worducopia

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:41:00 +0000

As a one-time counselor and parent educator, I'm well-versed in the mantras of effective parenting: 1) have clear expectations and 2) be consistent.

Scott Gale has your back in the Clear Expectations arena. Your Family Constitution: A Modern Approach to Family Values and Household Structure outlines a plan for writing up a document for each family member to agree to, stating expectations and consequences. More importantly, it takes parents through a step-by-step process for determining what these expectations might be: what are our longterm goals for our children, and how can we help them develop the traits and habits we value most highly?

Gale, who doesn't have a background in counseling or family dynamics, also shares the parenting struggles which led him to devise a "constitution" for his own family. While his methods aren't groundbreaking, they are sound, and provide ideas parents can use to make "Have Clear Expectations" into something tangible. Gale advocates for as much child-involvement in the process as possible along the way.

I'll be interviewing author Scott Gale at the end of next week, so if you have questions for him about the book, I welcome them! I'm looking forward to learning more about how he incorporated rewards into the program (he alludes to using family activities as rewards, but I didn't find them written into the actual contract) and how the constitution has evolved since the book was written--since, as any parent can tell you, as soon as we get those kiddos figured out, they change.

Your Family Constitution was provided for review by Pump Up Your Book.

Green Books Campaign: Ecoholic

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website. The above logo was created by Susan Newman.

Be careful what you wish for.

In recent years I've yearned for one place that would inform me about which products were good, bad or indifferent for the environment and my body. Not just a list of toxic ingredients to scan for on every bottle of sunscreen or shampoo--a list of safe products to make or buy. I know that certain cleansers are extremely toxic, but if a product says Clorox and "green" on the same label, is it truly green? And what about water bottles? The disposable ones are out, for so many reasons, but what to use instead?

Adria Vasil's Ecoholic has all this and more, in 370 readable pages. So readable that I started out reading it cover to cover, until I realized this method would kill me.

It's so comprehensive that unless you're a die-hard environmentalist of the no-deodorant-or-packaged-toothpaste variety, you run the risk of realizing that you're doing more things wrong than right. Between your polyurethane-filled mattress, the formaldehyde in your sheets and pillow, and the toxins you've slathered onto your body in the interest of being clean, you should maybe avoid breathing at night, just in case. And yet, last I checked, breathing is still necessary for survival.

This is where baby steps come in. Because, there are solutions to most of these issues, but a person can't tackle them all at once. I can't run out and buy a new mattress right now, but when I do, I'll be glad to have Ecoholic at hand to help me through the process. And in the meantime, I can start looking through my medicine cabinet and under my kitchen sink, and at least switch to an aluminum-free deodorant, right? Ecoholic also provides the motivation for paying that little bit more for biodegradable detergents and so on.

I highly recommend buying Ecoholic as a first step towards better health for yourself and the earth. It's one purchase you won't feel guilty about! It was printed using eco-friendly ink using a low-emissions process, on 100% recycled paper; this saved 212 trees in its first printing as well as over 13 thousand pounds of solid waste, 127 thousand gallons of water, and thirty thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

Diversity Roll Call: Early Readers

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Yes, it's time once again (past time, actually) for another Diversity Roll Call. This week's assignment comes from Mary Ann of Great Kid Books.

I have an idea for a color challenge that I would LOVE help with: finding books for early readers (1st and 2nd grade) with children of color as the main characters.

I loved discovering Nikki & Deja last year, but I find it very hard to find either early readers or early chapter books with kids from different backgrounds. There are lots of picture books out there, but not many books that young kids can read for themselves.

So, you're assignment is one of the following:

1) Find a book for Mary Ann's library
2) Write the blurb for the book you'd like kids of that age to see on the shelves, or
3) Was this an issue for you when you were first reading books on your own? Tell us about it.
4) Got a diversity issue on your mind lately? We'd love to read your thoughts. Who knows, you may spark the next C.O.R.A. question!

The Diversity Roll Call is co-hosted by myself and Susan of Color Online, and everyone is invited to participate at any time. Answer on your blog and add a link (directly to that post) below, or answer in the comments. We'd love to hear from you.

Ripley's Believe it or Not: Seeing is Believing (Kid review)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:49:00 +0000

Got a pre-teen boy to shop for this holiday season? Even if he's not a reader, I'd bet this book would pull him in. (There's plenty to interest girls, as well, of course).

I get a lot of books in the mail, and for my family, the novelty has worn off. "Another book for Mom," my sons sigh when UPS pulls up.

