Let’s take a stroll down Memory Lane and reflect on which picture books from our childhood made the strongest, most lasting impression. This should be enjoyable and worthwhile; some of you probably spend little time collecting these titles, making a tidy list, while others may instantly be able to recite every memorable title he/she read or listened to from age 3 on. . .
There is no book that compares to The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff, in my opinion. This classic, originally written in cursive handwriting, is the ultimate tale of loyalty, friendship, loss, pride, love and ownership. His mother, killed by a hunter, leaves Babar, the elephant an orphan; a lovely elderly woman takes him for her own, educating him, exposing him to culture. Babar loves the woman, but living in the big city is not the ideal life for Babar. Although the lovely lady gives Babar all he needs and wants, Babar returns to the forest where he is crowned “king of the elephants”. The story of Babar has it all: perfect illustrations, the world’s most beloved enduring pachyderm, romance (Babar weds his cousin Celeste) and simplicity wrapped up in the classic “fish out of water” tale. Maybe I have a soft spot for this most unique, detailed little tale because reading it marked the first time I had ever, at age 7, been able to read cursive writing or maybe it is my adore elephant-adoration, but this treasure always will rise to the top of my list.
Then we have quite another!: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Actually, there is no other book like this one! Max, our hero, wore his wolf suit & made mischief of one kind and another. His mother called him “wild thing” and sent him to his room without dinner. There in Max’s very room, a forest grows & grows until the ceiling hung with vines. . .do I have your attention yet? I must have a special affinity toward royalty because when Max sails away to where the wild things to become their king, I am enchanted. Those beasts with their inimitable style, gnash their terrible teeth and roar their terrible roars and Max eventually trains them with a magic trick. I have always so loved this book since the first time I read it; I adored it probably almost as much as my three children did! Where the Wild Things Are is one of those rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. Disagree? Pick up a copy and join that wild rumpus!
King Bidgood’s In the Bathtub by Audrey Wood; illustrated by Don Wood is one of those wonderful picture books where the text is as lively and fun-filled as the illustrations. Again, the pull toward a royal subject must be what grabbed me with this zany, wild tale full of antics about a king who refuses to get out of his bathtub! This sumptuous book has a rich range of colors and tones which reflect the passing hours of the day. In this Caldecott Honor book, neither knight nor queen, duke nor courtier, can coax the king out of the tub, so he invites them into it! Only the court page has the sense to appeal to the scrub-a-dub king in this rollicking, gleefully illustrated tale.
And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street, written and illustrated by the wonderful Dr. Seuss is, maybe, the most engaging rhyming tale ever. Originally titled A Story That No One Can Beat the manuscript was rejected by over 20 publishers, but was eventually published by Vanguard Press. We follow a little guy called Marco, who watches the sight and sounds of people and vehicles traveling along Mulberry Street. Marco dreams up an elaborate story to tell to his father at the end of his walk, but instead simply tells him what he actually saw. An elaborate tale that is just plain simple by the end, but what fun it is to travel with Marco’s imagination.
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish features that lovable literal-minded housekeeper who causes quite the ruckus in the household when she attempts to make sense of some instructions. This book is timeless; no one ever thinks Amelia Bedelia is silly-she just looks at life a bit differently! A. B. is simply irresistible – her varied trips through the minefield of the English language are literate & hilarious; A.B. finds nothing more pleasurable than helping people and doing exactly what she is told to do, but often this comes with some outstanding consequences!
Minerva Louise written and illustrated by Janet Stoeke is just possible the avian equivalent of Amelia Bedelia! Minerva Louise is a frisky, curious somewhat chicken-brained hen who explores the inside of the farm house with a certainty that would make Mr. Magoo proud. Minerva L. amuses preschoolers the same as she entertains and tickles older kids and adults. Undoubtedly a star, this classic hilarious-hen-hike will tickle all who make M.L’s acquaintance & Stoeke’s simple art and text make Minerva Louise a classic.
The Story of Ferdinand, written Munro Leaf & illustrated by Robert Lawson, is one of the bestselling children's books of all time. We’re introduced to a bull who prefers sitting under a cork tree & sniffing flowers over fighting. A sweet story, a study of nonviolent tranquility, this book’s bovine, Ferdinand, has become a hero to generations of children. Ferdinand, an individualist, forever true to himself, is mistakenly requested to fight in the bullring . . . but Ferdinand will not fight: instead he is pleased to smell the flowers in the women’s hair, oblivious to others’ demands. Pacifism & staying true to oneself–what could be wrong with this?-this classic with the most lovely, simple illustrations should be around forever.
