Goldengrove by Francine Prose

Title: Goldengrove
Author: Francine Prose
Published: 2008 by HarpersCollins Publishers
Number of pages: 275
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I went to a funeral Saturday morning. The mother of one of my former students died of cancer; she was 43, her daughter is 12. It's never easy to go to these...to experience grief such as the loss of one's parent or child.

I think books help assuage the pain. I think they help us learn how to grieve by viewing a character we care about, but don't love. As we read the interactions, the emotions, the growth of those left behind in the pain process, we are better able to cope with our own.

Such is the case with Goldengrove. It is a beautifully written book. A book which touches me to the core because it's so easy for me to feel alone when I grieve, just as Nico does when her sister, Margaret, dies.

The sisters are floating on Mirror Lake together, casually rowing and talking, when Margaret makes a salute, dives into the water, and never comes out again alive. Nico, along with her parents and Margaret's boyfriend, Aaron, cope with their grief as we carefully observe their raw emotions.

Nico's father becomes lost in writing his book while he and his daughter work at the family's bookstore, Goldengrove. Nico's mother loses her appetite for food, but not for the medications she takes for arthritis pain. Aaron, perhaps worst of all, makes Nico into her sister in his mind. Which she, at first, is willing to accept just to have some contact with him.

This is essentially a story of Nico; not only of her grief, but of her growing up. The age of thirteen is such a tender age in any circumstance, let alone the loss of one's dearest sister. I could so empathize with how carefully Nico's character was portrayed; the searching, the awkwardness, the confusion of being an adolescent which is so difficult to endure. It is only compounded by her thinking of the issues death raises:

How strange that my father was writing the book about the end of the world, when I was the one who believed that it was going to happen. I thought about the cult members waiting to be zoomed up into the sky. They should have been more patient. Because now they were there, or somewhere. But not all together. Maybe they'd joined the robed angels in the Sienese orchard paradise. Maybe they'd been sent to hell for trying to get a free pass so they could spend eternity with all their loved ones, instead of losing them, one by one. I wondered how they'd really felt on the night they went home. Maybe some of them liked their lives and didn't want to leave them." (p. 154)

But, Nico comes through admirably. She lets us know that we can do it: suffer, grieve, and come out whole on the other side.

I felt myself slip out of my skin and become that girl watching her sister dive into the water. I lost myself in the time before, and in that innocent landscape, until the spell was broken by a museum guard, shouting.

He was speaking a foreign language, but I understood. He was saying I'd gotten too close. I'd let the current pull me. I'd allowed myself to drift into that hushed and watery border zone where we live alongside the dead. I was grateful to him for calling me back and reminding me where I belonged, in the clamorous, radiant, painfully beautiful kingdom of the living. (p. 275)

Francine Prose’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Tuesday, September 22nd: Book Magic

Wednesday, September 23rd: Eclectic Book Lover

Thursday, September 24th: The Bluestocking Society

Thursday, October 1st: A Sea of Books

Monday, October 5th: A High and Hidden Place

Tuesday, October 6th: Books on the Brain

Wednesday, October 7th: S. Krishna’s Books

Thursday, October 8th : Book Chatter and Other Stuff

Tuesday, October 13th: Caribousmom

Wednesday, October 14th: Literate Housewife

Thursday, October 15th: The 3 R’s: Reading, ‘Riting, and Randomness

Another JLC3 Prize: Masakï Matsushïma's Fragrance

On one of my jaunts through Sephorathis summer, I happened upon a lovely fragrance by Masaki Matsushima:

"Designer Masakï Matsushïma found inspiration for his new perfume in this distinguished upper class New York character. It is an unusually feminine approach, a transgression from his minimalist trans-gender style. The result is a classy and rich fragrance that, surprisingly, is easily recognizable as a creation of the Japanese trend setter.

Jean Jacques, Masaki's "nose" traveled from Paris to New York for inspiration and spent the summer, walking around the elegant parts of the city, capturing the vibrations of its modern-chic atmosphere. The final fragrance is an explosive mix of Japanese and American senses put together by a French perfumer.