But this book got their attention from the moment they saw the shiny cover. "Oh! Fozzie* has this book!" And they proceeded to hoard it over the course of many weeks. Not that they didn't share with me:

"Look, Mom, a kitten with two faces!"

"Ew, they removed 788 rats from one house!"

Yeah, thanks for that info, sweetie.

But it's not all weirdly gross stuff. There's a whole section on amazing art, for example. We loved looking at the photos of thousands of soldiers lined up into picture-shapes.

Another section provides facts worthy of any science almanac: "Mom, this sounds funny. A peregrine falcon when diving can go 270 miles per hour. The three-toed sloth? 0.1 miles per hour."

My favorite was the reports of weird ways missing things have turned up, sometimes years later. The next time I lose something, I think I'll take up fishing. You never know when a lost item just might turn up days later, inside a fish.

----------------------
*name changed to protect the privacy of non-blogging families

What's the problem with problem novels?

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0000

On Diversity Roll Call Susan asks about "problem novels"--books, particularly in Young Adult lit, which focus on one particular social issue.

When you think about it, every novel is a "problem novel" in some form--after all, conflict is the cog that moves a plot along, and the definition of conflict is some sort of problem, right? Robinson Crusoe's problem is survival after a shipwreck; Hamlet and David Copperfield both have enough family problems to keep Jerry Springer busy for a week.

But when the problem or the character confronting it is one-dimensional, it doesn't make for an compelling story. A character who's defining characteristic is bulimia or a drug habit isn't interesting. Add a plot that revolves around MC-has-problem/gets-help/the-end, and you've got a novel whose sole attraction is the sort of rubber-necking that Jerry Springer relies on.

But books can have a social issue at their core, and also have literary merit beyond addressing a particular topic. Nick Hornby's Slam, for example, deals with teen pregnancy, from a guy's perspective--adding Hornby's signature style to the YA shelf for the first time. I'm always impressed with Hornby's ability to offer lighthearted entertainment that also takes a deeper look at life.

Speaking of which, Hornby's A Long Way Down isn't a YA novel, but with its focus on suicide, it could be pegged as a Problem Novel. It also manages to be among his funniest and most heartwarming novels. Four people meet on a rooftop on New Year's Eve, each with the intent to commit suicide--a situation which proves to be exceedingly awkward for all of them, and which bonds them in unexpected and far-reaching ways.

Another pair of books that focus on social issues in a three-dimensional way are the memoirs Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, and Tweak by Nic Sheff. Tweak offers the point of view of a young man in recovery from addiction to meth, and Beautiful Boy is his father's perspective. To read the two of them, one after the other, is a powerful experience for adults or older teens.

One thing I've never found is a novel that deals with anorexia without being a one-dimensional problem-focused novel. Does anyone know of one? What do you think about "Problem Novels" in general?

This post was written as part of the C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll call, which is running until tomorrow on Color Online, and there's even a prize involved this week! The next assignment will be posted early next week right here on Worducopia.

Sunday Salon: Pickiest Reader Award

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:29:00 +0000

I seem to be running for the Pickiest Reader Ever prize these days. I've started and set aside five or six books in the past couple of weeks. None of them were bad books--in fact, some were books by authors I've loved in the past. But none of them grabbed me. It was starting to feel like a series of failed first dates.

So it's with great relief that I tell you that I'm on page 89 of my current read and not tired of it yet. I picked up Leif Enger's 2008 book, So Brave, Young, and Handsome because I loved his Peace Like a River. He has a way with the characters, and the adventure-nobody-in-their-right-mind-would-go-on, in which anything could happen next. Also, there's an endearing snapping turtle which I'm hoping won't get eaten.

Have you ever worried you'd gotten too picky about books?

I think I need to go for some good, solid nonfiction after this one. Maybe something about turtles.

Questions of the Day

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:32:00 +0000

As we all know, in the digital age blogs are becoming increasingly important sources of information. The majority of my traffic comes from people with questions about books I read a long time ago. I was told in school that there are no stupid questions, so I thought I'd do my part to encourage the education of the blogosphere, by providing some answers.

Q: What is the Eve Brown-Waite / malaria connection?
A: Believe it or not, Eve Browne-Waite titled her memoir First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria, because she fell in love, and then she got malaria! So that would be the connection.

Q: graphic novel literary fiction's halfwit cousin?
A: I beg your pardon? I should say not!

Q: husband wears my clothes
A: Are we talking the extra-large t-shirt you won in that raffle at work? Or the cute little nightie you save for special occasions? In the former case I recommend a book such as Esquire's Handbook of Style, or perhaps Knitting With Balls. In the latter case, I recommend marriage counseling.

