Anne (AMQS) reads in 2013 00- Chapter 1

Welcome! I am very glad you're here. I had a terrific reading year in 2012, and hope to have another one in 2013. After thinking long and hard about the picture to top my thread, I thought I'd use images from my favorite children's literature. Mercer Mayer's wordless masterpieces featuring A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog were some of my earliest reading. I am proud to own many Mercer Mayer books, passed on to me by my grandmother, who was Mercer Mayer's stepmother.

Favorite reads of 2012:

Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
Candide: or, Optimism by Voltaire (audio book)
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (reread)
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (audio book)
So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger (audio book)
Hana's Suitcase: A True Story by Karen Levine
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (audio book)
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
Persuasion by Jane Austen (reread; audio book)

February, 2013

9. Step to the Music by Phyllis A. Whitney
10. The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
11. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
12. Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark
13. An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morprugo
14. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

January, 2013

1. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
2. The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark
3. ttyl by Lauren Myracle
4. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
5. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
6. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
7. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
8. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Hello! First place may or may not be rewarded with a personal visit to NZ? :) I hope so- lol
Very cute image from the top spot, very characterful frog

The Good Earth also featured on my favourites of 2012, and I hope to be able to add TO Kill a Mockingbird to 2013's list.

The New Zealand contingent is arriving on your thread!!

I *loved* Mercer Mayer's books, especially Just Me and My Dad. I don't know many of the other ones though but will investigate the library now that I know you're personally connected!

Good choice on pictures from Children's literature. A joyful frog :)

Looking forward to follow your reading in 2013 - specially all the YA-fiction.

Hi Anne, what a wonderful picture!

Welcome back!

Hi Anne! Trying to keep up better is a 2013 goal, and that Mercer Mayer image inspires me! It's wonderful. The frog's expression is priceless.

Hi Anne! I've starred your thread. Congrats on being nearly finished with your degree! I completed my MLIS a few weeks ago and it feels great!

I read Brideshead Revisited in 2011 and I believe I would put it in my top 5 of all time. Simply amazing.

Happy New Year!

>4 LovingLit: Hi Megan! Oh, how I wish I could reward you with a personal visit!! Alas, it is not to be, but Callia is super excited! Her itinerary just looks amazing. I love the frog from A Boy, A Dog, and a Frog, though I think that particular image comes from Frog Goes to Dinner. I hope you love To Kill a Mockingbird when you get to it! Happy New Year!

>5 cushlareads: Hooray for the New Zealand contingent! I do love Mercer Mayer books -- his early ones are priceless, especially the Boy, a Dog, and a Frog books, There's a Nightmare in My Closet, A Special Trick, What Do You Do With a Kangaroo? and others. Hope you can find some, Cushla (and that they're still in print)! Happy New Year to you and your family.

>6 ctpress: Hi Carsten, and Happy New Year to you! I look forward to following your thread as well. Happy reading!

>7 wilkiec: Welcome, Diana -- I'm really glad you're here! I hope you have a wonderful year of reading.

>8 drneutron: Thank you, Jim, and thanks for setting up the group! Happy New Year to you!

>9 richardderus: Hi Richard, and Happy New Year to you! Keeping up is always a goal of mine -- so many interesting people to visit in this group. Frog Goes to Dinner cracked me up every time -- and still does. Thanks for visiting!

>10 DorsVenabili: Hi Kerri, and congratulations to you, too -- how wonderful! I'll be very glad to be done with school:) I had seen the miniseries of Brideshead Revisited years ago, and this year I listened to the audio narrated by Jeremy Irons, which was just breathtaking. I was so sorry when it was over! Happy New Year to you, and thanks for visiting!

Hi Anne - that is a very cute frog! Happy New Year to you and your family, and I'm looking forward to following your thread in 2013.

Hi Anne, I'm a fellow MLS graduate in May so I wanted to swing by and wish you the best of luck. I know I'll be happy to be done. :)

Anne, I am glad to see you back for 2013!

Happy New Year Anne!

>12 susanj67: Happy New Year to you, Susan!

>13 RosyLibrarian: Thank you, Marie! Best of luck to you, too. You're nearly done!

>14 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia, Happy New Year to you and your family!

>15 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle -- best wishes to you and your husband for a very Happy New Year!

Normally we're finished with rehearsals and performances with the Chorale until January, but this week the Colorado Symphony Orchestra performed the fully staged opera Hansel and Gretel. Here are our kids who played the children the witch had turned into gingerbread cookies, including Callia -- third from the right in the back row:



Here's a goofy photo after the show with the principals: Hansel, Gretel, the Witch, the parents, and the Dew Fairy:

*waves* Happy New Year! Here's to another year of excellent reading!

#17: Looks like everyone was having a good time!

Happy New Year, Anne. What a great year of reading you had. Great pics, too.

Hi Anne - Looking forward to following you for another year! (That sounds creepy... How about looking forward to following your reading for another year?!?)

Hi Anne - found and starred your thread! Looks like the Hansel and Gretel concert was a lot of fun. Before I venture off to the next thread, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year! Looking forward to following your reading - and the further adventures of the Chorale - in 2013 !

I wish you the best year yet, Anne - and that includes a lot of reading! (Love the pictures!)

Happy NY, Anne. Love your opening pic!

>18 dk_phoenix: Hi Faith!! *waves back* Thanks for visiting!

>19 alcottacre: We did have a good time, Stasia. The kids are only in about the last 12 minutes or so of the opera, but we were able to watch the rest of it during the dress rehearsals. This production uses these enormous, fantastic puppets by Heart of the Beast, so it was a visual treat.

>20 BLBera: Hi Beth, Happy New Year to you as well! Glad you're here.

>21 katiekrug: LOL Katie:) I think the only place that doesn't sound creepy is here on LT. I would like to follow you, though -- both your reading and your travels!

>22 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori! Hansel and Gretel was fun, but it made for a really long December for the kids (and the staff). Thank you for your wishes -- I'm glad to have you here for 2013!

>23 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy! Happy New Year to you and your family as well!

>24 lit_chick: Hi Nancy -- thank you so much for visiting! Happy New Year to you as well.

Found and starred! Anne, that is so cool that you are related to Mercer Meyer. I love those books, too, and you know that frogs are a big favorite in this group. Just check out the logo!
Happy New Year!

Anne - thanks for the photos I spotted Callia straight away! Happy New Year and I'll be along for the ride as per usual.

Happy New Year, Anne!

Happy New Year and New Thread, Anne! I haven't heard of Mercer Meyer before. I love the happy frog at the top of the thread.

Happy New Year, Anne! Hugs! I like your best of year list! I NEED to get to the Enger and Buck. I've been dragging my feet on those forever.

>26 Donna828: Hi Donna! We're somewhat related -- he's my father's stepbrother, but while we've corresponded a few times, I've never actually met him. LOVE the new 75-er logo!

>27 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I'm glad you're here. I'll be along for yours as well -- I'll be the one hanging on for dear life!

>28 wilkiec: Thank you, Diana, best wishes to you, too!

>29 gennyt: Hello Genny -- I hope you have a Happy New Year as well! Mercer Mayer is a writer/illustrator of children's books, and his frogs are some of my favorites.

>30 msf59: Happy New Year to you too, Mark, and many hugs! The nice things about books on your wishlist is that they'll always be there. What a happy thing indeed to know there will always be good books to read!

Hi Anne! How neat that you have that connection to Mercer Mayer. I've never heard of him before but I love the illustration you posted so I will have to check him out.

Hi Anne. Looking forward to following your reading this year! :)

Happy 2013, Anne!

Happy New Year, Anne! Love the Mercer Mayer drawing up top. I was a fan of those as a kid, too.

You've also got some ones I love on your faves list, including Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Wonder, Persuasion, and Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris.

Looking forward to a great new LT year!

Great photos, Anne!

Happy New Year!

I always loved reading Mercer Meyer's "Little Critter" books. I liked looking through your favorite's list. You've reminded me that I have Ex Libris here somewhere, waiting...

Dropped a star and a Happy New Year to you! I really loved Mercer Mayer too, as did my sons!

Anne, I was just reading the intros thread and came across the mention of you adopting a retired greyhound last summer. How did I miss that?! I have a greyhound too. Are they not the most wonderful of dogs? Mine is black but going more grey by the month - he's about 9 years old now and I've had him for 5 going on 6 years. I look forward to hearing more about yours...

Swinging through to wish you a happy new year and to star your thread! =)

Hello Anne! Just dropping by!

>32 phebj: Hi Pat! I hope you can find some Mercer Mayer books. He's probably known best for Little Critter books, but his earlier books are amazing, particularly the wordless picture books. He also illustrated many fairy tales, and illustrated The Great Brain books.

>33 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky, I'm so glad you'll be following!

>34 rosalita: Thanks, Julia, Happy New Year to you, too!

>35 jnwelch: Me, too Joe -- thanks for stooping by!

>36 Copperskye: Hi Joanne! I had had Ex Libris on my list for years. It was well worth the wait. Hope you love it as much as I did!

>37 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb! Glad you stopped by. Mercer Mayer is timeless -- so many of us grew up reading him.

>38 gennyt: Hi Genny! Yes, we adopted a greyhound this summer. I'm still adjusting to having a dog, but he is very sweet, and a very cool dog. It's a bit like having a deer in the house -- he's so big, but so quiet. He's very dear. We took him for a walk today (he has to wear a coat when it's as cold as it is now because he has no fat on his body) and we met some kids who wanted to know if we were walking a kangaroo.



He also has a scarf that Marina (age 11, on the right) made him for her first knitting project:


>39 tapestry100: Hello David -- Happy New Year to you! I'm glad you're here:)

>40 weejane: Hi Brit! Glad you're here. Happy New Year to you and your family!

