So... yesterday morning at the ALA conference in San Antonio, the announced all sorts of awards!
Newberry:
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
Newberry Honors:
Whittington by Alan Armstrong
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Caldecott:
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Roaschka
Caldecott Honors:
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Zen Shorts written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth
Hot Air : The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Song of the Waterboatman and Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beckie Prange
There are a million others. The complete list is here.
I actually haven't read any of the Newberry books, but I've looked over all of the Caldecotts with the excpetion of Hot Air : The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride. And, I gotta say... where I really liked The Hello, Goodbye Window, the illustrations didn't grab me. They're a bit chaotic and if I'm not in the right mood, give me a headache. I like them, but they just weren't the "wowie zowie" type thing you'd expect from a Caldecott award winner, you know?
Now, Zen Shorts really did grab me in that way. The first time I read it I thought "Man, this should get the Caldecott". I didn't see Rosa or Song of the Waterboatman and Other Pond Poems until they started getting "Caldecott Contender" hype, but I think their illustrations both grab more than The Hello, Goodbye Window, especially Song of the Waterboatman and Other Pond Poems, which immediately grabbed me. Rosa didn't grab me in the same way, but I can definitely see why it might grab others...
I just used the word "grab" waaaaaaaaay too much. I apologize.
Touching back briefly on Newberry...
I've flipped through Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow a few times and it looks really good. I've checked The Princess Academy out and will read it soon. I'm also currently listening to Kira-Kira, which won last year. So far, I like it.
AND! I've only about 50 pages left in Unredeemed Captive, The : A Family Story from Early America. It's been worth the re-read.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Still going with last year's books...
Other books (of the literary fiction genre) I really enjoyed this year:
The Kite Runner Khaled Hosienni
Never Let Me Go Kazou Ishiguro
The Shipping News Annie Proulx
Kim (Penguin Classics) Rudyard Kipling
Great Expectations Charles Dickens
Brick Lane : A Novel Monica Ali
A Doll's House and Other Plays Henrik Ibsen
The Republic of Wine : A Novel by Mo Yan, trans. Howard Goldblatt
Persuasion Jane Austen
With the following comments:
LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED the Ibsen. And if you've ever studied May 4th Movement Chinese lit and haven't read A Doll's House, you should fix that. Like NOW. Plus, the other plays, especially, Lady from the Sea were excellent.
Brick Lane : A Novel was good, but just not initially what I wanted or expected it to be. It moved a bit slow, but I think I wanted another White Teeth or Crazy Times in on the Curry Mile. But it pulled me in after a while, and the ending was beautiful.
The Republic of Wine : A Novel is pretty f-ed up and the least accessible of Mo Yan's work. It makes more sense though, if you've had a lot of wine before reading.
The Kite Runner Khaled Hosienni
Never Let Me Go Kazou Ishiguro
The Shipping News Annie Proulx
Kim (Penguin Classics) Rudyard Kipling
Great Expectations Charles Dickens
Brick Lane : A Novel Monica Ali
A Doll's House and Other Plays Henrik Ibsen
The Republic of Wine : A Novel by Mo Yan, trans. Howard Goldblatt
Persuasion Jane Austen
With the following comments:
LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED the Ibsen. And if you've ever studied May 4th Movement Chinese lit and haven't read A Doll's House, you should fix that. Like NOW. Plus, the other plays, especially, Lady from the Sea were excellent.
Brick Lane : A Novel was good, but just not initially what I wanted or expected it to be. It moved a bit slow, but I think I wanted another White Teeth or Crazy Times in on the Curry Mile. But it pulled me in after a while, and the ending was beautiful.
The Republic of Wine : A Novel is pretty f-ed up and the least accessible of Mo Yan's work. It makes more sense though, if you've had a lot of wine before reading.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
The Best and Worst of 2005
I'm about half way through Unredeemed Captive by John Demos. This is a book I was supposed to read for the worst class I ever took in college. The class was so horrible (teacher's fault, not the subject, which was New World History) that I sold all the books we had to use, except for Sugar and Slaves: the Rise of the Planter Class in the English West Indies 1624-1713 by Richard S. Dunn. Not that I particularly enjoyed the book (I don't think I finished reading it, to tell the truth) but because, for some reason, they wouldn't buy it back from me.