Q: Was Phyllis Reynolds Naylor well liked by everyone?
A: No. Nobody is well-liked by everyone. My son sure liked Cricket Man, though.

Q: Which Chris Moore book should i read first?
A: I read Lamb first and loved it, but loved Fluke more. So definitely don't read Fluke first, because none of his others will measure up. Of course, this is only true if you have the exact same reading tastes as I do.

Q: does Will get a girlfriend in any Ranger's Apprentice?
A: Yes.

Q: Is Ranger's Apprentice realistic fiction?
A: No, it's fantasy. But the first couple of books are a lot more fantasy-like, and the rest of the series is more like historical fiction in an alternate universe.

Q: What is ten thangs about the book Skate by Michael Harmon?
A:
1. It is called Skate
2. It be about a boy named Ian
3. Who do like to skateboard
4. It's wrote by Michael Harmon
5. Who spells "thing" with an i
6. Ian done ran away
7. With his lil brother Sammy
8. Which he adores
9. Running away ain't his best ever idea
10. Read that there book 'n' find out why.

I said there are no stupid questions, but that doesn't mean there can't be stupid answers.

The Sunday Salon: Wordstock

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:15:00 +0000

I spent most of Saturday at the Wordstock Festival, which dubs itself an annual festival of books, writers, and storytelling. Quick rundown of ~~my day's~~ one of the highlights (there would be more, but then it wouldn't be Sunday anymore):

Michael Rosen, author of I-gotta-read-this memoir, What Else But Home, the story of how an upper-middle class Jewish family of four in Manhattan came to befriend--and eventually to take into their family--five boys of different races and ethnic backgrounds. Mr. Rosen gave a moving and hilarious reading of a scene where he and his wife decided to go out for Chinese food with the seven boys in tow, some of whom had never experienced a restaurant before. Later, he talked more in depth about the complicated process of honoring Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant beliefs equally within one family, and the responses of other people to their large, multi-colored family. I heard one excerpt and feel like I know these guys. Can not wait to read this.

Faloorie Man--Eugene McEldowney (book review)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:30:00 +0000

Eugene McEldowney's Faloorie Man has been out for ten years, but Gemma Media brought it to the U.S. in 2009. This charming semi-autobiographical novel is the coming-of-age story of a Catholic boy growing up in Belfast in the post-World War 2 era. Here's one of my favorite moments, when young Martin McBride decides, for the first time in his life, to go and have a look at the Protestant Taylor boys, who are rumored to live nearby. Martin's never seen a Protestant before, and he's in for a shock.

I didn't know what to expect, but I wouldn't have been surprised if they had horns on their heads. I remembered what Sarah had told me about the Titanic and the way the Orangemen had cursed the Pope and how God had let the sea drown them. It seemed to me that these Taylors would be bad pills altogether.

We finally tracked them to the waste ground at Butler Street. There were two of them and they were kicking a football around. They looked exactly the same as us. They had the same scuffed shoes and snotty noses and torn cardigans. There were no obvious signs that they were Protestants. I was disappointed. We took a good look at them and then got on our bikes and went home.

Such a simple scene, and yet, it says so much. This is McEldowney's strength. Scenes such as this leave a stronger impact than the more dramatic plot developments later in the novel.

The Soundtrack: Oh, how I wanted to find the song the book's title is taken from! I couldn't find it online. But the narrative is full of music, including the lyrics to Boolavogue. The narrator recalls his teacher, Brother Delargey, teaching the class rebel songs, "which he said the English had tried to suppress, but they lived on in the hearts of the people because the Irish were indomitable and would never be put down."

The stalking ends now. Or, rather, tomorrow.

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:50:00 +0000

I have a small crowd following me around. They've spent most of the time lurking on extra chairs in the dining room, and hanging out near my unread books in the den. Lately they've taken to riding around town in my car. They're perfectly friendly most of the time, but after months--months!--of tolerating the pitiful pleas of some ("Aren't you going to mention me to your friends? Ever???") and the demanding tones of others ("Hey, I got here first, you gotta talk about me first!" and "Whadya mean, you got nuttin' to say about me? You said you loved me!"), I've considered requesting a restraining order.

So as not to tax the judicial system, I've decided to go with the alternative: mini-reviews that probably don't do the books justice. I have one almost finished--in fact I was going to post it this afternoon--but the sunshine calls, my boys are itching to go to a skatepark, and my computer is in a bit of a snit today, so I'll let it take a rest and go read at the skatepark for a while.

This post may hold the world record for highest ratio of anthropomorphized inanimate objects to word count. Will let you know if Guinness calls. The world record people, that is. Not the stout.