Hi, Anne. Great pictures of the kids and of the dog!

Great pictures, Anne.

Love the pictures, Anne. And that's a great story about your dog seeming like a deer, and a kangaroo to the kids.

I love greyhounds, they are such sweet dogs. The scarf is adorable!

Adorable photos of ... Whistler, is it? My memory is terrible!

Oh, and your daughters look cute, too. :-D

LOVE your greyhound, Anne! Laughed at the children asking about a kangaroo. For many years, I had a malamute, and one of the little boys on our street used to ask if she was a racoon : ).

Some great pictures - hope he likes the first knitting project :)

Anne - I can imagine the greyhound is cold he doesn't have a scrap of fat on him - I on the other hand have no trouble staying warm. The girls look chilled too but charming nonetheless.
Have a great weekend.

Greyhounds are so skinny arent they? :) But kangaroo like? That is sweet. My friend has Whippets. They are a laugh.

Great pics.

Great pictures Anne! The kids and pup look so happy :)

Anne, the kangaroo story is so funny! Lovely pictures of the girls (and Whistler).

Hi Anne and Happy New Year--I'm finally making my way over here . I enjoyed your "best of 2012" list--saw some personal favourites on there.

>42 ronincats: Thank you, Roni!

>43 BLBera: thanks, Beth:)

>44 phebj: Thank you, Pat. Now that I think about it, he does have some kangaroo-like qualities, with this huge back haunches and especially when his ears are up (as opposed to flat and aerodynamic). He reminded me of a tiger when we first got him because of his markings, but he is so big and so quiet and very, very gentle, so now he seems like a deer. They're supposed to be nicer than kangaroos anyway:)

>45 lauralkeet: Hi Laura, thank you for stopping by! They are very sweet dogs. He's been a good addition to our family. We're pet-sitting a young Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and we're astonished at how different the two dogs are, and how exhausted we are:)

>46 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! Yes, Whistler! You do have a good memory -- I'm impressed that you remembered that one:)

>47 lit_chick: Thank you, Nancy! I can see how a malamute can resemble a raccoon, but it would have to be a super-sized raccoon! We took Whistler for a walk on Christmas Eve, and met someone who joked that we were walking a reindeer:)

>48 ctpress: Thanks, Carsten! Whistler doesn't say if he likes the scarf or not (he's the silent type) but he gets excited to wear it -- it means a walk is in the very near future, and he does like being warm:)

>49 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! I was always cold before I had kids -- I wore long underwear a lot. Funny how I just don't seem to need it anymore... I hope you had a good weekend. I am hanging onto this one for dear life because I go back to school tomorrow, and I am not ready!

>50 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan! Yes, they are super skinny. Whippets are so cute. I was surprised by the kangaroo question, too, especially as I think of them as being mostly upright. Too funny.

>51 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle! They're a pretty happy bunch:)

>52 susanj67: Thank you, Susan!

>53 AnneDC: Happy New Year to you too, Anne! I'm sure I learned about many of my 2012 favorites from LT -- one of the best things about this lovely, international community!

1. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Thanks to Susan (susanj67) and Rachel (aktakukac) for recommending this terrific book to start off 2013 -- a big, sweeping novel set on the wild northern coast of Scotland, with its crumbling castles, stinging, salt-whipped wind, dramatic cliffs, and turbulent seas. This novel deftly tells parallel stories -- Carrie McClelland is a writer from Canada who takes a cottage in the shadow of Slains Castle to write her new novel about the failed Jacobite rebellion of the early 18th century. She tells her story from the point of view of one of her ancestors, Sophia, but soon finds her writing guided by her characters calling to her from the past, and her research revealing that her story is more historical fact than fiction. I found this to be a fascinating story rich with historical details, driven by a compelling romance, and anchored -- both stories -- in a setting so richly alive that I am itching to see it for myself.

Great pictures, Anne!! I enjoyed the Kearsley too and did the next best thing to visiting in person - looked it up on the web. Some great pictures there!

Hi Peggy! I did the same thing -- the pictures are amazing! My brother did his masters and Ph.D at the University of St. Andrews and visited some pretty amazing places in Scotland. I so regret not having been able to visit him while he was there, but the kids were very little, and we just couldn't make it happen. Someday...

>55 AMQS: And I've been hit by my first BB of the year.

Hi Anne, Your three kids are adorable! :)

I had to check my nook to be sure and happy to say that I have The Winter Sea. Glad it's a good one!!

Onto the wishlist with that one! It sounds really good!

Nice review, Anne! And I have The Winter Sea on my Kindle, so yay!

Nice review, Anne. I really enjoyed The Winter Sea, too.

>58 MickyFine: Yay, I got you, Micky! Hope you enjoy The Winter Sea when it comes your way.

>59 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne:) I hope you enjoy The Winter Sea as much as I did. It was a good, long book to get lost in.

>60 rosalita: Hi Julia -- it was good! And one more reason to be grateful for LT, for otherwise I probably would never have heard of it. Enjoy!

>61 katiekrug: Hi Katie! The Winter Sea would be a good one for the kind of long travel you do -- it's nice and long, easy to get pulled in to both stories, and full of interesting historical details while not being too demanding, if that makes sense. Enjoy!

>62 BLBera: Hi Beth! I probably read about it on your thread as well, so I thank you, too! I enjoyed it, and thought it was a great way to start a reading year.

I have another Kearsley that I thought sounded good, The Shadowy Horses. Some of her books sound a bit heavy on the romance for me; I enjoyed the history and the sense of place in The Winter Sea.

Great review of The Winter Sea, Anne. It sounds like something I'd like so I'm off to look for a copy!

A big, sweeping novel set on the wild northern coast of Scotland, with its crumbling castles, stinging, salt-whipped wind, dramatic cliffs, and turbulent seas..

Well put, Anne. Could be a good one to read before I travel to Scotland, which I've had an inkling to do for some time now......

Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed The Winter Sea!!

Just added The Winter Sea to my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation!

Karen O.

Hi! I've had you starred but have mostly been lurking. Love the photos, especially the first knitting project!

I just added The Winter Sea to my WL - it's called Sophia's Secret over here and looks like it has a really bad cover, so I would never have picked it up! There are lots of library copies.

Hi, Anne! I'm SO glad you enjoyed The Winter Sea! Hopefully you can read more by Susanna Kearsley in the not-too-distant future...I recommend Mariana, and The Rose Garden, although she has written other good ones too.

Hi Anne- Good review of the Winter Sea! Sounds like a winner.

>65 BLBera: I was thinking that too, Beth, but I really enjoyed this story and I like her voice a lot. I'll keep an eye out for other titles of hers.

>66 phebj: Hi Pat, I hope you enjoy The Winter Sea when you have a chance to read it. I've passed it on to Callia.

>67 ctpress: Ooh, I hope you make it to Scotland, Carsten! If you've been wanting to go, you'll really want to go after reading The Winter Sea! I really regret not having visited when my brother was at school there. Hopefully I can go with him as my guide at some point.

>68 susanj67: It was a great book to lose myself in, Susan -- thank you for the recommendation!

>69 klobrien2: Hi Karen -- I hope you enjoy The Winter Sea! Thanks for stopping by. I don't think I've found your thread yet, but I'll be by soon!

>70 nittnut: Hi Jenn! Glad you de-lurked:) Callia has been knitting for awhile, but Marina just started. I knew she's be good at it -- she has terrific patience for hand-sewing. Hope you're having a good week. Are the kids back in school?

>71 cushlareads: Hi Cushla! You're right -- that cover is pretty bad! Glad there are copies available -- hope you enjoy!

>72 aktakukac: Hi Rachel! Thanks for the recommendations -- I'll definitely look for more books of hers:)

>73 msf59: Thanks, Mark! It's a romantic story set against a great historical and geographical backdrop. I thought it was very well done.

I'm joining the chorus and adding The Winter Sea to my TBR list! Thanks for the great review and recommendation!

#55: I already have that book in the BlackHole. Maybe one day it will surface. Glad to see you enjoyed it so much, Anne!

What a great sounding book to start off your year's reading, Anne. How can I resist putting it on the wish list? On it goes!

Oh, I loved the pictures of the girls and Whistler. I liked your comparison to having a deer in the house...and then calling him a dear dog. I think you have found the perfect companion for your family.

>76 weejane: Hi Brit -- I hope you enjoy The Winter Sea when you have a chance to read it. Thanks for stopping by!

>77 alcottacre: Hello Stasia! The BlackHole sounds quite ominous, but I quite like having a bottomless wish list, so to speak. You never know when a book will come into your hands somehow, and that's part of the fun. When it emerges, I hope you enjoy The Winter Sea!

>78 Donna828: Hi Donna! Whistler has been a great companion for our family. I resisted for a long, long time, but I'm glad he's here. Animals can bring such richness to our lives. I hope you enjoy The Winter Sea when it comes your way!

2. The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark

I confess I do not remember who recommended this book, but I am grateful. My first audio of the year is a unique treat. A review of the book I read when it was published in 1963 sums it up well:

"In a day when so many writers seem to write so much alike, it is a delight to discover one who writes like no one except herself. Muriel Spark, an aloof, sharp-eyed Scotswoman, is such a writer, and her most noticeable characteristics are, of course, her wit, her absolute pitch in dialogue, her economy of style and her sedulous avoidance of sentiment. These might add up to dryness, but in Miss Spark's work, they do not."

