Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The power of being read to
The Kentucky Post has an inspiring article about prison inmates recording children's books on tape. The tapes get sent to the kids of the inmates, so that they can hear their fathers' voices (sometimes for the first time).
Monday, April 7, 2008
Do you remember...
...the first book you ever read?
Not the first book that was read to you (obviously), but the first book that you read all by yourself.
I do. It was a book called Susan's Special Summer by Joyce Boyle. I loved it because the main character had my name. It was one of my favorite books and my mom read it to me countless times. I remember being so excited the first time I could read it to myself. It took forever.... I just pulled it off my shelf and I see that it's 96 pages long... which was overwhelming at the time.
It's about a girl named Susan who spends the summer in a cottage with her parents before her baby brother is born. She explores the park near the cottage, has a wonderful encounter with a librarian, and gets to know her grandmother better. It also has a great map in the front of the book that I remember poring over. It may not sound exciting... but it was the book that helped me enter the world of reading (and that was exciting). It was published in 1954, has been out of print for a while and no one seems to have ever heard of it but me. It's got a special place in my heart and I remember every detail of it.
Do you remember that triumphant book where you finally cracked the code? If you do, I'd love to hear what it is.
Not the first book that was read to you (obviously), but the first book that you read all by yourself.
I do. It was a book called Susan's Special Summer by Joyce Boyle. I loved it because the main character had my name. It was one of my favorite books and my mom read it to me countless times. I remember being so excited the first time I could read it to myself. It took forever.... I just pulled it off my shelf and I see that it's 96 pages long... which was overwhelming at the time.
It's about a girl named Susan who spends the summer in a cottage with her parents before her baby brother is born. She explores the park near the cottage, has a wonderful encounter with a librarian, and gets to know her grandmother better. It also has a great map in the front of the book that I remember poring over. It may not sound exciting... but it was the book that helped me enter the world of reading (and that was exciting). It was published in 1954, has been out of print for a while and no one seems to have ever heard of it but me. It's got a special place in my heart and I remember every detail of it.
Do you remember that triumphant book where you finally cracked the code? If you do, I'd love to hear what it is.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
If I Ruled the World
To: All Publishers
Subject: Urgent Memo
No book that I like should ever go out of print. This includes books that I read when I was a kid, books that I saw once at a used book sale and meant to buy but didn't, and any book that anyone has ever mentioned to me that sounded cool.
Also, please keep the exact same cover, illustrations and font that the book had the first time I read it. I can't tell you which edition I read... maybe it was the first, maybe the 21st.... but I'm sure you can figure it out telepathically.
All books that you publish should be in hardcover because they're really prettier that way, and more durable for libraries. Please also publish all your books in paperback, because that would make me so much more likely to buy them. I would appreciate if you would publish both hardcovers and paperbacks at the same time, because I really hate waiting a year or more for the cheaper copy to be released.
My library (like all libraries) takes a little while to process new books, so I end up waiting months for the hot new book that everyone is talking about. By the time I get the book, everyone has stopped talking about it. If you would kindly send all new books to libraries about 3 months before they're released... that would just be lovely.
Books that I don't like can go out of print whenever you feel like it.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
Subject: Urgent Memo
No book that I like should ever go out of print. This includes books that I read when I was a kid, books that I saw once at a used book sale and meant to buy but didn't, and any book that anyone has ever mentioned to me that sounded cool.
Also, please keep the exact same cover, illustrations and font that the book had the first time I read it. I can't tell you which edition I read... maybe it was the first, maybe the 21st.... but I'm sure you can figure it out telepathically.
All books that you publish should be in hardcover because they're really prettier that way, and more durable for libraries. Please also publish all your books in paperback, because that would make me so much more likely to buy them. I would appreciate if you would publish both hardcovers and paperbacks at the same time, because I really hate waiting a year or more for the cheaper copy to be released.
My library (like all libraries) takes a little while to process new books, so I end up waiting months for the hot new book that everyone is talking about. By the time I get the book, everyone has stopped talking about it. If you would kindly send all new books to libraries about 3 months before they're released... that would just be lovely.
