tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37866241154732562952024-03-13T02:11:00.311-04:00Wildly ReadWildly, if not widely, read.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-57924495569985178772014-05-07T09:57:00.004-04:002014-05-07T09:57:53.664-04:00WildlyRead on WordpressAfter a long hiatus, I've officially started blogging again over at <a href="http://wildlyread.wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a>.<br />
<br />
I've created an actual website to be my online home for all my hobbies, so you can find me at <a href="http://wildlylived.com/">WildlyLived.com</a>. You can read my travel writing at <a href="http://wildlytraveled.com/">WildlyTraveled.com</a>, see my photographs and other creative pursuits at <a href="http://wildlymade.com/">WildlyMade.com</a>, and for my book reviews, you can go to <a href="http://wildlyread.wordpress.com/">wildlyread.wordpress.com</a>.<br />
<br />
Hope to see you there! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-24890511509483864342013-02-24T10:50:00.000-05:002013-02-24T10:53:37.830-05:00Book Review: Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Frances and Bernard<br />
by Carlene Bauer<br />
9780547858241, $23, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt<br />
<br />
Beautiful. Heartbreaking. I fell in love with the language of it and the
romance of it and the way my heart still hurts now that I've finished
it.<br />
<br />
It's brilliant but terrible in its lack of traditional happy
ending. Both parties end up with - as harsh as this sounds - what they
deserve, but God it still hurts. <br />
<br />
I never expected to find myself
enjoying a book that spoke so much about Catholic God and faith, but
they speak of it in a way that's palpable to an agnostic Jew, which I
think really says a lot. I don't shy away from conversations about
faith, and in fact, find belief and adherence to those beliefs and
searching for those beliefs to be a very real and human and admirable
thing. The way the author intertwined the search for faith and the
belief in religion with the search and belief in love was, for lack of a
better description, done incredibly well. It didn't feel too didactic
or heavy-handed, probably because Frances was so pragmatic about the
whole thing. To say I enjoyed it doesn't pay homage to the way my heart
feels torn apart, but throughout 3/4ths of this book, I did absolutely
enjoy reading about Frances and Bernard falling in like and then in love
and then I had to figure out what to do about how very much I respected
Frances for her convictions and living up to them while I also very
much believe in Bernard's declarations of love and try to live my own
life believing in it.<br />
<br />
*Spoiler alert in the next paragraph!<br />
<br />
The
one tiny glitch that I am still thinking about is how Bernard's
character was framed after his marriage to Susan - all his infidelities.
We are absolutely influenced by those we love most, and so though it is
possible that Frances might have been influenced for the worse by
Bernard's character, was it not also possible that in marrying Bernard,
Frances could have been the making of him instead? Was Bernard's
character allowed to run out of check because of Susan's character,
herself?<br />
<br />
That aside, it's going to take me a little while to
build back up from all that again. Some books are supposed to make you
feel like that.<br />
<br />
I feel like I underlined half the book, but here are some particular favorites:<br />
<br />
"I
thought I had been growing up by unleashing my strength and mind onto
the world, by imposing myself and not being afraid of it, but this
suddenly began to seem like a lifetime of tantrums. I'd gotten used to
having too much, at having whatever I willed become real, which had made
my will promiscuous. Not strong at all." (19)<br />
<br />
"She is a girl,
but she is also an old man, and I see that there is intractability in
her heart that may never be shattered. Perhaps that is because she grew
up among women who love harder than they think, and she has strengthened
her innate intractability in order to keep tunneling toward a place
where she could write undisturbed by the demands of conventional
femininity. So she may always think harder than she loves." (48)<br />
<br />
"My life without you would certainly be less. That is one think I know." (77)<br />
<br />
"'Bernard,'
I said, and took his hand. 'No, no, that's not enough,' he said. He
took the package out of my other hand, put it down on a chair, and then
pulled me to him. He was right. That wasn't enough." (81)<br />
<br />
"I
wonder what of your mother was encoded in you without your knowing; what
of your life is a letter she wrote you that you have just opened and
will take your whole life to read." (85)<br />
<br />
"...people who made a
point to weave themselves together because they had poured out their
blood among one another. They may be annoyed with each other, but they
do not hate each other. They understand that annoyance is a fair price
to pay for the strange protective love of family." (132)<br />
<br />
"You
rely on your books for things the rest of us search for in people...
'Your books need no help from me. They are for you alone. When you don't
want to be alone, then here I am.'" (177)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-19074908558739017902013-01-25T08:32:00.002-05:002013-01-25T08:32:44.602-05:00Harry Potter Readalong, Book 1: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_9b7KdlOQpRENgYNSoR7nT6ehuH9Qiis2iijjcSGYfAtkv0gWdyGLkjCFWXMUGda4aHDSQX-KvK62A1iaBxFOyAkKD3hMDnhXd1enHChGBydpNIhcf3i3HktggVDdCJxb5y9aRcMd1Y7/s1600/harrypotterreadalong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_9b7KdlOQpRENgYNSoR7nT6ehuH9Qiis2iijjcSGYfAtkv0gWdyGLkjCFWXMUGda4aHDSQX-KvK62A1iaBxFOyAkKD3hMDnhXd1enHChGBydpNIhcf3i3HktggVDdCJxb5y9aRcMd1Y7/s1600/harrypotterreadalong.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
First and foremost, thank you to Alice <a href="http://reading-rambo.blogspot.com/">Reading Rambo</a> for hosting this readalong. Second, thanks to Emily at <a href="http://www.asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/">As the Crowe Flies and Reads</a> for turning me onto it. Having not reread any of the Harry Potter books since they first came out, I can not begin to tell you how excited I am to go back and start reading them MORE THAN A DECADE LATER. I am still young enough where this seems like a long stretch of time. Forgive me.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I'm a week behind, which means I'm going to be posting about the whole of book 1 here, while everyone else posts about the start of book 2, and then by the next post I hope to have caught up. Because I'm so behind, I'm pretty much just going to post my stream of consciousness reading thoughts on book 1 and the get really into the swing of things for book 2<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, I have only recently been introduced to the world of gifs. Apparently they're moving pictures that have funny captions, and are in part appropriate here because they're like the moving photographs in the wizard world in Harry Potter, yes? Or something like that. I'll get used to them, I promise, and probably some day figure out how to make my very own, or at least where to find some to post here. I apologize there are none on this post.<br />
<br />
Lastly, before we begin, I'm going to make you all hate me by saying I am not a fan of Mary GrandPré's artwork. Go ahead, shoot me. It's just not my style. But I'm very happy for her and her career and for the bajillion fans who love her work who are now burning me in effigy.<br />
<br />
So, to begin:<br />
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<br />
Obviously the book is really enjoyable; let's just get that out of the way. This time around, having seen almost all the films (I think I missed the last one somehow - how DID that happen?) and read all the books, I had a pretty good idea of where things were going, which allowed me to pick up on all those other little subplot moments (not to pat myself on the back or anything).<br />
<br />
Right at the beginning, possibly plot inconsistency: Hagrid tells Dumbledore that the motorcycle he rides in on belongs to Sirius Black: "Young Sirius Black lent it to me." (pg 14) But later in the series, Sirius Black is in Azkaban, and wouldn't he have been there already or at least suspect at that point for having supposedly betrayed Harry's Mom & Dad? I hate to point that out, as he's one of my favorite characters, but still, that might be inconsistent with the plot later.<br />
<br />
During most of the first quarter of this book, I just kept thinking of <i>Oliver Twist</i>: "...and Harry was left to curl up under the thinnest, most ragged blanket" (pg. 45). "Please, sir, may I have another?" Is that even Oliver Twist? Or is that Tiny Tim? Not going to look it up, you get the point. Later, when he's at Hogwarts, I kept thinking of <i>Charlotte's Web</i>, with all the descriptions of food. Reminds me of Templeton's romp through the fairgrounds that one night.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ah, the meeting with Professor Quirrell in the Leaky Cauldron. How on EARTH did Prof. Q. get this position in the first place? Who DOES do the hiring for Hogwarts? You would think it would be Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall or anyone else with half a brain who wouldn't hire a trembly Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And later, his curriculum - someone should really be looking over that, shouldn't they, to see that the kids are actually being taught something useful? I mean, isn't that kind of an important subject? I kind of feel like DAtDA is like Driver's Ed - not everyone may need to use it, but we should all take it so if we're ever forced behind the wheel of a car, we know at least the basics of what to do. Okay, not a great analogy, but can you think of a better one?<br />
<br />
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the Phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, have another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother - why its brother gave you that scar" (pg. 85).<br />
Mostly I just loved that whole scene, but I always thought it would be cool if it turned out that the phoenix who gave the tail feather turned out to be Fawlkes (Dumbledore's phoenix. It IS Fawlkes, right?). Also, resisting the urge to comment on wand size being a euphemism for the size of something else...<br />
<br />
Moving on: "Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbeldore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling." (pg. 102-103) <br />
Though I had a lingering memory that Flamel had a wife, this part still kind of made me wonder if there wasn't something romantic at one point between Dumbledore and Flamel. Even when Flamel's wife is later confirmed, I still kind of hope there was.<br />
<br />
Bad idea to read this book while hungry. Also a bad idea to write down notes on your iPhone without saving. Grrr. Learned a new type of food - something about sausages, starts with a c, sounds Spanish, but I think when I looked it up it said it was actually French.<br />
<br />
Okay, what's up with no one talking to them after they lost the points for Gryffendor? Fred & George must have lost that amount of points combined with all the hijinks those two get up to. Seems really unfair (and kind of un-kid-like) for everyone to shun the three of them for that ENTIRE length of time. <br />
<br />
Ridiculous detention in chapter 15! First-years in the forbidden forest? Isn't that actually helping them break the rules as part of their punishment for breaking the rules? Also, who authorized this detention? Looking for whatever creature is hunting and killing unicorns?!? Oh no, that won't be dangerous at all. And also, how is that so much work, like Filch keeps talking about? Other than staying up really late, sounds more like an adventure to me. As a kid, I would have loved it if my detention actually meant, "Go explore the creepy forbidden forest at night with 3 of your friends (and one eneme), one of whom is the groundskeeper and so knows every inch of the forest." Really tough, that one.<br />
<br />
Lastly, where's the hullabaloo about Voldemort being back?!?!? If the centaurs know it's him, and Harry knows, how died Hagrid not? And if Harry told Ron and Hermoine, isn't at least one of them smart enough to know that they should tell an adult? Voldemort hadn't been seen in how many years and suddenly he's seen in the Forbidden Forest on Hogwarts' very grounds? That entire chapter 15 and detention incident is totally unresolved.<br />
<br />
"'It's tonight,' said Harry, once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. 'Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way.'" (pg. 268)<br />
Why are they so convinced its going to happen that night? Just because they're kids and learned the secret today and the world revolves around them? That stranger in the pub nonsense was weeks ago! Wouldn't the cloaked stranger have already made use of the information by now?<br />
<br />
"'Not if I can help it,' said Hermoine, grimly. 'Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and welve percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that.'" (pg. 271)<br />
Hermoine gets all sassy, love it! If only she stays this sassy throughout the rest.<br />
<br />
Forgot there were so many tasks for them to get past on their way to confront Snape/Quirrell; the movie shortened that. Wish they'd kept the logic in, it really underscored how important Hermoine has become to the group. Instead, they kept in the self-deprecating line about friendship and bravery being more important that books and cleverness. 'Cause that was the right choice (heavy sarcasm should be noted here).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMnBYrMwxmxl2WNiw4xQNCYAkReYrf6jMU0wZKnDO89yoaddYv80YkVcrdl-OIWp2S5XUKeCJEOJnkMJD1HAJ3f8MbJuz4gPmA2AOBgOQTY2vFBNNqObIfcMaIVns2h2Vexgj4l8vfEpP/s1600/neville+longbottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMnBYrMwxmxl2WNiw4xQNCYAkReYrf6jMU0wZKnDO89yoaddYv80YkVcrdl-OIWp2S5XUKeCJEOJnkMJD1HAJ3f8MbJuz4gPmA2AOBgOQTY2vFBNNqObIfcMaIVns2h2Vexgj4l8vfEpP/s1600/neville+longbottom.jpg" /></a>ARGH! General rant about the arbitrary points system! Every time a teacher adds points or detract points, I'm like WTF? I guess that's part of the point - oh those kooky wizards, giving out and taking away points all willy-nilly-style - but it drives me a little insane. Neville's additional points at the end are amazing of course, but then Harry only gets 60 points for almost dying? The whole thing smells fishy.<br />
<br />And last but not least, the two times I teared up: when Hagrid gives Harry the photo album of his family and when Neville gets the winning house points. SUCH a spectacular ending.<br />
<br />
Oh, also, how attractive did Neville turn out? (Or the actor who played him.) Hubba hubba.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-9535064201597508232013-01-20T12:16:00.001-05:002013-01-22T12:57:59.674-05:00Book review: Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_D71Ra4Cq4C4cZ3yI8KNQgZa_qgBp9XqQ-5_GedwoDSBHNXfVvXjcUrCkc09z_kJYTr25cKJe_yWNB4Go5zrVdt8JzarsR4CjWUPywkOzy5Bm1kKuV1TpDQ6Y4UMRIv5tpPxVhNsUyY0/s640/blogger-image--477250603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_D71Ra4Cq4C4cZ3yI8KNQgZa_qgBp9XqQ-5_GedwoDSBHNXfVvXjcUrCkc09z_kJYTr25cKJe_yWNB4Go5zrVdt8JzarsR4CjWUPywkOzy5Bm1kKuV1TpDQ6Y4UMRIv5tpPxVhNsUyY0/s320/blogger-image--477250603.jpg" width="212" /></a>I am overwhelmed by how perfectly completed this trilogy is. One of the most brilliant things about this whole trilogy, but this third and final book in particular, is how seamlessly history and current events are woven together so that you're both reminded of events that took place in the previous two novels, as well as given carefully revealed tidbits of information from the history of these countries, to give context to the action happening in the present. A phenomenal ending, not only with all the loose ends tied up, but some lovely additions or plot asides (such as recognizing the bravery and sacrifice made by a 17-year-old Charynite boy in Lumatere 13 years earlier leading to child care advice for Quintana, or Quintana softening enough to play matchmaker) that balanced out all the sadness that came before. Toward the final third of the book, I found myself crying at the small moments of happiness, the expressions of love, instead of over the horrors that came before. <br />
<br />
One of my favorite paragraphs:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"And Phaedra saw her smile, with a hint of mischief in it, and she couldn't help smiling herself and then she was laughing. They both were, and the savage teeth were the most joyous sight Phaedra had seen for a long time. It was as if they were dancing. There it was. Suddenly the strangeness of Quintana of Charyn's face made sense. Because it was a face meant for laughing, but it had never been given a chance. It robbed Phaedra of her breath." (pg. 201)</blockquote>
That, to me, is where Melina Marchetta is truly gifted, in that she can make those sweet moments so profound because of the bitterness that is being let go because of them. She makes forgiveness and love such a powerful force throughout this entire series, but most particularly in this third and final installment of <i><b>The Lumatere Chronicles, Quintana of Charyn</b>.</i><br />
<br />
I will try to describe the plot without giving too much away. At the end of book 2, Froi of the Exiles, Froi was left for dead with 8 arrows in his body, while Quintana was spirited away through underground caves to no one knows where. Froi is saved by his birth uncle, Arjuro, the gods-blessed priestling, and is reunited in Charyn with his birth father, the genius Gargarin, and his birth mother, Lirah of Serker. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Quintana has gotten herself to Lumatere, where she is being reluctantly taken care of by Phaedra of Alonso and the other escaped Charynite women living in the valley between Charyn and Lumatere. The women fakes their deaths to keep news of Quintana from reaching the evil Charynite soldiers-for-hire who killed the seven scholars-turned-soldiers (Rafuel's) men, in book 2. All the women are hiding out in a cave a few miles upstream from the rest of the refugees, with only Rafuel knowing their truth. It is when Quintana begins leaving the cave to hunt for food and meets Lady Beatriss's daughter Vestie, and is found by Tesadora, that the plot begins to unfold.<br />
