R.I.P. Maurice Sendak and Jean Craighead George

Two incredibly talented and inspirational voices in children's literature passed away over the past week.  It's depressing, especially for me, but it's a great opportunity to reflect on their work and pick up some of their books you may have missed.

#TheList, No. 745: Little Women

When I was in the fifth grade, we had an assignment called "Fiction Feedback."  Every term, we were required to read at least three fictional books and fill out a small worksheet.  For some of the...uhhh dorks, to put it gently, this assignment was treated as a competition.

We could choose the books ourselves and our teacher had a fairly sizeable collection in the classroom for us to pick from if we wanted.  I distinctly remember two books in this collection: R.L. Stine's Goodnight Kiss:

and Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.  Little Women was by far the largest book on the shelf; you had to get special permission to read it for Fiction Feedback and it counted as two books.  Naturally, all the dorks had to read this book so we could brag about this feat.

Now that I've reread the book without that competitive edge driving me forward, I appreciate it differently.  I actually see it as a great "classic book" for kids to read and enjoy from the way the novel is constructed.  The story definitely flows across the chapters, but every chapter can be read on its own as a mini short story.  Yes, I see that mini short story sounds redundant, but I'm sticking with it.  Anyway, the digestable chunks of story are the perfect size for children readers.  The chapters each have a solid storyline.  Read one or two chapters a day, and pick up the book again tomorrow.  There aren't any of the crazy cliffhangers to compel you to finish the book right then and there, except maybe the storyline about Beth's illness, and the chapter sizes and completeness help to understand the story better.

It's also a really good, simple story.  Four sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) grow up in the late 19th century, and here's what happens to them.  Yes, it's schmaltzy here and there, but I didn't mind it as much as I normally do.  Plus, this line exists:

"...better be happy old maids than unhappy wives, or unmaidenly girls, running about to find husbands."

I personally love that.  It's a dose of anti-Disneyfication of the Princess stories focusing on finding Prince Charming (not that I hate those movies, it's just hard to argue that that's not the case in many movies).

There are lots of books available to read after Little Women.  Little Women is actually the first of a series by Lousia May Alcott, so there are four more books you can read once you finish.  There's a "Portraits of Little Women" series written in the 90s that focus on the characters individually.  There's also a movie and a musical out there for your viewing and listening pleasure.  Seriously, Little Women is everywhere. 

Friday Five: Why I Don't Have an E-Reader

I do plan on doing a Friday Five defending e-books, but for right now:

Five Reasons Why I Don't Have or Want an E-Reader:

1. Things break easily

This morning, I accidentally stepped on my cell phone charger and broke it. Things happen and an expensive e-reader is not something I would want to own and accidentally break.

Also, when I'm reading a book and something happens that upsets me (something horrible happens to a character I love - Harry Potter - or the book is just terribly written - Twilight) I have a tendency to either a) drop the book in surprise; b) slam the book shut in disbelief; or c) throw the book in disgust. This may be a sign of anger issues and also may be an exaggeration.  Regardless, I can always pick the book up and keep reading.  Maybe some pages get wrinkled or torn a bit, but the words all remain and nothing stands in my way of finding out what happens next.

If I throw an e-reader (or drop it accidentally on the floor or in a puddle), there's less of a chance that I can pick it up and just keep going.  Not only would I not have the book that I was reading, but I'd lose everything else on there too.  So I'd have to replace the e-reader and then load everything back onto it.  #Hassle.

2. I'm a traditionalist

I just prefer turning physical pages. Plus, I often like to flip back to previous passages and having tried doing that on an e-reader and getting frustrated, I know that it's in my best interest to have a physical book in my hand for my page flipping compulsiveness.

3. My Bookshelf

I love staring at my bookshelf. I love organizing/reorganizing my books and I love knowing that they're there.  Yes, they take up space, but they are a part of my life and I don't feel the need to have downloadable files on an e-book be a representation of what I've read.

4. Choosing Books

Unless you know exactly what you're looking for, or you're one of those people who will read whatever is on the bestsellers list, it is so difficult to digitally browse for books.  I like to actually flip through a book to get a feel of how it's written, and you only get a smidgen of a preview to do that online for e-books. 