Books that I don't like can go out of print whenever you feel like it.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The best tote bag ever
I have a tote bag that stops people in their tracks.
Whenever I carry this bag, I get comments. They come from kids, adults, teachers, parents, children's librarians, fellow grad students, professors and random people on the street.
Just what exactly is on this magical bag that is such a conversation starter? Something extremely classy and sophisticated, right?
Um, nope.
It's a Captain Underpants tote bag.
It has a big picture of this guy:
and proclaims in large letters that it's "time for new underpants!"
I got it almost two years ago at BookExpo America (a HUGE trade show for the book selling and publishing industries). As I walked into the exhibit hall, the first publisher I ran into (literally) was Scholastic, and they were handing out Captain Underpants bags to everyone who walked by. I took one, and it later proved instrumental in helping me lug tons of books around the convention center.
Even though I picked up lots of bags that day and at other conferences, the Captain Underpants bag is the one I use the most frequently. It is waterproof (a big plus) and it's just the right size to carry between 15 to 30 books (not that I've tested this limit, or anything =). And, as mentioned above, the comments I get about it are really extraordinary. I had no idea how many people KNEW Captain Underpants.
For example, here's what happened yesterday at the library within the space of about a minute. A man (probably in his late teens or early twenties) was standing next to me in the checkout line. He looked at my bag and said "I loved those books when I was a kid!" He then told me all about them and which ones he liked the best. As was checking my books out, a boy (who I'd estimate to be about 6) starting yelling "Captain Underpants! Captain Underpants! Captain Underpants!" over and over and over. As I walked out of the library, I could still hear him.
So, although I get occasional weird looks from adults (and my husband)... I love to hear the comments from fans and readers. And, as the bag says (in addition to the comment about needing new underpants): "Hooray for Captain Underpants!"
If you're looking for something funny, be sure to check out Dav Pilkey's website (he's the author of the Captain Underpants series and many others.) I like the warning on the front page of the site, and this page makes me laugh (particularly if you click on the box on the right.)
This year, at the American Library Association Annual Conference, I got another highly coveted bag. Also from Scholastic, it was a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows bag. How cool is that? See Alison Morris' blog ShelfTalker for great pictures of the bag (she even made a skirt out of it!)
This bag was harder to get. I saw people everywhere around the convention center carrying it, but every time I passed the Scholastic booth, they were all out. I finally arrived one day as soon as the exhibit hall opened, and got one of the coveted bags. This bag is lovely, but it's tall and narrow and doesn't work so well for books. Although, my theory is that if you place the bag Voldemort side up, people are unlikely to steal the contents of your bag. The picture on the bag (which is of the front cover of the American edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) scares you away. Or at least it should. Voldemort as theft prevention.
Do you have a tote bag or book bag that you're particularly fond of?
Whenever I carry this bag, I get comments. They come from kids, adults, teachers, parents, children's librarians, fellow grad students, professors and random people on the street.
Just what exactly is on this magical bag that is such a conversation starter? Something extremely classy and sophisticated, right?
Um, nope.
It's a Captain Underpants tote bag.
It has a big picture of this guy:
and proclaims in large letters that it's "time for new underpants!"
I got it almost two years ago at BookExpo America (a HUGE trade show for the book selling and publishing industries). As I walked into the exhibit hall, the first publisher I ran into (literally) was Scholastic, and they were handing out Captain Underpants bags to everyone who walked by. I took one, and it later proved instrumental in helping me lug tons of books around the convention center.
Even though I picked up lots of bags that day and at other conferences, the Captain Underpants bag is the one I use the most frequently. It is waterproof (a big plus) and it's just the right size to carry between 15 to 30 books (not that I've tested this limit, or anything =). And, as mentioned above, the comments I get about it are really extraordinary. I had no idea how many people KNEW Captain Underpants.