<br />
In Froi's adventures, he's traveling back and forth through Charyn with Gargarin and Lirah in an attempt to both find Quintana and raise an army to rescue her from whoever has her. In Quintana's adventures, as more people find out the women aren't dead and that Quintana is there, the more all the women, but most especially Quintana and the unborn little king, are in danger, for Bestiano, the horrible man who raped Quintana and was trying to take over the palace and the kingdom of Charyn, is still alive and has offered gold as a reward to any man who will bring him the little king, not Quintana, alive.<br />
<br />
Subplots include a jealous argument between Finnikin and Isaboe that leads to Finnikin accompanying his father, Trevanion, and Perri, on a hunt for Gargarin, who they believe to be behind the attack and slaughter of Isaboe's family, during which they run into Froi, whom they haven't seen in 9 months; Lucian finding out that Phaedra is alive, struggling with his new feelings of love for her, and the two of them learning to trust each other; Isaboe and Quintana's unborn children talking to each other, to their mothers, and helping to explain what happened during the day of weeping 13 years earlier when all the women of Charyn lost the babies they were carrying and Lumatere became cursed, thus causing the last borns to be marked; and how to best avoid war and broker peace between all the kingdoms.<br />
<br />
I am pleased to announce that despite all the political intrigue, battles fought, and messages gone astray, there is a happy ending in there for everyone who deserves it, with compassion, forgiveness, and love occurring in the most unexpected, but well-deserved, circumstances.<br />
<br />
Definitely one of my favorite books of the year, the only downside is what on earth do I read next? <br />
<br />
To read my review of book 1 of the Lumatere Chronicles, <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-finnikin-of-rock-by-melina.html"><i><b>Finnikin of the Rock</b></i>, click here</a>. Though I never reviewed it, I did a Waiting on Wednesday post for book 2, <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-froi-of-exiles-by.html"><i><b>Froi of the Exiles</b></i>, here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-54364878154652357032013-01-16T18:48:00.001-05:002013-01-17T07:18:37.574-05:00Book Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of HerOwn Making by Catherynne M. Valente<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IQhi50wllZJu5uwhdxdbYLS4oPL2jYNYZ5-2kJRwkTzWnRJP5bEYBmXwt8j7U50ZoHgZaS2k9huWE1jQxnKnAN_yXZ4fE1u8zrkcjVb-SzgrdCjSyWaXmdubjmsnNm8cbRI1MydcgMNe/s640/blogger-image--1713217331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IQhi50wllZJu5uwhdxdbYLS4oPL2jYNYZ5-2kJRwkTzWnRJP5bEYBmXwt8j7U50ZoHgZaS2k9huWE1jQxnKnAN_yXZ4fE1u8zrkcjVb-SzgrdCjSyWaXmdubjmsnNm8cbRI1MydcgMNe/s320/blogger-image--1713217331.jpg" width="213" /></a>Absolutely delightful. I don't know why it took me so long to read it, as it was on my TBR shelf from the moment I saw the title - being a fan of the absurdly long title, such as <i>Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters</i> and <i>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</i> - but I will be forever grateful to my coworker Roger who finally literally pressed it upon me. Much like the content of the books that have those other titles, the content of this book lives up to its title as well. In fact, I'm having difficulty coming up with a book that has such a deliciously involved title that doesn't live up to it. Can you? Any novel with a long name really has to be strong enough (and by that I mean interesting enough) to live up to it, doesn't it?<br />
<br />
Clearly I digress. It's difficult to explain why this book is so fantastic, and to explain why, think of <i>The Phantom Tollbooth</i>. I dare anyone who has read that book to sum it up concisely. There were so many times while reading this book that I thought of TPT, not because they're really all that alike in terms of story, but more that they're alike in terms of the sly way the authors used a child's fantasy novel to impart little wise asides about our daily lives. They're similar in that "out of the mouths of babes" kind of thing that you get from other books like <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i> and <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>, too, where a childlike innocence and curiosity underscores some of our deepest thoughts and brings to light some of our most foolish actions. All without condemning us, simply pointing them out, as if they're saying, just in case you missed the fact that as adults we're sometimes selfish asses, and here's why that might be, and here's how to maybe stop. But, you know, without being too pretentious about it. Now on to what the story is actually about.<br />
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September is a little mostly-heartless girl from Omaha who is whisked away for an adventure in Fairyland by the Green Wind and his Leopard. Queen Mallow has gone missing and The Marquess has replaced her and so instead of everything in Fairyland being sugar and spice and all that's nice, the Wyvern and fairies have their wings chained and other bad things like that are happening. September doesn't really know much about the history of this, she is mostly just trying to have an adventure, but she has read fairy tales before and so recognizes a quest when she sees one. In addition to the Green Wind, along her quest September will meet a red Wyvern, a blue Marid, a Panther, a few fairies, a changeling, some witches, a woman made entirely of soap, and last but not least, a paper lantern. All play integral roles - some to hurt, some to help - as September loses a shoe but gets a new pair, is gifted a jacket and sash, collects a spoon, a wrench, and the most loyal key ever, and don't forget, sails around Fairyland on a ship of her own making (losing her heart and her shadow in the process). If all of that doesn't sound intriguing enough to make you read it, then I don't know what will.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-78706626537360111052013-01-08T22:14:00.001-05:002013-01-22T10:26:44.004-05:00Book Review: Finding Camlann by Sean Pidgeon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmDLxV05doIcbfheBoIu47BzHDpDJfWkKT5FwXhWrm-xqYIVDgaUbaZAfz9m-AIioaI0FDzfdFzzJqnS7o7pr7Ksg6YSwGMdNLqPKZZ5SX9DO_9SZVa7WSlpvn1u8ZGnLvrrYbgvPxEXl/s640/blogger-image-1358421507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmDLxV05doIcbfheBoIu47BzHDpDJfWkKT5FwXhWrm-xqYIVDgaUbaZAfz9m-AIioaI0FDzfdFzzJqnS7o7pr7Ksg6YSwGMdNLqPKZZ5SX9DO_9SZVa7WSlpvn1u8ZGnLvrrYbgvPxEXl/s320/blogger-image-1358421507.jpg" width="211" /></a>Finding Camlann<br />
by Sean Pidgeon<br />
<br />
This book has been described as of interest to fans of the movie Possession starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. While it's true that there are similarities - romance among two people brought together by new findings that shed light upon a piece of British history - the pacing of this novel would have been much better served as a movie. While I am glad I read it, I can't say I simply enjoyed it. <br />
<br />
The story got lost for me in the emphasis placed on everything from the detailed descriptions of the British and Welsh countrysides to ancient historical events and genealogies to dreamscapes (which really seemed most out of place) to almost everything but the forward momentum of the story itself. I could see how the sweeping vistas would be gorgeous in a movie, or how the impeccably researched historical elements might appeal to history buffs, but I wanted more meat to the story itself. The very writing itself seemed to contain a kind of stereotypical British constraint that was occasionally swept aside by a fanciful phrase that almost did more to distract than add, it being so out of place.<br />
<br />
All of that said, something about it kept me reading, maybe because the pacing was just enough to hook me in as I was about to give up with some new piece of the mystery or new development in a character's relationship. I did like the characters:<br />
Donald Gladstone is the co-main character along with Julia Llewelyn. He's an archaeologist; she's a researcher for the OED. Her husband, Hugh Mortimer, I thought was the least realized character, despite his rather central role in the end. Some intriguing minor characters come in, with Donald's American ex-wife being my least favorite, mostly because she either put on airs as a character or the author genuinely believes American women act like this (either one being of extreme annoyance to me). <br />
<br />
A slow build for sure, I was almost most disappointed in the ending, for right as there is a final build-up to the actual find that brings all the various pieces of the historical mystery together, the author prefers to write something prosaic and leave it all to our imagination, what happens next, as opposed to giving the reader some closure - which, ironically I felt, was something several of characters throughout the novel were looking for (closure). <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-23645318973903302502012-07-31T17:44:00.003-04:002012-07-31T17:44:55.829-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Character Switches<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-rs0jgXm9MkTMLRP9eRkl4U-9eDm0UWH7_hhcwM7CY3fnnAdqtT9qESGZbHUEAH1drEVjh2ZNlBGnpA6vsJ8wmpOpH5BDtN4peFL6rL_vVDfdPq3QjeMAXhFHMy7woDe3NqpqH2NSjRL/s1600/Top+Ten+Tuesday+Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-rs0jgXm9MkTMLRP9eRkl4U-9eDm0UWH7_hhcwM7CY3fnnAdqtT9qESGZbHUEAH1drEVjh2ZNlBGnpA6vsJ8wmpOpH5BDtN4peFL6rL_vVDfdPq3QjeMAXhFHMy7woDe3NqpqH2NSjRL/s1600/Top+Ten+Tuesday+Badge.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc0513; text-decoration: none;">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, a brilliant book blog, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">hosts a weekly top ten list meme.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I like this meme because I like lists. I like this meme because it reminds me of the Top 5 lists from <i>High Fidelity</i> (by
Nick Hornby as a book, starring John Cusak as a movie). And I like
this meme because it causes me to think long and hard about
book-related topics. So here goes:</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Top Ten Characters I'd Like to Switch Places with for 24 Hours</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Choosing these characters does depend a bit on which 24 hours you'd be
living through, doesn't it? For instance, you might want to be Harry
Potter or Hermoine Granger or Ron Weasley, but would you rather be them
in the middle of book 1 or in the middle of book 7? (Personally, I'd
like to be Harry Potter right in the middle of the first big feast of
his life in the great hall during his first night at Hogwarts. Can you
imagine all the different types of food?!?)<br />
<br />
After some careful consideration, here are the top ten characters I
would like to switch places with, and the somewhat specific 24 hours I
would like to live:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvvoeKZyQwqQlyYShx9wyfKEV69EF2_US6vC-_yLBtTBdtFj8bJwrsN9aY3Zge-zWkU2VOuW26j-tTl7qaQ7rbLeVQFjOr1OWK76wdOfVckPtL65H2R5BfdI0eaorg6Ar036FaUKSOByU/s1600/anne+of+the+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvvoeKZyQwqQlyYShx9wyfKEV69EF2_US6vC-_yLBtTBdtFj8bJwrsN9aY3Zge-zWkU2VOuW26j-tTl7qaQ7rbLeVQFjOr1OWK76wdOfVckPtL65H2R5BfdI0eaorg6Ar036FaUKSOByU/s200/anne+of+the+island.jpg" width="144" /></a><strong>1. Anne Shirley in <a href="https://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/anne_of_the_island2"><em>Anne of the Island</em> by L.M. Montgomery</a></strong><br />
<br />
This one might seem a bit obvious to you, what with her being such a
classic character and all, but wait for it: I would choose to switch
places with Anne during book three of the <em>Anne of Green Gables</em>
series, while she was going to school and living with her friends in
that adorable little house with the live cat and the stone dogs Gog and
Magog. She was right on the verge of change, and enjoying every moment.
No specific 24 hours for this one, just any point throughout the year
when she's so appreciative of living in a charming house with great
friends, working hard at school, and then hugging to her the equal parts
of fear and excitement over being in love with Gilbert Blythe.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. Sara Crewe from <a href="https://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/a_little_princess7"><em>A Little Princess</em> by Frances Hodson Burnett</a></strong><br />
<br />
Apparently I'm sticking with the classics, as Sara was the second
character that came to mind. The very specific 24 hours here would be
when she wakes up in her attice bedroom in the horrible Miss Minchin's
school and finds herself all cozy and warm and thinks that she's
dreaming because there's food and slippers and a robe and a fire in the
grate, and she calls Becky over so that she can share right away, and
for a brief period of time Sara has some real happiness as opposed to
her own created happiness. Obviously I like it when happy things happen.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>3. Mary </strong><strong>Lennox from <a href="https://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/the_secret_garden6"><em>The Secret Garden</em> by Frances Hodgson Burnett</a></strong><br />
<br />
I know I've chosen happy moments so far, but this one is a little
different. I would choose to switch places with poor, unwanted Mary
during the first 24 hours she's in that huge scary house of her uncle's
on the Yorkshire moors. Do you know why? So I can explore it, of course!
I'm not saying I wouldn't be equally sad and terrified, but I would
also explore that place top-to-bottom, because what could anyone say to
me then about poking my nose into every nook and cranny? I'm new and
lost and they probably would forget all about me anyway, and so for at
least 24 hours I could wander at will and discover all the house secrets
right away.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ddUMwro_jPTLKA5AgTFI0fmoQ8VORD4qONSjnVYVe3krorPeR_YbDeGs1OzGNBayZhstYjWELW_oYOJ0f41JoHcsQu_XpH2hZpKJYFCwLvzw42PkKaq2GVCMocCZSduVh2-inuiGHSi/s1600/kat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ddUMwro_jPTLKA5AgTFI0fmoQ8VORD4qONSjnVYVe3krorPeR_YbDeGs1OzGNBayZhstYjWELW_oYOJ0f41JoHcsQu_XpH2hZpKJYFCwLvzw42PkKaq2GVCMocCZSduVh2-inuiGHSi/s200/kat.jpg" width="133" /></a><strong>4. Angeline Stephenson from <a href="http://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/kat_incorrigible"><em>Kat, Incorrigible</em> by Stephanie Burgis</a></strong><br />
<br />
In Regency-era high society, one does not perform magic. Yet magic
exists, Kat knows it does, because her mother was a witch. Unfortunately
for Kat, her mother died soon after she was born, so the only memories
she has are second-hand, overheard from her two older sisters. When her
father remarried, Stepmama puts away all Kat's mother's things, and no
one is allowed to speak of it. I would love to switch places with Kat's
middle sister, Angeline, for any of the 24 hours during their high
society house party so that I could aid Kat in foiling Stepmama's plans
to marry off Kat's oldest sister to an evil (although rich) man whose
biggest claim to fame is killing his first wife. Though Kat does a
pretty remarkable job of saving her oldest sister all on her own,
ruining dastardly deeds is so much more fun with two people.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>5. <a href="http://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/the_penderwicks"><em>The Penderwicks</em> series by Jeanne Birdsall</a></strong><br />
<br />
This one is the easiest - ANY character during ANY 24 hour period in
ANY of the three books in this series, please! They're all equally fun,
and I can't wait to be part of that family. Okay, I probably wouldn't
want to be Hound, the dog, though he is certainly loved, fed, and petted
enough, and allowed to sleep on the bed, but any other human character
in the family would do.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>6. Lydia Demarek from <a href="http://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/the_invaders"><em>The Brotherband Chronicles: The Invaders</em> by John Flanagan</a></strong><br />
<br />
Lydai's role seems like the perfect mix - deadly accuracy with a
slingshot, knowledge of the local landscape, spirit of adventure, and an
independent attitude. I would want to switch with her for the 24 hours
right after book 2 ends. I can't wait to hear more about her character
in book 3!<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>7. Nathaniel Fludd from <a href="http://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/flight_of_the_phoenix1"><em>Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist: The Flight of the Phoenix</em> by R.L. LaFevers</a></strong><br />
<br />
Action, adventure, a dodo bird, Bedouins, an unknown aunt, a gremlin,
the mystery of missing parents, and a real, live phoenix?? Count me in!<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHukeXMUr8C5hqDnxxw7h3JLtX49vimX4p-Eszya7_JHofkMli1vCdzavSyy-WVLcAjZ6efylKkfeWbOhBPxa8Dtdd__LF7YvaL0kGgj9iByt-Amznh6hEGm4TLzl5KU-B1XStupBRLdar/s1600/au+revoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHukeXMUr8C5hqDnxxw7h3JLtX49vimX4p-Eszya7_JHofkMli1vCdzavSyy-WVLcAjZ6efylKkfeWbOhBPxa8Dtdd__LF7YvaL0kGgj9iByt-Amznh6hEGm4TLzl5KU-B1XStupBRLdar/s200/au+revoir.jpg" width="132" /></a><strong>8. Perry Stormaire from <a href="http://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/au_revoir_crazy_european_chick"><em>Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick</em> by Joe Schreiber</a></strong><br />
<br />
The first contemporary young adult (teen) novel on the list, let's just
say that if undercover assassin Gobi Zaksauskas had chosen ME as Perry
for her driver on prom night, the night would have turned out
differently.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>9. Anyone in the crew other than Katarina Bishop from <a href="https://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/uncommon_criminals"><em>Uncommon Criminals</em> by Ally Carter</a></strong><br />
<br />
Um, a crew of teenagers, all with special thieving skills? Yes, please!