The titular Girls of Slender Means are the girls who inhabit the May of Teck Club, which exists "for the Pecuniary Convenience and Social Protection of Ladies of Slender Means below the age of Thirty Years, who are obliged to reside apart from their Families in order to follow an Occupation in London". The book is a bit hard to describe. I thought as I listened to the audio that it might be easier to follow in print, but after all is said and done, I think audio was better. Like the wonderful Prime of Miss Jean Brodie which I also enjoyed on audio, Ms. Spark drops in here and there on her characters' conversations and thoughts. Thus, the reader is treated to snippets -- fragments of poetry wafting down from Joanna giving elocution lessons, girls scheming to collect soap rations and arrange to borrow the exquisite Schiaparelli dress inherited from an aunt, Jane demanding quiet and justifying needing extra food rations to do her "brain work" in "the world of books," and hopes of the men of the story to sleep with the beautiful but soulless Selina. The story's frame some takes place some 20 years or so after the principal events of 1945. Nicholas Farringdon (who did, in fact, sleep with Selina on the roof of the club) is martyred in Haiti, and Jane, now a columnist, seeks to write his back story. I really enjoyed this laugh-out-loud funny and tragically sober portrait of post-war London and this small group of its young inhabitants.

Great review, Anne. The Prime of Miss Brodie have been in my tbr as I've not read anything by Muriel Spark yet. The Girls of Slender Means sounds witty and strange...it's in 1001 books so I might get to it before or after Miss Brodie...

Hi Anne - Great review of Girls of Slender Means. I love Sparks' writing. Her sense of humor really appeals to me.

Hi Anne - getting caught up here. The Winter Sea looks good, as does The Girls of Slender Means. I am slowly working my way through Spark's works and have yet to be disappointed with her stories. Great reviews!

>81 ctpress: Thank you , Carsten! I hope you enjoy Muriel Spark. I have listened to her on audio, which has been very rewarding. She's unlike anyone else I've read.

>82 BLBera: Me too, Beth! There's something very appealing about her voice.

>83 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! Glad you stopped by!

The Winter Sea looks good to me, too. Happy weekend, Anne!

Think that I have read all of Muriel Spark's books with only a few exceptions. This I recall being amongst her best. The Winter Sea looks chilly but inviting.
Hope your first week back went well and that you have a lovely weekend.

>85 wilkiec: Hello Diana! Glad I could hit you with a book bullet:)

>86 PaulCranswick: Chilly but inviting -- that's a good way to put it, Paul. My weekend just took a turn for the worse with a horrible Bronco loss after an amazing season-- ugh. Yet I feel the sun will surely come up tomorrow :) Happy weekend to you, too!

3. ttyl by Lauren Myracle

I was inspired to read this book because of this article that appeared in the New York Times about the author, PLUS the fact that she is a Colorado author (PLUS the fact that I read her searing Shine this summer for my literature class). The book is told entirely in IM messages between three high school sophomores who vow to "b together 4ever!!!," which is a cool 21st century teen take on the epistolary novel. Their friendship is tested by typical high school issues -- true love crushes, extremely poor judgment, one of the girls under the seductive influence of a cool-but-mean girl, and family pressures. This novel seems light and bubblegummy, but actually I was impressed with the very real issues tackled, with the weightier topics discussed by the friends, and with the underlying strength of true friendship, which is worth its weight in gold no matter how old you are. As the mother of a YA I am finding it hard sometimes to read YA literature, and at first I cringed at some aspects of the book and imagining Callia reading it, but she is reading it now -- with my blessing -- and I think we'll have some valuable discussions as a result.

Edited to add this quote by the author in the NY Times article in response to parents furious about her books and their subject matter: “Give your kid some credit for being smart — just because they read about something doesn’t mean they will do it. Fiction is a safe place to explore.”

Love that last sentence!!

Anne, that's a great review, and the author is so right about fiction being a safe place to explore. I think YAs are possibly *less* likely to do things that they read about because they can see past the initial "glamour" and excitement to what happens next, and they might take the time to think things through a bit more.

Hope your weekend has been good apart from the sporting loss :-)

I completely agree with the quote, Anne, it's kind of insulting to say that kids are monkey see, monkey do, and have no moral intelligence. Insulting to the kid, and to the parents.

Not that some parents don't NEED insulting, but really now!

Hi Anne! Thanks for the concert info. I am adding Girls of Slender Means to the TBR pile. :)

>89 susanj67: Yes, Susan! The weekend has been good -- next weekend will be even better because we have a holiday next Monday:) Hope you have a good week. Did I see that you're expecting snow in London?

>90 richardderus: Hello Richard -- I agree with you: it is insulting. I read about loads of stuff in books that I would never do. Probably ;) Thank you for stopping by!

>91 nittnut: Hope to see you there, Jenn! I think you'll enjoy The Girls of Slender Means. It is also a very slender book:) Have a great week!

Nice review of ttyl, Anne. As it is the perfect fit for my epistolary category over on the 2013 category challenge, this one goes on the to read list - and the hold has been placed at my local library. Hope you had a great weekend, Anne!

#92: Anne, yes, we have snow! Just a tiny bit at the moment but there is supposed to be more later.

Great review of The Girl of Slender Means. Hmm, I've had it sitting right on my kitchen table for sometime - maybe I should get the audio version so I can finally get into it!

>93 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! What a fun category -- I love epistolary books. I just went over and took a look at your list. Your thread is hopping, and your categories are wonderful!

>94 susanj67: Does it snow often in London? If it happens rarely, that's kind of fun:) I don't like driving in snow, but if we don't get more soon we're going to be in trouble with water later.

>95 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! I used to never choose an audio if I had the print book, but sometimes that's what it took to get me to read it. It's a very short audio:)

#96: No, it seldom snows here, and it is usually chaos when it does, but so pretty :-)

Susan, my mom returned home to Munich yesterday to quite a lot of snow. Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted:)

4. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

Thank you so much to Donna and others who recommended this book! Author Pat Conroy tells stories from his life through the lens of books he read and that influenced him profoundly. Initially I wasn't sure about listening to this on audio with the author reading himself (I am in awe of the professionals who narrate audio books), but I found it moving to hear his story in his own words and in his own voice. I loved his description of his voracious reading habits, his moony-eyed crushes on particular authors at particular times of his life, the thrill and power of words, and the life-saving and life-altering impact of books and stories (he is an unabashed champion of stories, declaring that "Tell me a story" is the most powerful sentence in the English language, and lamenting the decline of the story in modern fiction). I've never read any of Mr. Conroy's books, but now I am anxious to read about his childhood at the mercy of his brutal father in the Great Santini, about his year of teaching on a remote and desperately poor Carolina island in The Water is Wide, and others. I wept through the chapter about an unforgettable teacher, was spellbound by the description of the profound meaning of Gone with the Wind to southerners, laughed through his account of living in Paris, and have never been more motivated to read Tolstoy, Tolkein, and many others. Mr. Conroy is quite verbose, which he freely -- and frequently -- admits. Following the book there is an interview with the author, and the questions surprised me, as I had spent the past 7 hours listening to his explanations of the same topics, but I was delighted to hear him discuss other books that influenced him, beginning with The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Black Beauty. He also spoke passionately about the power of read alouds, and I am astonished that his mother, with 7 children, could make reading aloud to her kids individually a priority. Mr. Conroy is also a new and very enthusiastic fan of audio books, claiming that the art form (his words) is helping to revive the oral storytelling tradition in America. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, that last interview section just made my heart sing, and was a wonderful way to conclude a special book.

Anne - I almost bought Pat Conroy's book yesterday but plumped for Susan Hill's instead. Next month if it is still in the store it is going into the bag.

Have a lovely weekend.

Anne, I read {My Reading Life last year, and really liked it. Glad you liked it, and liked listening to it. I might have to locate the audio version.

Hmm...I think I'm due for another "book about books."

Karen O.

>100 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul, I hope Mr. Conroy will still be there next month. You can't go wrong with Susan Hill, though, so you're in good shape! Best wishes to you too for a lovely weekend.

>101 klobrien2: Hi Karen! There's something special about books about books... I need one myself every now and then:)

Great review of My Reading Life, Anne! Hmmm - maybe I too will have to locate the audio version - if there is one!

5. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

Georges is in the 7th grade, and is facing a year of tough times and difficult transitions. His best friend Jason has inexplicably dumped him in favor of the cool crowd, which has made Georges (whom they call Gorgeous) the target of their bullying ("Here's a piece of advice you will probably never use: if you want to name your son after Georges Seurat, you could call him George, without the S. Just to make life easier."). The book begins as Georges's family sells their beloved Brooklyn home and moves into an apartment following his dad's layoff. Georges's mother must now work double shifts at the hospital to support the family, and her only interactions with Georges throughout the book are the short messages they write to each other on Georges's desk in Scrabble tiles. On the day they move into their apartment he meets Safer, a strange boy his own age who decides to train Georges to be a spy.

Safer recruits Georges to help him spy on the building's mysterious Mr. X, whose comings and and goings from the building carrying suitcases probably means he's disposing victims. Safer's surveillance becomes more risky and intrusive, and Georges must decide how far he should go to support his only friend.

Looking over this review, this is a bizarre premise for a book, but it works. Ms. Stead's characters are strong and well-drawn in all their quirky habits and personalities, and the bonds formed by lonely kids in desperate need of friends are touching and poignant. I really enjoyed it, and will be reading Ms. Stead's highly recommended When You Reach Me later this year... maybe aloud?

> 103 Thank you, Deborah! There is an audio version of My Reading Life... whether you'll find one available is another matter:) Others here in the 75ers have raved about the print version, so that's not a bad way to go if you can't find the audio. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Hi Anne- I read and loved My Reading Life a couple years ago. I thought it would inspire me to read more of his work but so far it hasn't. LOL.
I was a bit underwhelmed with Liar & Spy, especially after When You Reach Me, which I loved.
ETA- One you might like is my current audio, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. This one is a lot of fun, although it's starting to go to a darker place...which I like.