Notes:
Litchi, Fuji Apple, Passion Fruit, Watermelon, Sakura, Angel Face Rose, Magnolia, Raspberry, Patchouli, Crystal Musk, White Cedar Wood.
Style:
Chic. Rich. Feminine."

Of course, I had to buy one for the Japanese Literature Challenge 3 prizes, didn't I?! Here it is, a small bottle (about five inches long) of the fragrance in rollerball form:



All you have to do to enter is leave a comment about the role of fragrance in your life.

Oh, and the copy of Yakuza Moon goes to ds of Third-Storey Window. Congratulations, ds!

The Masaki fragrance goes to Terri B., fellow aficionado of scent and Birthday Girl!

Horrid Henry's Underpants and Give Away

Title: Horrid Henry's Underpants
Author: Francesca Simon
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Ages: 7-10

• 
  
  Over 15 million copies sold in 27 countries and counting!


• 
  
  #1 Chapter book series in the UK


• 
  
  Francesca Simon is the only American author to ever win the Galaxy British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year (past winners include J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, and Eoin Colfer).

I must admit that the first time I ever read a Horrid Henry book, I was less than impressed. I was, in fact, horrified. How could a child behave so horribly? Worse yet, the fact that he's so well read and highly praised practically exonerates him!

But, in reading Horrid Henry's Underpants this morning I could catch a glimpse of some of the appeal. He does, after all, resemble the horrid part in each of us. The part that most of us, as adults, keep under wraps. But, when I discover that the joy of reading him encourages reluctant children to read, I'm halfway to applauding his antics myself.

Each book contains four small chapters. Chapters in which Henry does something horrid, and he usually gets away with it. (That still annoys me; I keep thinking he should be punished, if even by natural consequences, some where down the line.)

In Horrid Henry's Underpants we find Henry being forced to eat a vegetable on the promise of a trip to his favorite restaurant Gobble and Go:

Henry's heart missed a beat. Gobble and Go! Gobble and Go! Only Henry's favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. Their motto: "The fries just keep on coming!" shone forth from a purple neon sign. Music blared from twenty loudspeakers. Each table had its own TV. You could watch the chefs heat up your food in a giant microwave. Best of all, grown-ups never wanted to hang around for hours and chat. You ordered, gobbled, and left. Heaven.

In the chapter about Underpants, Henry is given a pair of pink lace girl's panties, with glittery hearts and bows, by his Great-Aunt Gerta who's convinced he's a four year old girl. He shoves them in the back of drawer, but accidentally wears them to school one day when he's running late.

Rats, thought Horrid Henry. Well, no way was he wearing his horrible pink underpants a second longer. He'd just have to trade underpants with someone. And Horrid Henry had the perfect someone in mind.

In the chapter titled Horrid Henry's Sick Day, he plays sick when he discovers his brother, Perfect Peter, is allowed to stay home because he is ill. Eventually, Henry's mother, father and brother are all truly sick, and Henry for once has the recompense of caring for them. Until he goes back to bed himself, horrid boy that he is.

And, in the chapter called Horrid Henry's Thank You Letter, we find Henry doing what I suspect some of us must have longed to do when faced with the interminable task of writing thank you notes. Especially when it's for something we didn't want in the first place. Henry's first note:

Dear Aunt Ruby,

No thank you for the horrible present. It's the worst present I have ever had. Anyway, didn't some old Roman say it was better to give than to receive? So in fact, you should be writing me a thank you letter.

Henry

P.S. Next time just send money. 

causes him to devise a blanket note in one-size-fits-all fashion which is truly funny.

If you want to read some of Henry's hilarious escapades, you'll need to leave a comment in order to sign up for the give away:

a free copy of Horrid Henry and The Mummy's Curse.

Just in time for Halloween. Although, I'm not sure the Mummy can bring any greater curses than Henry's capable of doing.

The winner is Magical Mystical Teacher!

