Currently reading
Frackistan: The Promise and Peril of America’s Energy Revolution
Savaging the Dark
The End-of-Life Handbook: A Compassionate Guide to Connecting with and Caring for a Dying Loved One
Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life
A Better Way of Dying: How to Make the Best Choices at the End of Life
Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness
Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success
S.
Dances in Two Worlds: A Writer-Artist's Backstory
Tigers in Red Weather
Henny
This is a book about being different and how there are pros and cons but once the difference becomes useful, the pros outnumber the cons probably 5 to 1 or something.Not addressed with Henny-the-chicken's arms are her teeth. She brushes her teeth. I know there's a saying about hens' teeth, but I also know that chickens, with exception of the one tooth they use to break out of their eggs, a tooth that falls off their beaks within 48 hours, do not have teeth.
To be honest, this book borders on the creeptacular. A chicken with arms. It's sadly cute in the beginning, when poor Henny has to lug her long, skinny arms behind her while trudging along, last in line. But as she gets older and tries to blend in, the arms...they are so distracting. People arms on a little white hen.
Happily, she learns to use her arms for helpful endeavors and thinks of all the other possibilities, culminating in perhaps every chicken's fondest dream and it's all wonderful.
And yet, a chicken with skinny, pink arms, it's a bit offputting. It's one of those "You have a face only a mother could love" type things...only - about that: this type of story tends to make my two latent maternal instincts come forward and I wanted to care for and protect the strange armful chicken.
On a serious note: Yes, I understand that this is about teaching compassion for others as well as being positive in the face of adversity. I get the point and know I am being the horrible person this book is intended to not create. I know this. And if I saw a real chicken with arms, I would still probably stare. It would probably peck my eyes out for my unmannerly behavior and I would deserve it. That wouldn't stop me from trying to give it a good home were it about to be sent off to the chopping block. I know this, too.