>106 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks for the recommendation of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend -- I took a look at the book's page, and it looks terrific. What an interesting idea. My brother had an imaginary friend as a little boy who was with us for a long, long time. Hardy had had a bit of a hard life (his father had died in the war), but he was a good friend to my brother, and we were glad to have him.

I'm looking forward to When You Reach Me. Do you think it would be a good read aloud?

Oh, Anne, what a fabulous last several selections! Appreciate your reviews of The Winter Sea (hmmm, wishlist time, I think), The Girls of Slender Means, ttyl, My Reading Life, and Liar and Spy. You go!

Hi Anne, I also listened to My Reading Life and loved Conroy's narration.

Enjoy When You Reach Me - I was surprised by how much I liked it!

Hi Anne! I just added The Winter Sea to my wish list and don't have to add The Girls of Slender Means as I've already read it. Great review by the way! I too loved When You Reach Me! I think it would work as a read aloud--at least I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't.

Hi Anne - I, too, loved the audio of My Reading Life and immediately went and bought a copy of the book in hardcover for my permanent library. I highly recommend The Water is Wide - it's just an amazing story, beautifully written. I also enjoyed his Lords of Discipline and Beach Music. I've got his other novels but haven't read them yet.

And I wasn't a huge fan of When You Reach Me which I listened to on audio. I found it a little gimmicky, but that's just me. I do think it would work as a read aloud, and I hope your girls like it!

>108 lit_chick: Thank you Nancy! I think The Winter Sea would be a worthy addition to your wish list :)

>109 Copperskye: Glad to hear you enjoyed When You Reach Me, Joanne. We recently abandoned a read aloud because it just wasn't grabbing us, and all of a sudden it felt very young. On a whim I asked the girls if I could read 84 Charing Cross Road to them, and they LOVE it!

>110 AnneDC: Thanks, Anne! I think I will propose When You Reach Me for an upcoming read aloud. Hope you enjoy The Wimnter Sea when you have a chance to read it!

>111 katiekrug: Hi Katie, I thought about buying a copy of My Reading Life also. I'll keep an eye out for it -- sometimes books have a way of finding me, (or vice-versa?). I checked out The Great Santini from the library but have not had a chance to read it yet. Sorry When You Reach Me didn't work for you.

6. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

We can NOT keep these books on our shelves, and the third (I think) book, Darth Paper Strikes Back is a current Colorado Children's Book Award nominee, so I checked out the first one to see what all the fuss is about. I like the appealing format: Tommy is conducting a case study to try to determine if Origami Yoda is for real. Other 6th grade classmates contribute their personal stories of advice received from Origami Yoda; his friend Harvey, who thinks it's a bunch of nonsense comments on every entry in the spirit of impartiality; and friend Kellen adds humorous doodles. Origami Yoda is the creation of classmate Dwight, and therein lies the problem. Yoda dispenses uncannily good (if syntactically-challenged a la Yoda) advice, but Yoda is an origami finger puppet worn and voiced by Dwight, who is the strangest, oddest, biggest mess of a kid in the whole school. The one who spends his afternoons digging huge holes and then sitting in them; the one who fails the pop quiz Origami Yoda accurately predicts, saving those whom he forewarned; the one who wears the barf-green sweater-vest with pink puffballs on it; and the one who sprayed juice all over a batch of cupcakes being served to the class as a birthday treat. The undercurrent is the uniquely middle school social structure of this group of kids -- figuring out when it's okay to be unique, to try new things, and learning what makes a good friend.

Had to share some photos posted today to the Tattered Cover's Facebook page

Abibliophobia strikes every time I pack for a trip. Thanks, Anne! :D

An excellent word to have in hand, Anne. I'm like Micky, except it also affects me just traveling around Chicago.

Looks like someone got stranded in The Strand up above, yes?

The bookshop looks like somewhere I want to get marooned Anne. Did look again at the Pat Conroy but decided that at $30 I would get it in paperback and save about $18.

LOL, imagine the 75er group ALL stranded in the same bookstore. It would be absolute MADNESS!

>115 MickyFine: Me too, Micky! The last time we took a long trip it took me nearly as long to pack my books as my clothes! I actually have books in both cars in case I am stranded...

>116 jnwelch: Is that where that is, Joe? I want to go, and maybe even wish to be stranded there! Maybe the cafe would send over some wine:)

>117 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Yes, far better to save the $$. We're quite spoiled here -- I shop at used bookstores, library sales, swap tables, and BookMooch, and I get a lot of books from the library, so it's very rare for me to pay more than a few dollars for a book. Mr. Conroy can wait while Mr. Cranswick has a lot of good books already.

>118 lit_chick: LOL, Nancy, it would be madness... until we all realized who everybody was. Then I imagine we'd be happy just to pass the books around until rescue:)

If I'm not mistaken I do think this is Paul's library and not a bookstore.

Wonderful Star Wars inspired titles - sounds like a very original story.

WOW, that is an amazing picture - I think I read at least one of those books as a kid!

Anne, I'm so glad you loved My Reading Life. Pat Conroy is in love with books and he was able to say why so much better than I could. The Great Santini is a memorable book about his family's influence on his life. I hope you like it!

>119 AMQS: I always have a book in my purse. Always.

@120 Carsten, you are so funny!

Great picture, Anne!

Hi Anne - Great pictures.

>88 AMQS: he book is told entirely in IM messages between three high school sophomores who vow to "b together 4ever!!!,"
uh oh, I cannot see me reading this book! Sorry- glad you found good in it though.

>120 ctpress: you said it Carsten! (Paul's library- lol)

Hope you love The Great Santini Anne. I read it ages ago but it may be one of my favorites books of Conroy's because it explains alot about his father and his childhood.

>120 ctpress: LOL Carsten :) I thought Origami Yoda was an original idea, too. Sometimes I wonder, though... I'm having a book fair at both of my schools (*whimper*) and on the preview video, there was a book trailer for a new book called Potterwookiee. I guess I'll have to judge for myself, but I was thinking, "really??"

>121 the_red_shoes: Hello Moira, thank you for visiting! I love hearing from so many people about reading Mercer Mayer books as a child :)

>122 Donna828: Thanks, Donna, and thank you again for the recommendation!

>123 MickyFine: Me too, Micky! You never know...

>124 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah!

>125 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

>126 LovingLit: Hi Megan, yes, I admit that description is likely off-putting, but I was drawn to the book because of the NY Times article about the author, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's not Tolstoy or anything, but is was weightier than I expected. Not that my feelings will be hurt by you not rushing out immediately to procure a copy;)

>127 phebj: Thank you, Pat! I haven't been able to get to The Great Santini yet, and hope I can before it has to go back. Mr. Conroy is definitely on my radar now.

Ahhh! Hit by all the book bullets. Again. Except maybe the IM one, although I can see why it could be good.

Can you believe this weather?!?

Anne - Hello! Going back to #113, Darth Paper Strikes Back is book 2. The third book is The Secret of the Fortune Wookie and these books are PHENOMENAL!! :) I've read them all - the librarian gives them to me before she puts them in circulation and I bought them for my nephew for Christmas. Glad you enjoyed them!

>129 nittnut: Hi Jenn! Yes, I hear the weather has been good ;) Between Chorale and events at school I worked late every day this week, and was not outside much. Hoping to get out this weekend before more cold weather comes early next week. Glad I got you with some BBs :)

>130 weejane: Hi Brit! I was wondering about the order -- we have all three. I'm so glad to know you enjoy them so much!

84, Charing Cross Road as a read-aloud - what a great idea!

I wish I had a couple of girls to read to! I have a NYer cartoon tacked up at work. It's a picture of a man reading to a dog tucked into a bed and captioned along the lines of "Now that the kids had grown up and left home, Bob took to reading to the dog at night". :)

Hi Anne. Just stopping by to catch up. Hope you have a relatively relaxing weekend after such a busy week. We're finally getting above freezing this weekend during the days but of course we're getting more snow tonight. Oh well, at least the days are getting longer.

Joanne, I love the description of that NYer cartoon!

Hi Anne. I meant to tell you - we did not show up to the Chorale event on Saturday due to illness. We got hit with strep throat over here. It was nasty. I am keeping an eye on the website for future events. :)

Anne, you sound very busy! I had a little bout of abibliophobia in the library the other day, which you might think was an odd place to have it :-)

>132 Copperskye: Oh Joanne, I may have to track down that cartoon -- that will totally be me!

>133 phebj: Hi Pat -- glad you stopped by! I bet your freezing weather is headed our way, as it's supposed to get cold early next week. Stay warm!

>134 nittnut: Jenn, this has been such a terrible year for illness! Hope everyone is feeling better now. Did it interfere with Jonah's celebrations? Don't follow the Parker website, as I doubt we'd be back there for another year at least. The Chorale website is www.childrenschorale.org. I'll let you know if there's a performance coming up that might be a good one to see. The next big one is my favorite: A Classical Afternoon at Montview Presbyterian Church in early March.

>135 susanj67: Susan, that's a terrible affliction anywhere, but even worse in the library!! Has it warmed up in London yet?

7. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I took a chance and proposed this as a read aloud to the girls, and was doubly or perhaps triply rewarded by the experience: I got to share a favorite, favorite book with my favorite, favorite people, my girls were rapt with delight throughout. This was a terrific read aloud, and though the girls do not know about any of the books Ms. Hanff writes about (with the exception of Jane Austen), Ms. Hanff's LOVE and awe and reverence for the books came through loud and clear, and while they may not read the same things, they share the same strong feelings. They simply loved the 20-year exchange between Helene Hanff, the brash, no-holds-barred, poor in means but rich in spirit and generosity New York author, and dear Frank, the gentle, very proper, kind antiquarian bookseller in London, and were very, very moved. If you have not read this small gem already, wait no longer!!