For example, here's what happened yesterday at the library within the space of about a minute. A man (probably in his late teens or early twenties) was standing next to me in the checkout line. He looked at my bag and said "I loved those books when I was a kid!" He then told me all about them and which ones he liked the best. As was checking my books out, a boy (who I'd estimate to be about 6) starting yelling "Captain Underpants! Captain Underpants! Captain Underpants!" over and over and over. As I walked out of the library, I could still hear him.
So, although I get occasional weird looks from adults (and my husband)... I love to hear the comments from fans and readers. And, as the bag says (in addition to the comment about needing new underpants): "Hooray for Captain Underpants!"
If you're looking for something funny, be sure to check out Dav Pilkey's website (he's the author of the Captain Underpants series and many others.) I like the warning on the front page of the site, and this page makes me laugh (particularly if you click on the box on the right.)
This year, at the American Library Association Annual Conference, I got another highly coveted bag. Also from Scholastic, it was a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows bag. How cool is that? See Alison Morris' blog ShelfTalker for great pictures of the bag (she even made a skirt out of it!)
This bag was harder to get. I saw people everywhere around the convention center carrying it, but every time I passed the Scholastic booth, they were all out. I finally arrived one day as soon as the exhibit hall opened, and got one of the coveted bags. This bag is lovely, but it's tall and narrow and doesn't work so well for books. Although, my theory is that if you place the bag Voldemort side up, people are unlikely to steal the contents of your bag. The picture on the bag (which is of the front cover of the American edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) scares you away. Or at least it should. Voldemort as theft prevention.
Do you have a tote bag or book bag that you're particularly fond of?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
More confessions
Yesterday, I wrote a post about trusting yourself and your judgement about books. I said that it was okay to have different reactions to books than other people, and that it's okay to dislike books that everyone else loved.
In the comments section of the post, I got asked if any specific books had prompted this feel-good affirmation. In response, I listed a few titles.
Now the floodgates have opened. I've gotten several interesting comments from people relieved to admit their dislike of popular books.
Do you have a few titles that don't really do it for you that you'd like to get off your chest? Feel free to share.
This isn't the first time I've admitted things on this blog. Here's my confession about having never read a well-known book, and here's another one about the fact that I've stopped reading adult books.
In the comments section of the post, I got asked if any specific books had prompted this feel-good affirmation. In response, I listed a few titles.
Now the floodgates have opened. I've gotten several interesting comments from people relieved to admit their dislike of popular books.
Do you have a few titles that don't really do it for you that you'd like to get off your chest? Feel free to share.
This isn't the first time I've admitted things on this blog. Here's my confession about having never read a well-known book, and here's another one about the fact that I've stopped reading adult books.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Trust yourself
Do you ever feel you HAVE to fall in love with a book?
Everybody around you loves it. It reached the top of the bestseller list. It won a prestigious award. It's considered a classic. Someone whose opinion you respect told you how wonderful it was.
And, yet, when you read it, you didn't love it. Sure, you liked it just fine, but it didn't find its way into your heart. And then, (if you're like me) you end up doubting yourself. After all, everyone else loves this book. Why don't I?
Start by looking at the context in which you read the book. I think this is a crucial factor that's often overlooked. See this post for a longer explanation of the who, why, where, how, when and what of reading a book.
And then, trust yourself. Recognize that it's okay to feel differently about a book than everyone else. Appreciate that you can still respect a person's opinion without loving exactly the same books that they do. Remember that award committees look at very specific criteria when judging a book, and you don't have to love every book that wins a shiny sticker. Everyone approaches a book through the lens of their own experiences. Since everyone has a different lens, it's only natural that everyone would have different reactions to books.
Above all, remember this. Your opinion is valid. It's just as valid as the opinion of your best friend, your mom, your neighbor, your book club, your favorite blogger, your professor, or the New York Times book reviewer. Maybe they have more experience or expertise in certain areas than you... but you don't have to love a book just because other people do. You should love a book because there's something between the covers that speaks to you.
So, don't doubt yourself when other people like different books than you do. You're the only one knows what books YOU love.