Was it something I said?

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:02:00 +0000

I asked Weekly Geekers to look at diversity in the blogs they read, and . . .

Wait, what was that?

Was that a pin I heard?

I do believe it was a teeny, tiny pin, dropping on the floor of the blogosphere!

Yes, it was a quiet week over at the Weekly Geeks headquarters. And I've been mulling over the many possible reasons for that, none of which are exactly giving me the warm fuzzies I'd hoped for.

But, it's time for me to do my part and write about some diverse bloggers. I'm not doing anything fancy here. I picked two bloggers who are different from me: Rich Watson, and C. Jane.

Rich Watson's Glyphs focuses on the black comics community. Given that I'm a white woman who reads just the occasional graphic novel, you might think that I'd find myself without the foggiest notion of what Rich is talking about some of the time, and you'd be right. But at Rich's first response to the Diversity Roll Call, I felt at home with him. Rich and I could be considered opposites in many ways, but in the ways that matter, we have much in common.

Next up: C. Jane blogs about her life as a young wife and mother, and a devout Latter-Day Saint. After her sister was devastatingly injured in a plane accident, C. Jane, brand new mother of her first baby, took in three of her sister's four young kids. That's a boatload of extra kids for a new mommy to take in. Thinking back to my early days of motherhood, I believe that this was insanity personified and at the same time, that it's the exact same thing I would do for my own sister. C. Jane and I are at opposite ends of the religious spectrum, and yet, beneath that is a fundamental sameness that keeps me reading.

And this was the point of my original question. Because I truly believe we're all connected, and that those surface differences are insignificant compared to the humanity at our core. If we limit ourselves to only those people who share the surface similarities with ourselves--if we skim a blog and don't return because that person Isn't Like Us--we're missing an opportunity to see that. But, if we gloss over the ways in which we're different, claiming that they don't matter or that we don't notice, then we're also missing an opportunity. Because others are living different lives and seeing the world from a different viewpoint from our own, and noticing those differences leads to a greater understanding of our world.

'K, I'll get off my soapbox now.

C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call questions are answered over the course of two weeks instead of one. So, if you missed that opportunity last week, another week stretches ahead of us and there is still time.

Books to Drool Over, September edition

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Books to Drool Over is a semi-monthly feature in which I discuss cookbooks that have crossed my path over the past month or so. This month I'm excited about two cookbooks.

I found The Whole Foods Market Cookbook at the Multnomah County Library's used bookstore, The Title Wave. A bargain at $3, it left room in the $25 gift certificate I won from Reading Local: Portland for a library t-shirt, a book bag, and a Portland Thomas Guide. (Thanks, Gabe!)

This cookbook, subtitled A Guide to Natural Foods with 350 Recipes, was put out in 2002 by Whole Foods, a natural grocery store chain with aspirations of taking over the world. Seeing as Whole Foods has fabulous deli dishes, I thought the book was worth a try.

Will I Use It? Here's a good indication: I've already fixed Baked Felafel Balls, the first recipe in the book. These Middle Eastern yummies are usually deep fried, or I've bought the dry mix and pan fried them, but I've never made them from scratch before. This was super easy to whip up in the food processor, starting with a can of garbanzo beans and some soaked bulgur. The end result was tastier and a nicer texture than any of the versions I've had. Definitely a keeper.

There are so many recipes in here that I want to try, including Orange-Glazed Sweet Potato Oven Fries, Wheatberry Waldorf Salad, and Sonoma Chicken Salad. And the Maple Butterscotch Macadamia Blondies.

From the library this week, I brought home Rustic Fruit Desserts, by Portland chef Cory Schreiber and baker Julie Richardson. It's chock-full of fruit crisps and bread puddings and cobblers and the like, organized by season, with beautiful tempting pictures. And if you've ever wondered about the difference between a grunt, a slump, and a pandowdy, this is your source.

Will I use it? The fall rains have arrived so I'm guessing I'll test out at least one of these before it has to go back to the library. Maybe the Apple Cranberry Oat Crumble or the Maple Apple Dumpling?

C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call: Blogs

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:31:00 +0000

This week rather than diversity in books, I'd like to focus on diversity in book bloggers.

For me, part of the joy of blogging—and of the Roll Call in particular—is learning from such a wide variety of people. It's been a great chance for me to open myself up to new ideas and perspectives. (Okay, it's backfired on me a couple of times, and I've stuck my foot in my mouth, but those are stories for another day.) At the same time, I notice that the vast majority of book bloggers seem to fall into the same demographic.