Anne, wonderful review of 84, Charing Cross Road. Another for the list ...

Yes, 84 Charing Cross Road is a must for anyone who loves the arrival of a used leather bound copy of a classic...you have some fantastic book lovers to read aloud to. What a blessing. Loved your own enthusiasm sharing your experience, Anne.

84 Charing Cross Road has been on my wish list. I'm glad to see such glowing praise for it. I won't remove it!

Your reading of 84, Charing Cross Road sounds like great fun, Anne! It is so good that your girls are both readers and you can share your favourite books with them.

It has warmed up a bit here - and some blue sky today!

What a great way to share this book, Anne. I'm so glad you can continue to find books to read together as the girls grow up.

I loved the book (I've read it at least twice). What an awesome idea, to read it aloud to your girls.

Karen O.

I too loved reading 84, Charring Cross Road - it is happy making.

>138 lit_chick:, Oh Nancy, I think you'll love it! It's a very quick but very memorable read.

>139 ctpress: Thank you Carsten! I am blessed for sure.

>140 thornton37814: Oh Lori, I think you'll love it too -- don't remove it!!

>141 susanj67: I'm so lucky, Susan -- my girls are great readers. Have you read 84, Charing Cross Road?

>142 phebj: Me too, Pat. Thank you for stopping by!

>143 klobrien2: I had a brainwave, Karen, and the girls were game. So glad I did. I read the book every other year or so -- it's such a quick read and just makes my day:)

>144 tandah: Hi Tracey! Yes, it is definitely happy making. Thanks for stopping by!

Anne - The Hanff is well described as a small gem!
>120 ctpress: Carsten hahaha, I'm not quite the only one with the habit of excess procurement in this brood of bibliophiles.

I was just thinking yesterday that I need to re-read 84, Charing Cross Road and now you have mentioned it, I am going to pull it off my shelf! What a great experience to be able to read it with your girls, Anne!

I love 84, Charing Cross Road so very happy to see you read it aloud with your girls! Beautiful way to share the story.

Stopping by to say hi - yes 84 , Charring Cross Road was a wonderful read!

Hi Anne - Great review of 84 Charing Cross Road. I've never read it, but it sounds like I should pick it up, soon. What a great experience reading it aloud to your girls. I can't wait to have grandchildren to read to. My kids and I loved our read aloud time.

Oh, I bet that was such a fun read aloud! 84 Charing Cross Road is one of my all-time favorites.

>146 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! You've read 84, Charing Cross Road, right? And yes, you're in very good company here. As I like to tell myself, the more piles of books around, the less vacuuming I have to do:)

>147 alcottacre: Hi Stasia -- I hope you love your reread!! It was calling my name, and I wasn't sure the girls would be interested in some old letters. Luckily for all of us it was a very rewarding read!

>148 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori -- it was a great experience. Callia asked me if she could loan the book to her English teacher:)

>149 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! If ever there was a perfect book for our LT community, it would be 84, Charing Cross Road.

>150 BLBera: Oh Beth, you DO need to pick it up soon! I know I've told this story many times, so feel free to let your mind wander: my mother read aloud to my brother and me until I went to college, and those are some of my favorite memories and of course, favorite, favorite books. I love creating those memories with the girls!

>151 bell7: Mary, it was so fun:) It works very well as a read aloud.

Set up the first of two back-to-back book fairs today (*whimper*). So tired. The good news is that after being in school for what seems like decades, I applied for graduation today!! I am taking my last class, and will complete my master's degree this semester:)

Wow - Hope you are able to rest up so you can face tomorrow's book fair. I remember crying when I saw the movie 84 Charing Cross Road. I'm sure the book is better. What a wonderful book to share.

Oh, Anne, one more class and you have your master's degree - that is great, celebratory news! Well done!

That's exciting news, Anne!
(I just realized how long I've been lurking on this thread, with nary a peep. Sorry about that!)

Wow, congratulations, Anne. Whatever will you do with all that free time when you have finished? :-)

>154 cammykitty: Hi Katie! Trying my best to rest up:) The hardest are the long conference days and nights, but the book fair is always exciting. I was as moved by the movie 84, Charing Cross Road as I was by the book -- I think I'll try to find a library copy to watch together with the girls.

>155 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori! I am so relieved to have the end in sight!

>156 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura! I am always glad to have you here:)

>157 rosalita: Thank you, Julia! What on earth is free time? ;)

I love 84 Charing Cross Road, Anne! What an inspired idea to read it out loud to the girls, and how great to hear how much they enjoyed it.

Anne, I don't remember hearing that your mother read aloud to you and your brother as teenagers. That's a wonderful memory to have and to pass on to your daughters. Congratulations on being on the home stretch towards graduation. And good luck with the book fairs--I can't believe there are two back-to-back!

>159 jnwelch: Joe, it was wonderful to be able to share it with the girls. I love when a book like this one gets such a warm reaction both from the girls and from our LT community. I love learning about new books here, but it makes me happy to be reminded of a book I've loved. I hope you're having a good week!

>160 phebj: Hi Pat! It did create wonderful memories. She always read to us at the dinner table as we were finishing up, so that's where I like to read also, though we have other favorite spots, too. I have two back-to-back book fairs because I am the librarian in two schools. We've timed our book fairs to coincide with conferences -- one school's conferences are this week, and the other school's are next week.

#161 Anne, now it makes sense. I guess that's one of the downsides to having the two jobs.

84, Charing Cross Road is one of my absolute favorite books and every couple of years, I pull it off the shelf and give it a read, and then I watch the movie. If you can find a copy, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street chronicles Helene Hanff's eventual trip to London and the adventures she had there. It's completely worth reading too!

>162 phebj: That's not the only downside, Pat. It's not a great situation for anyone but the financial types. I've found that most librarians will do anything to help patrons, students, teachers, etc, but I have (and the librarians in my district) and come to terms with the fact that if no one feels any pain, no one will miss full-time TLs. So sometimes the library has to close. Sometimes I can't finish projects because I am at the other school. I feel a snark coming on, so I'll stop now :)

>163 tapestry100: I do, too, David -- it's just sitting there on the shelf, and I pull it down just to browse through, and before you know it, I've read the whole thing:) My copy has both 84, Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street in one book. I haven't ever read Q's Legacy, have you? Thank you for stopping by!

>164 AMQS:: My copy has both books in one too! And I have read Q's Legacy, but it's been ages since I've read that one. I enjoyed Apple of my Eye (her book about NYC) and Letter from New York but I haven't read Underfoot in Show Business yet.

>165 tapestry100: I hadn't heard of those titles before, David -- thanks for suggesting new titles for me!

8. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

There are simply times when no one but Jane will do. I find that my favorite Austen is the one I am currently reading/listening to, and I thoroughly enjoyed this reread (re-hear?) from start to reluctant finish.

I am so excited to hear that the girls enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road! I just bought Q's Legacy and I'm looking forward to reading it.

>167 AMQS:: I'll be re-reading S&S next myself. 500 pages to go in my current book ... but am very much looking forward to it.

You are so right, Anne. I had a book-flunk last autumn - the only thing I could do was returning to an Austen - it ended up being Northanger Abbey - also a re-hear :) - Just yesterday I thought of which Austen I should read this year, and I came to the conclusion you had before me - it all makes Sense!

>167 AMQS: Jane is always good to revisit whichever book you choose. :)

>167 AMQS: oh, an oldie but a goodie. Its nice to have favourites to go back to again and again.

Oh delighted to hear that you are applying for graduation!! Congratulations, Anne!

>168 nittnut: Me too, Jenn! I have Q's Legacy on my wish list. I'll look forward to your comments on it.

>169 lauralkeet: Laura, how wonderful to have S & S waiting for you! Which book are you reading now?

>170 ctpress: Hooray, Carsten! Jane Austen fixes everything, doesn't she? I wasn't exactly in book funk, but I have had Jane cravings lately, and there's no cure for them -- they only want satisfying!

>171 MickyFine: Hi Micky -- indeed she is! I plan to spread them out. They make me actually look forward to my commute!

>172 LovingLit: Hi Megan, isn't it? I'm thinking of actually buying the audios rather than borrowing them from the library. I had imagined reading some Jane Austen aloud to the girls, but I can't see myself topping an amazing narrator.

>173 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah! I'm at the point of the semester where I'm panicked about the course workload, but I do this every time. Knowing there's a real END in sight is a great motivator!

>174 AMQS:: Anne, I'm currently reading the third Matthew Shardlake mystery, Sovereign. Have you read these? They are set during the time of King Henry VIII and are very enjoyable. This one is much longer than the first two, but it's a "ripping yarn," as they say, so I have no problem with the length.

Laura, I have not even heard of these, but they sound wonderful, and I appreciate the recommendation! The wish list is long, but I love never running out of future reads -- thank you!

9. Step to the Music by Phyllis A. Whitney

Oh, how I love LibraryThing, and this group in particular. Of course, reading about what friends are reading leads me to books I had not heard of before, and inspires me to pick up books I had not thought to try. We all know how our wish lists expand greatly, and I love how books lead to other books. I also love how this community leads me back to books I have read but perhaps had not thought of in awhile -- this often happens to me as LT friends comment on children's books I read and enjoyed long ago. I find that thoughts or reviews of old favorites draw just as many comments as thoughts or reviews of brand new books. And then there's this book, which came back into my life in a roundabout way, and for which I am profoundly grateful to Susan (susanj67), who more than likely has never heard of this book, but who recently read and reviewed a book that had been her very, very favorite as a young teen. While Susan's reread was a disappointment, her review instantly made me think of Step to the Music by Phyllis A. Whitney, which was absolutely my favorite book, and one that I repeatedly checked out from the library and re-read during my junior high years, or ages 12-15 or so. I have looked for this book now and again, but it has long been out of print. Inspired by Susan, I looked again, and found a single copy available through my library's ILL system. I was delighted to discover that I loved it at 42 nearly as much as I did at 12.