House of Power by Patrick Carman

Title: The House of Power
Author: Patrick Carmen
Publisher: Little, Brown Young
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy for ages 9-12
Number of Pages: 384
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

My class would not give this book 3.5 out of 5. They would have given it a 5.5 Out of twenty nine third graders, one didn't like it. One! Every day, when I would read to them after lunch, they'd beg me, "One more chapter! Please!" I'd look at them while I was teaching Math, and they'd be drawing scenes of Atherton on their slates instead of writing number sentences with missing variables. (Well, I can hardly blame them for that.)

"What's Atherton?" you say. Atherton is the world of which Carman writes, the world that was conceived by Dr. Harding. It's a multi-layered arrowhead shape, orbiting the Dark Planet, and it's comprised of the Highlands, Tabletop, and the Flatlands.

The Highlands is where Lord Phineas lives, with his four main advisors: Sir Phillip, Sir Emerick, and Sir William...the fourth, father of Samuel, has mysteriously died. Lord Phineas rules over the levels of Atherton, from his House of Power, because it is he who controls the water source.

But, Tabletop controls the food. Figs, which they grow, and rabbits or sheep, are hauled up to the Highlands in enormous baskets. Edgar tends the trees that produce the figs. He is a brave and adventurous boy, an orphan, who discovers a book and climbs undaunted to the Highlands in order to find someone who will read it to him.

The book contains secret information about Atherton and its destiny. Edgar, glad that he has made new friends, and explored new places, is our hero. But, there are also Samuel and Isabel, who will join him in fighting for the people of Atherton against great odds. And, the likes of evil Lord Phineas.

Will the Highlands, and Tabletop, which have descended onto each other continue to sink? Will Lord Phineas maintain control of the water, or will Isabel and Samuel steal it away? Will the Cleaners, fearsome garbage eating creatures, attack the inhabitants of the Flatlands? Will Edgar find more information about the Dark Planet from where he came? These questions remain unanswered until we open the pages of Rivers of Fire, Book Two.

My children are begging me to begin it on Monday.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. One week ago I was feeling buried under expectations for myself. Not so much now.

2. I knew I wanted to teach when I was young. Ever since I was in third grade, to be exact.

3. Mama told me, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118)

4. This book blogging community takes you and me and all of our ideas to make it thrive.

5. Take your time putting on your lipstick. In fact, use a brush; it lasts longer and looks nicer.

6. The years until I can retire will pass!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sitting down, tomorrow my plans include riding my bicycle and Sunday, I want to comfort one of my students at the death of her mother when I go to the funeral!

A Whole New Look At The Golden Rule

Just in the past week, I've been accepting responsibility for:

• the happiness of the 80 year old woman from which we bought our house.


• the happiness of my friend(s) who say I don't call enough.


• the happiness of my father while my mother was out of town.


• the happiness of a fifth grade teacher who's class scored 61% on the Illinois state writing tests while mine scored 91%.

I'm kind of tired. I'm very tired of running around, picking up responsibility for others' happiness which I probably can't solve in the first place.

When I spoke with a counselor last night she said, "What's the Golden Rule?"

"Do unto others," I dutifully began,

"As you would do unto you," she finished.

Wait a minute.

"You mean I have permission to take care of me?" I asked.

"You must take care of you," she said. "You're just as important as everyone else."

Wait a minute.

"But, I've been taught that as a Christian woman I need to love others," I said.

"What did Christ do?" she asked.

I thought of the wedding at Cana, where the wine was in danger of running out. Did Jesus fly around, wringing his hands saying, "Oh my gosh! There's going to be no wine soon. I wonder if there's a Binney's still open?"

No. He waited until someone came up and asked him to change it.

Which is what I'm going to do from now on. Wait until I'm asked to interject myself.

In the meantime, I'll be drinking wine on the couch.

Yakuza Moon and Give-away

Title: Yakuza Moon
Author: Shoko Tendo
Publisher: Kodansha, International (originally published 2004)
Number of pages: 195
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

My mother has a note I wrote her when I was about five years old. It's yellowed now, but it has the same message I've always felt:

Dear Mother,

I what to de a good lattle gril.

