It is almost impossible to explain the importance of the plays of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare plays are some of the most significant works of literature written in any language at any time. To this very day, Shakespeare remains the most important writer in the English language, and his plays are credited with practically beginning modern English. If you have only read Shakespeare's plays, you have had but a taste taste of the full glory of it. To really understand what Shakespeare accomplished, you need to see his plays performed live. There's simply no other way to do it. They were meant to be performed, and although you can get a lot out of them by reading them, only in the hands of a truly confident theatrical team do they come alive.

The first time I ever saw a Shakespeare play performed live was at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario. Although it is a small town in Canada, Stratford has become one of the centers of Shakespearean theater in the whole world. There is no other place like it. Every year, they put on dozens of Shakespeare plays. People flock there from all over the world just to see their productions, and the fans of theater are rarely disappointed.

My dream has always been to see the Globe Theatre in England. The Globe Theatre is the home of Shakespeare plays. It is supposed to be very impressive, and to me I think it would be a bit of a pilgrimage to go there. Nonetheless, nowadays the Shakespeare plays don't need a home. They are at home all over the world. They have been performed in practically every country on earth, and many of them are still read generation after generation. People begin to learn them in high school, but the interest and fascination they evoke continues past graduation into full adulthood.

Of course, Shakespeare plays are not only important for their language. They have also inspired countless other works of art. One of the most enduring is the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. It is a modern revisiting of Hamlet, focused around the prince's two false friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Through their dubious adventure and a tragic fate, the absurdity of man's existence is explored in a way that was not possible in Shakespeare's time. This is one of the most enduring characteristics of the Works of William Shakespeare: their ability to inspire new artistic exploration.

Recreation Center Fun

In our modern times, there are still some kids that ride to and from school on the bus, and someone is always there to see them off or be home when they arrive. There are more and families, however, that can’t seem to swing this. There are many single parents, and there are some parents that have odd hours at work. For all of these people, there are some great programs out there for helping out before and after school. Many districts now have a recreation center for children to go to before their parents or parent can pick them up for the day.

In my town, the recreation center is the local YMCA. It is a very nice facility, and they have transportation from the school to the center each day. There are some children that take that bus each day, spend some time having fun in the recreation center, and then go home when someone goes there to pick them up. This works well for single parents who have no family to help, or for moms and dads that have to work second or even third shift. Knowing they have someone to go is a great relief for them when there is no one else to help.

Many schools now do this, and most use recreation centers like the YMCA for their programs. At times, there may be a fee to parents, but at other times, this is something sponsored by a community organization, or the school PTA will raise money to fund the project. They also have programs in the morning for children that have to go before normal time, though these generally do not include spending time at a recreation center. They do more things like breakfast and some singing and games so they don’t get too worked up before school hours begin.

What these children do at the recreation center greatly depends on what is there. Some have arts and crafts programs, and some have swimming for those who have gone through swimming lessons. There are some organized games like kickball, and other times when they may just chill out and watch a movie. If you are interested in having your child in the recreation center program for your school, call them up and find out what they offer. You may find that you like the program so much that you have your children go a few days a week, even when you don’t need the extra help.

Join a paperback book club and read to your heart's content

There are plenty of us who would rather read than watch television. While public libraries and bookstores might hardly be exhausted, libraries don't usually stock the latest bestsellers and bookstores can be an expensive resource. Some people are just hooked on reading and that's an excellent habit. Reading increases your knowledge, is highly entertaining and keeps your mind active. Joining paperback book clubs is an inexpensive way to feed your habit. Let's take a look at some of the advantages.

First, you don't have to do much to keep the ball rolling. Paperback book clubs send a monthly or semi-monthly catalog of choices, with the editor's pick. Unless the subject matter holds absolutely no interest to your reading tastes, this selection is usually a good bet. If the editor's pick agrees with you, you don't have to do anything. They send it out and it's in your mail before you know it.

If you want something else, take a look at the alternate choices. Check a box, return the postcard and it comes in the mail. Very simple. No searching around at the library or bookstore. Your good read comes to you.

Another advantage to joining paperback book clubs is that you receive substantial discounts over the retail price. We're all into saving money and the constant reader can run up some money on books. You can save as much as 50% and sometimes more on special offers.

Today, books might almost be considered luxury goods, especially when you read all the time. Paperback editions are far less costly than hardback counterparts. The paperback book clubs give you a chance to read the book and decide if you want to buy the hardback edition for your permanent library. While that mystery novel may be excellent, you don't categorize it as a classic literary piece. In that case, you can read and enjoy it and then pass it on, to a friend, or donate it to the library, nursing home or school.

Another feature of belonging to a paperback book club is that you'll run across a lot of quality books in that catalog that you might never have run across on your own. The book clubs often have a few obscure titles which prove to be an excellent read.

There are only a couple of points to consider before joining a book club. Be sure you understand whatever time or purchase commitments the book club requires. For example, you may have to agree to purchase six books in a two-year period. If that works for you, great. You also need to make sure you return the postcard indicating your choices within the time period stipulated. If you forget, you'll end up with a book you may not want.

All in all, if you like to read, paperback book clubs are a great deal. Look online for a variety of these book clubs, offering just your taste in reading materials.