And, yes, it's okay if you don't like Harry Potter. I'll still speak to you.
Everybody around you loves it. It reached the top of the bestseller list. It won a prestigious award. It's considered a classic. Someone whose opinion you respect told you how wonderful it was.
And, yet, when you read it, you didn't love it. Sure, you liked it just fine, but it didn't find its way into your heart. And then, (if you're like me) you end up doubting yourself. After all, everyone else loves this book. Why don't I?
Start by looking at the context in which you read the book. I think this is a crucial factor that's often overlooked. See this post for a longer explanation of the who, why, where, how, when and what of reading a book.
And then, trust yourself. Recognize that it's okay to feel differently about a book than everyone else. Appreciate that you can still respect a person's opinion without loving exactly the same books that they do. Remember that award committees look at very specific criteria when judging a book, and you don't have to love every book that wins a shiny sticker. Everyone approaches a book through the lens of their own experiences. Since everyone has a different lens, it's only natural that everyone would have different reactions to books.
Above all, remember this. Your opinion is valid. It's just as valid as the opinion of your best friend, your mom, your neighbor, your book club, your favorite blogger, your professor, or the New York Times book reviewer. Maybe they have more experience or expertise in certain areas than you... but you don't have to love a book just because other people do. You should love a book because there's something between the covers that speaks to you.
So, don't doubt yourself when other people like different books than you do. You're the only one knows what books YOU love.
And, yes, it's okay if you don't like Harry Potter. I'll still speak to you.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Fictional schools
In the comments of this post, Jen Robinson mentioned a meme that went around a while ago, which asked what fictional schools you would like to attend. I'm not doing this as an actual meme since it already made the rounds, but I thought it was the perfect thing to write about today because it's my last day of class for the semester.
Fictional schools I would like to go to:
Fictional schools I would like to go to:
- Hogwarts. Yeah, I know it's a shock. But it would be cool, wouldn't it?
- Redmond College... the school that Anne (and Gilbert, Stella, Priscilla and Phil) attend in Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery. Now that I've been to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, I'm fairly certain that Redmond is based on Dalhousie University.
- The Plumfield Estate School that Jo and Fritz run in Little Men by Louisa May Alcott.
- The Catholic Academy in Salt Lake City that Tom attends in The Great Brain at the Academy by John D. Fitzgerald.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Seven things about me
I got tagged for a meme (a list of information) by Jennie at Biblio File. This is my second one ever, and I wanted to respond because I actually know Jennie in real life... we're in the same grad school program (although we only seem to meet at events having nothing to do with grad school). Plus, it sounded cool.
Here are the rules:
1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Seven facts about me:
I'm finding blogging to be addicting.
It's absolutely terrific connecting with people from all over the country (and the world!) and realizing that there are actually people interested in what I have to say. The more I get involved in the Kidlitosphere, the better it is. I recently wrote a post with advice for beginning bloggers. I was amazed at how much I had learned in a few months, and even more amazed by how many people said they found it helpful.
I'm really loving my new job.
I recently starting working in an independent toy and book store. It's incredibly wonderful to be back talking with people about books again, making recommendations and meeting terrific kids. And it's fabulous to get to order brand new children's books and see them the moment they come out. Plus, do you have any idea how fun it is to work in a toy store? And the questions are great. My favorite so far is: "Can you please put this platypus on hold for me?"
I can't wait until finals are over.
I'm in graduate school, and final papers are due in the next week or so. And I hate writing papers. (Blog posts, are of course, an entirely different matter). I will be very, very, very happy when the semester is over.
I have the cutest son. Ever.
I may be the tiniest bit biased here (nah)... but my son is really, really, really wonderful. And cute. And smart. And cuddly. And adorable. It's not possible to be in a bad mood around him; he always manages to cheer me up (unless he's throwing a temper tantrum, in which case, he's probably causing the bad mood).
I have the best husband. Ever.