So this happens to be my week to write the question for both Weekly Geeks and the C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call. So, I thought to myself: "What a great opportunity! Just this once, I'll meld the two memes into one big Diversity-Geek-Roll-Call thingy, offering the chance for Geeks and C.O.R.A.s to play together." (If you normally do both, you can either consider yourself off the hook for one, or do one option for each, or whatever suits you best.)

Pick one of these:

1)Write a post highlighting one or more bloggers who are extremely different from you in some way. For example, think about blogger(s) who:
a. Identify with another race and/or ethnicity, religion, cultural background, age, etc. from you
b. Live the farthest from you
c. Have entirely different tastes in books from you (but you love their blog anyway)

If you can't think of any, go exploring and find some! Or . . .

2) Write a "Personals Ad" post to find bloggers who are outside your norm. Mine might read:

MWF (married white female) homeschool mom from a Pacific Northwest U.S. city seeks bloggers who enjoy literary (but not too literary) fiction, long walks on the beach, music, and will make me laugh.

Then other participants can recommend bloggers (including themselves, of course) who come from a different demographic and have similar interests.

3)Another option: If you consider yourself to be in the minority in some way in the blogosphere, write about that experience and/or highlight favorite bloggers who fit into that same subgroup. Interpretation of this is up to you—-be creative! If we look hard enough, we're probably all different-from-the-norm in one way or another.

When your post is done, add it to the Mr. Linky here, AND head over to Weekly Geeks and put your link there, too. (Weekly Geeks runs Saturday through Friday and has the same open door policy that the Diversity Roll Call does—new people show up every week and are welcome to join in once, or as often as they wish).

Be sure to visit the other posts to discover new bloggers, recommend some old favorites, and maybe broaden some horizons a bit in the process.

Hate List--Jennifer Brown (book review)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:02:00 +0000

Hate List is a young adult book about the aftermath of a school shooting, told from the point of view of Valerie, whose boyfriend, Nick, was the shooter. The story begins months after the shooting, when Valerie feels recovered enough physically (she was shot in the leg trying to stop Nick from killing a girl she despised) and emotionally to return to school to complete her senior year.

The chronology of the book is mixed up a bit, so readers see parts of the shooting and Valerie and Nick's relationship beforehand, though most of the story focuses on Valerie's recovery and her classmates' and family's reaction to the tragedy. The result beckons readers to understand how someone could naively participate in the events leading to tragedy, without realizing the outcome that seems so obvious after the fact. It's a powerful read that has much to say about the potential we have to impact other people's lives in both positive and negative ways.

The soundtrack: Here's a full playlist, courtesy of author Jennifer Brown. Brown says that Nickelback's If Everyone Cared was the inspiration for the book.

Want to win this book and other goodies? There's a contest for you on Jennifer Brown's blog. Add to her "Love List" (a list of things and people she loves) to help balance out the "Hate List" that Valerie and Nick shared for three years before the shooting, and you could win a bag full of goodies (including a copy of Hate List) or a $20 Barnes & Noble gift certificate.

Just for fun, and in no particular order, here's my love list:
1. the people who brought grapes, apples, and rhubard from their garden on Sunday
2. my homeschooling friends because they have great kids and are fun to hang out with
3. those three guys I live with (they should be first)
4. the big old gray tabby cat I saw yesterday at the animal shelter. I want him.
5. my neighbors when they have their friends over to play bluegrass music together on the porch
6. the dog my son read to me about, who saved kittens from a fire
7. Ben and Jerry, for making Coconut 7-layer bar ice cream
8. my library, for offering $5 gift certificates to Ben and Jerry's for summer reading.
9. Traveling to Teens, for organizing the blog tour for this book and for not yelling at me for posting this two days late.
10. All the people who've let me know they're still reading my blog by leaving comments. Thank you! Who's on your Love List? (Note that to enter the contest, you must post your list on Jennifer's blog)

Catching My Breath

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:06:00 +0000

On Weekly Geeks, Unfinished Person asked what keeps us blogging, and whether we get burnt out by events like Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Having returned from vacation Sunday night, with my blog reader overflowing and my family ready to settle into our fall routine, I was probably not in the best mindset to appreciate book blogging. To be bluntly honest, after spending nearly three weeks mostly away from blogging, as we launched into BBAW I found myself questioning whether the benefits of frequent blogging outweighed the cost.