Love, Meredith

I couldn't spell, but I knew I wanted to be a good little girl. This sentiment has followed me all of my life, even through college. I was simply too afraid to be anything else. The idea of being drunk, or high, and therefore left to someone else's whims, was too terrifying for me to ever lose my self control. I ended up being good out of fear as much as intention.

But, I always wondered what it would be like to live dangerously. To abandon caution, to live on the wild side, to give in to one's rebellious nature.  This book by Shoko Tendo shows us just what that kind of life is like.

A yakuza's (gangster's) daughter, Shoko was born into a world of privilege which quickly evaporated around her. When her father fell into enormous debt, the collectors came to their home and demanded payment. Her mother cried, her father raged, her parents fought, and her life quickly became a living hell. She left that hell for another: the world of drugs.

Like watching a train wreck, one car irrefutably piling into another, I've been enmeshed in Shoko's memoir all day unable to tear myself away from her story.

The misfit who had been bullied at school, the innocent child who was almost raped by Mizugushi, the dutiful daughter who would help Mom clean up after one of Dad's rampages, the little kid who always had to watch out she didn't get Dad mad, none of these were the real me. I used to think about the events of my childhood as if they'd happened to someone else. It was much easier that way. But I had ended up reinventing myself too many times, and now it was impossible to tell who the real Shoko was. (p. 81)

Shoko's story is a heart wrenching one, which tells with complete honesty about her life. It is one quite different from mine in so many respects, and yet it is the same in that we were both little girls who wanted to find a place where we'd belong. Anyone can see that Shoko's heart is huge, and her search for love and acceptance is an agonizing one.

I am giving one copy of this book to Mel of The Reading Life because he has read six books for the Japanese Literature Challenge 3; more by four than I have! But, I have another copy to give away. If you are interested in being entered into the running, simply leave a comment here. If you want, you may relate it to the life you had growing up. Afterall, our experiences form much of who we are today.

Raised with strict ideas of honor, Tendo was both spoiled and scolded by the tattooed men who frequented her family home. In response she joined a gang, took drugs and became the lover of several gangsters before near-fatal beatings and drug overdoses convinced her to change her life." ~Rueters

Tendo...hails from a section of Japanese society that most of her compatriots would rather did not exist. Her story...shines a light into a dark and little understood corner of modern Japan." ~The Guardian

Emotionally complex and thoroughly heart-rending, this book is recommended for anyone searching for a more thorough and personal understanding of Japanese society." ~Publishers Weekly

Setting Goals

I went out to dinner with some friends from one of my book clubs tonight. One of my oldest friends, the one who introduced me to A.S. Byatt's Possession said, "Well, I haven't seen you in months. Who are you? Do I know you anyway?"

I laughed uncomfortably, and ate my shrimp and scallops, which had entirely too much garlic in the sauce. 

At the end of the meal she said, "Susan asked me if I'd seen you lately, and I said no, I'm tired of being the first one to call."

Then, when I came home, I saw this comment from my friend CJ, "Anyway, drop by my place, would you? There’s something there I want you to read."

When people have to ask me to stop by, or remind me I'm not calling enough, I draw up short in shame. I don't mean to be rude on purpose, believe me, I don't. I'm not nearly the commenter I want to be, and I feel terrible about not reaching out enough to my friends in my "real" world and my blogging world. Please forgive me.

My goal for the next year of blogging is to be every bit as kind and considerate as those who've stopped by here and left their thoughts on a post I wrote. I want to read more blogs, comment on more blogs, and be a better friend.

The end.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Today BBAW is celebrating the books we have discovered from another book blogger. I bring to you four of my oldest friends:

Lesley, who introduced me to The Book Thief:



 Bookfool, who introduced me to Persephone Books in London:



where you can buy lovely classics such as Someone At A Distance by Dorothy Whipple:



 Tanabata, who introduced me to Paprika:



and Chris who showed me Supermarket:



I have read neither Paprika, nor Supermarket, but I did purchase them and greatly anticipate opening their covers. If I had not read the blog posts which I mentioned, I'd never have heard of them! So, a big shout out to these blogging buddies of mine from 2006 til today; thank you so much for enriching my reading world for the past three years!