This may also be slightly biased, but my husband is really, really, really terrific. And supportive. And funny (and punny). And he laughs at my jokes (an amazing thing). And he's helping me get through graduate school, even though he just started graduate school himself. He knows me better than I know me and I don't know what I'd do without him. Plus, he can fix computers.
I have an incredibly supportive family.
If you've looked at the list above, you'll notice that I'm in graduate school, my husband is in graduate school, I have a son, I started a new job (in retail, just before Christmas), and it's finals time. There is no way I could get through this without my amazing family, who is always there for me (and who even read my blog!)
I never get tired of Harry Potter.
I know the 7th book has come out. I know people are sick of the Harry Potter hype. I know they're tired of talking about him. But I'm not. I love the books... no matter how many times I read them, I find something new I never noticed before. You can always get me talking about Harry Potter.
I'm tagging seven people whose blogs I've recently discovered and have been enjoying immensely. And that way, even if they don't end up doing the meme, at least I get to tell you about their blogs. In no particular order, I tag 100 Scope Notes, Abby (the) Librarian, Art, Words, Life, Chicken Spaghetti, Library & Literary Miscellany, pixie stix kids pix, and Lisa Chellman's blog Under the Covers.
Here are the rules:
1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Seven facts about me:
I'm finding blogging to be addicting.
It's absolutely terrific connecting with people from all over the country (and the world!) and realizing that there are actually people interested in what I have to say. The more I get involved in the Kidlitosphere, the better it is. I recently wrote a post with advice for beginning bloggers. I was amazed at how much I had learned in a few months, and even more amazed by how many people said they found it helpful.
I'm really loving my new job.
I recently starting working in an independent toy and book store. It's incredibly wonderful to be back talking with people about books again, making recommendations and meeting terrific kids. And it's fabulous to get to order brand new children's books and see them the moment they come out. Plus, do you have any idea how fun it is to work in a toy store? And the questions are great. My favorite so far is: "Can you please put this platypus on hold for me?"
I can't wait until finals are over.
I'm in graduate school, and final papers are due in the next week or so. And I hate writing papers. (Blog posts, are of course, an entirely different matter). I will be very, very, very happy when the semester is over.
I have the cutest son. Ever.
I may be the tiniest bit biased here (nah)... but my son is really, really, really wonderful. And cute. And smart. And cuddly. And adorable. It's not possible to be in a bad mood around him; he always manages to cheer me up (unless he's throwing a temper tantrum, in which case, he's probably causing the bad mood).
I have the best husband. Ever.
This may also be slightly biased, but my husband is really, really, really terrific. And supportive. And funny (and punny). And he laughs at my jokes (an amazing thing). And he's helping me get through graduate school, even though he just started graduate school himself. He knows me better than I know me and I don't know what I'd do without him. Plus, he can fix computers.
I have an incredibly supportive family.
If you've looked at the list above, you'll notice that I'm in graduate school, my husband is in graduate school, I have a son, I started a new job (in retail, just before Christmas), and it's finals time. There is no way I could get through this without my amazing family, who is always there for me (and who even read my blog!)
I never get tired of Harry Potter.
I know the 7th book has come out. I know people are sick of the Harry Potter hype. I know they're tired of talking about him. But I'm not. I love the books... no matter how many times I read them, I find something new I never noticed before. You can always get me talking about Harry Potter.
I'm tagging seven people whose blogs I've recently discovered and have been enjoying immensely. And that way, even if they don't end up doing the meme, at least I get to tell you about their blogs. In no particular order, I tag 100 Scope Notes, Abby (the) Librarian, Art, Words, Life, Chicken Spaghetti, Library & Literary Miscellany, pixie stix kids pix, and Lisa Chellman's blog Under the Covers.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sitting in your library
Oooh, I could use one of these. Check this out... it's a chair that also functions as a bookshelf.No need to ever get up, except for you know, food and stuff. Or to get a book from the back of the chair.
Although (as pixie stix kids pix points out), it looks rather uncomfortable, doesn't it? And where would you put your feet? You don't want to accidentally kick the books on the bottom shelf, and you'd hate to block your book access by placing a footstool in front of the chair. And you couldn't put the chair against a wall or in a corner because then you couldn't get to all your books.
