Month: September 2011

25 Sep 2011

september 2011 – reading wishlist

You know what they say: the grass is always greener inside the book you aren’t reading!

In my case, this is true. The most recent grass on my side of the fence? A hopelessly HOPELESSLY sexist Heinlein novel written in 1964 that went FIFTEEN YEARS without being checked out from the library.

June 6 1995 – Oct 20 2010

I am lusting for greener book covers.

1. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen – I was starting to really enjoy my little summer Dessen-a-thon, and my little row of her newer, hardback books keep catching my eye in my bedroom. I haven’t re-read this one since I was in high school! What if it’s more amazing than I remember! The world may never know… because I am too busy reading science fiction and fantasy.

2. This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson – A friend of mine bought this for me for my birthday in March, and I keep forgetting to pick it up and read it. I am ashamed, and it looks like it might perk me up a bit.

3. Pearl by Jo Knowles – I saw her speak about being a working writer at the children’s lit conference and there is just something so honest about the way she describes her books that they get stuck in my head. Plus, I think I read once that she started writing this one while working in the office one door down from where I work! Crazy!

4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – This one is receiving buzz and good reviews… and my friend and co-blogger Lindsey suggested I join her friend and writer Tracey for an online YA book club! I thought it sounded fun and even forked over some of my hard-earned cash to purchase a hardback (which I NEVER do, people), but I am pretty sure I am not going to finish in time. Ah, well. I will perhaps post about what I can, but no, I will not have time to actually finish this one.

5. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bordain – ANOTHER friend of mind bought this for me for CHRISTMAS… I think you know where this is heading. I REALLY want to read this one – from reading one chapter, I can tell it’s one of those books that I won’t want to put down – but ALAS, Alack, etc

6. Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson – New Jacqueline Woodson… who personally bestowed an Advanced Reading Copy upon my roommate. I feel itchy knowing it’s sitting in her bedroom, but that I can’t read it!

7. Slow Love by Dominique Browning – Janssen gave it a great review. Need I say more?

8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling – Would y’all Judgy McJudgersons keep your mouth shut right now? Thanks.

23 Sep 2011

some pig

A quick way to divide the Children’s Lit People from the Not-Children’s-Lit-People?

“Where’s Papa going with that axe?”

Mean anything to you?

I’m not sure I would have been able to pass the test before I started my program, and I haven’t read the book since I was in 4th grade…

but reading it now, I have to say

Charlotte’s Web = best book.

If you disagree, I will fight you.

02 Sep 2011

science fiction and/or fantasy

This semester, I am taking my VERY LAST Children’s Literature course.

(sob)

That course is Science Fiction & Fantasy.

(….. sob)

In general, I am trying to rid my life of unnecessary anxiety, so I am trying to think POSITIVELY! About this CLASS!

A miracle could happen, you guys!

My first major task for this course: read Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain.

I am currently trudging through The Book of Three.

Ugh. Just look at this cover. There’s a man on a horse with a fricking horned SKULL, you guys!

If you picked up this book, you could be nearly certain that the names of characters would be unpronouncable.

But.

If we’re being positive…

what if sometime before December, the esteemed genre of science fiction and fantasy for children grows on me?

It could happen.

Right?

(I would have to ignore, of course, the moment in my personal history when, as a library assistant, I banished every (under-circulating) Lloyd Alexander book to a storage closet)

(Sorry Lloyd)