BBAW Reading Meme

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

 I can only think of Jo, in Little Women, who loved to munch on apples while she read. She probably didn't have any M&M's.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?

It horrifies me!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
Laying the book flat open?

By using a Japanese bookmark, of course! Would you want to crack the binding?!

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

Fiction, fiction, fiction. Fiction. Only.

Hard copy or audiobooks?

Audiobooks if I want to lose track of what's going on or fall asleep with no advance warning. Otherwise, I'll stick to a hard copy.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?

Context clues are a reader's best friend, unless you're reading The Elegance of The Hedgehog where a dictionary is practically required.

What are you currently reading?

I'm finishing The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for one of my book clubs, then I'll begin Goldengrove for TLC Tours. But, I really, really want to get back to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles. I may have to take a day off work.

What is the last book you bought?

Book, singular? I just ordered The Children's Book by A. S. Byatt,  The Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood, and Ishiguro's new book Nocturnes from Amazon.com. One of these days, I'll have to erase my credit card from their data base.

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?

Only one, please. I'm pre menopausal therefore I have enough memory issues right now, thank you very much.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?

 Morning. Afternoon. Right before bed.

 Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?

Stand alone.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

Haruki Murakami.

How do you organize your books?

I've heard people do this. I just find a place where they'll fit.

Introducing Bermudaonion (In Case You Haven't Yet Met Her)

One of the exciting parts about BBAW (Book Blogger's Appreciation Week) is finding new-to-you bloggers. After signing up on the site for an interview, I was thrilled to find that I'd been partnered with Bermudaonion.

I'd seen Bermudaonion's comments in many of the blogs I frequent, and I'd always been curious about her name. I was curious about many things, in fact, such as how the heck does she get around to so many blogs? And, what are her favorite reads? So, without further ado, I present you with the interview questions I asked and the answers she gave:

1. I know that you were born in Bermuda, but where does 'onion' come from?

Bermuda used to grow a lot of onions, so natives of Bermuda were referred to as onions, and my mother would call me her little "Bermuda onion" when I was growing up.  Bermuda doesn't grow as many onions these days, so the nickname isn't used as much, but it stuck in my family.  When I was starting my blog, I didn't know what to call it and my son suggested Bermudaonion. 

2. You leave many comments on many blogs. How do you do it?! Do you keep a list in Google Reader? Do you methodically work through your link list?

There are so many fantastic blogs out there, and it's just not possible to read them all every day.  I have quite a few blogs in my Google Reader right now, and I try to keep up with it every day.  I've decided that I won't let my Reader get much bigger because I want it to stay manageable.  I was a stay at home mom and haven't gone to work since our son has gone to college, so I have more time during the day than a lot of people do.

3.  What do the two jobs which you've taken for the BBAW panels entail? Or, is this a secret?

When the BBAW web site was launched, I volunteered to help in any way I could.  BBAW is approaching awards' nominations a little differently this year since it is three times as big as it was last year.  Rather than have everyone vote on the long list, volunteers are evaluating blogs that have been nominated and those with the highest rankings will be shortlisted.  Panel members read each of the five submitted posts and evaluate them on certain criteria. 

4.  I've noticed two memes on your blog are Wondrous Words and Mailbox Mondays. Do you have any other favorite weekly memes you like to participate in?

There are so many great memes out there, aren't there?  I used to participate in Tuesday Thingers, but made a decision that I wanted to limit myself to two memes a week, so right now I'm sticking with MM and WWW.  That could all change at any time, though.

5. We both have a son away in college. How is this working for you? (Mine still lives at home, which suits me fine!)

Our son finished high school in Auburn, AL and made the decision to attend college in Virginia - over 8 hours away.  It was very difficult at first because we rarely got to see him and as a mom, I worried about whether he was taking care of himself, etc.  We've since moved closer to Virginia and get to see him a little more often.  We've adjusted and we're just happy that he's happy and has made some great friends.