5. Money

Yes, e-books are technically cheaper than buying new physical books. But if you're buying used books, those prices always win.  PLUS, after I shelled out all the money for the actual e-reader, I would still need to spend an exorbitant amount of money to buy electronic versions of the many, many books I already own.  People often say that e-books are easier to travel with, which I don't dispute, but I often reread my books and I would rather  carry the extra weight than have to repurchase everything. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Quotes From Books

I tried, I really tried, but it's pretty obvious from the get go that a large chunk of these are going to be from Harry Potter.  If I could just count the entirety of the series as one long quote, I would, but alas, here are my

Top Ten Favorite Quotes from Harry Potter Books:

1. "I enjoyed the meetings, too. It was like having friends."  
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling

2. "Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, it's the best school of witchcraft there is I've heard - I've learned all the course books by heart of course. I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?" 
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling

(*Sidenote, I used to practice that line in the hopes that there would be an audition to play Hermione in the movie.*)

3. "Why are you worrying about You-Know Who? You should be worrying about U-No-Poo - the Constipation Sensation that's gripping the nation!" 
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling

4. "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love" 
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

5. "All was well." 
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

6. "There have been five great kisses since 1642 B.C., when Saul and Delilah Korn's inadvertent discovery swept across Western Civilization.  (Before then couples hooked thumbs.)"  
- The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

7. "...better be happy old maids than unhappy wives, or unmaidenly girls, running about to find husbands." 
- Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

8. “It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that just because you don’t like something, it is empirically not good. I don’t like Chinese food, but I don’t write articles trying to prove it doesn’t exist.” 
-Bossypants, by Tina Fey

9.  "A messy home sends a coded message to children: "I'm not loveable. Otherwise, Mom would dust."
- I Am America (And So Can You!), by Stephen Colbert

10. "I am haunted by humans."
- The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak


More at The Broke and the Bookish!

Librarian Problems

Librarians have to deal with a lot.  Part of that includes people saying "it must be nice to sit around all day and read."  That's not what we do.  Part of being a librarian is making tough decisions.

A library is supposed to provide equal access to all information.  Well, what about super racist and prejudiced books? What about books that proclaim that the world is flat?  Or books that insist homosexuality is a disease that can be cured?

As a super liberal gal, I believe know that all of the above is wrong, but there are those who fervently believe in all of that and it's not a librarian's job to correct them.  Librarians are just supposed to provide them with the materials. Sad, but true.

But, we also have to make sure that our collections serve the needs of our community.  So, what happens when your library is smack dab in the middle of a KKK nesting area?  Do you make sure all of the civil rights books are locked away? Do you even have them available? If you do have these books on the shelves and they are stolen or vandalized to prevent others from using them, do you replace them, or use the library budget elsewhere? #SOMANYPROBLEMS!!!

That's an extreme example, yes, but issues like this are common.  Arizona schools banned ethnic studies, so should libraries contain these materials to help the students who lose out? [Yes] Schools in Tennessee aren't allowed to discuss homosexuality in grades K-8.  Should these students have access to books like And Tango Makes Three or Heather Has Two Mommies? [Yes]  Should libraries in secular towns hold titles that discuss intelligent design? [Yes]  It's difficult to find an appropriate balance of materials, but it's necessary because there is supposed to be something for everyone. 

So no, we don't get to sit around and read all day.  We have to think about this type of issue to make sure everyone is happy.  #librarianproblems

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Like To See Made Into A Movie

I usually cringe when I see movies made of books I love, but there are a few that I wouldn't mind seeing on the big screen.  

SMBC

I'd still go all hipster on them when they came out with my endless proclamations of having read the book already, but here are my

Top Ten Books I'd Like To See Made Into A Movie

1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs

The Tim Burton-ness of this book is just screaming to be made into a movie, but the photographs included in the book are so strong that it could diminish the work if they weren't replicated well enough.

2. The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson

The Jack the Ripper plot would be great onscreen and the movie would probably do well because as the book itself addresses, people are obsessed with the sensation that is Jack the Ripper.

3. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself, by Judy Blume

It's my favorite Blume book and I think she's a character with whom many young children with overactive imaginations can connect. 

4. Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Duh.

5. Feed, by M.T. Anderson
While I wasn't a huge fan of this book, I think it's got an extremely relevant topic (newsfeeds controlling us and choosing virtual over actual conversations) and would translate really well to the big screen.