Great Joy written by Newbery Medalist winner Kate DiCamillo & illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline is truly a modern classic. The WWII-era story begins as a child, looks out the window to see an organ grinder with his monkey, working in the cold this night just before Christmas. Frances is troubled by the man's plight. Saddened even more when she comes to realize he's homeless, one snowy night Frances stays awake past midnight and peeks outside. When she sees them on the sidewalk, huddled against the cold, she grows even more troubled. DiCamillo gives us a lesson in what it means to care for those less fortunate than ourselves, even when that person is a stranger. With all the makings of a modern classic, this winner by DiCamillo and Ibatoulline conveys a message for all.
Make Way for Ducklings written & illustrated by Robert McCloskey is a timeless classic that always seems fresh & lively. Published in 1941, this large picture book gives us the story of a pair of mallard ducks known as Mr. & Mrs. Mallard, who, after flying all over potential locations, decide to raise their family on an island in the lagoon, in a park in the center of Boston’s Public Garden. Although the story concludes with a nice “happily-ever-after” the family adventures are many! A 1942 Caldecott winner, this lovely duck’s-eye-view of the city is one to cherish.
Last but not least is the timeless tale about what goes on in an old house in Paris, covered with vines. Madeline, published in 1939, written & illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, depicts where Madeline lives 11 other girls. Under the boarding school care of the kind Miss Clavel, Madeline wakes up in the night with appendicitis. Our spunky heroine must be rushed to the hospital. After her operation, Madeline awakens to a "room with flowers" looking out a window from which she can watch the world, as she recovers and receives visits from her friends. Bemelmans invites us to experience Madeline's bravery and kindness, especially in the face of adversity in addition to some really lovely well-known Parisian settings. The rhyming couplets that greet us, as we meet Madeline and the bunch, are inviting and beguiling: it is easy to see that Madeline is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Although this is a sort of top-ten look at the world of picture books, let’s, by no means, think it is the be-all & end-all of looking and selecting our favorites~ please share yours with us on this blog. AND, let’s focus on children’s novels next time out. . .surely there are countless chapter books that become very special over the years. Some of these will be covered next blog-time!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Speaking of Edgar. . .
We read many books over the course of our lifetimes. Some are so-so; some good; some very good; some incomparable. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is an incomparable novel. Words don't do justice to this amazing book. I read the book, somewhat impervious to most reviews - though, I must admit, when I caught Stephen King's glowing praise of this book, I did feel compelled to read the novel. His review was very intriguing. And so I hoisted the nearly 600 page book up and had a look. . .4-5 evenings later I had reached the final pages & feverishly raced, with trepidation, to the dramatic conclusion.
What a book! I have a collection of quite memorable books that I keep in my head (and my bookshelves), but I know that this debut novel by David Wroblewski has just nudged the other books over a bit. Ok, let's disassemble the basic structure of this really amazing book: it is a contemporary "retelling" on Hamlet; it is a family saga; a mystery; suspense; a look at the paranormal; ghost story; animal tale and historical fiction. Do all these parts work together? Yes!
Aside from all this we are presented with a protagonist who is a young boy, maybe 12, unable to speak. His family has a quite well-respected dog-breeding business out in the remote rural area in Wisconsin. Basically, that is about all there is to know. Honestly, though, there are not many books that a reader can read that seem to seep into his/her pores, taking over nearly every waking thought. EDGAR is such a book. Please read this one carefully-there are many important details. . .then, after you've read 20-30 pages, let's see if you can think of anything else, but this story & these characters in this wonderful discovery.
Feel free to let me know your take on this most unusual novel-I would love hearing from you! Links to two very interesting interviews with the author follow:
Another very good book out just this early summer is one attracting a good deal of buzz. It's a novel by first-time adult novelist (she has previously written books in a juvenile/young adult series, Beacon Street Girls, but this was under a pseudonym, Annie Bryant) Brunonia Barry and the title is The Lace Reader.
This is something of a gothic thriller, set in Salem, Massachusetts, focusing on a family of women who have the "gift" for predicting the future merely by studying a swatch of lace. However, at one point in her life, one of the younger family members, Sophya "Towner" Whitney vowed never to read lace again. Her restraint and resolve are tested, though, as she is called home following her beloved great-aunt Eva's mysterious disappearance. Barry combines the picture of a fractured family with the history of this particular community, including its witchcraft trials, religious cults, and quotidian seaport life making this real page-turner a most unusual and bewitching novel. Interestingly enough, the book was originally self-published but once William Morrow took a peek at this rich, rewarding read, it was auctioned for a staggering price and is now the book of summer 2008. What a success story this author has!