6. Who are your favorite authors?

Oh my, there are just too many to list!  Some authors I love are Adriana Trigiani, Barbara Kingsolver, Ferrol Sams, Pat Conroy, and Amy Tan just to name a few.  I think new to me authors Beth Kephart and Luis Urrea will be joining that list soon.  I'm sure I've left someone off the list.

7. What books would be included in your top five list?

This is another tough question!  This list might change tomorrow, but I'm going to say Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

8. When you are asked to review books by a publisher or author, do you feel comfortable giving a negative review if you dislike the book?

I have no problem giving a book I received from a publisher a negative review.  I have felt bad when I've given a book I've received from an author a negative review, so I rarely take books from authors anymore.  When I give a negative review, I try to be careful and only say negative things about the book and not the author. 

9. Where is your favorite place, and what is your favorite time, to read?

My very favorite place to read is on our front porch with our dog on my lap.  This can be difficult at times because we live in a very social neighborhood.

Can't you just picture how comfortable that would be? Outside, sitting on the porch, holding one's dear friend, reading one's favorite book...Thank you, Bermudaonion, for giving us a picture of your life. Thank you for the comments you've left me since I first met you for this interview; it's great to make a new friend!

Because Amazon.com Has Me On Speed Dial...

I may be one of the first to inform you of the new release (9/22/09) from Ishiguro: Nocturnes.

As it won't be shipped to me until September 25, I can't tell you about it personally, but I will leave you with a few of the reviews to entice your appetite:

Reviews from the UK:

“A brilliant new book . . . Art, its dangers, its pains and its gaiety [are] all topics seriously considered in this accomplished book.”
–Frank Kermode, London Review of Books

“Spellbinding . . . Each of these stories is heartbreaking in its own way, but some have moments of great comedy, and they all require a level of attention that, typically, Ishiguro’s writing rewards . . . The final story [is] exquisite.”
–Observer

“By now it is clear that this exquisite stylist is serious in his pursuit of a minimal–perhaps even universal–mode of expression for the emotional experiences that define our lives as human. Nocturnes is a set of poised and playful reflections on the falling away of sentiment . . . These stories recall Ishiguro’s best known novel, The Remains of the Day. In their surreal touches they resonate with The Unconsoled. And in their deceptively simple exploration of love and loss, they build on the achievement of Never Let Me Go.”–The Times

“It is hardly surprising that a writer as resonant, and as emotionally pitch-perfect, as Kazuo Ishiguro should be so keen on music . . . [The title story’s] set-up is so beautifully engineered that it left me simultaneously gasping in admiration and shaking with laughter.”–Sunday Telegraph

“These stories come up on you quietly, in Ishiguro’s strangely weightless style [and] haunt you for days . . . A nocturne is a piece of music inspired by, or evocative of, the night . . . These little pieces could only be the work of a great composer.”–Evening Standard

 

“Chopin is the composer most associated with the form [of the nocturne], bringing to it grace and beauty, fragility and poise, qualities conspicuous in this diverting collection of five st... --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From Where Do We Get Our Worth?

This Book Blogger Appreciation Week thing is cracking me up. I've been around to many book blogs this week, and I've interpreted the following things:

• People accepting their nomination with humility ("What, who me? Really?") while all the time suspecting that their following would submit their names, and in fact, their names would be chosen.


• People with wounded feelings, who were genuinely surprised to be nominated and hoped for something to come of it.


• People holding give-aways in the hopes of attention before the voting ends.

Perhaps you'd disagree with me, or wouldn't put it in such bold terms. But,  let's talk about the elephant in the room. From where do we get our self worth? From others who praise us? Or, from a deep seated, intrinsic satisfaction over our own abilities?

Let me make an analogy: On Sunday, I went to the Anorexic's Picnic. If you don't remember what I'm talking about, it's the term I use for my extended family's gathering. About half the women on my mother's side eat three leaves of lettuce and call it dinner. When I go to such an event, I, a normal sized woman, feel like a cow. I often wear a black dress, as I've heard black is slimming, but no matter what I wear, or what color lipstick I put on, I feel it's All Wrong. On a normal day, I'm perfectly satisfied with how I look. Compared to sticks, I feel fat. Where's the truth?