I always regretted selling Unredeemed Captive as well as Captain Kidd and the War against the Pirates by Robert C. Ritchie. As both were good and I never finished reading them. Time to remedy such mistakes.
To keep you entertained until I finish such things, here's a back log of stuff:
OK, In 2005, I read 84 books. Ratings are now coming! Yay!
The best book:
I'm going to have to just give it up and go with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, because dude.
Not counting Potter, I'd go with Andrea Levy's Small Isalnd. I also really enjoyed Saving Fish from Drowning(The best thing Amy Tan's ever written, IMHO) and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Worst Book:
Hands down, Rosemarie Santini's Sex & Sensibility: The Adventures of a Jane Austen Addict--A Novel which tried to be a high minded, Bridget Jones's Diary type thing and just failed failed failed and wasn't enjoyable on any level. Close second would be What You Owe Me. Ugh. Don't get me started.
Another Crap-tastic book from last year would be: Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges. Poorly researched. Poorly written. Poorly edited. I wanted to reread it with my red-pen in hand and then mail it back to him. Gargh.
Most fun discovery of last year was Lauren Child. Check out her Charlie and Lola picture books. Check out Clarice Bean. Just check her out. LOVE.
I always regretted selling Unredeemed Captive as well as Captain Kidd and the War against the Pirates by Robert C. Ritchie. As both were good and I never finished reading them. Time to remedy such mistakes.
To keep you entertained until I finish such things, here's a back log of stuff:
OK, In 2005, I read 84 books. Ratings are now coming! Yay!
The best book:
I'm going to have to just give it up and go with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, because dude.
Not counting Potter, I'd go with Andrea Levy's Small Isalnd. I also really enjoyed Saving Fish from Drowning(The best thing Amy Tan's ever written, IMHO) and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Worst Book:
Hands down, Rosemarie Santini's Sex & Sensibility: The Adventures of a Jane Austen Addict--A Novel which tried to be a high minded, Bridget Jones's Diary type thing and just failed failed failed and wasn't enjoyable on any level. Close second would be What You Owe Me. Ugh. Don't get me started.
Another Crap-tastic book from last year would be: Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges. Poorly researched. Poorly written. Poorly edited. I wanted to reread it with my red-pen in hand and then mail it back to him. Gargh.
Most fun discovery of last year was Lauren Child. Check out her Charlie and Lola picture books. Check out Clarice Bean. Just check her out. LOVE.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Classic and Banned
Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century), by John Steinbeck
Can you believe I'd never read this before? I love Steinbeck's prose... I love his imagery of California and his dialogue and how he captures a certain segment of society.
Where my favorites are still Cannery Row and East of Eden this short bitter story of Lennie and George is one of Steinbeck's best. I came into knowing the basic plot, mainly the refrain of "Can I tend the rabbits George?" and the end. I also knew the bit about ketchup, as it was a scene used in my high school acting class, but it still moved me when told in Steinbeck's words and grace.
There is a feeling I get with Steinbeck, after not having read any for a long time, that diving back into his prose is like coming home to an old friend, or putting on your favorite pair of jeans.
Can you believe I'd never read this before? I love Steinbeck's prose... I love his imagery of California and his dialogue and how he captures a certain segment of society.
Where my favorites are still Cannery Row and East of Eden this short bitter story of Lennie and George is one of Steinbeck's best. I came into knowing the basic plot, mainly the refrain of "Can I tend the rabbits George?" and the end. I also knew the bit about ketchup, as it was a scene used in my high school acting class, but it still moved me when told in Steinbeck's words and grace.
There is a feeling I get with Steinbeck, after not having read any for a long time, that diving back into his prose is like coming home to an old friend, or putting on your favorite pair of jeans.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Love
Heavy Words Lightly Thrown : The Reason Behind the Rhyme, by Chris Roberts.
Love love, how I love. Even though I've read it (and got it from the library) it's still on my wish list, because I want to own this, do I ever.
Basically, Roberts tells us the reasons and history behind nursery rhymes. An entertaining, easy, and interesting read. No footnotes, not a lot of sources and not overly scholarly, but it doesn't pretend to be either, he's rather upfront about the whole thing, which is refreshing. I also learned a lot about British history and even taught Dan, who holds an advanced degree in such things a minor fact or two. (Like London Bridge is really the third London Bridge). Did you know goose bumps are a symptom of STD? (Goose being slang for prostitute, and when a prostitute gives you bumps, you know it can't be good)
Mary Mary quite contrary... Bloody Mary? Mary Queen of Scots? A good case to be made for either one!