Let me know your thoughts on your summer (or any seasonal) reading! I look forard to comments, queries and suggestions.
I will see you at Corona Public library on your next visit to find a good book!
Lea un buen libro! Lisez un bon libre! Legga un buon libro! Leia um bom livro! Lesen sie ein gutes buch!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
SO WHAT'S COOKIN' ?
I know, I know---SUMMER=HOT! And really, the weather has been so warm, who would want to enter into their kitchen, but to retrieve a refreshing glass of iced tea or to scoop some tasty ice cream?!? Sometimes summer cherries, melons, plums, nectarines can call to us, but generally our trips to the kitchen are limited to the absolute "have-to visits" from June through September! Even though we seldom want to venture into our kitchens, cookbooks and books which focus on food are an entertaining and exciting way to plan for future kitchen ventures - why not take a tour with me while we travel in and out of some of the most lively food-associated books? We can plan our future culinary adventures while dreamily gazing at the lovely illustrations and/or the lively text. . .we can learn a great deal from these books so let's begin the adventure!
Without fail, the original version of Joy of Cooking by the Rombauers is the probably the most tried-and-true source for most of out culinary needs and interests. It is worth its weight in gold! Most recipes offered by the authors are terrific, not only because they are almost always fairly simple to prepare, but because there is often a bit of history attached to the recipe, in addition to offering several lovely sketches of the fruit, vegetables, herbs or other ingredients needed. Recently, though our summer temperatures were upwards of 95 degrees, I found myself (yes, in my kitchen!) preparing a lovely ratatouille from some of the most simple yet very colorful summer vegetables. I had searched for days through other cookbooks, but once again Joy of Cooking came through with a very condensed version of what I needed to do! This dish served over rice with goat cheese crumbles is a dazzling delight, even if I did need to enter the kitchen to prepare it!
We can't just plan the future meals we'll serve and share without developing an appreciation of our food origins. Therefore, let me introduce to you Heat : an amateur's adventures as kitchen slave, line cook, pasta-maker, and apprentice to a Dante-quoting butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford, a rollicking account that tells us all sorts of strange, wonderful facts that the author gleaned from his most unusual 15 month apprenticeship. Mere words cannot describe some of the adventures Buford shares, but this part memoir, part biography, part tutorial, with its deftly woven narratives, includes everything from high-end restaurant gossip to kitchen secrets to a tribute to the traditions of handmade food--Buford, the former editor of Granta and former fiction editor of The New Yorker, was a frustrated, splattering home cook forever anxious about serving his various cooking disasters until "graduating" from this apprenticeship — immerse yourself in this tome of food details - what a treat!
Thumbing through The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julie Rosso (food editor for Parade magazine) & Sheila Lukins is a grand way to acquire a few nifty food ideas. The Silver Palate Cookbook was first printed in 1979. Its authors, began a high-end delicatessen in New York in 1978, selling fresh foods, as well as providing a catering service for busy people who entertained frequently. The range of featured treats they offered expanded to include bottled fruits, chutneys and olive oils. Some of their noteworthy favorites might include chicken salad with red grapes, pecans and a roquefort dressing or oriental chicken salad. Their ideas for any kind of cold chicken are some of the best-ever and the chatty, winning style will definitely appeal to those of us who like our cookbooks informative - full of advice.
Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential is a must, if interested in learning the inside world of behind-the-scenes restaurant life. The author Bourdain covers chef's training, personalities, food prep, cooks' lifestyles, his own history and the art of running a successful restaurant. Presently the executive chef at Brassierie Les Halles in New York City, Bourdain describes the frenetic pace of the busy dinner hour & how to keep up in order to survive there. His chapter called "From Our Kitchen to Your Table" is a must ~ Bourdain warns us about the various “what not to do” when out to eat. For example, never order fish on Mondays, especially if it is a “Special”. This book is likely to amuse and, maybe, horrify the reader, but it is never boring - - -however, it may not be every reader's cup of tea.