If a blog is nominated for BBAW, does that make it better than one which wasn't? Need the non-nominated blog slink away in self-doubt? Where's the truth?

I think we have to stand on what we've done, knowing it's the best we can do. How it compares to others, or who recognizes us, is not as important as how we feel about our own work.

Fat or thin, award or not, take this week to congratulate yourself on how far you've brought your blog. And how much further you will, in all probability, continue to take it.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Title: The Elegance of The Hedgehog
Author: Muriel Barbery
Published: 2006 by Editions Gallimard, Paris (2008 by Europa Editions)
Number of pages: 325
Rating: 5 out of 5

When you see a book being praised all over the web do you ever think: "It's either going to be great, or one of the most disappointing books I've read in my life." ? That's how I felt about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which turned out to be great, and this book. Which is also great. If you can read it with a dictionary at hand.

It amazes me that a book with such a high level of vocabulary words has been such a bestseller. When a plethora of readers seem to be picking up the likes of Danielle Steele and Nora Roberts, judging from their book sales, it makes me wonder how many are left who can understand page one of Muriel's. The first page alone had words like this:

• eructation: an act or instance of belching


• deleterious: harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way

But, maybe that makes me sound as snobby about my reading as Muriel's heroine, Renee, appears to be about her own. She calls herself an 'autodidact', a person who is self taught. Incongruous as her position of concierge may be, because she has read Tolstoy and listened to Mozart's Requiem, she secretly scorns the rich who inhabit her building. Much as I do the nouveau riche who have moved into our city, because as anyone knows, money alone does not make you smart. Or kind. Or honorable.

Sharing in her scorn is the younger daughter of a family also living in her building. It's as though we are listening to a version of The Emperor's New Clothes when we read the thoughts of these two characters. They blatantly name the charade that the rich have ensconced themselves in, while reveling in the joy that the pleasure of hazelnut chocolate, or pastries with tea, can afford.

Hidden within their hearts, though, are terrible burdens: of not being strong enough to help those who need it, of being afraid you will die if you don't stay where you belong, of staging your own punishment.

In this complex novel, which examines the heart, I found myself deeply moved when reading the experiences of an outcast. It makes me wonder if we aren't all, to some degree, strangers in this land. Or, hedgehogs of our own.

Madame Michel has the elegance of the hedgehog; on the outside, she's covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is that on the inside, she has the same simple refinement as the hedgehog: a deceptively indolent little creature, fiercely solitary-and terribly elegant. (p. 143)

Dreaming Anastasia

Title: Dreaming Anastasia
Author: Joy Preble
Published: September 1, 2009 by Sourcebooks
Number of pages: 302
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Destiny? I'm sixteen years old. I don't want a destiny. I go to high school. Until you started following me around, my biggest problem was whether or not I'd studied for my chemistry test. Now I'm running from crazy witches. People are shooting at us. With bullets. And it's all your fault."

"It's not my fault," Ethan says. "It's what has to be. It's what you're supposed to do." (p. 109)

I love this book. I love it on many levels:

• the voice is a perfect rendition of a high school girl's


• the setting is in Chicago


• the plot is compelling

and best of all

• it has to do with Russia. Tzar Nicholas and his wife, Alexei, Anastasia and Rasputin to be specific.

I love all things Russia. Almost equal to a passion for things Japanese. In college I took more Russian literature, and Russian history, courses than American. I find their lifestyle, their writing, their past fascinating beyond compare. Dreaming Anastasia fits right into that passion.

We find Anne, a 'normal' high school girl discovering strange things about herself. First, she's suffering horrible nightmares. Nightmares which involve Baba Yaga, a witch; huge hands reaching down from the sky; a little hut on chicken legs in the forest of Russia.

Also, she's being followed by an extremely handsome guy, with bright blue eyes. She has no idea who he might be.  When her arm develops a glowing red mark, and she finds Ethan following her wherever she goes, she realizes that all these signs might mean something.