The benefits:
Participating in a vibrant online community of bloggers
Participating in a real-life community of readers and writers
Keeping track of my reading
Feeling proud when something I write makes has an impact on others
Helping authors get the word out about their books
Being more "in the know" about new books and authors
Discovering wonderful books I wouldn't have known about
Being a better advocate for reading (quicker to recommend books to friends, etc.)
And let's not forget: fun

The costs:
Time with my family
Time and energy to write non-book-blog stuff (fiction and my other blog)
Time and energy for other creativity

Okay, I came up with far more benefits than costs, so I guess that answers the question of why I keep blogging. But, could I get those same benefits with fewer costs? What would happen if I didn't review every book I read? Or, wrote fewer full reviews and more mini-reviews? What if I dropped the Twitter time-suck? What if I stopped accepting review copies and participating in book tours altogether? Would my readership go down? Do I care if my readership goes down? Why?

Those are the questions I've been wrestling with this week while avoiding writing reviews and the posts I've promised other people, avoiding even catching up on blog-reading. But I don't feel burnt out, I just feel like I'm living my life and it's not focused on the blogiverse at the moment.

Do you go through phases with your blogging or other hobbies? Ever given up a hobby entirely because the benefits didn't outweigh the costs?

Reading Habits

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Conveniently timed to help me get back into the swing of things after my vacation, here's a little Q & A for Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Hard copy or audiobooks? Hard copy. The harder the better, baby. Only the rare audio book keeps my attention.
Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
I read until I'm interrupted or falling asleep.
What are you currently reading?
It's a really good book week!
Nonfiction: Nurtureshock. Loving it.
Fiction: I just finished Jennifer Brown's Hate List, haven't started my next book yet. Listening to Eoin Colfer's Benny and Omar on CD in the car, though, and loving it. I haven't laughed aloud so much at a book in a long time.
With my kids: James Dashner's The Maze Runner. Also loving it.
Short Stories: Louise Erdrich's Red Convertible. Sort of. I keep meaning to start it, and now it's due at the library in a few days and won't renew, so I'm really going to start it soon. I think.
Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
Take a guess!
Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Stand alone.
Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Let's just say, Ron Carlson should be paying me as a PR person.
How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
No.
There's the Read Really Soon pile. The Read Someday pile. The Wishful Thinking pile. And the bathroom.

It's Meet-a-blogger Day!

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:21:00 +0000

As part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I've had the pleasure of interviewing Katie, a twenty-five year old YA librarian from the Chicago area, who blogs at Read What You Know. Katie has only been blogging since June, so obviously this is her first BBAW--she hopes that participating in BBAW will help her cement her book blogging and make new blogging friends. Katie says, "When I'm not blogging, reading, or being a librarian, I can be found in any of the local Chicago theatres, watching Broadway musicals. I just love them." Read on to get to know more about Katie. And, if all goes well, there will be an interview with me on Katie's blog at some point today. Seeing as I spaced on sending her the answers to her questions until, er (:::Ali checks her watch:::) 14 minutes ago, we'll allow her some slack, shall we?

Edited: Katie got my interview posted in an astounding 23 minutes! You rock, Katie!

What's the highlight of your job as a YA librarian?

That's an easy one -- sharing books with teens. My day is made when I have a teen come into the library just to chat about a book they've been reading. Or if they come into the library to talk about school and then ask me what's new in the section.

Do you have an opinion about adults who blog about teen books, just because we like them?

I think that teen books need adults just as much as they need teens. Adults are the ones who control a lot of the book industry. Adults choose the books to be published, choose the books sent to libraries and bookstores, and choose to read these books of course! Anyone who loves books should be happy that people are reading books, no matter how old the reader or the intended book audience.

Have there been any books you've thought teens would love, that they surprised you by not generally liking them as much as you thought?

The "Blue Bloods" series didn't go over like I thought it would. When I heard about the books, I thought they were genius -- marrying the "Gossip Girl" and "Twilight" population in one series. But I think the book wound up being too melded. Not enough gossip and drama, not enough blood-sucking fiends and love triangles. But it has found it's own audience, it just wasn't who I expected to check it out.

How about books teens love that you just don't see the appeal of?

I see the appeal of horror and zombies, but I have a hard time getting into them personally. I've had "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" checked out for nearly two weeks at this point (our checkout time is three) and I keep putting it off. I'm scared of the possible gore!

Are there blogs or other sources you routinely turn to for reviews of YA books when deciding what to read/order?

Absolutely. I read a *bunch* of YA review blogs, both professional and non-professional. I try to read across a wide variety of ages too. So, yes, I read teen blogs and adult blogs. I love using the amazing resources that YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) puts out every year, including the BBYA (Best Books for Young Adults) committee's work and other booklists. I also read VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) -- a special review journal/magazine that only reviews young adult books. I also let my teens do a fair amount of selection. They know that they can always request a book and I'll do my best to get it in the collection.