Actually, it is really hard to go wrong with a Barefoot Contessa cookbook. My favorite is Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again by Ina Garten. Although I vow to stay away from cooking for most of the summer, her recipe for new or red potato salad is enough of a reason for me go back on my word! Additionally, her double chocolate layer cake is the best I have ever tasted. The book makes for a very entertaining read, as Garten's informal, friendly style strikes a chord with readers as she helps to educate us on entertaining with simple style, flair and a sense of fun - stylishly elegant, lovely home cooking!
So let's look forward to returning to our kitchens, but if you're feeling a bit reticent, please feel free to check out The Book of Jewish Food : an Odyssey from Samarkand to New York by Claudia Roden; Mollie Katzen's timeless Moosewood Cookbook; the incomparable Schott's food & drink miscellany -conceived, written, and designed by Ben Schott; Peter Mayle's wonderful books on Provence; Frances Mayes' Tuscany books; the ever-popular Michael Pollan's book, Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals; so unusual: The Devil's Larder by Jim Crace; Nora Ephron's witty & wise Heartburn; cute Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray; The Whole World Over - the joys of pastry, in fiction by Julia Glass plus any of Ruth Reichl's adventurous outings with good food. . . here's to some remarkable reading, relaxation and and repasts!
Without fail, the original version of Joy of Cooking by the Rombauers is the probably the most tried-and-true source for most of out culinary needs and interests. It is worth its weight in gold! Most recipes offered by the authors are terrific, not only because they are almost always fairly simple to prepare, but because there is often a bit of history attached to the recipe, in addition to offering several lovely sketches of the fruit, vegetables, herbs or other ingredients needed. Recently, though our summer temperatures were upwards of 95 degrees, I found myself (yes, in my kitchen!) preparing a lovely ratatouille from some of the most simple yet very colorful summer vegetables. I had searched for days through other cookbooks, but once again Joy of Cooking came through with a very condensed version of what I needed to do! This dish served over rice with goat cheese crumbles is a dazzling delight, even if I did need to enter the kitchen to prepare it!
We can't just plan the future meals we'll serve and share without developing an appreciation of our food origins. Therefore, let me introduce to you Heat : an amateur's adventures as kitchen slave, line cook, pasta-maker, and apprentice to a Dante-quoting butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford, a rollicking account that tells us all sorts of strange, wonderful facts that the author gleaned from his most unusual 15 month apprenticeship. Mere words cannot describe some of the adventures Buford shares, but this part memoir, part biography, part tutorial, with its deftly woven narratives, includes everything from high-end restaurant gossip to kitchen secrets to a tribute to the traditions of handmade food--Buford, the former editor of Granta and former fiction editor of The New Yorker, was a frustrated, splattering home cook forever anxious about serving his various cooking disasters until "graduating" from this apprenticeship — immerse yourself in this tome of food details - what a treat!
Thumbing through The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julie Rosso (food editor for Parade magazine) & Sheila Lukins is a grand way to acquire a few nifty food ideas. The Silver Palate Cookbook was first printed in 1979. Its authors, began a high-end delicatessen in New York in 1978, selling fresh foods, as well as providing a catering service for busy people who entertained frequently. The range of featured treats they offered expanded to include bottled fruits, chutneys and olive oils. Some of their noteworthy favorites might include chicken salad with red grapes, pecans and a roquefort dressing or oriental chicken salad. Their ideas for any kind of cold chicken are some of the best-ever and the chatty, winning style will definitely appeal to those of us who like our cookbooks informative - full of advice.
Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential is a must, if interested in learning the inside world of behind-the-scenes restaurant life. The author Bourdain covers chef's training, personalities, food prep, cooks' lifestyles, his own history and the art of running a successful restaurant. Presently the executive chef at Brassierie Les Halles in New York City, Bourdain describes the frenetic pace of the busy dinner hour & how to keep up in order to survive there. His chapter called "From Our Kitchen to Your Table" is a must ~ Bourdain warns us about the various “what not to do” when out to eat. For example, never order fish on Mondays, especially if it is a “Special”. This book is likely to amuse and, maybe, horrify the reader, but it is never boring - - -however, it may not be every reader's cup of tea.
Actually, it is really hard to go wrong with a Barefoot Contessa cookbook. My favorite is Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again by Ina Garten. Although I vow to stay away from cooking for most of the summer, her recipe for new or red potato salad is enough of a reason for me go back on my word! Additionally, her double chocolate layer cake is the best I have ever tasted. The book makes for a very entertaining read, as Garten's informal, friendly style strikes a chord with readers as she helps to educate us on entertaining with simple style, flair and a sense of fun - stylishly elegant, lovely home cooking!