I'll gladly replace anyone on the list, though I have a particular
affinity for either Kat's character or her cousin, Gabrielle. Either
way, I would love to be part of this crew. And which 24 hours depends on
which character I would get to be; obviously when it comes to this
heist, I want to be in on the action.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>10. Who is one character YOU would like to switch places with for 24 hours? </strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-15894501198159593592012-04-21T09:40:00.002-04:002012-04-21T09:40:47.846-04:00Book Review: Croak by Gina Damico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8NhkTpYiVTZxKMlhEvX0iKwzOFlApfggAkMK7SGBsfhYoJci2wG-3P_gL0l_sskbWNQoGiIjN1mXCnxi0bED_RIXBAYqZ4O9Z_ZG-2_tPqonm-W_7khHUGj_UsD1jQmUM8dnpsqi54MD/s1600/Croak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8NhkTpYiVTZxKMlhEvX0iKwzOFlApfggAkMK7SGBsfhYoJci2wG-3P_gL0l_sskbWNQoGiIjN1mXCnxi0bED_RIXBAYqZ4O9Z_ZG-2_tPqonm-W_7khHUGj_UsD1jQmUM8dnpsqi54MD/s320/Croak.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.thecuriousgeorgestore.com/store/croak"><i><b>Croak</b></i></a> by <a href="http://ginadami.co/">Gina Damico</a><br />
9780547608327, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $8.99<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Irreverent and
hysterical, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Croak</i> tells the
surprisingly believable story of the Grim Reaper. Or Reap<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ers</i>, to be precise, as there’s a whole group of Grims, and Lex
Bartleby’s Uncle Mort is the head of them all. Shipped off to upstate New York
to “milk cows or something,” Lex is surprised to find out she’s actually a Grim
apprentice – and more than that, she’s the best Grim apprentice anyone’s ever
seen. But when someone starts using the Grim powers to Kill people who haven’t
yet died, Lex is torn – they’re killing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bad</i>
people, like murderers, who Lex secretly wishes were dead, but it’s also an
unforgivable use of Grim powers. As Lex and her friends get closer to uncovering
who is doing this, she struggles harder with the question of whether to join
the rouge Grim or turn them in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">Local Boston-area author! </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-72272326871137410722012-03-02T06:14:00.000-05:002012-03-02T07:26:30.959-05:00Friday Round-UpEach week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog
posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week.
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGfOMImc3_XFkz1t0ojmZPG6ir2cBsaxhNUNlywrjM0NDvflC9Y4zJeKuEABnoV_TY-easf6cxgo0rXLqkrVHbAPbQMPDlVRvvY649lJBrMZ27ezjZvyRvsZIVu5Q37lj00jnBl7vZ3JE/s1600/home+office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGfOMImc3_XFkz1t0ojmZPG6ir2cBsaxhNUNlywrjM0NDvflC9Y4zJeKuEABnoV_TY-easf6cxgo0rXLqkrVHbAPbQMPDlVRvvY649lJBrMZ27ezjZvyRvsZIVu5Q37lj00jnBl7vZ3JE/s320/home+office.jpg" width="254" /></a><u><b>Articles</b></u><br />
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<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-temple-for-work-at-home-final-frame-166486">The most beautiful home office/library I've ever seen</a> (probably). --><br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2012/feb/24/diagram-prize-oddest-title-2012">Oddest Book Titles of the Year (in pictures)</a>, including such favorites as <i>The Great Singapore Penis Panic: And the Future of American Mass Hysteria</i> and <i>The Mushroom in Christian Art</i> (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/24/prize-oddest-book-title-shortlist">actual article</a>). <br />
<br />
Author with 5 books published tries to sell 6th novel. 12 publishers pass due to previous sales figures. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/books/patricia-obrien-as-kate-alcott-sells-the-dressmaker.html?_r=2&ref=books">She changes her name, and her book is sold.</a> Triumph.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRVVCfEtIm1uAsKtMh97dAsWaWYTul2RtdckcWgLW_JHsC1itDVm_iODT1jN6eW5SBZU5OFxK75WB0xyegJctc6WfrFSEJDyxM5_aLJXnwwc8_81Es9ODQr5tD6M5Yt7c0fuezBVoCY-Q/s1600/street+art+phone+booth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRVVCfEtIm1uAsKtMh97dAsWaWYTul2RtdckcWgLW_JHsC1itDVm_iODT1jN6eW5SBZU5OFxK75WB0xyegJctc6WfrFSEJDyxM5_aLJXnwwc8_81Es9ODQr5tD6M5Yt7c0fuezBVoCY-Q/s320/street+art+phone+booth.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
In other cool news, <a href="http://thedailywh.at/2012/02/19/street-art-of-the-day-65/">Street Art of the Day at The Daily What</a> is this colorful repurposed telephone booth in NYC - now a free "library"/book drop!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Children's Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/24/childrens-picturebooks/">"A Brief History of Children's Picture Books and the Art of Visual Storytelling, OR What Modern E-books Can Learn from Mid-Century Design Icons"</a><br />
<br />
Sad news: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/arts/jan-berenstain-dies-at-88-created-berenstain-bears.html?_r=1">"Jan Berenstain Dies at 88"</a>. My mother even texted me - that's how important the Berenstain Bears were in my life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSmczf1T-YPbjQ93bgnUyAXYpe16bZZwk7veasB6hUizQ_2-K2KhbT3xLYqifI8rZ1V4hq6w-TXEDe1ep9VYhQEUxDESS6x3mFMderHpZBagINboCwyKpjmRDHbkyg7PMB9dg-LXQ1cDv/s1600/bowling-pin-typography-470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSmczf1T-YPbjQ93bgnUyAXYpe16bZZwk7veasB6hUizQ_2-K2KhbT3xLYqifI8rZ1V4hq6w-TXEDe1ep9VYhQEUxDESS6x3mFMderHpZBagINboCwyKpjmRDHbkyg7PMB9dg-LXQ1cDv/s320/bowling-pin-typography-470.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<u><b>Typography</b></u><br />
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<br />
<br />
<u><b>Video</b></u><br />
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Yup, I'm doin' it: World's Geekiest Handshake. I'm also lovin' it (no copyright infringement intended, McDonald's).<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p4BwMa4DZRM" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Website</b></u><br />
<br />
Just discovered! <a href="http://www.welovethisbook.com/">We Love This Book</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-81868228080092942132012-03-01T07:13:00.000-05:002012-03-01T07:33:14.995-05:00Working for the Monkey, Not the Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXSFJBeZ0qX1CWS4DAk9OMSfVuCuFPd9Vxy4UP0rc79Z8sNeU6Nj97qWlmvOR-sLhIPBJYYybG5Cr1AihgISJ8Oan8J5mm4dBPCdSKB5r5uB5hI_Nx_34-FwIhq8CUkdaG8SK00xzK4w0/s1600/Business+Cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXSFJBeZ0qX1CWS4DAk9OMSfVuCuFPd9Vxy4UP0rc79Z8sNeU6Nj97qWlmvOR-sLhIPBJYYybG5Cr1AihgISJ8Oan8J5mm4dBPCdSKB5r5uB5hI_Nx_34-FwIhq8CUkdaG8SK00xzK4w0/s320/Business+Cards.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
That's correct, folks. That says that I am the new <b>Store Manager</b> at the <b>World's Only Curious George Store</b>, reopening in April in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. Can you believe it?!?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My sincere apologies to everyone for being MIA this month. A lot has been happening, mostly good, and including this incredible opportunity just this week. I will be taking a short blogging break while I help set up a brand, spankin'-new, store. I hope to be able to blog about that process soon, so stay tuned!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For updates on the Curious George store, check out the <a href="http://thecuriousgeorgestore.com/">Curious George Store website</a> (still under construction, but you can sign up for email updates). Hope to see you all stopping by the store!<br />
<br />
Also, check out <a href="http://childrensbookalmanac.com/2011/02/whiteblack-the-penguin-sees-the-world/?y=2012"><i><b>Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World</b></i> by Margret and H.A. Rey</a>, a lesser known title by the Curious George creators, recently featured on <a href="http://childrensbookalmanac.com/">Anita Silvey's Children's Book-a-Day Almanac</a>.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-29241866168899492192012-02-24T06:10:00.000-05:002012-02-24T09:18:10.622-05:00Friday Round-UpEach week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog
posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week.
Enjoy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6-uCEqKBgxDv_TyIaKrauGsW2Zferw6npjsFAhZxpdhtfamCa7ExZWf17G1_VEACO_97mGDAv_8eyrylY2ab36siosdnp1QeZ1cqZB4CrgJH2YwS4IQ_T8WlUK8PfQpAqc3Ro6dW1V_Q/s1600/ideal+bookshelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6-uCEqKBgxDv_TyIaKrauGsW2Zferw6npjsFAhZxpdhtfamCa7ExZWf17G1_VEACO_97mGDAv_8eyrylY2ab36siosdnp1QeZ1cqZB4CrgJH2YwS4IQ_T8WlUK8PfQpAqc3Ro6dW1V_Q/s320/ideal+bookshelf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<u><b>Articles</b></u><br />
<br />
<i>HuffPo</i> features <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/13/book-love-scenes_n_1080764.html?ref=books&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009#s458812&title=Funny_Face">"Books on Screen: Our Favorite Bookish Love Scenes From Films"</a><br />
<br />
Oh, Amazon. It's so hard not to hate you and your attitude toward a positive, successful, mutually-beneficial, non-manipulative, not-a-monopoly book industry: <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/amazon-pulls-thousands-of-e-books-in-dispute/">"Amazon Pulls Thousands of E-Books in Dispute [AGAIN]"</a><br />
<br />
As a chronic re-reader (there are at least three or four books I reread on a yearly basis), I feel gratified that there <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2101516/Reading-book-really-better-second-time-round--reading-offer-mental-health-benefits.html">really can be a mental health benefit from rereading</a>.<br />
<br />
The very early news that <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/story/2012-02-23/jk-rowling-to-release-books-for-grownups/53219934/1?csp=obinsite">JK Rowling will now write an adult book for Little, Brown</a>.<br />
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Thoughtful commentary on a longer article: <a href="http://www.casualoptimist.com/2012/02/15/e-books-cant-burn/">"E-Books Can't Burn"</a><br />
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I can't explain the book/word/art collaboration known as Round Robin, <a href="http://grainedit.com/2012/02/21/round-robin/">but Grain Edit can.</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmqOFXE2QU0xSShlk_QZdr7QYGYkHk2JRfZCucIGsRM8NmCqjWJxrNhGOCePGFSOBB_arKVDNGmhnoUyBbPfMPQk7oD6QfQUolwSW1DLpw9u9EqoPB6lqqFPWgriP-ylWgBwRYb1ypZNJ/s1600/green+book+plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmqOFXE2QU0xSShlk_QZdr7QYGYkHk2JRfZCucIGsRM8NmCqjWJxrNhGOCePGFSOBB_arKVDNGmhnoUyBbPfMPQk7oD6QfQUolwSW1DLpw9u9EqoPB6lqqFPWgriP-ylWgBwRYb1ypZNJ/s320/green+book+plate.jpg" width="226" /></a><br />
<u><b>Book Products</b></u><br />
<br />
Bookplates from Mac & Ninny Paper Co.<br />
<br />
Get a painting of your favorite books on your own bookshelf <a href="http://idealbookshelf.typepad.com/">here at Ideal Bookshelf</a>. Beautiful work!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Children's Books</b></u><br />
<br />
Remember the children's book Stephen Colbert wrote during the Maurice Sendak interviews I posted a couple of weeks ago? Well, surprise, surprise, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/stephen-colbert-childrens-book_n_1292366.html?ref=books">it's getting published.</a><br />
<br />
Does this list surprise you? <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/story/2012-02-14/100-greatest-books-for-kids/53095042/1">"The 100 'Greatest Books for Kids" ranked by Scholastic Parent & Child magazine.</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Letterpress</b></u><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="373" id="nyt_video_player" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/bcvideo/1.0/iframe/embed.html?videoId=100000001263484&playerType=embed" title="New York Times Video - Embed Player" width="480"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Quiz</b></u><br />
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<a href="http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/bookcovers">Name the titles of these book covers</a> (I got 17 of 24)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNCrnEE9GoCx2XB7-7yBTCepG2TMoOCq4KYdm-cOVClDs7_sQLYgINLQyjay8zpcUD3Vh1tI6KeV6dKGjkUKHPX7J-dfH5W45qHdBSOLuktuI1GiyMA7bUptYqWKcpOtTZZQXLnw5pL3o/s1600/3D+letterforms" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNCrnEE9GoCx2XB7-7yBTCepG2TMoOCq4KYdm-cOVClDs7_sQLYgINLQyjay8zpcUD3Vh1tI6KeV6dKGjkUKHPX7J-dfH5W45qHdBSOLuktuI1GiyMA7bUptYqWKcpOtTZZQXLnw5pL3o/s320/3D+letterforms" width="195" /></a></div>
<u><b>Typography</b></u><br />
<br />
<span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Geneva CY'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><-- An experiment in 3D letterforms by <a href="http://lettersaremyfriends.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Letters are my Friends</a>. Read more about it on the <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669065/a-3-d-typeface-that-morphs-into-every-letter-of-the-alphabet" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Co.Design blog</a>.</span><br />
<br />
"From the retrotastic typographic signage to the beautiful vintage color
schemes, these storefronts are priceless time-capsules of an era as
faded as their paint coats, haunting ghosts caught in the machine of
progress." <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/06/store-front-murray/">Read more in this article.</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://alphabetroadtrip.typepad.com/alphabetroadtrip/">Alphabet Roadtrip</a>, the blog of Iskra Design.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_824953603"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://letterology.blogspot.com/">Letterology</a>, an open classroom discussing book design and experimental typography.<br />
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<u><b>Videos</b></u><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XjM-zllpHuA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="340" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; width: 512px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/408775/february-20-2012/ann-patchett" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ann Patchett</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:408775" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video Archive</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u><b>Websites</b></u><br />
<br />
A Tumblr blog dedicated to book photographs and quotes: <a href="http://prettybooks.tumblr.com/">PrettyBooks</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-7920833177918928782012-02-14T06:51:00.000-05:002012-02-14T06:51:00.440-05:00Happy Valentine's Day<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36355458?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/36355458">Happy Valentine's Day!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10108408">Whitney Blank</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-76372852606228885152012-02-10T06:47:00.000-05:002012-02-10T06:47:01.067-05:00Friday Round-UpEach week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog
posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week.