I'm curious about the population of teens you serve--is it pretty diverse? What sorts of things do you do to meet the needs of teens of varied backgrounds?

I serve an incredibly diverse population. At the 2000 census, my community was 54% Hispanic/Latino. We are predicting that the number is actually closer to 75% for the 2010 census. The rest of the community is split about half and half between African-Americans and Caucasians.

I have the benefit of being raised in this community my whole life, so it's easy for me to relate to my teens because they know I went to their high school and they see me around the neighborhood, eating out at the local pizza place and shopping. (Like Target. Every time I go, I run into someone from the library!)

One of the things that I really try my hardest to do is to listen to what teens want. Some of my teens really take to reading Hispanic authors like Isabel Allende, Sandra Cisneros, and René Saldaña. Some of my teens don't want to read Hispanic authors. What I try to do is to present options to them. So, I stock a little bit of everything and make sure to let them know that whatever their reading choice is, it's fine by me.

Do you ever take the time to read books that aren't YA?

Yes! Occasionally, heh. I actually made a New Year's Resolution to try and read a bit more out of YA. It hasn't gone so well... Right now, I'm reading "Columbine" by Dave Cullen. I have "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell (43 holds), "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown (somewhere around 558 holds), and "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger (71 holds) all on hold at the library. Mostly popular reads.

How about a favorite book (or top 2-3) of the year?

Yikes. I think this is the hardest question yet. I loved "Jellicoe Road" by Melina Marchetta (this year's Printz Award winner) and refused to read another book for about a week after I finished it. "Hate List" by Jennifer Brown ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and mended it all under 420 pages. And of course, I read both "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire" and spoiler-free, cannot wait until the third book comes out. "Fire" by Kristin Cashore was also beautiful. I can't wait until it's out in the world. It's been a great year for YA.

It's been great getting to know you, Katie, and I hope BBAW turns out to be all you had hoped it would be!

House and Home--Kathleen McCleary (book review)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:52:00 +0000

House and Home is the story of a woman obsessed with her home and the meaning it holds for herself and her family. Ellen's husband has lost their life's savings in an inventor's investment gone wrong and her marriage is over. She can live with that, but not with the fact that she and her two young daughters will have to move across town to a perfectly nice home that doesn't hold the same appeal. Not only that, but one of the new owners irritates her, and for this reason she decides to burn the house down.

In order to enjoy this book, you have to get over the fact that the main character is throwing a mid-life tantrum because she doesn't get to live in her perfect house.

Underneath that, though, is an apt commentary on the emphasis that American culture puts on the perfect home creating the backdrop for the way we want to see ourselves and to be seen. We know that the joy of life is made up of far more important things than hardwood floors and big windows, and yet how much do we covet lazy Sunday mornings with Fiestaware cups of coffee and patches of sun on a beautiful hardwood floor? Ellen's story puts it all into perspective in a big way.

The Soundtrack: An old favorite of mine, Our House by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, which probably better reflects my own attitude towards home than Ellen's.

Our house is a very very very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy 'cause of you.

This review is part of a promotional book tour, which I am participating in as a volunteer. The opinions are my own, and have not been endorsed or approved by TLC Book Tours, the author, or the publisher. Other stops on the tour can be found at the TLC Book Tours site.

Books to look forward to (Guest post: Kailana of The Written World)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:10:00 +0000

While I'm away, Kailana of The Written World offered this guest post. Her thoughts about fall releases are perfectly timed for me, because I'm just starting to feel a hint of autumn here in Oregon as I prepare for my family's annual fall trip to the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound off of Washington state. I'll be back in time for Book Blogger Appreciation Week on the week of September 14th.

For me, fall is the best time of the year. It's almost always when the books I have been looking forward to all year are going to be released. I also enjoy hearing what other people are waiting for, so I thought I would do my post on that very topic. There are several books I am looking forward to, but here is just a list of a few of them:

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Nieffenegger - Released October 6, 2009
By the author of The Time-Traveler's Wife, this is probably the book I am most looking forward to this fall. It's been 5 years, so it is exciting that she finally has a new book out. Plus, it is already getting good reviews!

From Amazon.ca:

Another brilliant, original and moving novel from the author of The Time Traveler’s Wife.

