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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Book Review of Crazy is Normal

Book Review of Crazy is Normal
Sponsored by Virtual Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.


Blurb: 

Publisher: Three Clover Press (June 14, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0986032851
Category: Biographies and Memoirs, Educators
Tour Date: October, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 386 Pages
Multi award winning author, Lloyd Lofthouse kept a daily journal for one-full school year and that journal became the primary source of this teacher’s memoir.
“Readers who envision eager students lapping up learning led by a Tiger Teacher will be disappointed. Lofthouse presents us with grungy classrooms, kids who don’t want to be in school, and the consequences of growing up in a hardscrabble world. While some parents support his efforts, many sabotage them—and isolated administrators make the work of Lofthouse and his peers even more difficult.
Throughout this memoir, though, Lofthouse seems able to keep the hope alive that there’s a future for each student that doesn’t include jail—thanks in large part to his sixth period journalism class and its incredible editor, Amanda.” – Bruce Reeves
Praise for ‘Crazy is Normal’:
“Lloyd has written an honest and fascinating story of a year in the working life of a dedicated California public school teacher. This is a must read for those thinking of becoming a teacher, is a public school teacher or administrator, or has children in the public school system.
What works most effectively is how Lloyd shows the contrast between the two student extremes – the top achievers who take what Lloyd offers and learns how to conquer the world, and the many slackers who appear determine to sabotage their teacher’s best efforts to teach them the skills they need for a successful future.”-Tim M, Amazon Reviewer

“Lots of teachers I know wish they had kept a daily journal as detailed as Lofthouse’s; you forget so much. He’s done old teachers a favor, and will have them nodding their heads — “yes, that’s the way it was.” Parents and teachers who live in lusher locations may turn their nose up at his toughness and military approach to classroom rules, but in the long run it’s the students who profited. Someday maybe someone will keep a similar journal and write a parallel account of life in a “nice” school classroom. A great read that gradually moves the reader from a sense of “crazy” to a sense of “maybe there’s hope.”-Unhirsute, Amazon Reviewer

“Lloyd Lofthouse has written a powerful memoir in Crazy Normal that took me back to time we shared at Nogales High School. His reflections and anecdotes based on his daily journal brought so many memories of my own teaching experiences there. This is not fiction, but retelling of events that might give insight for many into the challenges a teacher faces every day.
Lofthouse’s journal shows a later picture of the community. The kids who populate the pages of his memoir don’t have dirt floors, but many of them are still new to the country and the language. Some are headed to colleges and universities while others, if they graduate from high school, might be the first of their families to achieve that diploma.

I had to take breaks from reading when Lloyd described the grueling and frustrating teachers’ meetings. These were not times I wanted to revisit now that I have retired after thirty-seven years of teaching. But like Lloyd, my good memories are of the students who walked through my doors every day. I revel in their accomplishments and their ability to overcome huge societal obstacles in order to succeed. Nogales is a place like many other American high schools where crazy is normal.
I applaud Lloyd Lofthouse for his dedication and hard work on behalf of kids who needed someone who cared enough to help his students learn and grow. His story is worth telling—and worth the read.”- GailtheReader, Amazon Reviewer


Author Information: 

Little did Lloyd Lofthouse know in 1999, when he married Anchee Min, that he was beginning a journey of discovery. His first trip to The Middle Kingdom was on the honeymoon with his bride, who introduced him to China and Robert Hart (1835-1911), the main characters in Lloyd’s first two novels, My Splendid Concubine and Our Hart. The next decade was a journey of discovery. Lloyd now lives near San Francisco with his wife–with a second home in Shanghai, China.

Lloyd earned a BA in journalism in 1973 after fighting in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine. While working days as an English teacher, he enjoyed a second job as a maitre d’ in a multimillion-dollar nightclub. His short story,A Night at the ‘Well of Purity’ was named as a finalist for the 2007 Chicago Literary Awards.

Lloyd has won 15 awards for My Splendid Concubine and 5 awards for Running With the Enemy.

Contacts:

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Giveaway:
There is a giveaway for this book, open internationally however only the U.S. and Canada qualify for print.  An international winner will receive ebook.  This giveaway ends on November 12, 2014.  Please go to Teddy Rose Book Reviews to enter.

Crazy Is Normal Web Tour Schedule
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct. 1 Review & Giveaway
Inspire to Read Oct. 2  Guest Post & Excerpt
Cassandra M's Place Oct. 6 Review & Giveaway
Pinky's Favorite Reads Interview & Excerpt
Dr Bill's Book Bazaar Oct. 8 Review                                          
Being Tillys Mummy Oct 9 Guest Post & Excerpt
Unselfish Oct 13 Review                                               
Back Porchervations Oct 14 Review, Interview, & Excerpt
Sincerely Stacie            Oct. 15 Review                                    
Heck Of A Bunch Oct. 17 Review & Giveaway
Books, Books & More Books Oct 21 Review                                         
Rockin' Book Reviews Oct 22 Review, Interview, and  Excerpt
The Book Binder's Daughter Oct. 23 Review & Interview
The News in Books Oct. 29 Review & Guest Post
M. Denise Costello Oct. 30 Review & Excerpt
DWD's Reviews Oct. 31 Review
She Treads Softly Nov. 3 Review                                              
CelticLady's Reviews Nov 4 Review                                          
My Devotional Thoughts           Nov. 5 Review & Excerpt
Manic Mama of 2 Nov. 6 Review & Excerpt
Deal Sharing Aunt Nov 7 Review, Interview, & Excerpt
What U Talking Bout Willis? Nov 10 Review & Excerpt
From Isi Nov 11 Review

 

Review: 

Let me start by saying that I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.  It is well written by a man clearly passionate about the subject.  The writing contains humor, objective information, and passion.  It is also often negative and opinionated.

I have been a public school English teacher and I am a parent of two children.  I agree that it is unfair to hold teachers accountable for student’ lack of work.  Many students have backgrounds that make school challenging.  Some student’s only eat when school is in session because there is not enough food at home and some come from truly horrific backgrounds that result in school being the least of their worries.  That said some teachers are incompetent or lazy and unwilling to work with any student, particularly one who has special needs.

My son is on the autistic spectrum and my daughter is not.  BOTH of my children could be considered “difficult” children at times.  And I am definitely a difficult parent….I have highly active in my children’s education but I do not always take the teacher’s word for it because I have had teachers who didn’t like my child and made their life difficult.  That said, I also expect the highest standards from my children.  I found the negativity toward parents to be off-putting. Parents were almost uniformly presented in a negative light which was disappointing.   Parents and teachers must work together and support one another…and I come from a family of educators so I know it is possible.

This book is a clear look into the education system with all its foibles, but has the potential to bring many emotions to the surface.  Definitely worth the read.


This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.