The same designer, Nobody&Co, also makes unusual and creative book shelves.They look incredibly cool, but I'd need at least fifty to accommodate my burgeoning book collection.
Plus, alphabetical order would be a nightmare, wouldn't it? Or am I the only one that alphabetizes their personal books?
My husband would love it. He firmly believes that books should be shelved by size... not by title, author or subject.
Update: I showed the bookshelf picture to my husband. He said that while he definitely thinks books should be shelved by size, he also thinks that this particular bookshelf is far too inefficient for him. He says it would be more effective if you could move the pegs around.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Scariest characters in literature
In honor of Halloween, check out this list at Abebooks of the 10 scariest characters in literature.
Only one (the last one) is from a children's book.
Incidentally, if you don't already know about it, AbeBooks is a great online resource for finding used books.
Only one (the last one) is from a children's book.
- Big Brother from 1984 by George Orwell
- Hannibal Lecter from the novels by Thomas Harris
- Pennywise the clown from It by Stephen King
- Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
- Count Dracula from Bram Stoker’s novel
- Annie Wilkes from Misery by Stephen King
- The demon from The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
- Patrick Bateman from American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
- Bill Sykes from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
- Voldemort from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling
Incidentally, if you don't already know about it, AbeBooks is a great online resource for finding used books.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monster Mash
I drove from my house to campus last Halloween (about a 30 minute drive) and heard the song Monster Mash FIVE times on the radio in that half hour. (This includes stations that typically play rock, country, Top 40, etc.) It's a lovely song, there's nothing wrong with it and it makes me laugh the first few dozen times or so, but after that, I admit I get a little sick of it. I'm wondering... is this just indicative of how I often I switch stations (a lot) or is this song mandatory on all radio station playlists on October 31st? Does the FCC fine you if you don't play it?
Wizards Wireless is curious... how many times have you heard Monster Mash this Halloween season? See the poll in the sidebar (although you may not want to cast your vote until Halloween is over).
And yes, this is completely off topic.
Update: Apparently I'm the only one who constantly hears this song. By the way, I heard it 2 times on Halloween- and I only listened to the radio for five minutes!
Wizards Wireless is curious... how many times have you heard Monster Mash this Halloween season? See the poll in the sidebar (although you may not want to cast your vote until Halloween is over).
And yes, this is completely off topic.
Update: Apparently I'm the only one who constantly hears this song. By the way, I heard it 2 times on Halloween- and I only listened to the radio for five minutes!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Celebrity
I was at a conference the other day... a really great conference for children's librarians... and I was chatting with Jennie of BiblioFile, who is a fellow library school student. Jennie mentioned that she likes Harry Potter (which of course, immediately makes me start talking incessantly). I started to write down my blog address for her in case she wanted to see all my ramblings on the subject. She looked over my shoulder as I was writing and said: "You're Wizards Wireless?!"
Um, yes, I answered. So, this marks the first time ever that anyone has ever independently recognized the name of my blog. Very exciting. And actually, I should say here that Jennie was one of the reasons I started blogging... she was one of the inspirational people at the Kidlit drink night I attended at the American Library Association conference (see my introductory blog post for how I started). Sara Lewis Holmes, Mother Reader and Fuse #8 were also there... and were all very nice to me... even though I didn't have a URL at the time.
It reminded me of a conversation I had a few weeks ago with Adrienne of What Adrienne Thinks About That. Although you post things on your blog for the whole world to read... you sometimes forget that people (other than you) read it. For example, the day I posted about favorite Harry Potter characters, my brother (who I didn't know read my blog) asked me: "Why would anyone vote for Snape as their favorite character?"(In response, I loaned him the 7th book).