Published in 1953, Step to the Music brings the awful divisions of the US Civil War up close and personal. Seventeen year-old Abbie Garrett is overjoyed that the McIntyre family has moved back to her Staten Island neighborhood after six years in Atlanta. Prior to their move to the South, Abbie and Douglas and Stuart McIntyre had been inseparable playmates, and Abbie had nurtured a young girl’s hero-worship of Douglas, the older of the two boys. Shortly after the McIntyres return, Abbie’s mother returns from an extended stay with her family in Charleston with Abbie’s cousin Lorena in tow. Lorena has come to stay with her northern relatives because of the growing unrest in the South, but the strong-willed young Southern Belle resents it severely, and makes plain her contempt for everything Yankee.

As the political tensions strain to the breaking point, many discussions are held in genteel parlors about issues that seem just as relevant today: states’ rights versus the union, self or state interests versus the greater common good, and the right or responsibility or duty of an individual to fight for what is right. And beyond that: what is right? Why is it important to save the union? How far is too far? What is worth fighting for? These issues are never black-and-white, and are made even more difficult when the ‘other side’ is not a distinct ‘them,’ but rather some of ‘us.’ Mr. Garrett’s decision to enlist on the side of the union wounds his wife deeply, yet because of bonds of love and loyalty, she is not an enemy of the North either. And while the war swirls around them, Abbie feelings for Douglas deepen, but his eyes are for Lorena, which further complicate his feelings about the war. When he finally does enlist, it is for the South, which rents his family terribly. While he is off fighting, times change, young people grow and mature, the fighting comes much closer to home, and the issues are more and more complicated.

I can see why my 13 year-old self loved this book so much, and I can honestly say that for me anyway, it stands up beautifully to a re-read. This is fine YA historical fiction, probably before YA was really a genre. The romance of the story, which I loved as a middle schooler, is written with a light and poignant touch, and resolves very sweetly, but the book is much more than a romance, taking a hard and personal look at issues that are still relevant. Now I will search for a copy I can own, starting by writing to the library that owns this book to see if they might consider selling this very old copy to me if it is ever a candidate for weeding. THANK YOU to Susan for inspiring this trip down memory lane!

What a wonderful review of Step to the Music, Anne. It sounds like a really good book and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed you can find a copy for your own library.

>176 AMQS:: happy to add to your TBR pile, Anne! I also loved your trip down memory lane. How wonderful to rediscover an old favorite.

Morning Anne- Are you enjoying Imaginary Friend? I hope so. I remember it really growing on me as it went along. Once again, a good "reader" is so important. Hope the weekend is going well.

Anne, I'm so thrilled that you found Step to the Music and enjoyed it just as much as you did originally! I loved your post, and I hope you find a copy to buy.

Hi Anne! Going back to the photos of your greyhound - How beautiful! I sort of lose my mind every time I see someone walking a greyhound (because they're so adorable). I do try not to bother the humans, because I imagine greyhound owners get stopped all of the time and they're probably quite sick of it. Is that true?

I keep hearing good things about 84, Charing Cross Road and will put it on my wishlist.

Anne, you remind me of how much I loved and devoured as many Phyllis Whitneys, Mary Stewarts, and Dorothy Edens as I could get my hands on as a young teenager. The one I read and reread and reread though, was Elswyth Thane's Tryst. I think that she might have written earlier than the other three, and I may just have to drag it down and try it again.
I've enjoyed your other books again as I've read your reviews. It's certainly time for a Jane Austen for me too.

Thumbs up for your excellent review of Step To The Music. That book is now on my tbr pile.

Hi Anne, delurking to scatter hugs and smooches in my wake as I swoop through

Thank you to all for visiting my thread! I love seeing all of you here. My university class is making me crazy because the schedule is so intense. The course sessions are open from Thursday through Monday, which really means that I have to work every minute of the weekend. Last class, though, that 's what I keep telling myself, and it is s good one. I feel bad that I can only rarely visit anyone's thread -- I am not ignoring you, I just can't quite manage right now!

>178 phebj: Hi Pat! I hope I can find a copy, too. This one belongs to the University of Colo Boulder, and I'm definitely going to write to ask them to sell it to me if they ever weed the book.

>179 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! I asked my daughter Callia (she turns 14 this week) to read it, and she devoured it in one sitting and asked to reread it. That just made my day :) It was definitely a good trip down memory lane.

>180 msf59: Good morning Mark! (A week later, but it is morning now...) I am really enjoying Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. I am now on disc 7, I think, so I should finish it mid-week sometime. It is unlike anything I've read, and I find it very touching. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

>181 susanj67: Thank you, Susan, and THANK YOU for inspiring me to hunt down a copy. As I told Laura, Callia read it also, and then reread it. For that alone it was worth it:)

>182 DorsVenabili: Hi Kerri! LOL, it's true, we do get stopped a lot. People who know greyhounds always want a closer look, and people who don't want to know if it's a kangaroo, reindeer, etc. Speaking for my husband and myself, we never get sick of it. As a mom I never get tired of hearing people compliment my kids, so comments about my dog are like an extension of that. "Why yes, my dog IS amazing!" *beams proudly* At the moment, though, our poor Whistler is hobbling. His days on the racetrack are taking their toll. He has a toe that is so severely dislocated that it probably cannot be repaired surgically. He's all wrapped up in a splint hoping that it will stiffen and scar tissue will form enough to keep it in place. We're told that the next step would be amputating the toe. So he's not getting out much these days.

You definitely should put 84, Charing Cross Road on your list!!

>183 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I'm glad I sent you back down memory lane:) I'll have to look for Tryst. I'll be curious to see what you think of a reread.

The next Austen for me is Emma as soon as my library hold is ready. When it's all said and done, I think that one is my favorite.

>184 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! I hope you are able to find a copy and that you enjoy it! I was so happy I still liked it as much 30 years later, and even more thrilled when my daughter enjoyed it as well.

>185 richardderus: Thank you, Richard! I will take all the hugs and smooches I can get, and of course, return them happily:)

Hi Anne. It's good to see you posting and hear what you've been up to. I'm sorry Whistler is hobbling around and hope the splint works. That's great that Callia loved the book so much. And happy birthday to her this week! Good luck with this last course. At least it's a good one. :) And don't worry about visiting other threads. LTers are very understanding and happy to wait until you have more time.

10. The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

Karen O. (klobrien2) recently posted a review of this book that was so powerful that I stopped everything I was doing and requested the book from the library immediately. I'm passing it along to Callia, who heads to New Zealand in a month, and we'll watch the movie too, if I can ever find a movie-sized hole in our schedule.

This is a beautifully told, fable-like story that has moments of breathtaking loveliness and terrible pain. Little Kahu disappoints her great grandfather severely when she is born: as the first child of the oldest grandchild, she is supposed to be a boy to continue the sacred and traditional leadership of her Maori tribe. From the time that she is a baby, she exhibits preternatural wisdom, maturity, and kinship with whales, said to be primordially connected to the Maori. Kahu devotes her life to her grandfather, who pushes her gruffly to the side until her fateful 8th year, when her gifts emerge to save an ancient whale AND her people. The story weaves Maori history and mythology with more modern issues of racism, discrimination, and conflict between the old ways and the modern world. Thank you, Karen!

Anne, great review of The Whale Rider. I haven't read the book but the movie was fantastic. I hope you get a chance to see it.

Anne, I am so glad that you liked Whale Rider as much as you did. It is really something special, isn't it?! You just made my day with your reaction to the book.

The movie is great, too. The young actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes) who plays Kahu is wonderful.

Karen O.

Have not read the book, but I also love the movie. It's a wonderful family movie...I can imagine the book being even greater...as they usually are :)

I'm so sorry to hear that Whistler is having some toe problems. I've never thought about greyhounds having health issues related to their racing but it makes sense. I hope the splint works its wonders. Poor thing.

I'm another fan of the movie Whale Rider. I should look for the book.

Happy Birthday to Callia!!

Aw, poor Whistler! I hope the splint works and he's able to avoid having his toe amputated.

Great review of Whale Rider!!!

I loved the movie, my husband started tearing up in the opening few minutes, which was pretty much how he was for the entire movie - it was beautiful! I wasn't aware there was a book and I'll certainly look out for it.

Poor Whistler - I hope the splint helps. I still giggle about the kangaroo/reindeer questions but I really shouldn't - I remember asking one of the girls at work once what a dog would be called if it looked like a small greyhound, and she looked at me like I was kidding and said "That would be a whippet". In my defence, I have never had a dog :-)

Hi there!
I noticed a few Muriel Spark titles in your list. This may be a recommendation you've heard before, but if you enjoy Spark's work, Iris Murdoch is also a fantastic writer who plumbs some similar themes, and is an equally masterful stylist.
Read on!

Anne, I have seen "Whale Rider" and can add my kudos to the others. I had no idea it was also a book. Isn't it marvelous what we learn on LT?

I'm so sorry you are having to spend your week ends working on your class. Our trip to Denver has been put off until later in March. I'm hoping you will be on spring break then. I'm working with both my husband's and son's schedules and hope to have something settled soon. Maybe summer would be a better time for a meet-up. I'd love an excuse to escape the humidity here for a few days.

Great review of The Whale Rider - another book on my TBR list!

Ok I'm convnced by The Whale Rider and since I have nowhere near enough books I will hunt it down.