6. 13 Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

This one is intense and the acting would have to be perfect to pull off.  But I think it would be haunting to hear the casette tapes played.

7. Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card

This one is tough.  It is actually being made into a movie starring the boy from Hugo, but it'll be difficult to get everything in there, especially because Ender is pretty much a fetus for a good chunk of the book.

8. Fifteen, by Beverly Cleary

This story is atrocious, but a great historical look at how times have changed since this book was published.  If this were made into a movie, with no changes, it would have a sort of Pleasantville vibe to it which would be interesting.

9. The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness

Even though I hated the rest of the series, this dystopian novel is great.  While I love females as the leads in these type of books, the male lead in this one evens out the playing field a tiny bit (but not really, because Katniss would destroy him in 5 seconds) and there's a female that's with him on his journey.

10. How I Paid for College, by Marc Acito

This book is hilarious and speaks well to those high school students about to (maybe) leave home for college and deal with adult burdens like money.  It would be a good summer flick to help them take their minds off of the stress for just a moment.

More at The Broke and the Bookish!

Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

I read The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson for my awesome unofficial YA Book Club and loved it, so I decided to try out the other Maureen Johnson novel I kept coming across: 13 Little Blue Envelopes.  Sidenote, everytime I hear MJ's name, I think of Idina Menzel's character in Rent. 

I despise this cover.

The premise of the novel is a teenage girl, Ginny, taking a whirlwind tour of Europe.  The catch is that she's following orders from the 13 letters her whimsical artist aunt wrote for her before dying of cancer.  Ginny receives 13 little blue envelopes with instructions on how she is supposed to travel Europe with just a backpack and absolutely no technological contact with people back home.  On the way, she learns about her aunt and of course, herself.

Is it cheesey? Yes. In a typical way? No. Ginny is naturally a shy, awkward girl whom boys never look at and has no clue what she wants in life.  That doesn't go away by the end of the novel.  Sure she meets a guy, but by the novel's conclusion, they aren't making plans to spend the rest of their lives together.  I like that.  Some of the scenes are ridiculous, like the Italian boy taking Ginny back to his sister's place to get her drunk off of a sip of wine and try to sleep with her, but I get that they're supposed to assert her growing independence. 

13 Little Blue Envelopes is cute and very funny, even during the emotional chapters when Ginny copes with the sadness and frustration over her aunt's death.   I'd definitely recommend it to someone looking for a quick, relaxing read with some substance, but not super deep what-is-the-meaning-of-life-? substance.

Friday Five: Modern Retellings - Novels

I just finished a big project based on Retelling (familiar stories with a twist), so they've been constantly on the mind for the past month.  That means that you get to hear about them!  This is why last week's Friday Five installment involved teen movies based on classics.  This is how my mind works.

There are many, many, many, many  retelling available.  These are only five young adult options and not all are super great, but teens would definitely enjoy them.

Five Modern Retelling - Novels

1. Romeo's Ex: Rosaline's Story, by Lisa Fiedler

I wouldn't say that I detest Romeo and Juliet.  But I do say that it's Shakespeare's best comedy.  What? Comedy you say? Yes.

Juliet was also a rebound in Shakespeare's version.  So think about that the next time you sing the praises of a make believe couple.

Anyway, in this re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet, we mainly get Rosaline's side of the story.  Turns out she's actually got a thing for Benvolio, and together they want to bring an end to the Capulet and Montague feud.  While not the best book in the world (her desire to study and be a healer is a little forced to add feminist power), I like that it puts Rosaline into focus because so many forget that she existed in the background.

2. Avalon High, by Meg Cabot

When she’s forced to move to D.C. for a year while her King Arthur obsessed parents are on sabbatical, Ellie knows her junior year is going to be terrible. Sure enough, the high school is a little weird.  In this modernized retelling, Ellie encounters a bunch of students who seem to act like characters from King Arthur tales.  They even have the same names.  Ellie just thinks it's a coincidence, but then a teacher warns her that the stories are true and the high schoolers are actually reincarnations of real people.  

I liked this book a lot because you didn't need any prior knowledge of King Arthur to understand what was happening.  There's a lot of explanation in the text which was helpful to people like me who tend to shun classics or just never got the chance to read them. 