So let's look forward to returning to our kitchens, but if you're feeling a bit reticent, please feel free to check out The Book of Jewish Food : an Odyssey from Samarkand to New York by Claudia Roden; Mollie Katzen's timeless Moosewood Cookbook; the incomparable Schott's food & drink miscellany -conceived, written, and designed by Ben Schott; Peter Mayle's wonderful books on Provence; Frances Mayes' Tuscany books; the ever-popular Michael Pollan's book, Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals; so unusual: The Devil's Larder by Jim Crace; Nora Ephron's witty & wise Heartburn; cute Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray; The Whole World Over - the joys of pastry, in fiction by Julia Glass plus any of Ruth Reichl's adventurous outings with good food. . . here's to some remarkable reading, relaxation and and repasts!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
well-versed
When we last visited I commented on a wonderful novel for kids called Reaching for the Sun, written by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. While this is a terrific book and one I am very pleased to mention to you, believe me, there are, indeed, many others that I feel are worth a look! I love to mention this type of book, for example, to grade school kids who may be challenged by ordinary prose novels, as these unrhymed verse novels are among the most accessible books mainly because they do not rely on standard puctuation or resemble a sea of text. Most are short, but so full of good writing. As I said, I like all kinds of books, but I what I love best are discovering new writers, new approaches, new ways of expressing similar feelings. . .I am hoping you'll also enjoy your "discoveries"-
First of all, Hearbeat by Sharon Creech is a powerful, but gentle look at changes. Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant; her grandfather faces age challenges while her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant. This book, like the others I am mentioning here, is told in verse. Creech is a terrific writer ~ this is a bold brilliant map of the many moods adolescents experience.
Again, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson is a bittersweet, but gentle study of eleven-year-old Lonnie who writes about his life, after the death of his parents. He has been separated from his younger sister, is now living in a foster home, and finds his poetic voice at school. This novel's story is a tough one, quite an emotional read, but one that rewards the reader.
Crazy Man by Pamela Paige Porter is the as spare tale of life on the Saskatchewan prairie. the novel is rich in its yield of what matters – understanding, forgiveness, friendship and a faithful dog – Pamela Porter’s The Crazy Man is impossible to put down. Porter explores large issues such as prejudice, fear, and disability with grace and honesty. While there are shining moments of hope in this verse novel, it is also a remarkable yet empathetic look at the disabled-touching and meaningful-book that defies description.
Pieces of Georgia by Jennifer Bryant is a collection of journal entries written to the narrator's mother, a gifted artist recently passed away, quite suddenly. Thirteen-year-old Georgia McCoy reveals how her life changes after she receives an anonymous gift membership to a nearby art museum. Heartfelt, this is a healing tale; this richly textured novel layered with realistic characters is an emotional story and its satisfying ending will stay with the reader for a very long time.
My goal was to introduce you to five of these terrific novels, though, believe me, there are many more worthwhile, stunning examples of this type of novel. All these authors are very accomplished and talented. The last novel but definitely not the least, is my final choice: North of Everything by Craig Crist-Evans. A family who relocates from Florida to Vermont for the simpler life on a farm becomes closer to nature - this is a wonderful attempt to portray the changes one boy and his family experience - through the shifting seasons and in their own lives. A lovely, deeply sincere novel given to us by an enormously gifted writer who was a "Poet in the Schools for Colorado" 1992 to 1997 and taught an independent program entitled Global Awareness & the Writing Process in eight different school districts throughout Colorado. Finally, he served as a contributing editor for the Bloomsbury Review from 1990 until his untimely death in 2005.
Please enjoy one, some or, hopefully, all these novels-you will not be sorry. What you'll probably ask is "where can I find more?" Look to Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust; Maria Testa' Almost Forever; Lindsay Lee Johnson's Full Moon Soup and Susan Taylor Brown's Hugging the Rock & read, read and read some more. . . enjoy!
First of all, Hearbeat by Sharon Creech is a powerful, but gentle look at changes. Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant; her grandfather faces age challenges while her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant. This book, like the others I am mentioning here, is told in verse. Creech is a terrific writer ~ this is a bold brilliant map of the many moods adolescents experience.
Again, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson is a bittersweet, but gentle study of eleven-year-old Lonnie who writes about his life, after the death of his parents. He has been separated from his younger sister, is now living in a foster home, and finds his poetic voice at school. This novel's story is a tough one, quite an emotional read, but one that rewards the reader.