Interested to see time is nigh for Callia's trip to New Zealand. I hope she is able to meet some of the guys over there whilst she is there. Megan, Kerry, Leonie, Cushla, Lisa, Alex, Helen etc etc.

Have alovely weekend.

>188 AMQS: oh my goodness. I was just recommending this book to Nancy (lit_chick). I have it to read soon too, and absolutely loved the film. The film is in my top 5 all time faves. I hope you find time to see it too :)

Courage for the class and Happiness for being here when you can be!

>187 phebj: & 189 Thank you, Pat! I have reserved a copy of The Whale Rider (the movie) from the library. Looking forward to it. Somehow I missed your other post before. I appreciate your good wishes. I do love this community. I still feel bad about not visiting other threads just now, but I'm mostly sad because I just miss LT, this group, and my dear, supportive friends! Hope you have a great weekend!

>190 klobrien2: Thank you again, Karen, for your recommendation! I'm looking forward to the movie. We went to a parent meeting about Callia's New Zealand tour (in EXACTLY 28 days, as Callia updates me daily... not that she's counting or anything). I think the performances and cultural exchanges the kids will do will be more meaningful to Callia after reading and watching The Whale Rider.

>191 ctpress: Hi Carsten! We're really looking forward to the movie:)

>192 Copperskye: Joanne, I think you'd like the book. I'm looking forward to the movie. Whistler is no longer in a splint, but his foot is heavily and carefully bandaged. I don't think we'll know for sure about the fate of the toe for some weeks. Thanks for Callia's birthday wishes -- her birthday is today, and she had the day off of school. She spent a lazy, happy day, and will have a very low-key party with some of her friends tomorrow afternoon.

>193 rosalita: Thank you, Julia! He visits the vet every week now, and has his toe really well wrapped up, so we're hoping for the best.

>194 cammykitty: Thank you, katie, and thank you for visiting! I LOVE the photo of your dogs on your profile page!

>195 tandah: Thank you, Tracey. Now I know what to look forward to when we see the movie. I imagine it is incredibly moving and powerful. I appreciate your visit!

>196 susanj67: Hi Susan! I never knew what a whippet was until we had a greyhound, either, so I think you asked a perfectly good question! Whistler isn't getting out much these days, so he's like a coiled spring. It's hard to keep a dog quiet when he just wants to frolic, and we have oh-so-tantalizing fresh snow, too!

>197 Neurofancy: Hello Jade, and thanks for your visit. I appreciate the recommendation, and will look for some Iris Murdoch books. I'm listening to yet another Muriel Spark book now-- she is so fun.

>198 Donna828: Hi Donna! Yes, LT is marvelous, and I guess I hadn't known The Whale Rider was a book either until I read Karen's review. The weekend work continues, but the carrot of graduation in sight is urging me on. I hope you're able to visit in March! Our spring break is the last week in March, but Callia will be in New Zealand with the Chorale. It will be a great consolation to me to visit with you and Joanne and Jenn since I won't be in NZ:)

>199 weejane: Thank you, Brit! Happy reading and happy weekend!

>200 PaulCranswick: Yes, Paul, you can never have enough books! The Whale Rider is well worth a read. Callia's NZ tour is in 28 days (I get the daily countdown) and she is so, so excited. I do hope some of our LT friends can see a performance. I love the idea of having made these connections over many miles and oceans. How wonderful! I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.

>201 LovingLit: Hi Megan! I reserved the film from the library. Wow -- your top five?? I will definitely make the time to see it, and want Callia to see it for sure before her tour (IN JUST 28 DAYS, as she reminds me often:)

>202 LizzieD: Peggy, thank you! I appreciate your words of encouragement and welcome! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hey, Anne, hang in there. Your family and your job come first--we'll be here when you get some time freed up!

Thank you, Roni! What a wonderful community we have here, and thank you for being such a wonderful part of it!

11. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks

Thank you to Mark for recommending this very unique, very moving book. This is a terrific audio, a format that makes up most of my reading these days. The book is told in a present tense narrative by Budo, the imaginary friend of 9 year-old Max, a third grader who has Budo and other coping mechanisms to get him through his days. Though the book never says so, Max must have a form of autism, and daily interactions, misunderstandings, parental anxieties, cruel classmates, and especially change are struggles for Max. Budo gets him; understands him like no one else. Budo is a completely unique character in literature -- a five year-old friend who is very wise indeed. One plot point I especially loved: the fact that imaginary friends can see and talk to other imaginary friends. I love this idea, and also the palpable love and devotion the imaginary friends have for their human friends. A counterpoint to the devotion of imaginary friends is that they fade away and perhaps die when their human friend outgrows them. This worries Budo a lot, but when Max is in serious trouble, Budo, with the help and encouragement of other imaginary friends, do the right thing -- the hard thing -- and join forces to help Max. A great read.

Hi Anne - Good luck with school and great reviews. I especially loved your comments on the Whitney book.

@203 Thanks! Sage is mine & the other is a friend's. They're crazy together.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend sounds great. WL!

Hmmm - I'm definitely going to have to seek out Whale Rider. Great review of Memoirs of An Imaginary Friend - another book to look into for me.

Hi Anne!

I'm so sorry to hear about poor Whistler's toe, and I hope it's improving.

I also didn't know that Whale Rider is a book - nice review! I remember being impressed by the movie.

Hi Anne,
It looks like I will be able to be part of the audience for Callia's Christchurch show! Now, how shall I make myself known.......I know, I HUGE LT sign? Just joking, Id try not to embarrass Callia too much. But I would like to say hi to her afterwards.

I really like your review of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend sounds like a beautiful book.

>208 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! I'm just focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel :)

>209 cammykitty: Thanks, Katie! Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is well worth a read, I think. Have a great weekend!

>210 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. It's always nice to have books to look forward to!

>211 DorsVenabili: Hi Kerri! The vet thinks Whistler's toe is getting better. He now is just wrapped really well -- no splint anymore, and going to the vet weekly to see how he's progressing. We're just going week by week. The hard part is keeping him quiet. Greyhounds are quiet and can be very lazy, and Whistler certainly is, hut he does love his walks and does have his play periods, and especially loves to run full-out. We've had to keep him from doing those things, so he's like a coiled spring. Our fear is that when he gets the green light, he might re-injure, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Callia and I both enjoyed The Whale Rider -- the book, and the girls liked the movie, but I wasn't able to see it. I'll keep it on my list.

>212 LovingLit: Megan, I'm so excited!! Callia would just love to see you there. Usually our tour shows have the kids going out into the house or lobby to greet audience members, so I think you should have a chance to connect. She got her packing list, just to add to the excitement, though the excitement was tempered somewhat by reading that they are to pack pretty much exclusively Chorale clothes. I think they will only wear their own clothes for the flights there and back. Ah, the life of a performer:) I'll let you know if I get any more information, and THANK YOU!!

>213 tandah: Thank you, Tracey! It certainly is a unique book, and I thought it was very moving. It's a book I might never have discovered but for LT!

Good news about Whistler! Here's to hoping he continues to get better.

Anne, those were some lovely thoughts about Memoirs Of An Imaginary Friend. I'd add it to the WL but it's already there! Our oldest son had an imaginary friend named Cindy. She went everywhere with him and we heard lots about her. Too bad she disappeared when his sister was born!

Ah, the life of a performer:)
Who knows, Callia might transfer her singing talent to pop music and then she'll know all about jet-setting! As long it comes with some pa back (monetary) Im sure she could handle it.

Glad to hear Whistler is doing well.

>215 rosalita: Thank you, Julia! We got some heavy snow yesterday -- Whistler was very sad not to be allowed to romp in it.

>216 Donna828: Hi Donna -- hope you enjoy Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend when you get to it. My brother also had an imaginary friend when he was little. His name was Hardy, and he came with us everywhere. Unlike the imaginary friends in the book, Hardy had a family of his own -- a sister named Petunia and a father who had died in the war. It makes me smile to think of him watching out for my brother all that time :)

>217 LovingLit: Yes, Megan, who knows? Though a Chorale uniforms are a small price to pay for an opportunity like this one:)

>218 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, he's hanging in there. Sad to have to only watch the snow and not play in it, but good he's not in pain right now.

I'm behind on reviews -- and everything else! Here's what I've been reading lately:



12. Loitering With Intent by Muriel Spark

Muriel Spark's books could just be the perfect audios -- not too long, utterly original and quirky, and laugh-out-loud funny. This was one of my favorites. Fleur Talbot is thrilled to be a young lady in the mid-20th century. An aspiring writer, she is working on her first novel about a thoroughly dislikable character named Warrender Chase, when she manages to land a job as secretary for Sir Quentin Oliver and his Autobiographical Society. The Society is a kind of bizarre club/cult, where purportedly distinguished individuals write their candid memoirs (later heavily edited and "improved" by Fleur and Sir Quentin) to be locked away for a period of 70 years before publication. As Fleur becomes more familiar with Sir Quentin and the Autobiographical Society, she realizes the events unfolding in real life bear an eerie resemblance to her novel Warrender Chase. Sir Quentin realizes this too, and contrives to steal it for his own nefarious plans.

I just love Muriel Spark. I love her voice, and I especially love her voice as it sounds through Nadia May, my favorite audiobook narrator (the same narrator is now happily conveying me to and from school with Emma). She creates the most interesting characters, from Fleur herself to Lady Edwina, the outrageous, incontinent, cackling old crone who is Sir Quentin's mother, and whom no one but Fleur can tolerate. Beryl and Dotty, Sir Quentin's housekeeper and Fleur's "frenemy,' respectively, are two more wickedly drawn characters. One of them wears English Rose eau de toilette and the other English Rose lipstick, collectively creating the perfect simpering, sniffy, and annoying English Rose archetype Fleur loves to hate. This book is totally unlike anything I've read, and I loved it.