Um, yes, I answered. So, this marks the first time ever that anyone has ever independently recognized the name of my blog. Very exciting. And actually, I should say here that Jennie was one of the reasons I started blogging... she was one of the inspirational people at the Kidlit drink night I attended at the American Library Association conference (see my introductory blog post for how I started). Sara Lewis Holmes, Mother Reader and Fuse #8 were also there... and were all very nice to me... even though I didn't have a URL at the time.
It reminded me of a conversation I had a few weeks ago with Adrienne of What Adrienne Thinks About That. Although you post things on your blog for the whole world to read... you sometimes forget that people (other than you) read it. For example, the day I posted about favorite Harry Potter characters, my brother (who I didn't know read my blog) asked me: "Why would anyone vote for Snape as their favorite character?"(In response, I loaned him the 7th book).
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Another confession
A lot of people chimed in on the confession I made about having not read a classic series of books and now I feel far less alone.
So now I thought I'd admit something else:
I've stopped reading adult books.
Yup. Really.
No more Oprah books. No more Pulitzer Prize winners. No more non fiction tomes. No more bestselling John Grisham books. No more political candidate books. No more New York Times bestsellers. No more "my book club is reading this book and it's wonderful and everyone else is reading it and you should too" books.
Why?
Three reasons, really.
The first is that I'm currently in graduate school... specifically, library school, and let me tell you, there is a LOT of assigned reading. So, that severely limits any books I might read for pleasure.
The second is that because of my new job as a children's book buyer I'm reading a lot of books for work. Advance copies and current bestselling children's books and children's classics I always meant to read and series books, and on and on. (Cool job, isn't it? =) In the extremely limited non-grad school reading that I'm doing, these are the books that get read.
And third is that I'm just not that into adult books anymore. Maybe this will change- but right now I'm enjoying children's books more. I don't know if there's one specific reason... probably many things.
So, there you are. And one more admission... I haven't read The Kite Runner. I started it... it really depressed me, and I haven't finished it.
Are you still speaking to me? Please tell me I'm not alone.
So now I thought I'd admit something else:
I've stopped reading adult books.
Yup. Really.
No more Oprah books. No more Pulitzer Prize winners. No more non fiction tomes. No more bestselling John Grisham books. No more political candidate books. No more New York Times bestsellers. No more "my book club is reading this book and it's wonderful and everyone else is reading it and you should too" books.
Why?
Three reasons, really.
The first is that I'm currently in graduate school... specifically, library school, and let me tell you, there is a LOT of assigned reading. So, that severely limits any books I might read for pleasure.
The second is that because of my new job as a children's book buyer I'm reading a lot of books for work. Advance copies and current bestselling children's books and children's classics I always meant to read and series books, and on and on. (Cool job, isn't it? =) In the extremely limited non-grad school reading that I'm doing, these are the books that get read.
And third is that I'm just not that into adult books anymore. Maybe this will change- but right now I'm enjoying children's books more. I don't know if there's one specific reason... probably many things.
So, there you are. And one more admission... I haven't read The Kite Runner. I started it... it really depressed me, and I haven't finished it.
Are you still speaking to me? Please tell me I'm not alone.
Monday, October 15, 2007
A confession
I have never read Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass.
There. I admitted it.
I've always meant to read His Dark Materials (the trilogy of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass)... I just haven't read it yet. I'll read it, I promise.
Several people have said the same thing after I've admitted this... that I'm so lucky because I have this wonderful series of books to read and discover for the first time. I love that viewpoint- it's the same way I feel about people who haven't read Harry Potter.
Is there anything that you really, truly mean to read... but haven't? (It's okay to answer Harry Potter. Who am I to judge?) Please tell me I'm not the only one.
There. I admitted it.
I've always meant to read His Dark Materials (the trilogy of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass)... I just haven't read it yet. I'll read it, I promise.
Several people have said the same thing after I've admitted this... that I'm so lucky because I have this wonderful series of books to read and discover for the first time. I love that viewpoint- it's the same way I feel about people who haven't read Harry Potter.
Is there anything that you really, truly mean to read... but haven't? (It's okay to answer Harry Potter. Who am I to judge?) Please tell me I'm not the only one.
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