096-04:00

Makes sense...both my dogs have floppy ears, and both are incredibly friendly!

Sounds like a wonderful book. A cute, smart boy with a house full of puppies! He would have been my dream man!

Have fun at the beach, and congratulate your daughter for me.
Edward sends his best to Stella!