13. An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

I've had this on my list since Joanne (I think...?) reviewed it some time ago. A sweet, if simple WWII story (YA/juvenile lit) about a family escaping the Dresden bombings with Marlene the elephant, a refugee from the ruined zoo in tow. Told in flashbacks, the story has a wonderful message of endurance, integrity, loyalty, and courage.

That last one sounds like fun, Anne.

Two interesting novels, Anne. Reminds me that I have to read Muriel Sparks soon. Haven't read any of her novels. As usual - a good tip on a YA-fiction - have started myself this year with some good YA-reads - specially Carry On, Mr. Bowditch a suggestion I got from you.

The Muriel Spark book sounds like fun, Anne. I'm trying to remember if I've read any of her books, and I don't think I have although she's on my list of authors I should try.

>220 AMQS: That does sound delightful. May have to add it to The List.

LOVE Loitering with Intent. It's a lot of fun to read too.
I'm vicariously happy about the meet-up between Callia and Megan. I still wish that you were going too.
Shoot. I wish I were going.

Hi Anne, stopping by for a quick visit to say "Hello" and leaving with a note to add Loitering with Intent to my future reading list!

>222 ronincats: Hi Roni! An Elephant in the Garden was a good book. I liked the author's description of his inspiration -- like many books, the story was inspired by many events that Mr. Morpurgo then adapted for this story. I thought it was touching.

>223 ctpress: Hi Carsten! I think you would enjoy Muriel Spark -- she is very fun. I don't think I'm the one who recommended Carry On, Mr. Bowditch because I haven't heard of it -- now that's a new one for me! Are you enjoying it?

>224 rosalita: Hi Julia, I highly recommend Muriel Spark! Her books are fairly short, so they're a good length to try out an author. I've listened to several on audio, and they're terrific in that format.

>225 MickyFine: LOL, Micky, we all have a List, don't we? Loitering With Intent would be a great addition to any List or even list :)

>226 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! So glad you loved Loitering With Intent, too -- what a great book! Yes, I dearly wish I were going to New Zealand with Callia, but I'm so thrilled for her to have this experience, and how wonderful that she will meet Megan, too!

>227 lkernagh: Hi Lori! Thank you for stopping by -- I hope you enjoy Loitering With Intent as much as Peggy and I did!

Hi Anne - I loved Spark and haven't read Loitering with Intent. I'll have to keep it in mind when I want a short read. I'm with you -- I love Spark's voice and her sense of humor.

On another note, I just read Life as We Knew It, which I think I learned about from you. Great YA novel. Have you read the others in the series?

Hi Beth! Glad to find another fan of Muriel Spark :) I have another book of hers on my pile, and yet another on the wish list.

I don't think you heard about Life as We Knew It from me -- I've not read it, but it looks good. I'm adding it to my wish list. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!

March at the library: in like a leprechaun...





Inside the pot of gold: beloved teacher books sealed in gold bags for kids to "discover" some old and new favorites.

Your second picture isn't showing, Anne! Check for typos.

Oh I love that big bunny in the basket! Such a bright and cheery library!

How's Whistler doing, Anne?

Great book displays Anne! I can't believe it's coming up on St. Patrick's Day. It's not such a big deal out here in Idaho but in New York the parade in NYC was a major event (and an excuse for a lot of people to get very drunk during the day).

>232 ronincats: Hi Roni -- I'm sorry you can't see the second photo. I can see it, so I'm not sure what to do... It's a lot like the third photo:)

>233 Copperskye: Thank you, Joanne. I can't take credit for it -- my para at that library is amazing. Whistler is doing fine. He went back to the vet today and she is cautiously optimistic. He's still wrapped up, but no splint, and the bandages/taping are much looser than before. He still has a few weeks ahead of him of very short walks and no frolicking :)

>234 phebj: Thanks, Pat! The time is really flying by. Did we really have 28 days in February? We're having a somewhat early St. Patrick's Day as Callia will be in New Zealand for the actual day, so she has requested the corned beef and cabbage before she leaves. I don't know about leprechauns, though, they probably keep their own timetable, and might make some mischief while she's gone ;)

Hi Anne - I guess I thought the recommendation came from you because you are the source of most of my YA reading :) Great displays. It looks like fun.

I thought I had Loitering with Intent on my wishlist already but as it turns out I didn't! Glad I checked and it is on there now :)

The library pictures looks great!

I can see it now, Anne!

>236 BLBera: Beth, I'm not reading as much YA -- or anything else, come to think of it -- these days. I am having fun in the library, aside from the usual growing pains/overwhelmed state of new teachers and the seat-of-my pants planning that I think is modern, responsive librarianship. Times two, of course, because I'm in two schools. The good news is that I get double the fun, too, as in Dr. Seuss Day. I celebrated at one school and will again at the other on Monday.

>237 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Do you have a new user name? I like it! I think you will love Loitering With Intent. I really enjoyed it.

>238 ronincats: Good, Roni! Thanks for letting me know. Hope you can see this one, too:

Dr. Seuss Day:

Hi Anne!

#220 - I love your review of the Murial Spark. She's one I'm hoping to get to this year - I believe she's in my coffee can challenge. If I pull her name, I'll probably read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, since that seems like a good place to start.

#231 - Beautiful displays!

Anne, I love your displays. I don't remember anything like that when I was at school (in the olden days) - I'm sure I would have remembered yours! The library looks lovely too - so light and roomy. Good to hear that Whistler is improving.

>240 DorsVenabili: Thanks Kerri! I only "discovered" Muriel Spark recently, and I started with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Wonderful! Hope she comes out of your coffee can:)

>241 susanj67: Thank you, Susan. I can't take any credit -- I have an amazing para at that library, plus a small army of volunteers. At my other library the para is more like me -- we'd love to do a display like that, but we both lack the imagination and more importantly, the time to make it happen. No volunteers at that library, either. Hope you're having a great weekend! We watched the movie 84, Charing Cross Road tonight, which is like a love letter to London in addition to the wonderful story. I thought of you!

14. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

I had this book tucked in my bag because I was using it for a lesson on footnotes and endnotes, and ended up reading it all in one sitting while I was getting the oil changed in my car. I loved it! This book takes place on Alcatraz in 1935, shortly after 12 year-old Moose Flanagan moves there with his family. Moose hated leaving his school, grandparents, and friends in Santa Monica, but times are hard, and Moose's dad secures a job as a prison guard and electrician on the infamous prison island, and his family desperately hopes his sister Natalie will be accepted to a special school in San Francisco. The families who live on Alcatraz are an interesting bunch, drawn by employment at the prison, and taking the ferry each day to attend school in San Francisco. Natalie, who suffers from autism, though this was not understood or labeled in 1935, does not get into the school. Her disability is paralyzing for the family, as she requires full-time care. The stigma of such a disability is daunting, and as it's easier to explain her away as Moose's younger sister, though she is in fact, three years older, and turns 10 every year. Moose experiences a full range of emotions about Natalie -- anger, resentment, fear, fierce loyalty, and intense love. In a way I suspect is common to siblings of individuals with disabilities such as this one, Moose "gets" her more than anyone else, and his devotion to her and resentment of her (and his parents who naturally devote more of their time and energy to her) was beautifully written and very touching. The Alcatraz aspect of the book was also compelling, with its perverse fascination with its most famous inmate Al Capone, its mini-society dominated by Piper, the beautiful but awful warden's daughter, and its daily real or imagined interactions. This book is terrific!

Hi Anne, you're a cool cat in that hat! Love the picture. I also think the idea of gold wrapped books is a wonderful idea. I have a big black pot so it would be easy for me to do this with my grands. It would enforce the idea I've been trying to get across that books are treasures!

>243 AMQS: I've heard good things about that one, Anne. Glad you liked it. I also believe there's a sequel out there, if that piques your interest. :)

Great review of Al Capone Does My Shirts Anne. I just gave it a thumb and put it on my library list.

I also loved the picture of you in the Dr. Suess hat.

>244 Donna828: Thank you, Donna! I get to wear the hat again today to celebrate Dr. Seuss Day at my other school. I love the idea of surprising your grandkids:) I've been thinking about some form of mystery book for awhile. At Callia's school the librarian highlighted some books that had not circulated in a while, covering them with paper (color-coded by genre). The program was called "don't judge a book by its cover" and kids who checked out and read a mystery book then answered some questions about it and made a recommendation about keeping it in the collection or not. The St. Patrick's Day treasure is wildly popular -- with the primary students. The problem is that they check out and read those book so fast, it's a challenge to keep those bags filled, and to keep a steady supply of new ones. 4th and 5th graders love the idea of finding treasure -- to a point. They love the idea about opening a treasure bag, but then they're pretty whiny about what's next: Do I have to? I don't want this book, etc. Some, of course, are excited about trying something new, and that's what it's all about :)

>245 MickyFine: Hi Micky! Yes, there is a sequel: Al Capone Shines My Shoes, and I've heard good things about that one as well. It's recommended for reluctant readers, and I would gladly return to Alcatraz to spend more time with those characters.

>246 phebj: Thank you, Pat! I think it's definitely worth the read. Glad you liked the photo -- I get to wear the hat again today at my other school:)

Stopping by to add my yes to reading The Purchase and the The Secret River. I thought both were wonderful! Love the pic of Dr. Seuss Day!

Thank you, Deborah! I have those books on my wish list, and I appreciate the endorsements!

Thread continued here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/151217

I wore one of those hats on Wednesday as I read in three classrooms at my previous place of employment, Otis Elementary School!

Great hat! and looks like you get to work with happy, inspiring people.