And what's with Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater keeping his wife in a pumpkin shell? Suburban hell? Guilded cage?
I highly recommend. Absolutely LOVED.
Love love, how I love. Even though I've read it (and got it from the library) it's still on my wish list, because I want to own this, do I ever.
Basically, Roberts tells us the reasons and history behind nursery rhymes. An entertaining, easy, and interesting read. No footnotes, not a lot of sources and not overly scholarly, but it doesn't pretend to be either, he's rather upfront about the whole thing, which is refreshing. I also learned a lot about British history and even taught Dan, who holds an advanced degree in such things a minor fact or two. (Like London Bridge is really the third London Bridge). Did you know goose bumps are a symptom of STD? (Goose being slang for prostitute, and when a prostitute gives you bumps, you know it can't be good)
Mary Mary quite contrary... Bloody Mary? Mary Queen of Scots? A good case to be made for either one!
And what's with Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater keeping his wife in a pumpkin shell? Suburban hell? Guilded cage?
I highly recommend. Absolutely LOVED.
It better not be Ginny Weasley damnit
In an interview in the Telegraph JK Rowling says:
In the seventh and final Harry Potter book, there will be deaths of both goodies and baddies. She was talking to her husband, Neil, recently, after she had just written the death of one particular character. "He shuddered. 'Oh don't do that,' he said to me, but of course I did."
AIY! WHO GOT KILLED?! I WANT TO KNOW!
In the seventh and final Harry Potter book, there will be deaths of both goodies and baddies. She was talking to her husband, Neil, recently, after she had just written the death of one particular character. "He shuddered. 'Oh don't do that,' he said to me, but of course I did."
AIY! WHO GOT KILLED?! I WANT TO KNOW!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
I exsist, but do my readers?
So... I thought I'd do this blog more. More for my benefit more than anything. An online reading journal, if you will.
So, so far this year, I have read the following...
Boy Meets Boy David Levithan
A quirky love story that takes place in a town where the drag queens have their own clique (and one is the star quarterback), being gay isn't a big deal, and the cheerleaders drive motorcycles. It's sweet, it's fun, and really, really quirky. I enjoyed.
Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery) Karen Cushman (100 best books!)
Catherine is headstrong and independant in England of 1290. A good historical fiction on life in the middle ages, and just plain funny. I had a hard time putting it down! I particularily enjoyed the fact that she had gotten ahold of a book of saints, and includes the saints day for every entry in her dairy, which leads to hilarious things like: Feast of Saint Malo, a bishop who sang psalms to his horse and Feast of Saint Cecilia, who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods and was suffocated in her bathing room.
Visions and Longings : Medieval Women Mystics Monica Furlong, ed. (non fiction!)
A good introduction and anthology of writings on Medieval female mystics. Each author had a good introduction with biographical notes and exploration of her role in the church and how her work was and has been percieved and recieved over the years. Contains the entire short text of Julian of Norwich's Showings, which I enjoyed after going to her room in Norwich during a non debauched section of an otherwise completely debaucherous weekend at East Anglia University. We also ate the Adam and Eve pub which dates from the 1300s and has been the site of a drinking establishement since something ancient, like 500AD. They had good fish.
Bindi Babes (Bindi Babes (Paperback)) Narinder Dhami
A funny story about 3 Indian girls in London trying to cope with the death of their mother and an interfering Auntie who moves in from India. Funny.
Bollywood Babes (Bindi Babes) Narinder Dhami
The Dhillon sisters are back! And they've invited a washed up Bollywood star to stay with them who expects Auntie to wait on her, might steal away Mr. Arora, or worse, their Dad. Ack. I'm also excited to see that in England, Bhangra Babes (Bindi Babes) has just come out, so I'm waiting not-so-patiently for it to come out here. WANT.
So, so far this year, I have read the following...
Boy Meets Boy David Levithan
A quirky love story that takes place in a town where the drag queens have their own clique (and one is the star quarterback), being gay isn't a big deal, and the cheerleaders drive motorcycles. It's sweet, it's fun, and really, really quirky. I enjoyed.
Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery) Karen Cushman (100 best books!)