Crazy Man by Pamela Paige Porter is the as spare tale of life on the Saskatchewan prairie. the novel is rich in its yield of what matters – understanding, forgiveness, friendship and a faithful dog – Pamela Porter’s The Crazy Man is impossible to put down. Porter explores large issues such as prejudice, fear, and disability with grace and honesty. While there are shining moments of hope in this verse novel, it is also a remarkable yet empathetic look at the disabled-touching and meaningful-book that defies description.
Pieces of Georgia by Jennifer Bryant is a collection of journal entries written to the narrator's mother, a gifted artist recently passed away, quite suddenly. Thirteen-year-old Georgia McCoy reveals how her life changes after she receives an anonymous gift membership to a nearby art museum. Heartfelt, this is a healing tale; this richly textured novel layered with realistic characters is an emotional story and its satisfying ending will stay with the reader for a very long time.
My goal was to introduce you to five of these terrific novels, though, believe me, there are many more worthwhile, stunning examples of this type of novel. All these authors are very accomplished and talented. The last novel but definitely not the least, is my final choice: North of Everything by Craig Crist-Evans. A family who relocates from Florida to Vermont for the simpler life on a farm becomes closer to nature - this is a wonderful attempt to portray the changes one boy and his family experience - through the shifting seasons and in their own lives. A lovely, deeply sincere novel given to us by an enormously gifted writer who was a "Poet in the Schools for Colorado" 1992 to 1997 and taught an independent program entitled Global Awareness & the Writing Process in eight different school districts throughout Colorado. Finally, he served as a contributing editor for the Bloomsbury Review from 1990 until his untimely death in 2005.
Please enjoy one, some or, hopefully, all these novels-you will not be sorry. What you'll probably ask is "where can I find more?" Look to Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust; Maria Testa' Almost Forever; Lindsay Lee Johnson's Full Moon Soup and Susan Taylor Brown's Hugging the Rock & read, read and read some more. . . enjoy!
Friday, May 16, 2008
NOVELS TOLD IN POETRY FORM
Though I tend to focus on adult fiction, I am always interested in any fiction that is accomplished and interesting. We all have our favorite genres, of course; I tend to especially enjoy short stories and novels. . .I read a great deal, both adults books, as well children's novels. Within the past several years I have become a serious fan, admirer of these short novels told in poetry form.
Most often these novels are found in the Juvenile section of the library, BUT this definitely should not repel readers: some of the best writing can be found in juvenile fiction! Let me share with you here some of my big favorites, beginning with a beautiful book I took on vacation and read while taking a cross-country flight - Reaching for the Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. this is a short 181 page novel of a Josie, a seventh grade who happens to have cerebral palsy; she lives with her mother and grandmother in a small farmhouse - her rather staid existence is altered as she becomes acquainted with a new neighbor who helps to open her world. A bounty of lovely garden & growth imagery awaits the reader in this affecting, transforming story of interlinked free verse poetry. Interestingly, those who read this book & are not poetry lovers will not realize this is lovely story is all poetry. . .those who love poetry will admire, appreciate, and cherish this. Try it-you'll probably never forget this experience.
I will keep you posted on other novels told in poetry form in just a bit.
Most often these novels are found in the Juvenile section of the library, BUT this definitely should not repel readers: some of the best writing can be found in juvenile fiction! Let me share with you here some of my big favorites, beginning with a beautiful book I took on vacation and read while taking a cross-country flight - Reaching for the Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. this is a short 181 page novel of a Josie, a seventh grade who happens to have cerebral palsy; she lives with her mother and grandmother in a small farmhouse - her rather staid existence is altered as she becomes acquainted with a new neighbor who helps to open her world. A bounty of lovely garden & growth imagery awaits the reader in this affecting, transforming story of interlinked free verse poetry. Interestingly, those who read this book & are not poetry lovers will not realize this is lovely story is all poetry. . .those who love poetry will admire, appreciate, and cherish this. Try it-you'll probably never forget this experience.
I will keep you posted on other novels told in poetry form in just a bit.
Monday, March 24, 2008
KEEPING IT short
On the basis of what we last shared, I thought revisiting the short story might be not only enjoyable, but we could also share a few writers of this genre who are expecially good at their craft.
I was delighted to read author, Marianne Wiggins review of Our Story Begins by Tobias Wolff, an author I have long admired, in the (Easter) Sunday 3/23/08 LA Times Book Review section ---and what a review this was! She does what a reviewer aspires to do: she writes such a strong, positive review that the reader wants to fly out of the house and get to the library and/or bookstore as fast as possible.
