This post was most recently updated on November 24th, 2014
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
Watch the Interview:
About Lloyd Lofthouse:
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.
Website: http://lloydlofthouse.org/
Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/lloydlofthouse
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lflwriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lloyd-Lofthouse/168775989838050
Google+: https://plus.google.com/116728680363586998839/posts
‘Crazy Is Normal’ will be on sale for only $0.99 from October 1-November 15, 2014 on Kindle!
Buy ‘Crazy is Normal’:
Follow the Tour:
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct. 1 Review & Giveaway
Inspire to Read Oct. 2 Guest Post & Excerpt
The Wormhole Oct 3 Guest Post
Cassandra M’s Place Oct. 6 Review & Giveaway
Pinky’s Favorite Reads Oct 6 Interview & Excerpt
Dr Bill’s Book Bazaar Oct. 8 Review
Being Tillys Mummy Oct 9 Guest Post
Being Tillys Mummy Oct 9 Excerpt
Unselfish Oct 13 Review
Back Porchervations Oct 14 Review & 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
The News in Books Oct. 29 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
What U Talking Bout Willis? Nov 10 Review & Excerpt
From Isi Nov 11 Review
Manic Mama of 3 Nov. 12 Review & Excerpt
Reading To Distraction Nov 12
Booknerd Nov 14
Deal Sharing Aunt Nov 17 Review, Interview & Excerpt
Feminist Reflections Nov 18
My Devotional Thoughts Nov. 24 Review & Excerpt