Catherine is headstrong and independant in England of 1290. A good historical fiction on life in the middle ages, and just plain funny. I had a hard time putting it down! I particularily enjoyed the fact that she had gotten ahold of a book of saints, and includes the saints day for every entry in her dairy, which leads to hilarious things like: Feast of Saint Malo, a bishop who sang psalms to his horse and Feast of Saint Cecilia, who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods and was suffocated in her bathing room.
Visions and Longings : Medieval Women Mystics Monica Furlong, ed. (non fiction!)
A good introduction and anthology of writings on Medieval female mystics. Each author had a good introduction with biographical notes and exploration of her role in the church and how her work was and has been percieved and recieved over the years. Contains the entire short text of Julian of Norwich's Showings, which I enjoyed after going to her room in Norwich during a non debauched section of an otherwise completely debaucherous weekend at East Anglia University. We also ate the Adam and Eve pub which dates from the 1300s and has been the site of a drinking establishement since something ancient, like 500AD. They had good fish.
Bindi Babes (Bindi Babes (Paperback)) Narinder Dhami
A funny story about 3 Indian girls in London trying to cope with the death of their mother and an interfering Auntie who moves in from India. Funny.
Bollywood Babes (Bindi Babes) Narinder Dhami
The Dhillon sisters are back! And they've invited a washed up Bollywood star to stay with them who expects Auntie to wait on her, might steal away Mr. Arora, or worse, their Dad. Ack. I'm also excited to see that in England, Bhangra Babes (Bindi Babes) has just come out, so I'm waiting not-so-patiently for it to come out here. WANT.
The Books I Read in 2005
Here they are, most recent on top.
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things Carolyn Mackler
Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipies, 1 tiny apartment kitchen: How one girl risked her marriage, her job and her sanity to master the art of living Julie Powell
Ella Enchanted Gail Carson Levine
Skipping Towards Gomarrah Dan Savage
Drina Dances in Italy Jean Estoril
The Painted Wall and other strange tales Michael Bedard
My Scrumptious Scottish Dumplings: The Life of Angelica Cookson Potts Cherry Whytock
My Cup Runneth Over: The life of Angelica Cookson Potts Cherry Whytock
We Danced in Bloomsbury Square Jean Estoril
The Three Incestous Sisters Audrey Niffennegger
The Unauthroized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket Lemony Snicket
Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and Rise of Raunch Culture Ariel Levy
The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
Naked Pictures of Famous People Jon Stewart
First They Killed my Father Luong Ung
The Historian Elizabeth Kostova
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble Lauren Child
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean Lauren Child
Saving Fish From Drowning Amy Tan
The Kite Runner Khaled Hosienni
The Penultimate Peril Lemony Snickett
100 Best Books for Children Anita Silvey
The Grim Grotto Lemony Snickett
The Slippery Slope Lemony Snickett
Judiasm: A Very Short Introduction Norman Solomon
The Carnivorous Carnival Lemony Snickett
The Hostile Hospital Lemony Snickett
The Vile Village Lemony Snickett
The Ersatz Elevator Lemony Snickett
The Austere Academy Lemony Snickett
The Miserable Mill Lemony Snickett
The Wide Window Lemony Snickett
The Reptile Room Lemony Snickett
Year of the Secret Assingments Jacyln Moriarty
A Bad Beginning Lemony Snickett
America: The Book Jon Stewart
And then he Ate my Boy Entrancer Louise Rennison
Sex and Sensibility Rose Marie Santini
Feeling Sorry for Celia Jaclyn Moriarty
Chosing Judaism (revised edition) Lydia Kukoff
Never Let me Go Kazou Ishiguro
The Big Over Easy Jasper Fforde
Geisha, A Life Mineko Iwasaki
Small Island Andrea Levy
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood Ann Beshares
Red Scarf Girl Ji-Li Jiang
How to Rent a Negro damali ayo
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood Ann Brashares
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Ann Brashares
The Shipping News Annie Proulx
Kim Rudyard Kipling
Something Rotten Jasper Fforde
The Well of Lost Plots Jasper Fforde (reread)
Lost in a Good Book Jasper Fforde (reread)
Book of Enchantments Patricia C. Wrede
The Eyre Affair Jasper Fforde (reread)
Talking to Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Calling on Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Searching for Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Dealing with Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Quidditch Through the Ages Kennilworthy Whisp