She loves his writing, adores his subject choices and has a great appreciation of his many 30 years as an author. She refers to Wolf as a "master mason" and his language, very ordinary, is the kind that just pulls the reader in because it is the sort that people around us happen to use. Wiggins, Salman Rushdie's former wife, has a few short story collections ('92, '93?) of her own so I am looking into locating these. However, her review of Wolff's new short stories was particularly glowing: Wiggins points out that Wolff's mastery of the craft compares to Poe, Hemingway, J. D.Salinger and Raymond Carver.
Naturally, this review is a must-read, but I also began thinking...what other short story crafters should we discuss?
Waiting to hear of other short story writers recommendations you'd care to share here. I may have left two off the kings, J. D. Salinger and Raymond Carver from my list earlier this month; Ray Bradbury, Katherine Mansfield. additionally, swimming in my head are the names of Jack London, Paul Theroux, Bernard Malamud, David Bezmozgis -just a few others who spring to mind. Let's hear some of your favorites - love to learn about new and different writers...thanks.
I was delighted to read author, Marianne Wiggins review of Our Story Begins by Tobias Wolff, an author I have long admired, in the (Easter) Sunday 3/23/08 LA Times Book Review section ---and what a review this was! She does what a reviewer aspires to do: she writes such a strong, positive review that the reader wants to fly out of the house and get to the library and/or bookstore as fast as possible.
She loves his writing, adores his subject choices and has a great appreciation of his many 30 years as an author. She refers to Wolf as a "master mason" and his language, very ordinary, is the kind that just pulls the reader in because it is the sort that people around us happen to use. Wiggins, Salman Rushdie's former wife, has a few short story collections ('92, '93?) of her own so I am looking into locating these. However, her review of Wolff's new short stories was particularly glowing: Wiggins points out that Wolff's mastery of the craft compares to Poe, Hemingway, J. D.Salinger and Raymond Carver.
Naturally, this review is a must-read, but I also began thinking...what other short story crafters should we discuss?
Waiting to hear of other short story writers recommendations you'd care to share here. I may have left two off the kings, J. D. Salinger and Raymond Carver from my list earlier this month; Ray Bradbury, Katherine Mansfield. additionally, swimming in my head are the names of Jack London, Paul Theroux, Bernard Malamud, David Bezmozgis -just a few others who spring to mind. Let's hear some of your favorites - love to learn about new and different writers...thanks.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Let's Praise the Short Story, Not Bury It!
Well, I continue to hear that the short story is dead. Can this be true? I believe that readers often don't select short stories because they conjecture that they are too short, not complete and don't have much substance. To this I would say: wrong, wrong, wrong. Of course, this is my (strong) opinion, but I would say if we each go out and check out short story collections and anthologies, we can give new life to this suffering breed of fiction - take a walk on a (good) short story side and you will find that - for the most part - they are surprisingly well-constructed: very briskly paced, challenging yet compact and overall, clever compelling and concise.
I love good short stories so I would like to take this time to introduce or familiarize readers with twelve terrific short story authors including the following: Don Chaon; Amanda Davis; Anthony Doerr; Ryan Harty; Stephen King; Jhumpa Lahiri; Steven Millhauser; Lorrie Moore; Alice Munro (practically the QUEEN of this form); Julie Orringer; Annie Proulx and Eric Puchner.
Don Chaon's Among the Missing, a splendid collection of tales in which the past haunts the future- this collection is riveting, puzzling and filled with wonder; Amanda Davis, who tragically perished in a plane accident near age 30 in 2003, focuses on the lives of (chiefly) female characters in the dark, lyrical, ferocious yet playful studies of vulnerability in her amazing Circling the Drain.
Anthony Doerr's The Shell Collector is complex and powerful in its depiction of the natural world and how its beauty and power move our lives; Ryan Harty, who happens to be married to Julie Orringer, another writer highlighted here, wrote Bring Me Your Saddest Arizona: a stark, subtle unsettling look at the Southwest and its denizens' love and loss.
Stephen King's Night Shift and or Skeleton Crew underline his abilities to remain in tone and theme yet stay simple and to the point - plus not all King is horror!; Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies elegantly, meticulously depicts both East Indians and Indian Americans, who experience culture conflicts and a constant curiousity about the human condition...this April should bring Lahiri's new short story collection!