What they mean is that she is the one who must find and rescue Anastasia. Will she find Anastasia? Will she be able to rescue her from Baba Yaga? Will Anastasia's half brother, Viktor, make up for a plan he set in motion just before the Russian Revolution? These are all the delicious questions for which you will find the answer when you read this imaginative, brilliantly conceived, book.

Find other stops along the tour here:

Saturday, August 29^th

Through the Wardrobe

Class of 2k9

Monday, August 31^st

Story Siren

Tuesday, September 1^st

EVEREAD

The Book Resort

Wednesday, September 2^nd

Marta’s Meanderings

Thursday, September 3^rd

Babbling About Books

A Passion for Books

Friday, September 4^th

Day by Day Writer

Saturday, September 5^th

Neverending Shelf

Sunday, September 6^th

YA Books Central

Monday, September 7^th

The Book Obsessions  

Books & Literature for Teens  

Tuesday, September 8^th

Shelf Elf  

The Shady Glade  

Wednesday, September 9^th

Debbie’s World of Books  

Bookalicio.us  

Thursday, September 10^th

Ultimate Book Hound  

Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf  

Friday, September 11^th

Sarah’s Random Musings

Saturday, September 12^th

Cindy’s Love of Books  

Presenting Lenore  

Always Riddikulus  

Sunday, September 13^th

Jenn’s Bookshelf  

Carol’s Corner  

Monday, September 14^th

A High & Hidden Place  

Looking Glass Review   

Karin’s Book Nook  

Tuesday, September 15^th

Shooting Stars Magazine  

Library Lounge Lizard  

Wednesday, September 16^th

Book Journey  

The Book Pixie  

Thursday, September 17^th

The Compulsive Reader  

Slayground.net   

Friday, September 18^th

Booking Mama  

BriMeetsBooks.com  

Saturday, September 19^th

The Written World  

Hope’s Bookshelf  

Sunday, September 20^th

Book Nut  

Hope is the Word  

Monday, September 21^st

Zoe’s Book Reviews  

Homespun Light  

Teen Scene magazine  

Tuesday, September 22^nd

Galleysmith  

Once Upon a Bookshelf  

Wednesday, September 23^rd

Café of Dreams  

My Friend Amy (9pm EST author chat)

Thursday, September 24^th

The Brain Lair  

Ms. Bookish  

Friday, September 25^th

Lori Calabrese Writes  

Mrs. Magoo Reads  

Saturday, September 26^th

Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm  

Fantasy Book Critic  

Sunday, September 27^th

Into the Wardrobe  
In the Pages  

Monday, September 28^th

Beth Fish Reads  

Reverie Book Reviews

Prize Winners Announced

First, the winner of Kaleb Nation's debut novel, Bran Hambric, to be released September 9, 2009, is:

Bermudaonion!

 

and, the winner of the JLC3 Prize Package 2, which includes the Moleskine Japanese Album, two Japanese pencils, and four Japanese erasers is:

Harry!

Congratulations to you two winners, and thanks to everyone who participated in the drawings.

Now, for those of you in the Japanese Literature Challenge 3, don't forget: there will be prizes given on September 30, October 30, November 30, December 30, and January 30. Interspersed with those will be random giveaways of other delightful things. So, keep reading!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I feel exhausted after this week with Curriculum Night on Monday, after a full day of teaching, and meetings every blessed morning this week.

2. Stepping on the scale is always fun. (Ha!)

3. Right now, I can hear these things: the fan in the back of the room because our elementary buildings have no air conditioning, trucks going by Eola Road, the intercom calling for children who must have missed their bus.

4. I'll pull a winner for my ARC of Bran Hambric, and The JLC3 Prize 2, this Saturday and I'm glad to share the love!

5. The last time the astronauts walked on the moon I was in third grade.

6. We're giving my niece a Sweet Sixteen birthday party this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing a concert, tomorrow my plans include preparing the party food and Sunday, I want to finally rest!

A Giveaway Opportunity from In The Spring It Is The Dawn

Fellow Readers,

You are not going to believe this opportunity. Tanabata has presented us with an incredible offer! Go, quickly, to see what I'm talking about. Bring a Kleenex to wipe the drool off your chin, too.

Sincerely,

Bellezza