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Articles</b></u><br />
<br />
Even if you're not a non-fiction fan or a reader of alternate histories, this is a fascinating and engrossing article about writing in general, non-fiction history writing in particular, and <a href="http://thebrowser.com/interviews/geoff-dyer-on-unusual-histories?page=1">an in-depth look at 5 unusual histories chosen by Geoff Dyer for <i>The Browser</i></a>.<br />
<br />
Of all place, Boston.com has a roundup of <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2012/02/7_book_recommendation_websites.html">"7 book recommendation websites to find your next good read"</a>. <br />
<br />
Mystery Bus Tour! That's exactly what it sounds like. <a href="http://books.usatoday.com/bookbuzz/post/2012-02-03/atria-to-kick-off-mystery-bus-tour-in-april/619871/1">Read all about it.</a><br />
<br />
Featured in Speakeasy, for all authors out there - <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/02/03/how-to-be-an-indie-booksellers-dream/?mod=google_news_blog">"How to Be an Indie Bookseller's Dream"</a> - and being a former bookseller, I concur!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://publishingperspectives.com/2012/02/new-international-literary-magazine-covers-the-intimate-side-of-war/">A new international literary magazine presents an intimate look at war</a>: "<i>Warscapes</i> — with sections that include literature, poetry, art
and reportage — treats the subject elegantly by publishing stories that
underline the personal, the intimate and the introspective."<br />
<br />
Love lists like this! From <i>Inhabitat</i>: <a href="http://inhabitat.com/7-amazing-green-bookstores-and-libraries-from-around-the-world/">"7 Amazing Green Bookstores and Libraries from Around the World"</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/"><i>Today's Inspiration</i> </a>is blogging a series of "Female Illustrators You Should Know". You can find the links <a href="http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/02/female-illustrators-you-should-know.html">here</a>, <a href="http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/02/more-female-illustrators-you-should.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/02/still-more-female-illustrators-you.html">here</a> so far.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdQcdH1MahECmRxf-BJlX5USe_q7-R-KVLg8mvEC5JOILvRVGS2TDfsWe7GGY9nQdPWjL4MHWlcozeyA40yQxAPM4wlAcZ-s0sTJD05HfkVtL5Zc53rgKb5W6trn1ewuCPURm0QnkivgS/s1600/Dr-Seuss-less-subtly-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdQcdH1MahECmRxf-BJlX5USe_q7-R-KVLg8mvEC5JOILvRVGS2TDfsWe7GGY9nQdPWjL4MHWlcozeyA40yQxAPM4wlAcZ-s0sTJD05HfkVtL5Zc53rgKb5W6trn1ewuCPURm0QnkivgS/s200/Dr-Seuss-less-subtly-01.jpg" width="148" /></a><u><b>Children's Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://twentytwowords.com/2012/02/07/if-dr-seuss-books-were-titled-according-to-their-subtexts/">"If Dr. Seuss Books for Titled on According to Their Subtexts"</a><br />
<br />
<i>Flavorwire</i> article of the week: <a href="http://flavorwire.com/256903/literary-mixtape-jo-march">"Literary Mixtape: Jo March"</a><br />
<br />
Mitali Perkins, children's lit author extraordinaire, discusses how <a href="http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/childrens-books-explore-real-world-issues">"Children's Books Explore Real-World Issues"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/lemony-snicket-to-return-in-4-book-series_b46725">Lemony Snicket book deal news.</a><br />
<br />
Korean children's book and magazine covers for the <a href="http://50watts.com/2680091/A-Story-of-Books-Becoming-a-Mountain">40s/50s</a> and <a href="http://50watts.com/2672754/The-Train-That-Ate-Flowers">60s</a>.<br />
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<u><b>Product</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inmybook.com/index.php">"In My Book"</a> - book-themed greeting cards and bookmarks, featured on <a href="http://booksonthenightstand.com/2012/02/botns-podcast-166-odds-ends-and-kindred-spirits.html">Books on the Nightstand</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Typography</b></u><br />
<br />
An infographic showing <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/12/08/typeface-font-history-infographic/">"The History of Western Typefaces"</a> (thanks to Shane for this!)<br />
<br />
<u><b>Video</b></u><br />
<br />
William Blake is one of my favorite poets. This Brazilian short film was inspired by his poem <i>The Tyger</i>.<br />
(Shout out of thanks to Chelsea for turning me on to this!)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7GdVot2fp1I" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright <br />
In the forests of the night, <br />
What immortal hand or eye <br />
Could frame thy fearful symmetry? <br />
<br />
<br />
In what distant deeps or skies <br />
Burnt the fire of thine eyes? <br />
On what wings dare he aspire? <br />
What the hand dare sieze the fire? <br />
<br />
<br />
And what shoulder, & what art. <br />
Could twist the sinews of thy heart? <br />
And when thy heart began to beat, <br />
What dread hand? & what dread feet? <br />
<br />
<br />
What the hammer? what the chain? <br />
In what furnace was thy brain? <br />
What the anvil? what dread grasp <br />
Dare its deadly terrors clasp? <br />
<br />
<br />
When the stars threw down their spears, <br />
And watered heaven with their tears, <br />
Did he smile his work to see? <br />
Did he who made the Lamb make thee? <br />
<br />
<br />
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright <br />
In the forests of the night, <br />
What immortal hand or eye <br />
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4FCNsqxTNhs" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-63580630572972403902012-02-04T08:04:00.001-05:002012-02-04T08:04:11.259-05:00February HuffPost Book Club: Blood, Bones, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/book-club">The Huffington Post Book Club</a> has released their second title:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LJxpOtCNC-kQ5LCWMB5iWIHsEomNukQnuSbEXLvCPeFGKXVBv4q5L-v2NFK-4mx4n0TbsG2m_4t_hezzSNCxJ5ZqgS4um12mM9-gFVb40rb0GkzVgM-4AInU-0UVqzXZrCjDsOLuJgA2/s1600/blood+bones+butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LJxpOtCNC-kQ5LCWMB5iWIHsEomNukQnuSbEXLvCPeFGKXVBv4q5L-v2NFK-4mx4n0TbsG2m_4t_hezzSNCxJ5ZqgS4um12mM9-gFVb40rb0GkzVgM-4AInU-0UVqzXZrCjDsOLuJgA2/s320/blood+bones+butter.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1216586625"><i><b>Blood, Bones, & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef</b></i></a><b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780812980882"> </a><br />by Gabrielle Hamilton</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having recently received a copy in the mail (<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/in-my-mailbox-is-meme-hosted-by-story.html">remember?</a>) (thanks, Random House!), I am excited to announce that I will be participating in this month's book club festivities. Or at least the read-along portion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can participate, too. February 8 is the official read-along start date, and you can post your thoughts on Facebook (<a href="http://link.huffingtonpost.com/cf4h.2dt/TyAQM0Od4LgZqDxxB277f" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">facebook.com/huffpostbooks</a>) and on Twitter (<a href="http://link.huffingtonpost.com/cf4h.2dt/TxX3wkOd5Zb2RX5MB2fa1" target="_blank">@huffpostbooks</a>) with the hashtag #HPBookClub. Happy reading!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-24376182058940330172012-02-03T06:44:00.000-05:002012-02-03T06:44:00.071-05:00Friday Round-UpEach week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog
posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week.
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Articles</b></u><br />
<br />
The <i>New York Times</i> offers a slideshow of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/01/05/garden/20110106-BOOKS.html">"Books as a Way to Grace a Room"</a> - if you can stomach how much money people spend on the personalized service hired here, it's worth the look.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Book Trailer of the Week</b></u><br />
<br />
Thank you to <i>Publishing Perspectives</i> for turning me on to this book trailer for "<i>La agenda del fin del mundo</i>
(Diary for the End of the World), an irreverent 2012 almanac and agenda
featuring anecdotes, sound bites and trivia that topped Amazon Spain’s
bestseller list." I wish I could get my hands on one!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5a553ecBZ5Y" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Children's Books</b></u><br />
<br />
The appropriate follow-up to the Colbert/Sendak interviews regarding Colbert's proposed children's book, <b><i>I am a Flag Pole, and So Can You</i></b>. <a href="http://mhpbooks.com/48271/melville-house-offers-rookie-first-time-kids-author-biggest-deal-ever/">From Melville House</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>NPR</i> highlighted <i><b>The Snowy Day</b></i> this week: <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/01/28/145052896/the-snowy-day-breaking-color-barriers-quietly">"<i><b>The Snowy Day</b></i>: Breaking Color Barriers, Quietly"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/american-library-association-to-little-kids-women-are-second-best/">FANTASTIC query about why there are so few female Caldecott Medal winners.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.milkandbookies.org/"><b>Milk + Bookies</b></a> is a "non-profit organization that exposes young children to how great it
feels to give back while celebrating the love of a good book."<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f50XWgo8fTw" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<u><b>Quiz</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/quiz/2012/feb/01/quiz-wolves-fiction">Wolves in children's fiction</a> - how well do you know them? I only got a 7 out of 10.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/01/30/145930229/quiet-please-unleashing-the-power-of-introverts?ft=3&f=100876926&sc=nl&cc=bn-20120202">Introvert or Extrovert?</a> Take the informal quiz at NPR's interview with the author of <i>Quiet, Please</i>. I'm apparently split right down the middle - what does <i>that</i> mean?<br />
<br />
<u><b>Video</b></u><br />
<br />
An absolutely mesmerizing and magical 15-minute film, nominated for an Oscar, all about the power of books.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35404908?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/35404908">The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/moonbot">Moonbot Studios</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Websites</b></u><br />
<br />
This IS a UK-based site, so I don't know how applicable it will be to most of the readers of this blog, but this is an idea I've been in support of for a long time - smaller, quicker reads for commuters, non-readers, and anyone else looking for a small, quick read. <a href="http://www.quickreads.org.uk/"><b>QuickReads</b></a><br />
<br />
For all other English language enthusiasts, I stumbled across this site: <a href="http://english.stackexchange.com/"><b>English Language & Usage</b></a> (and no, I'm not promoting it solely because they use my ampersand tattoo as their and symbol). "This is a collaboratively edited question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-31583349651628683102012-02-02T06:37:00.000-05:002012-02-02T06:37:00.671-05:00A Month of LettersAs an established letter-writer from way back, I am so excited to announce my participation in Mary Robinette Kowal's <a href="http://lettermo.com/"><b>A Month of Letters</b></a> project.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7SHUbe8XJzT2hHJBxMPuSLXwA0SbOMJEnmjrHZNEw16TCpCYhrBq_WDghd-PWJctFSMH1B6VhzT3t88xNrLmh5f6QSVzZ5bfTwZQEXu0J_rXcCrFgmeuF555KVcx3gPziWeCSz2Cl-6g/s1600/LetterMoheader2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7SHUbe8XJzT2hHJBxMPuSLXwA0SbOMJEnmjrHZNEw16TCpCYhrBq_WDghd-PWJctFSMH1B6VhzT3t88xNrLmh5f6QSVzZ5bfTwZQEXu0J_rXcCrFgmeuF555KVcx3gPziWeCSz2Cl-6g/s400/LetterMoheader2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In the author's own words: “I have a simple challenge for you. In the month of February, mail at
least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a
letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric
swatch. Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one
of your mailed items. All you are committing to is to mail 24 items.