Steven Millhauser's new collection of short stories, Dangerous Laughter, is a strange and magnetic invitation to his uncanny world of magical realism-this collection and his The Knife Thrower are remarkable in their depiction of amazing other-wordly paradoxes : his finesse in conjuring up the strange, mesmerizing worlds he creates is extraordinarily brilliant and we can see the influence of Poe, Kafka, Borges and Faust; Lorrie Moore has written stories filled with the unsettled of America, in Birds of America and Self-Help - Moore uses her trademark humor and fuels each story with pathos and empathy.
Alice Munro is known as the finest living short story writer-her tales of Ontario, Canada involve characters who confront conflict while adhering to tradition, experiencing the inabiltiy to delay life moving forward as evidenced in The Runaway, Friends of My Youth and Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage ; the incredible Julie Orringer has offered her debut collection How to Breathe Underwater which is a terrific in-depth study of various aged characters desperately trying to sustain viable realtionships.
All of Annie Proulx's bleak but whimsical collections, such as Bad Dirt, Close Range, That Old Ace in the Hole reflect forgotten places at a pace closely aligned with quieter days. And, finally,Eric Puchner's debut collection of short stories, Music through the Floor, highlight a group of cultural misfits attempting to navigate mainstream America - strikingly original, fiercely funny, and quietly heartbreaking.
So . . . please offer your analyses, beliefs, feelings, ideas, impressions, inspirations, investigations, observances, opinions, theories, thoughts and views on what makes a good short story and who some of your favorite short story authors are. Looking forward to you sharing your ideas. Yearning to hear of your choice in yarns and yarn-spinners.
I love good short stories so I would like to take this time to introduce or familiarize readers with twelve terrific short story authors including the following: Don Chaon; Amanda Davis; Anthony Doerr; Ryan Harty; Stephen King; Jhumpa Lahiri; Steven Millhauser; Lorrie Moore; Alice Munro (practically the QUEEN of this form); Julie Orringer; Annie Proulx and Eric Puchner.
Don Chaon's Among the Missing, a splendid collection of tales in which the past haunts the future- this collection is riveting, puzzling and filled with wonder; Amanda Davis, who tragically perished in a plane accident near age 30 in 2003, focuses on the lives of (chiefly) female characters in the dark, lyrical, ferocious yet playful studies of vulnerability in her amazing Circling the Drain.
Anthony Doerr's The Shell Collector is complex and powerful in its depiction of the natural world and how its beauty and power move our lives; Ryan Harty, who happens to be married to Julie Orringer, another writer highlighted here, wrote Bring Me Your Saddest Arizona: a stark, subtle unsettling look at the Southwest and its denizens' love and loss.
Stephen King's Night Shift and or Skeleton Crew underline his abilities to remain in tone and theme yet stay simple and to the point - plus not all King is horror!; Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies elegantly, meticulously depicts both East Indians and Indian Americans, who experience culture conflicts and a constant curiousity about the human condition...this April should bring Lahiri's new short story collection!
Steven Millhauser's new collection of short stories, Dangerous Laughter, is a strange and magnetic invitation to his uncanny world of magical realism-this collection and his The Knife Thrower are remarkable in their depiction of amazing other-wordly paradoxes : his finesse in conjuring up the strange, mesmerizing worlds he creates is extraordinarily brilliant and we can see the influence of Poe, Kafka, Borges and Faust; Lorrie Moore has written stories filled with the unsettled of America, in Birds of America and Self-Help - Moore uses her trademark humor and fuels each story with pathos and empathy.
Alice Munro is known as the finest living short story writer-her tales of Ontario, Canada involve characters who confront conflict while adhering to tradition, experiencing the inabiltiy to delay life moving forward as evidenced in The Runaway, Friends of My Youth and Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage ; the incredible Julie Orringer has offered her debut collection How to Breathe Underwater which is a terrific in-depth study of various aged characters desperately trying to sustain viable realtionships.
All of Annie Proulx's bleak but whimsical collections, such as Bad Dirt, Close Range, That Old Ace in the Hole reflect forgotten places at a pace closely aligned with quieter days. And, finally,Eric Puchner's debut collection of short stories, Music through the Floor, highlight a group of cultural misfits attempting to navigate mainstream America - strikingly original, fiercely funny, and quietly heartbreaking.
So . . . please offer your analyses, beliefs, feelings, ideas, impressions, inspirations, investigations, observances, opinions, theories, thoughts and views on what makes a good short story and who some of your favorite short story authors are. Looking forward to you sharing your ideas. Yearning to hear of your choice in yarns and yarn-spinners.
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