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Newton Scamander
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling (reread) (2 times)
Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling (2 times)
Dress your Family in Denim and Courderoy David Sedaris
Can you Keep a Secret Sophie Kinsella
Great Expectations Charles Dickens
Angels and Demons Dan Brown
Brick Lane Monica Ali
Away Laughing on a Fast Camel Louise Rennison
The Doll's House and Other Plays Henrik Ibsen
Cause Celeb Helen Fielding
L'Affaire Diane Johnson
Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgets Burnett (reread)
The Republic of Wine by Mo Yan, trans. Howard Goldblatt
Changing Places David Lodge
What you Owe me Bebe Moore Campbell
Persuasion Jane Austen
[http://guystuff.oilies.com/?id=5Guy Stuff] Some guy named Dan
Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About Mil Millington
Longitude Dava Sobel
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things Carolyn Mackler
Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipies, 1 tiny apartment kitchen: How one girl risked her marriage, her job and her sanity to master the art of living Julie Powell
Ella Enchanted Gail Carson Levine
Skipping Towards Gomarrah Dan Savage
Drina Dances in Italy Jean Estoril
The Painted Wall and other strange tales Michael Bedard
My Scrumptious Scottish Dumplings: The Life of Angelica Cookson Potts Cherry Whytock
My Cup Runneth Over: The life of Angelica Cookson Potts Cherry Whytock
We Danced in Bloomsbury Square Jean Estoril
The Three Incestous Sisters Audrey Niffennegger
The Unauthroized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket Lemony Snicket
Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and Rise of Raunch Culture Ariel Levy
The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
Naked Pictures of Famous People Jon Stewart
First They Killed my Father Luong Ung
The Historian Elizabeth Kostova
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble Lauren Child
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean Lauren Child
Saving Fish From Drowning Amy Tan
The Kite Runner Khaled Hosienni
The Penultimate Peril Lemony Snickett
100 Best Books for Children Anita Silvey
The Grim Grotto Lemony Snickett
The Slippery Slope Lemony Snickett
Judiasm: A Very Short Introduction Norman Solomon
The Carnivorous Carnival Lemony Snickett
The Hostile Hospital Lemony Snickett
The Vile Village Lemony Snickett
The Ersatz Elevator Lemony Snickett
The Austere Academy Lemony Snickett
The Miserable Mill Lemony Snickett
The Wide Window Lemony Snickett
The Reptile Room Lemony Snickett
Year of the Secret Assingments Jacyln Moriarty
A Bad Beginning Lemony Snickett
America: The Book Jon Stewart
And then he Ate my Boy Entrancer Louise Rennison
Sex and Sensibility Rose Marie Santini
Feeling Sorry for Celia Jaclyn Moriarty
Chosing Judaism (revised edition) Lydia Kukoff
Never Let me Go Kazou Ishiguro
The Big Over Easy Jasper Fforde
Geisha, A Life Mineko Iwasaki
Small Island Andrea Levy
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood Ann Beshares
Red Scarf Girl Ji-Li Jiang
How to Rent a Negro damali ayo
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood Ann Brashares
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Ann Brashares
The Shipping News Annie Proulx
Kim Rudyard Kipling
Something Rotten Jasper Fforde
The Well of Lost Plots Jasper Fforde (reread)
Lost in a Good Book Jasper Fforde (reread)
Book of Enchantments Patricia C. Wrede
The Eyre Affair Jasper Fforde (reread)
Talking to Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Calling on Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Searching for Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Dealing with Dragons Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
Quidditch Through the Ages Kennilworthy Whisp
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Newton Scamander
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling (reread) (2 times)
Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone J. K. Rowling (reread)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling (2 times)
Dress your Family in Denim and Courderoy David Sedaris
Can you Keep a Secret Sophie Kinsella
Great Expectations Charles Dickens
Angels and Demons Dan Brown
Brick Lane Monica Ali
Away Laughing on a Fast Camel Louise Rennison
The Doll's House and Other Plays Henrik Ibsen
Cause Celeb Helen Fielding
L'Affaire Diane Johnson
Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgets Burnett (reread)
The Republic of Wine by Mo Yan, trans. Howard Goldblatt
Changing Places David Lodge
What you Owe me Bebe Moore Campbell
Persuasion Jane Austen
[http://guystuff.oilies.com/?id=5Guy Stuff] Some guy named Dan
Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About Mil Millington
Longitude Dava Sobel
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