Why 24? There are four Sundays and one US holiday. In fact, you might
send more than 24 items. You might develop a correspondence that
extends beyond the month. You might enjoy going to the mail box again.”<br />
<br />
Now, as someone who belongs to <a href="http://www.postcrossing.com/">PostCrossing.com</a>, regularly participates in letter and package exchanges around the holidays and birthdays, and loves to design her own cards and stationary, a project like this is a dream come true.<br />
<br />
If you would like to participate, here are some links to get you started:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://lettermo.com/">Sign up</a> at the official website</li>
<li><a href="http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/?p=11551">Read the post</a> on the author's website announcing the project</li>
<li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LetterMo">Like</a> the official Facebook page</li>
<li><a href="http://twitter.com/LetterMonth">Follow @LetterMonth</a> on Twitter and tweet using the #lettermo hashtag</li>
</ul>
If you would like to receive a letter from me, send me an email at broche (dot) fabian (at) gmail (dot) com to exchange snail mail addresses. I guarantee you'll receive a pretty something in the mail soon enough.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-41030310327617003392012-02-01T09:37:00.001-05:002012-02-01T09:37:45.421-05:00Waiting on Wednesday: By a Thread by Jennifer Estep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLUI3ik1-5r5GnBolHtZ099fY8AWU_I7a3xDZ5RH88gRyc_yynF8-P2RMpLXrl4ruXt5EW72sNpCMcjBjub56HI_eS6gnlks2qgMFkn5-eorGD5G7vdynD-4AgjUUZc996ywY7EJtnI6z/s1600/New+WoW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLUI3ik1-5r5GnBolHtZ099fY8AWU_I7a3xDZ5RH88gRyc_yynF8-P2RMpLXrl4ruXt5EW72sNpCMcjBjub56HI_eS6gnlks2qgMFkn5-eorGD5G7vdynD-4AgjUUZc996ywY7EJtnI6z/s1600/New+WoW.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is a weekly meme hosted by
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about adult literary fiction are here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiting-on-wednesday-state-of-wonder-by.html"><i><b>State of Wonder</b></i> by Ann Patchett</a></div>
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/02/waiting-on-wednesday-calebs-crossing-by.html"><i><b>Caleb's Crossing</b></i> by Geraldine Brooks</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday-flight-of-gemma.html"><i><b>The Flight of Gemma Hardy</b></i> by Margot Livesey</a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-diving-bells-and.html"><i><b>Diving Belles: And Other Stories</b></i> by Lucy Wood </a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about my guilty pleasure reading (romantic, often paranormal, novels) can be found here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/09/waiting-on-wednesday-guilty-pleasures.html"><i><b>Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here</b></i> by Christine Warren</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/11/waiting-on-wednesday-more-guilty.html"><i><b>Tempest's Legacy</b></i> by Nicole Peeler</a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/05/waiting-on-wednesday-saints-astray-by.html"><i><b>Saint's Astray </b></i>by Jacqueline Carey</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday-timeless-by-gail.html"><i><b>Timeless</b></i> by Gail Carriger </a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about YA/teen titles are here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/12/waiting-on-wednesday-witch-wizard-gift.html"><i><b>Witch & Wizard: The Gift</b></i> by James Patterson & Ned Rust</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/12/waiting-on-wednesday-pipers-son-by.html"><i><b>The Piper's Son</b></i> by Melina Marchetta</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-rivals.html"><i><b>The Mockingbirds, Book 2: The Rivals</b></i> by Daisy Whitney</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-space-between-by.html"><i><b>The Space Between</b></i> by Brenna Yovanoff</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday-kiss-of-frost-by.html"><b><i>Kiss of Frost</i></b> by Jennifer Estep </a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/waiting-on-wednesday-under-never-sky-by.html"><i><b>Under the Never Sky</b></i></a> by Veronica Rossi<br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/waiting-on-wednesday-born-wicked-by.html"><i><b>Born Wicked</b></i></a> by Jessica Spotswood<br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/waiting-on-wednesday-scarlet-by-ac.html"><i><b>Scarlet</b></i></a> by A.C. Gaughen<br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-agency-traitor-and.html"><i><b>The Agency: The Traitor in the Tunnel</b></i> by Y.S. Lee </a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-froi-of-exiles-by.html"><i><b>Froi of the Exiles</b></i> by Melina Marchetta </a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-frostfire-by-zoe.html"><i><b>FrostFire</b></i> by Zoe Marriott</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about middle grade titles are here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/02/waiting-on-wednesday-pirate-captains.html"><i><b>The Pirate Captain's Daughter</b></i> by Eve Bunting</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
And now for today's:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQjJuyD5hInxew57NlsdMA-qwnwyrLF20aq1u6tEiKrzL-G_Hf8ajZfVBIulsqVLTcYYZ55nZzb4RnXtSjEKEyc18N6wxEUmrEsNq2FVAIc7DR0iZ1hZRZKB3jw4inigQw7Jks0By4ryr/s1600/thread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQjJuyD5hInxew57NlsdMA-qwnwyrLF20aq1u6tEiKrzL-G_Hf8ajZfVBIulsqVLTcYYZ55nZzb4RnXtSjEKEyc18N6wxEUmrEsNq2FVAIc7DR0iZ1hZRZKB3jw4inigQw7Jks0By4ryr/s320/thread.jpg" width="198" /></a><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781451651768"><i><b>By a Thread</b></i></a><b> </b>(Book 6 in the Elemental Assassin series)<br />
by <a href="http://www.jenniferestep.com/">Jennifer Estep</a><br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn">9781451651768, Pocket Books, <b>Pub. Date: February 28, 2012</b> </span></span><br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn">I have such mixed feelings about this book. While the early books in the series drew me in, I'm sorry to say I think the writing has gotten worse rather than better over the course of the series. AND, I haven't enjoyed the two new YA titles in a new series Ms. Estep recently released. BUT, there's something about the basic premise of these books - kick-ass female assassin who is honest, straight-forward, well-read, uses both knives, skills, and her elemental magical powers to take down evil in her city - that has me hooked. So I keep trying. Here's the publisher's description:</span></span><br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"><br /></span></span><br />
<div>
When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation. Then
again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her
retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead.
And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of
Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking
out the lethal Spider—me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved
barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my
heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun. But
when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old
friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives
out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the
reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is
the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my
trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to
save me from getting buried in the sand—permanently.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.jenniferestep.com/by-a-thread/"><b>Read the first chapter here.</b></a> </div>
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-25345291283489726512012-01-31T12:05:00.001-05:002012-01-31T12:05:47.840-05:00Around the World Challenge: January & Global Domination Challenge: Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnG9hwxSMSUXd5uKSc7nOlbi-jEwQLVaOOlkOqq0A0bhwx39Q6rwPeaX9XNviR32hTulNQx4__f36fAHapp1kPN0mQzd528zM1vIXgbOQQpf5c2T6cjSHTt9CK3yzFObIErJ4glbus5H8S/s1600/around-the-world-challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnG9hwxSMSUXd5uKSc7nOlbi-jEwQLVaOOlkOqq0A0bhwx39Q6rwPeaX9XNviR32hTulNQx4__f36fAHapp1kPN0mQzd528zM1vIXgbOQQpf5c2T6cjSHTt9CK3yzFObIErJ4glbus5H8S/s1600/around-the-world-challenge.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.giraffedays.com/">Giraffe Days</a> is hosting the <b><a href="http://www.giraffedays.com/?p=10454">Around the World in 12 Books Challenge</a>.</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The objective is to read a new book from a different country for each of the 12 months in a year.</div>
<b><br />
Time for my January review:<br />
<br />
</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnMPdT9gnn62fBqeN187l-H0IIAUpRnTg2fCNHTht4msTZFBtwtpQPl663oYd8S0Uvt-ecWtOLJPcHFQJYl7TOGdPa-YpO4rp_lUulmhQ1WGroa5WpA1GNGWKHvdvLYUG_eLTFEZUJc4I/s1600/spud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnMPdT9gnn62fBqeN187l-H0IIAUpRnTg2fCNHTht4msTZFBtwtpQPl663oYd8S0Uvt-ecWtOLJPcHFQJYl7TOGdPa-YpO4rp_lUulmhQ1WGroa5WpA1GNGWKHvdvLYUG_eLTFEZUJc4I/s320/spud.jpg" width="224" /></a></b></div>
<b>
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781595141873"><i><b>Spud</b></i><b> by John van de Ruit</b></a><br />
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</b>John Milton has a lot on his plate, as any 13-year-old boy does. He is heading off to a private, all-boys boarding school, thanks to a new scholarship and his beautiful singing voice. While he's excited to be leaving behind his crazy and embarrassing parents and eccentric grandmother he calls The Wombat, he's terrified to discover what awaits him at school - things like being nicknamed Spud because his balls haven't dropped yet, having a crazy bunkmate who only talks to inanimate objects and pulls out his own hair, and getting caned after getting caught with the rest of the Crazy Eight (his first-year dorm mates) sneaking out to go midnight swimming. He also meets both The Mermaid and Amanda (2 girls! While attending a boy's school!), trounces and gets trounced on and off the cricket field, decides to become both an actor and an activist, and explores the complexities of forced friendship and loyalty. With no punches pulled, no description too graphic, from the heights of love to the depths of loss, Spud captures it all in his diary, fully chronicling his first year at boarding school.<br />
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All of this takes place during the 1990s, making the backdrop issues of apartheid, the release of Nelson Mandela, race relations, class relations, and other related social issues. It's a bit crazy to think the 1990s are now "historical fiction," but <i>Spud</i> does a great job of capturing a White teen perspective at the time - learning about issues that didn't seem important until they suddenly are, struggling to catch up and make meaning out of political history, living in an accepting mixed-race environment at school but dealing with blatant racism at home, etc.<b><br />
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AND</b><b><br />
<b> </b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERJvobBZNufacQ9BmeWd_GMG5iil131XUpLmfn2tFXOflQauyoWUszknTvZAj_Pf2OLLf8M7HOrPfVD6tv8rwCvlj0jK3KtkQk6wfUF4jpZCy87Ro3WmbGVdpaxSsuqx4wCVw8YMjjVUi/s1600/spud+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERJvobBZNufacQ9BmeWd_GMG5iil131XUpLmfn2tFXOflQauyoWUszknTvZAj_Pf2OLLf8M7HOrPfVD6tv8rwCvlj0jK3KtkQk6wfUF4jpZCy87Ro3WmbGVdpaxSsuqx4wCVw8YMjjVUi/s320/spud+2.jpg" width="211" /></a></b></div>
<b>
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781595142450"><i><b>Spud: The Madness Continues</b></i><b> by John van de Ruit</b></a><br />
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</b>Surprise! I read two books for this challenge this month. I had forgotten that <i>Spud</i>, my original book choice, has <u>2</u> sequels! I was only able to get my hands on the second book, <i>Spud: The Madness Continues</i>, but I've requested my library purchase the third, so stay tuned to see if I ever get a chance to read it.<br />
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In <i>Spud: The Madness Continues</i>, the madness of the Crazy Seven (Seven due to a loss of one boy in <i>Spud</i>; then Eight, when a new boy comes; then Seven, when the new boy leaves; then Eight, when they induct Roger the Cat as an official member; then Six, when two of the boys get expelled; then Seven, when one of the boys gets back) really does continue. Spud is going to turn 15 during this year, is no longer in his first trembling year at the school, and has high hopes for both ball dropping and hair appearing in that same region. Despite his optimism (and the eventual voice-cracking, ball-dropping accomplishment), Spud soon finds that with both enemies and allies still at school, this year will not be any smoother. Still writing in his diary, the Spud of this year will chronicle his mother's plans to emigrate, The Wombat continuing to lose her mind, and his father's moonshine business; his first breakup, first ball hair, and first trip to England; the Crazy Eight's torture attempts at the Normal Seven (the new batch of first years); his actor career hitting a snag when he's cast as the Dove of Peace in a disastrous school play; and all the usual adventures of midnight swimming, cricket matches, brews, books, and broads, with just a hint more seriousness this year than last. <b><br />
<br />
</b>Let's see if I followed the guidelines:<br />
<b><br />
</b>1. Books must be set in the country.<b> - <b>Yes, all over South Africa, with a brief stint in England in book two.</b><br />
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</b>2. Books should be by an author of that country, if you can find/get hold of one.<b> - <b>Yes, John van de Ruit is apparently quite a big deal over there.</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdp3fh_IEudy5KQ64IueeB-nuPEWb8SwzziUT67OMMeRcy82QL7UZ58U1FVUZ18fnmZU8HsaqAQdaw9eVXwe7VDVcoigto634PRtjDffUUuIVmr2NrHlkv10Yg6EOVmFiOMK1eYS_oBYvK/s1600/globaldomination1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdp3fh_IEudy5KQ64IueeB-nuPEWb8SwzziUT67OMMeRcy82QL7UZ58U1FVUZ18fnmZU8HsaqAQdaw9eVXwe7VDVcoigto634PRtjDffUUuIVmr2NrHlkv10Yg6EOVmFiOMK1eYS_oBYvK/s1600/globaldomination1.jpg" /></a><br />
</b>3. Books must be fiction or memoir. Children’s books count too.<b> - <b>This is children's historical fiction, perfect for advanced tweens and early teen readers.</b><br />
<br />
</b>4. Books can count towards other challenges.<b> - <b>As I'm also participating in the <a href="http://insatiablebooksluts.wordpress.com/global-domination-challenge/">Global Domination Challenge</a> over at <a href="http://insatiablebooksluts.wordpress.com/">Insatiable Booksluts</a>, I will count this for my Africa read.</b></b><br />
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Stay tuned for next month: FEBRUARY: Bangladesh - <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781580893091"><i><b>Rickshaw Girl</b></i><b> by Mitali Perkins</b></a><br />
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For my complete book list, click on my <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/around-world-challenge.html">original post</a> or the <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/p/challenges.html">challenges tab</a>.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-83621176032270555992012-01-29T06:47:00.000-05:002012-02-04T07:56:47.078-05:00In My Mailbox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf-FthwsrO6oXjKdKgnJVvmfPuKzSnAgoZXFBTRjcxlQ5u97urOFcZ30w2PaBlPnDaePfNPwouLZsKrMHZwLQqeFzpjrKJ2_KUYmS-msN2fDwYucPyvwiavX-u9qaFWq3IS49Vuxumh9i/s1600/mailbox_pinup1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf-FthwsrO6oXjKdKgnJVvmfPuKzSnAgoZXFBTRjcxlQ5u97urOFcZ30w2PaBlPnDaePfNPwouLZsKrMHZwLQqeFzpjrKJ2_KUYmS-msN2fDwYucPyvwiavX-u9qaFWq3IS49Vuxumh9i/s200/mailbox_pinup1.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
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In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by </div>
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<a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/">The Story Siren</a>.</div>
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So many books, so little time! Last week, I received:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71wqCgO22Yp733JjsCQUhcxpjfw0f_jC_U0RB9Lu6qanAQKdbelUWLN8_Rwgc03v1LdsIhPf62dXIx5eo0a2cM35h-gDJFCCjCakXc3NNpzC-2VHdPfigBWHrJTNugLjRdLFapZiuB-_O/s1600/blood+bones+butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71wqCgO22Yp733JjsCQUhcxpjfw0f_jC_U0RB9Lu6qanAQKdbelUWLN8_Rwgc03v1LdsIhPf62dXIx5eo0a2cM35h-gDJFCCjCakXc3NNpzC-2VHdPfigBWHrJTNugLjRdLFapZiuB-_O/s320/blood+bones+butter.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780812980882"><i><b>Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef</b></i> </a></div>
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by Gabrielle Hamilton</div>
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Despite the lack of an Oxford comma in the title, this still caught by eye when advertised. Random House was nice enough to send me a copy. </div>
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Description: Before Gabrielle Hamilton opened her acclaimed New York restaurant
Prune, she spent twenty hard-living years trying to find purpose and
meaning in her life. <i>Blood, Bones & Butter</i> follows an
unconventional journey through the many kitchens Hamilton has inhabited
through the years: the rural kitchen of her childhood, where her adored
mother stood over the six-burner with an oily wooden spoon in hand; the
kitchens of France, Greece, and Turkey, where she was often fed by
complete strangers and learned the essence of hospitality; Hamilton’s
own kitchen at Prune, with its many unexpected challenges; and the
kitchen of her Italian mother-in-law, who serves as the link between
Hamilton’s idyllic past and her own future family—the result of a
prickly marriage that nonetheless yields lasting dividends. By turns
epic and intimate, Gabrielle Hamilton’s story is told with uncommon
honesty, grit, humor, and passion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSYHxyhvTTV8RAE2RBTJzxE4ID8Azuk13DWMylQUj4KJtQAUo2nG-K1-lp0quYmM9nx-32u7Sq-LvmjMtVSXaiui230L3BI_5GlDz3ps_kFOjkwJh9HbMZrlw2T9onbkemjfaXKHSt0pW/s1600/restoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSYHxyhvTTV8RAE2RBTJzxE4ID8Azuk13DWMylQUj4KJtQAUo2nG-K1-lp0quYmM9nx-32u7Sq-LvmjMtVSXaiui230L3BI_5GlDz3ps_kFOjkwJh9HbMZrlw2T9onbkemjfaXKHSt0pW/s320/restoration.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062065650"><i><b>Restoration</b></i></a><br />
by Olaf Olafsson<br />
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Okay, in the first place, <i>great</i> name. Then you add love stories, war, Tuscany, and I'm hooked. Ecco books, an imprint of HarperCollins, sent me a copy at my request.<br />
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Description: Having grown up in an exclusive circle of wealthy British ex-pats in Florence in the 1920s, Alice shocks everyone when she marries Claudio, the son of a minor land-owner, and moves to San Martino, a crumbling villa in Tuscany. Settling into their new paradise, husband and wife begin to build their future, restoring San Martino and giving birth to a son. But as time passes, Alice grows lonely, a restlessness that leads her into the heady social swirl of wartime Rome and a reckless affair that will have devastating consequences. While she spends time with her lover in Rome, Alice's young son falls ill and dies, widening the emotional chasm between her and her husband-and leaving her vulnerable to the machinations of a nefarious art dealer who ensnares her in a dangerous and deadly scheme. Returning to San Martino, Alice yearns for forgiveness. But before she can begin to make amends, Claudio disappears, and the encroaching fighting threatens to destroy everything they built. Caught between loyalists and resisters, cruel German forces and Allied troops, Alice valiantly struggles to survive, hoping the life and love she lost can one day be restored.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMiKSRFPk4P1ye5Z3iz00JfLDiBVbs-sC2KFdPoxUr2X5b_nTjoZUtaa9vGP9AQFXoDNbgRE3zKOy_RSFjQKNkepv9BDLp3cPfKo7laVfRsDtln03phwq4QToxCPv-ygI5SwBz-TxiGlk/s1600/embrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMiKSRFPk4P1ye5Z3iz00JfLDiBVbs-sC2KFdPoxUr2X5b_nTjoZUtaa9vGP9AQFXoDNbgRE3zKOy_RSFjQKNkepv9BDLp3cPfKo7laVfRsDtln03phwq4QToxCPv-ygI5SwBz-TxiGlk/s320/embrace.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781402268403"><i><b>Embrace</b></i></a><br />