3. Golden, by Cameron Dokey

Part of the Once Upon a Time series, this novel shines a new light on Rapunzel.  In this version, she doesn't have the long, golden hair for a prince to climb.  No, here she's actually bald.  When she finds out the sorceress who raised her has a real daughter locked in a tower, Rapunzel promises to help set her free and, in doing so, learns about love.

I liked this book enough, but it got a bit weird near the end when the real daughter is this super weak girl who doesn't know how to talk to people.  Ok, I get that she's been locked in a tower for years, but to have someone speak to a boy for you and agree to your eventual marriage to said boy, and then just set off to marry him like it's no big deal?  I can't buy that.  I buy the sorceress stuff before that plot point.  But the baldness gets a thumbs up from me.

4. This Dark Endeavor, by Kenneth Oppel

This retelling is a prequel to Frankenstein.  Victor is a teenager with a twin dying from a mysterious illness.  Despite the fact that alchemy is illegal, Victor sets out to create the Elixir of Life, using directions from a book he stole from his family's "Dark Library."  In doing so, he gets his first taste of power and what it's like to give the power of life.

Now, I personally hated Frankenstein, and much preferred Young Frankenstein and it's Broadway counterpart, but I liked this prequel.  Obviously parts are a little far fetched because they're creating the Elixir of Life and there's absolutely zero mention of Nicholas Flamel (which just irks me and not even for Harry Potter reasons), but it's intriguing.  I did like how the twin's name, Konrad, was a nod to Konrad Dippel, another noted alchemist born at Castle Frankenstein.

5. Something Rotten, by Alan Gratz

This is a modern mystery version of Hamlet.  Hamilton Prince's family owns a massive paper plant that is releasing poisonous chemicals into the river.  Nonetheless, they have a fortune and life is good until someone goes and offs Hamilton's father, his mom marries his uncle, and so on and so forth.  His friend Horatio decides to play detective to figure out whodunnit. 

It's the exact same story, but with modern elements.  Cancer instead of poison, alcoholism instead of madness, environmentalism instead of...well madness, it's pretty nifty. I liked this book the best out of this bunch, although The Lion King is still THE best version of Hamlet ever.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

I was dangerously close to making this my top 10 Harry Potter characters, but I limited myself to only two.  Go me!

Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

1. Hermione Granger - Harry Potter series

There's no question about it. I don't even know where to begin. #Perfection.

2. Luna Lovegood - Harry Potter series

If she had been in the entire HP series, she might have outweighed my love of Hermione.  

3. Harold - Harold and the Purple Crayon series.

Reason number 1: He has a purple crayon and purple is my second favorite color.  Reason two: he inspires imagination. I hate that this is going to become a movie.

4. Holden Caulfield - The Catcher in the Rye

He is whiny and emotional and I love it. He just wants to keep the kids away from the phoniness of the world.    With the fact that 8-year-olds are walking around with iPhones as toys, you kind of have to side with him on this one.

5. Stephanie Plum - Stephanie Plum by the Number series

Alright, these books are some of my guilty pleasure reads, but she reminds me of a Jersey version of Liz Lemon with her frequent consumption of multiple doughnuts and her completely chaotic workplace.  

6. The Pigeon - Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

I can never get over how cute that bird is.  It's those eyes. They look exactly like a toddler who knows she's being bad and is trying to get away with it by being adorable.  Those brats.

7. Turtle - The Westing Game

She's a young girl who figured out the game to win the millions.  Aside from that, I always loved how she was a such a softie beneath her tough girl front.  

8. Anastasia Krupnik - Anastasia series

I wanted to be her when I was younger.  Anastasia went through a million phases about what she wanted to be when she grew up.  I went through those same phases and it comforted me to know that somewhere out there, there was an awesome author who understood.

9. Alice - Agony of Alice

Like Anastasia, Alice was one of the most awkward characters I'd ever encountered and she made me feel semi-normal whenever I would read books from that series. 

10. Major Major Major Major - Catch-22

I love a lot of the characters in this book, but nothing made me laugh as much as Major jumping out of windows to avoid talking to people.  

Procrastination?

Hey girl, Bad things happen when I have a project due tomorrow. Including illness.