by Jessica Shirvington<br />
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There's a very cool story to this book - I belong to the Young to Publishing Group, Boston chapter, and Sourcebooks reached out to us as a group in the industry and sent us ARCs. I got a package in the mail at work - how cool is that?<br />
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Description: On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy
she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. And she will have to
make a choice that could cost not only her life, but her eternity.<br />
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(And a big thank you to <a href="http://bookstacksondeck.blogspot.com/">Book Stacks On Deck</a> for the mailbox pinup!)</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-3447947284641061672012-01-28T14:12:00.000-05:002012-01-28T16:23:49.396-05:00Book Review: The Angel Makers by Jessica Gregson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhor_i4kASohWVcHEqoUoFSrrUi2OYZQK7pfpQKAJSUyi-6Nyuk01SMQDB4JQonJDTsvxJDAd4-7WezloS-bkc_H46soI__vL1-o_0mrgpKdCszRUUmb69AZ3szR7UpyuOxiM6dvPWcEU_q/s1600/angel+makers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhor_i4kASohWVcHEqoUoFSrrUi2OYZQK7pfpQKAJSUyi-6Nyuk01SMQDB4JQonJDTsvxJDAd4-7WezloS-bkc_H46soI__vL1-o_0mrgpKdCszRUUmb69AZ3szR7UpyuOxiM6dvPWcEU_q/s320/angel+makers.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781569479797/jessica-gregson/angel-makers"><i><b>The Angel Makers</b></i> </a><br />
by Jessica Gregson<br />
9781569479797, Soho Press, $24.00<br />
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Both shocking and encouraging of sympathy, <i>The Angel Makers</i> is a haunting novel that will slyly seduce you.<br />
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Taking place in an isolated village in Hungary, the story revolves around Sari Arany, first as a young girl, then as a woman, and her place in village life. Her father is the village medicine man and seer; her only friend is the feared village midwife and herbal woman. Before her father dies, he arranges (with her permission) for Sari's engagement to Ferenc, the son of the wealthiest family in the village. It is a surprise to most, for because her mother died soon after her birth, Sari is thought to be unlucky and treated with scorn and suspicion by the villagers. It doesn't help that Sari is peculiar - beautiful, piercing eyes, more learned than most women, and surprisingly forthright with her speech and actions. Despite this, it is seen to be a good match, and when her father dies sooner than expected, Ferenc assumes they will marry immediately instead of waiting for Sari's 18th birthday. Yet Sari stands firm, and instead chooses to live with Judith, the herbal woman, to learn about being a midwife prior to marriage.<br />
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But soon the war comes to Hungary, and the men must go off to fight. Suddenly, the women of the village find themselves living in a strange new world where they don't worry about when food is on the table, where they have time to make new friends, where they begin to feel more free in thought and action - no longer worried about a harsh rebuke from a husband or father. When a POW camp sets up nearby, they also feel free enough to get jobs (and lovers) at the camp. Sari slowly becomes more accepted in the village, making a few particular friends, learning more about herbal medicine and midwifery, occasionally receiving letters from Ferenc about his dreams of home.<br />
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Then the war ends. The village men begin to return. The POWs leave. And the women are no longer so free as they once were. Sari's friend, Anna, again begins to creep around the village trying to hide the fresh bruises that are a marker of her husband's homecoming. But change did happen in the women. And they are not as willing to lie down and take the men's actions and decisions as they once were. It is at this point that they begin to rely on Sari and Judith's herbal knowledge for getting rid of those pesky problems - the men who maybe should not have returned home from the war.<br /><br />
The best part? This is based on a true story. As the author writes, "The novel details a peculiar kind of madness that gripped the women in a small, isolated village over a period of around ten years, and writing the novel was my attempt to try and understand what circumstances might have brought it about, as well as what may have been going on in the heads of the women in question." This is a fascinating look at how far some women will go to assert their freedom.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-18121757116818598492012-01-27T06:38:00.000-05:002012-01-27T06:38:00.247-05:00Friday Round-UpEach week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog
posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week.
Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqedZsaQ3JQUk5MgE6bgOBXeHj7QBYXrTqnrJQM331zkbrFG-uSLt-72qK-RfcC-4UCiZ5_50LeKD7mRPfazYub4ZAsugwGFho9Xs8h_hwmPB0DvuxXy80aL8VoE_mmFn4pRX_9z8J83_/s1600/lm+mont.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqedZsaQ3JQUk5MgE6bgOBXeHj7QBYXrTqnrJQM331zkbrFG-uSLt-72qK-RfcC-4UCiZ5_50LeKD7mRPfazYub4ZAsugwGFho9Xs8h_hwmPB0DvuxXy80aL8VoE_mmFn4pRX_9z8J83_/s320/lm+mont.JPG" width="287" /></a> </div>
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In the words of <a href="http://bookriot.com/">Book Riot</a> (where I found this photo), it's 5 o'clock somewhere.</div>
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<u><b>Articles</b></u><br />
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<a href="http://bygonebureau.com/2012/01/09/in-the-land-of-the-non-reader/">"In the Land of the Non-Reader"</a> - a man spends several weeks as a non-reader and this article talks about why and what he learned.<br />
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<i>Flavorwire</i> article of the week: <a href="http://flavorwire.com/250365/literary-nail-art">"15 Great Works of Literature-Inspired Nail Art"</a> - just to prove there really IS something out there for everyone.<br />
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Second <i>Flavorwire</i> article of the week: <a href="http://flavorwire.com/251506/10-cult-literary-traditions-for-truly-die-hard-fans">"10 Cult Literary Traditions for Truly Die-Hard Fans"</a> <br />
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Okay, okay, THIRD <i>Flavorwire</i> article of the week: <a href="http://flavorwire.com/250236/10-legendary-bad-girls-of-literature">"10 Legendary Bad Girls of Literature"</a> (I <i>had</i> to include it, especially as I think they did a much better job on this list than the previous 10 Legendary Bad Boys of Literature).<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/17/friends-books-rick-gekoski">"Some of my worst friends are books"</a> from <i>The Guardian</i>. Some of my best friends are, too, though I also enjoy people IRL.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bestonlinecolleges.com/blog/2012/9-coolest-literary-siblings/">"Nine Coolest Literary Siblings"</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/01/the_business_case_for_reading.html">"The Business Case for Reading"</a> in the <i>Harvard Business Review</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ag0sCrXiCJXNMLrtIxRexileKmXbFy1vRVce1lInjEGXFy6m-qSleapjFqiJ5iU98kzvUkoefVeBZSlMhxQ-2iT5FkfS9wYTZatl6BjmtUqfwUWegVm938igKIkNULcCFz3M0LoCQHf/s1600/typewriters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ag0sCrXiCJXNMLrtIxRexileKmXbFy1vRVce1lInjEGXFy6m-qSleapjFqiJ5iU98kzvUkoefVeBZSlMhxQ-2iT5FkfS9wYTZatl6BjmtUqfwUWegVm938igKIkNULcCFz3M0LoCQHf/s320/typewriters.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<u><b>Blogs</b></u><br />
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<a href="http://thepenguinpress.tumblr.com/">The Penguin Press</a> (where I found the typewriter poster on the right, entitled "Typewriters and the Men Who Love Them")<br />
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<u><b>Bookstores</b></u><br />
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<a href="http://lastbookstorela.com/">The Last Bookstore, LA, CA.</a><br />
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I have never been to this bookstore, but if I ever find myself spending time in LA (doubtful), you can bet this will be my first stop. <a href="http://dailytrojan.com/2012/01/22/the-last-bookstore-preserves-paperback-in-style/">This is the article that got me interested.</a> The sentences that sold it for me?<br />
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"The Last Bookstore lets you hold a new or used book in your hands in a
chic-vintage, one-of-a-kind interior. The store is decorated with things
like elephant tusks and mannequins. Even when you go to the checkout,
you will see that the counter is made up of books. It’s like an Amoeba
Records meets Best Buy meets Borders meets Goodwill, decorated by
someone’s hipster sister."<br />
<br />
How could you <i>not</i> want to go see a store like that?<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://open.salon.com/blog/jlsathre/2012/01/11/25_things_i_learned_from_opening_a_bookstore">25 Things I Learned From Opening a Bookstore"</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Book-to-Screen</b></u><br />
<br />
The filming of <i>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</i> is back on! Thanks to <a href="http://www.earlyword.com/2012/01/17/potato-peel-society-closer-to-screen/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EarlyWord++Spreading+the+Word++January+20+2012&utm_content=EarlyWord++Spreading+the+Word++January+20+2012+CID_9fe0e9b26dd31e38e248482a06f69412&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Closer+to+Screen">EarlyWor</a>d for this info:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/01/13/winslet-branagh-guernsey/" target="_blank">Kate Winslet is set to star </a>as WWII magazine columnist, Juliet Ashton in the film version of <i><b><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/164594/the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society-by-mary-ann-shaffer-and-annie-barrows/book" target="_blank">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></b></i> by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Random House, 2008). Kenneth Branagh will direct (and, some speculate, <a href="http://www.wordandfilm.com/2012/01/kate-winslet-to-join-kenneth-branagh-in-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society/" target="_blank">star as Dawsey Adams</a>). Filming is to begin in March.
<br />
Back in November, <i>Variety</i> reported that <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=32533" target="_blank">Branagh had abandoned <i>Guernsey</i> </a>for an adaptation of <i><b><a href="http://thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title&metaproductid=1758" target="_blank">Italian Shoes</a></b></i>
by Henning Mankell (New Press, 2009), starring Judi Dench and Anthony
Hopkins. That project appears to now be on the back burner.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Children's Books</b></u><br />
<br />
Dr. Seuss was almost never published! But a chance street encounter led to the fateful publication of <i><b>And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street</b></i>. <i>NPR</i> relates <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/01/24/145471724/how-dr-seuss-got-his-start-on-mulberry-street">"How Dr. Seuss Got His Start 'On Mulberry Street'"</a>.<br />
<br />
Want to know what district you'd live in, if you were in Suzanne Collins's <i>The Hunger Games</i>? <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/2012/01/an-imagining-of-panem.html">Check out this map of Panem.</a> I'd be living in the Wilderness which I'm pretty happy about.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/406796/january-24-2012/grim-colberty-tales-with-maurice-sendak-pt--1">Watch this RIGHT NOW</a> (Colbert interviews Maurice Sendak. Hilarity ensues.).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: black; width: 520px;">
<div style="padding: 4px;">
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" base="." flashvars="" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:406796" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512"></embed><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;">
<b>The Colbert Report</b> <br />
Get More: <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video">Video Archive</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: black; width: 520px;">
<div style="padding: 4px;">
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" base="." flashvars="" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:406902" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512"></embed><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;">
<b>The Colbert Report</b> <br />Get More: <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video">Video Archive</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<u><b>Libraries</b></u> <br />
<br />
<i>The Huffington Post</i>'s Arts section presents a photo montage of Eric Fonteneau's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/la-bibliotheque-eric-fonteneau_n_1214618.html?ref=arts">"Haunting Library Installation"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://io9.com/5671047/20-heroic-librarians-who-save-the-world">"20 Heroic Librarians Who Save the World"</a> - and yes, I've seen all THREE <i>The Librarian</i> films (though whether I'm proud or ashamed of that, I haven't figured out yet). Also, you <i>must</i> read that Garth Nix series if you haven't already. Lastly, HUGE crush on Giles, even though I'm not a <i>Buffy</i> fan.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Quizzes</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sporcle.com/games/schouw/childrenscharacters">Can you name these popular children's book characters?</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Tattoos</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/?p=9288">"The 5 Books That Inspire the Most Tattoos"</a> (though I would hasten a guess that the <i>movie</i> "Fight Club" has more to do with the tattoos than the book does).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-89294868439200468362012-01-25T07:10:00.000-05:002012-01-25T07:15:18.257-05:00Waiting on Wednesday: FrostFire by Zoe Marriott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJNjkmg78dc/TwXLosgNPnI/AAAAAAAAAck/jqTSL-64LUM/s1600/New+WoW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJNjkmg78dc/TwXLosgNPnI/AAAAAAAAAck/jqTSL-64LUM/s1600/New+WoW.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is a weekly meme hosted by
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.</div>
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<br />
My posts about adult literary fiction are here:</div>
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<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiting-on-wednesday-state-of-wonder-by.html"><i><b>State of Wonder</b></i> by Ann Patchett</a></div>
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/02/waiting-on-wednesday-calebs-crossing-by.html"><i><b>Caleb's Crossing</b></i> by Geraldine Brooks</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday-flight-of-gemma.html"><i><b>The Flight of Gemma Hardy</b></i> by Margot Livesey</a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-diving-bells-and.html"><i><b>Diving Belles: And Other Stories</b></i> by Lucy Wood </a> </div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about my guilty pleasure reading (romantic, often paranormal, novels) can be found here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/09/waiting-on-wednesday-guilty-pleasures.html"><i><b>Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here</b></i> by Christine Warren</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/11/waiting-on-wednesday-more-guilty.html"><i><b>Tempest's Legacy</b></i> by Nicole Peeler</a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/05/waiting-on-wednesday-saints-astray-by.html"><i><b>Saint's Astray </b></i>by Jacqueline Carey</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday-timeless-by-gail.html"><i><b>Timeless</b></i> by Gail Carriger </a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about YA/teen titles are here:</div>
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<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/12/waiting-on-wednesday-witch-wizard-gift.html"><i><b>Witch & Wizard: The Gift</b></i> by James Patterson & Ned Rust</a></div>
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<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/12/waiting-on-wednesday-pipers-son-by.html"><i><b>The Piper's Son</b></i> by Melina Marchetta</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-rivals.html"><i><b>The Mockingbirds, Book 2: The Rivals</b></i> by Daisy Whitney</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-space-between-by.html"><i><b>The Space Between</b></i> by Brenna Yovanoff</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday-kiss-of-frost-by.html"><b><i>Kiss of Frost</i></b> by Jennifer Estep </a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/waiting-on-wednesday-under-never-sky-by.html"><i><b>Under the Never Sky</b></i></a> by Veronica Rossi<br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/waiting-on-wednesday-born-wicked-by.html"><i><b>Born Wicked</b></i></a> by Jessica Spotswood<br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/waiting-on-wednesday-scarlet-by-ac.html"><i><b>Scarlet</b></i></a> by A.C. Gaughen<br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-agency-traitor-and.html"><i><b>The Agency: The Traitor in the Tunnel</b></i> by Y.S. Lee </a><br />
<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-froi-of-exiles-by.html"><i><b>Froi of the Exiles</b></i> by Melina Marchetta </a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
My posts about middle grade titles are here:</div>
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<a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/02/waiting-on-wednesday-pirate-captains.html"><i><b>The Pirate Captain's Daughter</b></i> by Eve Bunting</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
And now for today's:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RA-BeOAGVyk/TwXMp5peOQI/AAAAAAAAAcw/8cByMpA1V8Q/s1600/frostfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RA-BeOAGVyk/TwXMp5peOQI/AAAAAAAAAcw/8cByMpA1V8Q/s320/frostfire.jpg" width="208" /></a><i><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12478507-frostfire">FrostFire</a> </b></i>(<i>Burn</i> #2)<br />
by Zoe Marriott<br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn">9781406318142, Walker, <b>Pub. Date: June 2012</b> </span>
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn">The first book in this series, <i>Daughter of the Flames</i>, was a much under-rated, under-appreciated, strong female protagonist fantasy novel that came out in 2008. Many years later, there is a whole new audience that will be appreciative of both the first and what promises to be an equally kick-ass second book in this series.</span>
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"><br /></span>
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn">The publisher's description:</span></span><br />
<span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText18337873869243465522">Frost is cursed -
possessed by a wolf demon that brings death everywhere she goes.
Desperate to find a cure, she flees her home, only to be captured by the
Ruan Hill Guard. Trapped until she can prove she is not an enemy, Frost
grows increasingly close to the Guard’s charismatic leader Luca and his
second in command, the tortured Arian. Torn between two very different
men, Frost fears that she may not be able to protect either of them ...
from herself.</span><span class="greyText"><span itemprop="isbn"></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-10288956521783340642012-01-24T14:45:00.003-05:002012-01-24T14:45:44.150-05:00Top Ten Historical Fiction Titles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfOPKye0Gu0SeEr2WbIsnN1d4S5ePl66diM6wszRE6FFWGl5GVoaEnv0FsKglr6UDmjyDZRn6Zg5z4pADtAMPv1Kn5f_yx4ECmEgSIxuE5xyETjD_CKCD-H8a_RcoVc8ozsXT2Sh7lFYV/s1600/TTT3W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfOPKye0Gu0SeEr2WbIsnN1d4S5ePl66diM6wszRE6FFWGl5GVoaEnv0FsKglr6UDmjyDZRn6Zg5z4pADtAMPv1Kn5f_yx4ECmEgSIxuE5xyETjD_CKCD-H8a_RcoVc8ozsXT2Sh7lFYV/s1600/TTT3W.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc0513; text-decoration: none;">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, a brilliant book blog, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">hosts a weekly top ten list meme.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I like this meme because I like lists. I like this meme because it reminds me of the Top 5 lists from <i>High Fidelity</i> (by
Nick Hornby as a book, starring John Cusak as a movie). And I like
this meme because it causes me to think long and hard about
book-related topics. So here goes:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Historical Fiction Titles</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (Quick note: Thank all that is holy I've started categorizing the books I've read on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/206040-broche">Goodreads</a>. It was SO helpful to be able to look through my "historical fiction" list.)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Forgive me as I've needed to create two lists, one for adult fiction and one for children's/YA fiction.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>Adult</b></u></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwU3N0aJYE9bLIWd18wClJIJHbo6e1c9EyET_02JYbxhLtf97d5x_K0QOyMTf4kjKWVxXc9fXlOKem9OA26EtL0ORUTxtMlhO8GxKmXBSLncIfjd6CrARBYssMIAZRhjlrTrg-yN4DHYp/s1600/scarlett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwU3N0aJYE9bLIWd18wClJIJHbo6e1c9EyET_02JYbxhLtf97d5x_K0QOyMTf4kjKWVxXc9fXlOKem9OA26EtL0ORUTxtMlhO8GxKmXBSLncIfjd6CrARBYssMIAZRhjlrTrg-yN4DHYp/s200/scarlett.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780446502375."><i><b>Scarlett</b></i></a> by Alexandra Ripley</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hands down my favorite book of all time. Some of you may know that already. For those who don't, this is the <i>New York Times</i> bestselling authorized sequel to Margaret Mitchell's <i>Gone With the Wind</i>. Don't be put off by the romance novel-esque cover (unless you like romance novels in which case, go ahead and like that aspect of it); there is no bodice-ripping to be found. Instead, all of the potential that Scarlett shows in <i>Gone With the Wind</i> is fully realized in this 400+ page novel that picks up right where <i>GWtW</i> leaves off and ends when Scarlett has finally grown up, thankfully without losing her impish charm and backbone of steel in the process.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <i><b> </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/792591.Letters_from_an_Age_of_Reason"><i><b>Letters from an Age of Reason</b></i></a> by Nora Hague</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Definitely #2 on the list of favorite historical fiction titles (apparently this list really IS going in order of appreciation). The sweeping epic is a dual-narrator epistolary novel switching between the perspectives of a White American young woman who has been taken away to live in the UK following a scandal in US society and a high-yellow former slave from New Orleans who has also made his way to Great Britain. Encompassing racial politics on the verge of the Civil War in the US, as well as the spiritual medium craze of that time in the UK, coupled with a political and social commentary on society's rules and expectations of young women, this brilliant book is sadly the only one published by Ms. Hague and is currently out-of-print but is SO worth the find.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780446574464/rachel-simon/story-beautiful-girl"><i><b>The Story of Beautiful Girl</b></i></a> by Rachel Simon</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Spanning the 40 years between the 1960s and the 21st century, this is a story about 4 people and the lengths they will go to protect the innocent, uphold promises, and believe in love, set to the backdrop of the history of mental institutions, racial tension, and the raising of a child. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-story-of-beautiful-girl-by.html">Read my review here.</a></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1LeWs4FATiYyuQ7VbC1-7kOQEErjfjkaZ7bAw61uoW7SeIj1ldV4V_VeIjHcG816tkqka2Oepj-ij5B3g26Xi4bO_yu6tm-oUoWE4aLhinQgIpTZ1tQothwo0aAaZ56vbimHbvDC8_V1/s1600/year+of+wonders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1LeWs4FATiYyuQ7VbC1-7kOQEErjfjkaZ7bAw61uoW7SeIj1ldV4V_VeIjHcG816tkqka2Oepj-ij5B3g26Xi4bO_yu6tm-oUoWE4aLhinQgIpTZ1tQothwo0aAaZ56vbimHbvDC8_V1/s200/year+of+wonders.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142001431"><i><b>Year of Wonders</b></i></a> by Geraldine Brooks</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is, in my opinion, the best thing Geraldine Brooks has ever written. I have tried, again and again, to read her other books (and have finished most of them), but none of them are as well-written, thought-provoking, and engaging as this one. The historical fiction chapters in <i>People of the Book</i> come close, but I think that one is ruined by the contemporary storyline that weaves throughout. Regardless, this tale based on a true story of a village that chooses to close themselves off to the rest of the world to contain the plague outbreak, all told from the point-of-view of a village housemaid, is heartbreaking and beautifully told. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/08/book-review-year-of-wonders-by.html">Read my review here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780312428594"><i><b>Sea of Poppies</b></i></a> and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780374174231"><i><b>River of Smoke</b></i></a> by Amitav Ghosh</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let's discuss epic, shall we? The first two of this incredible trilogy are out, and I can't decide whether to advise you to wait until #3 has come out to begin reading or to run out and grab the first one right away. Both, I guess. These novels are almost unbelievable in the scope of what Mr. Ghosh is trying (and succeeding!) to accomplish. So many characters, so many styles of writing and speaking, so many dialects, so many countries, so many plot points! I admit it's hard to keep them all straight but this is definitely a series that makes that small headache worthwhile. Centered around the opium trade between India and Great Britain, with China as a major port of transfer, everyone from the poppy growers to the opium traders, British gardeners to escaped convicts, there is no one too large to too small to not be fully explored in these books. It would take me days to read a chapter and yet every time I put the book down, my head almost spinning with the assault of plot and unfamiliar language, all I wanted to do was pick it back up again to be literally swept away, immersed in so many sensory experiences that were nearly unbelievable to me. Mr. Ghosh is a true genius in how he is able to bring so many people and threads of plot together. I am greatly anticipating the final book but fear I will have a few years to wait.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">6. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385343497/alan-bradley/sweetness-bottom-pie"><i><b>Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</b></i></a> by Alan Bradley</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The entire <i>Flavia de Luce </i>mystery series, really, as they are all so charmingly written and perfectly present the village life of post-World War II British countryside, including the land-rich, cash-poor local gentry around whose family manor the stories center. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-review-sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie.html">Read my review of <i><b>Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</b></i> here</a> and <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-i-am-half-sick-of-shadows.html">my review of <i><b>I am Half-Sick of Shadows</b></i> here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCP2q34fyVFGtqrPBMj-Df6qNvHq4IJohLXy6y18KBejlS0sIBqQrJUYWCLpL4fo4ERAm6vwaDsXH8E7b0N9L8jZcBWkjachyeWL8xiwuAthoZZphV9OwhhRCukJPbjKMcZbrS8kMKEAv/s1600/serena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCP2q34fyVFGtqrPBMj-Df6qNvHq4IJohLXy6y18KBejlS0sIBqQrJUYWCLpL4fo4ERAm6vwaDsXH8E7b0N9L8jZcBWkjachyeWL8xiwuAthoZZphV9OwhhRCukJPbjKMcZbrS8kMKEAv/s200/serena.jpg" width="132" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7. <i><b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780061470844">Serena</a> </b></i>by Ron Rash</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ooh, Southern writer creates a truly reprehensible character that you can't stop reading about in <i>Serena</i>. Set in North Carolina just before the Great Depression, the story centers around a lumber town and has great political and social commentary about logging and environmental protection efforts, all with a backdrop of murder. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-serena-by-ron-rash_18.html">Read my review here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">8. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780312427290"><i><b>The Red Tent</b></i></a> by Anita Diamant</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Confession: It has been too long since I've read this to give it an in-depth blurb here. Second confession: I have been unimpressed with any Anita Diamant book I have picked up since. But, I do remember reading this, really enjoying it, sharing it with my BFF and my mother, and so I recommend it to you.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">9. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385534635/erin-morgenstern/night-circus"><i><b>The Night Circus</b></i></a> by Erin Morgenstern</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Though its historical context is not a main plot point in this novel, and there are fantasy elements - certainly magic exists - that may make some people question it being on this list, it is so wholly enjoyable, and so delicately described, and so fully imagined, that I dare anyone to read it and not enjoy it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780061997747"><i><b>Miss Timmins' School for Girls</b></i></a> by Nayana Currimbhoy</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I, myself, was surprised how much I enjoyed this book, knowing nothing about it when I picked it up, but it quietly sneaks in and grabs hold of you with its descriptions of places I've never seen, feelings I've never felt, rules and expectations I'll never have to live by, and a point-of-view change that enhances that unusual foreign sensibility rather than detracting from the story. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-miss-timmins-school-for.html">Read my review here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547406282"><i><b>Thunder Rolling in the Mountains</b></i></a> & </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547053165"><i><b>Streams to the River, River to the Sea</b></i></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <i><b></b></i>by Scott O'Dell</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe Scott O'Dell to be the preeminent children's historical fiction writer. Also, Native American history (and present) is a personal interest of mine, so I was always on the hunt for books that at least <i>tried</i> to present Indian history in a truthful and culturally sensitive way. <i>Thunder Rolling in the Mountains</i> is about the sad plight/flight of the Nez Perce and Chief Joseph's niece, while <i>Streams</i> is Sacagawea at her fictional best (with a hopeful ending imagined for her and her child).</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780141321592"><i><b>Anne of Green Gables</b></i></a> (series) by L.M. Montgomery</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Do books like this count? Because they technically weren't really historical fiction when they were written? Well, there will be a few more on this list like that, just to warn you. The first 4 books and #8 (<i>Rilla of Ingleside</i>) are my personal favorites.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780553376050"><i><b>How I Live Now</b></i></a> by Meg Rosoff</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Not just my favorite, this Printz Medal winner is a wonderfully imagined experience of an American teenager caught up with her British cousins in wartime in England. Brutal and brilliant, self-sacrificing and exploring first-love, the writing style will spare no emotional punches as you run from scene to scene, experience to experience, leave and are brought back to the hope and love that binds the cousins together.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780553376050"><i><b>Number the Stars</b></i></a> by Lois Lowry</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Another medal winner, this time the Newbery, this middle grade novel tells the fictionalized true story of the courageous attempt of Denmark's citizens to help save their Jewish population. As a Jew, this made a HUGE impression on me as a child, and continues to be meaningful in my life as an adult.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763652890"><i><b>The Agency</b></i></a> (series) by Y.S.Lee</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is a new series, only books 1 and 2 are currently available, but they've captured my attention with the plucky heroine and society of secret female spies. Also, though I love romantic tension, I equally love it when the storyline ISN'T focused on the girl getting the guy. Plus, who doesn't enjoy a little cross-dressing? Racial tension between whites and Chinese, class warfare, and political intrigue abound in this thrilling YA historical spy series. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2012/01/waiting-on-wednesday-agency-traitor-and.html">Read my thoughts about it here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">6. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780060581817"><i><b>The Little House on the Prairie</b></i></a> (series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Do I really have to explain this? I hope not. Also, please do begin with <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780060797508"><i><b>Little House in the Big Woods</b></i></a>, which is the real first book in the series, despite the series title taken after book 3.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780060739423"><i><b>Catherine, Called Birdy</b></i></a> and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780064406307"><i><b>The Midwife's Apprentice</b></i></a> and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780440418221"><i><b>Matilda Bone</b></i></a> and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547577128"><i><b>Alchemy and Meggy Swann</b></i></a> and pretty much any other book with a female protagonist set in the Middle Ages written by Karen Cushman</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What is so engaging about all of these titles is how easy it is to relate to each character, even as they experience life so very differently than how we experience it today. That, and the amount of factual information, the truly impressive amount of accurate historical detail that is put into each novel, is in itself worth noting and praising. <a href="http://wildlyread.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-alchemy-and-meggy-swann-by.html">Read my review of <i><b>Alchemy and Meggy Swann</b></i> here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">8. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780152053000"><i><b>Sorcery and Cecelia, or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot</b></i></a> by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Delicious and delightful. A teenage regency romance that operates under the supposition that magic exists. Some people have it, some people don't. Two cousins - Kate and Cecelia - write letters back-and-forth as one spends the season in London and the other spends it in the country, both working to solve the mystery of the enchanted chocolate pot (and possibly find husbands in the bargain).</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">9. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780140374568"><i><b>Eight Cousins</b></i></a> and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781406848403."><i><b>A Rose in Bloom</b></i></a> by Louisa May Alcott</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Both were childhood favorites and continue to be, I believe, some of LMA's best writing. <i>Eight Cousins</i> is about one girl, on the cusp of young adult-hood, sent to live with her Uncle, some aunts, and 7 boy cousins after having been raised an only child attending a prestigious school for girls. She's got a lot to learn (and luckily, to teach) as she and her cousins figure out just what to do with each other. <i>A Rose in Bloom</i> is what happens once the cousins are grown up.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781849025805"><i><b>A Girl of the Limberlost</b></i></a> by Gene Stratton-Porter</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is my all-time favorite young adult novel. Another one of those, not sure it can be considered historical fiction because she was writing about her own time period, sort of books, GSP published this first in 1904. GSP was a pioneer in her own time, being one of the first female nature photographers, one of the first females to work in the film industry in CA, loved and was married to a man she did not share a residence with, published both fiction and non-fiction with themes way ahead of her time but that spoke to millions, etc. An all-around amazing woman who wrote some incredible books. This one, in particular, tells the story of Elnora Comstock, a poor farm girl who lives out of town near the Limberlost, who overcomes all sorts of adversity on her quest for education.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-32753470711326240932012-01-23T13:34:00.000-05:002012-01-23T13:34:39.522-05:00ALA Children's Book Awards 2012In case you somehow missed it, the <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/2012-alsc-book-and-media-award-winners">American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children</a> announced the 2012 book & media awards today. Congrats to all the authors, illustrators, editors, publishers, voice actors, translators, and everyone else involved!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Newbery Medal</b></u><br />
<br />
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller
John Newbery. It is awarded annually
to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American
literature for children.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780374379933"><i><b>Dead End in Norvelt</b></i></a>, written by Jack Gantos, published by Farrar Straus Giroux</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1qxRauIblZoQjlFjY4QtNY6Xs3O8XpmKcoa7Q3mp5vhWfP_VTMxmbFONlmnxueSZJ0J0N_xE2ASNPyh9t-QHf_jmxIfDQCxGQle69b86UNy-sExmxOFdtW0CdDztAyO66Jz-X1Apylpx/s1600/dead+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1qxRauIblZoQjlFjY4QtNY6Xs3O8XpmKcoa7Q3mp5vhWfP_VTMxmbFONlmnxueSZJ0J0N_xE2ASNPyh9t-QHf_jmxIfDQCxGQle69b86UNy-sExmxOFdtW0CdDztAyO66Jz-X1Apylpx/s200/dead+end.jpg" width="139" /></a>Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, <i>Dead End in Norvelt </i>is
a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos,
whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded
for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at
every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are
coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty
old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled
with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one
obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure
involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade
airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices
from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly
surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very
best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in
a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place
where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is
completely up in the air.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Newbery Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780061962783"><b><i>Inside Out & Back Again</i></b></a> written by Thanhha Lai, published by
HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers</li>
<ul>
<li>This book was also a <a href="http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2011.html">National Book Award Winner</a>!</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780805092165"><i><b>Breaking Stalin's Nose</b></i></a> written by Eugene Yelchin, published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Caldecott Medal</b></u><br />
<br />
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English
illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished
American picture book for children.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3786624115473256295"> </a><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780375858611"><i><b>A Ball for Daisy</b></i></a> illustrated and written by Chris Raschka,
published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House
Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAAeOYCNVIDHWrjC4P_KgRy2n5TXVUCl81-XQFerSMP49Btv37ZzqVefi388b7mU5Ilgv8u5gHMiYsg8wqzg5lPStarUb6bRDxr7R8-jrf33i7Ya4RqWpMrwlMg7Wg7FdcrRqv3Vy7sRY/s1600/ball+for+daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAAeOYCNVIDHWrjC4P_KgRy2n5TXVUCl81-XQFerSMP49Btv37ZzqVefi388b7mU5Ilgv8u5gHMiYsg8wqzg5lPStarUb6bRDxr7R8-jrf33i7Ya4RqWpMrwlMg7Wg7FdcrRqv3Vy7sRY/s200/ball+for+daisy.jpg" width="190" /></a>Here's a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it. Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's
anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the
tradition of his nearly wordless picture book <i>Yo! Yes?,</i> Caldecott
Medalist Chris Raschka explores in pictures the joy and sadness that
having a special toy can bring. Raschka's signature swirling,
impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will
particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who
have children dealing with the loss of something special.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Caldecott Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781423121909/john-rocco/blackout"><i><b>Blackout</b></i></a> illustrated and written by John Rocco, published by Disney/Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781596436077"><i><b>Grandpa Green</b></i></a> illustrated and written by Lane Smith, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316045469/patrick-mcdonnell/me-jane"><i><b>Me...Jane</b></i></a><span id="goog_906793157"></span><span id="goog_906793158"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a> illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell, published
by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<u><b>Batchelder Award</b></u><br />
<br />
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is given to an American publisher for a children's
book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally
published in a language other than English in a country other than the
United States, and subsequently translated into English and published in
the United States.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780802853752"><i><b>Soldier Bear</b></i></a> written by Bibi Dumon Tak, illustrated by Philip
Hopman, translated by Laura Watkinson, published by Eerdmans Books for
Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Batchelder Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385740395"><i><b>The Lily Pond</b></i></a> written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck,
published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's
Books, a division of Random House, Inc.</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Belpre (Illustrator) Award</b></u><br />
<br />
The Pura Belpré Medal honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose
works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience
in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780810997318"><i><b>Diego Rivera: His World and Ours</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Duncan
Tonatiuh, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of
ABRAMS</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Belpre (Illustrator) Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781580892421"><i><b>The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred</b></i></a> illustrated by Rafael López, written by Samantha R. Vamos, published by Charlesbridge</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780892392353"><i><b>Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina</b></i></a>
illustrated by Sara Palacios, written by Monica Brown, published by
Children's Books Press, an imprint of Lee and Low Books Inc.</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Belpre (Author) Award</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781600604294"><i><b>Under the Mesquite</b></i></a> written by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, published by Lee and Low Books Inc.</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Belpre (Author) Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781933693989"><i><b>Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Xavier Garza, published by
Cinco Puntos Press</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780805092400"><i><b>Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck</b></i></a> written by Margarita Engle, published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC</li>
</ul>
<br />
<u><b>Carnegie Award</b></u><br />
<br />
The Andrew Carnegie Medal honors the producer of the most outstanding video production for children released during the preceding year.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316015486/peter-brown/children-make-terrible-pets"><i><b>Children Make Terrible Pets</b></i></a> produced by Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard, Weston Woods Studios, Inc.</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Geisel Award</b></u><br />
<br />
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s)
of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American
children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the
United States during the preceding year.<br />
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547149561"><i><b>Tales for Very Picky Eaters</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Josh
Schneider, published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt Publishing Company</li>
</ul>
<u><b><br /></b></u><br />
<u><b>Geisel Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781423133094"><i><b>I Broke My Trunk</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Mo Willems, published
by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763655983"><i><b>I Want My Hat Back</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, published by Candlewick Press</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780823423491"><i><b>See Me Run</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Paul Meisel, published by Holiday House</li>
</ul>
<br />
<u><b>Odyssey Award</b></u><br />
<br />
The Odyssey Award will be awarded annually to the best audiobook
produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the
United States.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385738576"><i><b>Rotters</b></i></a> produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random House
Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc. (Written by Daniel Kraus;
Narrated by Kirby Heyborne)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<u><b>Odyssey Honor Audiobooks</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781455821495"><i><b>Ghetto Cowboy</b></i></a> produced by Brilliance Audio (Written by G. Neri; Narrated by JD Jackson)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780307915894"><i><b>Okay for Now</b></i></a> produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random
House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc. (Written by Gary D.
Schmidt; Narrated by Lincoln Hoppe)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545357029"><i><b> The Scorpio Races</b></i></a> produced by Scholastic Inc./Scholastic Audiobooks
(Written by Maggie Stiefvater; Narrated by Steve West and Fiona
Hardingham) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780307747563"><i><b>Young Fredle</b></i></a> produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random
House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc. (Written by Cynthia
Voigt; Narrated by Wendy Carter)</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Sibert Medal</b></u><br />
<br />
The Robert F. Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most
distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547199450"><i><b>Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, published by Houghton
Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publishing Company</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b><br />
<u><b>Sibert Honor Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781590787663"><i><b>Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor</b></i></a> written by Larry Dane Brimner,
published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545176866"><i><b>Drawing from Memory</b></i></a> written and illustrated by Allen Say, published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547053448"><i><b>The Elephant Scientist</b></i></a> written by Caitlin O'Connell and Donna M.
Jackson, illustrated by Caitlin O'Connell and Timothy Rodwell, published
by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781426308697"><i><b>Witches!: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem</b></i></a> written and
illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer, published by National Geographic
Society</li>
</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3786624115473256295.post-40590248018754291502012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:002012-01-20T06:00:06.236-05:00Friday Round-UpEach week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog
posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week.
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnkbXpE0ZqoRJ99ZVuEp3O5KKuaBtjW4KEPvw5NHzN0NRy9WP-gJflnva8H1CyGAckwXyPcv4ikPfercd9ixvpx7buPRhxGHunauW0cDyXdYlIj3zzTVphm7ZbU-0kE-6xfYsSOVe5wbc/s1600/guy+laramee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnkbXpE0ZqoRJ99ZVuEp3O5KKuaBtjW4KEPvw5NHzN0NRy9WP-gJflnva8H1CyGAckwXyPcv4ikPfercd9ixvpx7buPRhxGHunauW0cDyXdYlIj3zzTVphm7ZbU-0kE-6xfYsSOVe5wbc/s320/guy+laramee.jpg" width="214" /></a><u><b>Articles</b></u><br />
<br />
Gorgeous <a href="http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/12/carved-book-landscapes-by-guy-laramee/">carved book landscapes</a> by Guy Laramee.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/11/15/salvador-dali-alice-in-wonderland-1969/">Salvador Dali illustrates <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>.</a><br />
<br />
Feeling both betrayed and excited: former librarian and independent bookstore advocate, Nancy Pearl, presents <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000764551">Book Lust Rediscoveries</a>, a series published by Amazon.com (ew.).<br />
<br />
Amazing idea of the week! Weller Books is doing a huge "book drop" around the city to advertise their grand re-opening. <a href="http://wearetopsecret.com/2012/01/weller-bookworks/">Read about it here.</a><br />
<br />
Absolutely <a href="http://www.casualoptimist.com/2012/01/16/chabon-connie-gabbert/">beautiful covers for the e-book versions of Michael Chabon's works</a> by designer Connie Gabbert showcased on <i>The Casual Optimist</i>.<br />
<br />
Obviously <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/BookCASE-Travel-bookcase-in-a-suitcase/">this travel bookcase</a> is what I'll be taking on my next vacation. Ms. Crowe - is this how you do it?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mydesignstories.net/profiles/blog/show?id=3881081%3ABlogPost%3A187010&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_post">"We all read in the Yellow Trolley Bus"</a> in Bulgaria. This cool public library housed in an old trolley bus on a deserted city street is right up there with the Book Barge in the UK for its unique idea and brilliant execution.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mydesignstories.net/profiles/blogs/another-way-of-landscaping">Read this article</a> about book landscaping.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2012/01/digital-rights-showdown-harpercollins-v.html"><b>Digital Rights Showdown!</b> Harper Collins vs. Open Media</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Blogs</b></u><br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/">Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves</a> (with pictures!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thepageturn.com/">The PageTurn</a>, the website/blog by HarperCollins's School and Library Marketing team.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Book Lists</b></u><br />
<br />
<i>Book Dirt </i>offers <a href="http://bookdirtblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/8-famous-people-you-never-knew-wrote.html">"8 Famous People You Never Knew Wrote Mysteries"</a>. I know I'm putting Hugh Laurie's on my TBR.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Book-to-Screen</b></u><br />
<br />
I'm in love with Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens, the main character in the <i>Raylan Givens</i> series by Elmore Leonard, in the TV show <i>Justified</i>:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OMVd3ycUy60" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Children's Books</b></u><br />
<br />
<i><b>Cinder</b></i> (a debut YA novel about Cinderella as a cyborg) author, Marissa Meyer, writes about reimagined fairy tales in <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/13/why-hollywood-is-rediscovering-fairytales/?mod=wsj_share_facebook">"Twice Upon a Time in Hollywood"</a><br />
<br />
<i>Brain Pickings</i>' article of the week: <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/26/childrens-nonfiction-books/">"Seven Nonfiction Children's Books Blending Whimsy and Education"</a>. My favorite is a tie between <i><b>The First Book of Jazz</b></i> by Langston Hughes and <i><b>The Serif Fairy</b></i> by Rene Siegfried.<br />
<br />
<i>Publisher's Weekly</i> reports on Chicken House - the children's publishing company begun by the man who discovered JK Rowling's <i>Harry Potter</i> in the UK - expanding to the Netherlands in <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/50258-chicken-house-goes-dutch.html">"Chicken House Goes Dutch"</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6SnGkdZ_8yoCk4lIBW0Udg0aq7vcrwq3dieuyyxAWz6enRzh377KVPY_df57-0is_WcBS8DnJ8ED83Fb3E9rV9wFQKR7gGku6AyG3oGe_gM6R6dRHo7vRM2CAhiR6Wz2yHuFj6DSOVgq/s1600/Rooster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6SnGkdZ_8yoCk4lIBW0Udg0aq7vcrwq3dieuyyxAWz6enRzh377KVPY_df57-0is_WcBS8DnJ8ED83Fb3E9rV9wFQKR7gGku6AyG3oGe_gM6R6dRHo7vRM2CAhiR6Wz2yHuFj6DSOVgq/s200/Rooster.jpg" width="200" /></a><u><b>Contests</b></u><br />
<br />
It's that time again! (I say that like I've done this before. I haven't.) "It is time to announce the contestants, judges, and brackets for the
original, one-and-only, full-combat,
oddly-predictive-of-the-Pulitzer-Prize, eighth annual TMN Tournament of
Books, coming March 2012, presented by Field Notes." Don't know what I'm talking about? <a href="http://www.themorningnews.org/article/here-comes-the-rooster">Check it out here.</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Libraries</b></u><br />
<br />
Moment of silent appreciation for the Kansas City Public Library.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9OABbXxqLup6C9IlbZpGIGOyA-cHH3fm9HvGlriJs9_p3QG2pFVg__agybL7pdcQXvZui2Li4ZWfQJ_nsHXsgM2WjcZB9y3aKLWgXcWBRUAgjKTQ1cg90BUdKNFvDt5HtHickBZSTJ31/s1600/kansas+city+public+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9OABbXxqLup6C9IlbZpGIGOyA-cHH3fm9HvGlriJs9_p3QG2pFVg__agybL7pdcQXvZui2Li4ZWfQJ_nsHXsgM2WjcZB9y3aKLWgXcWBRUAgjKTQ1cg90BUdKNFvDt5HtHickBZSTJ31/s320/kansas+city+public+library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<u><b>Teaching</b></u><br />
<br />
"The Learning Network" at <i>The New York Times</i> has some fantastic suggestions for encouraging book discussions, particularly between multiple classrooms in <a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/reading-with-strangers-ways-to-study-literature-collaboratively/">"Reading With Strangers: Ways to Study Literature Collaboratively"</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Videos</b></u><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SKVcQnyEIT8" width="560"></iframe>
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Despite the bizarre choice in music, this video is a cute montage of library scenes from movies and T.V. shows:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7_a7OTE2nLg" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17763269201273012957noreply@blogger.com4