Julia and Valentina Poole are normal American teenagers — normal, at least, for identical “mirror” twins who have no interest in college or jobs or possibly anything outside their cozy suburban home. But everything changes when they receive notice that an aunt whom they didn’t know existed has died and left them her amazing flat in a building by Highgate Cemetery in London. They feel that at last their own lives can begin … but they have no idea that they’ve been summoned into a tangle of fraying lives, from the OCD-suffering crossword setter who lives above them to their aunt’s mysterious and elusive lover who lives below them, and even to their aunt herself, who never got over her estrangement from the mother of the girls — her own twin — and who can’t even seem to quite leave her flat….

The Maze Runner by James Dashner - Released October 6, 2009
I saw this book being discussed on Twitter and knew I was going to have to give it a read when it comes out. I have only seen positive reviews, but I don't know if I will buy it myself or see if the library will get a copy.

From Amazon.ca:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham & Steve Leialoha - Released October 13, 2009
I am a huge fan of the Fables series by Bill Willingham, so when I heard they were making a novel version I put it on my wish list immediately. I am a little worried because this is new territory for them, but I am confident they can pull it off.

From Amazon.ca:

A new stand-alone FABLES NOVEL from award-winning and wildly acclaimed author, Bill Willingham.

This story stars Peter Piper and his incorrigible brother Max in a tale about jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Set in two distinct time periods, prepare to travel back to medieval times and learn the tragic back-story of the Piper family, a medieval-era family of traveling minstrels. Then, jump into the present to follow a tale of espionage as Peter Piper slowly hunts down his evil brother for a heinous crime, pitting Peter's talents as a master thief against Max's dark magical powers.

Based on the long-running and award-winning comic book series FABLES, PETER AND MAX is its own tale. Readers don't have to be familiar with the comics to fully enjoy and understand this book.

Fire by Kristin Cashore - Released October 6, 2009
I was going to leave this one off because it's part of a series. The list just looked barren without this one, though, so I am adding it on. Besides, you have a month to read the first book, so I recommend doing so if you haven't already! It is called Graceling.

From Barnes & Noble.com:

She is the last of her kind...
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.
Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray - Released September 22, 2009
I loved her first trilogy, so I was thrilled to see she had a new book out! She has a tough debut to follow, so fingers crossed this book is worth the wait!

From Amazon.ca:

Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

That's just some of the books I am looking forward to this season! What about you, what are some books that you are looking forward to? I can always use more books on my wish list, right?

When Setting is Character (Guest Post: Mattox Roesch)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:47:00 +0000

Mattox Roesch wrote this piece for me when I asked him to write about the cultural milieu of his book, Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same, which takes place in a tiny town in Alaska. Talk about a town being a character--I felt completely enveloped by Unalakleet and its unique citizens as I read the book. Roesch's essay about his adopted hometown filled me with nostalgia for a tiny place I've never been to, except through his fiction.

Our town is getting paved roads. “Finally,” some people say. Kids carrying skateboards to the only skateable square of concrete have told me, “Man, I can’t wait!” And when they make plans with me to skate some busted piece of something, I tell them, (in my best attempt at not sounding like a man-child), “Dude, I’m there.” But I’ve heard a handful of less enthusiastic reactions to the paved roads rumor. Some Why?’s. Some Big Deal’s. And a whole bunch of I’ll believe it when I see it’s. And I can understand the cynicism as well.

For hundreds of years, since before the first Russian-American trading post opened up in Unalakleet in the 1830’s, since before a tuberculosis outbreak wiped out many of the townsfolk, since before the village was on the south side of the river, people have existed here without pavement. It was one of the first things I noticed as a newcomer six years ago—gravel roads. And recently, while flipping through the pages of my Unalakleet-based novel, looking for passages to read at my upcoming event at Annie Bloom’s Books, I noticed, There’s a lot of gravel in this book. And there is. There is a lot in town, too. On dry days, every pickup or four-wheeler sends a cloud of gravel through every screen window and every bike-riding adolescent’s lungs.

This whole thing is interesting to me because I grew up accepting pavement as a given. But my wife, on the other hand, grew up here. She remembers when there was no TV in Unalakleet, and then just one channel, and now, satellite dishes bolted to almost every home. She remembers dialing only four-digit phone numbers, and she’s only thirty-two years old. Her gram remembers a time before vehicles. Her gram remembers hunting and fishing and collecting everything the family ate. “Progress” has happened a lot more quickly here than in the rest of the country. And people have experienced many gravel-road-type rumors, and many gravel-road-type “improvements.” It is a major part of the village’s collective experience—this thing we call “progress”—and now I’m here to experience a part of the excitement and the ambivalence of modernization.

My wife’s gram is very quick to praise innovations like the washing machine and refrigerator/freezer and stove. She’s told me of how much time and energy subsistence living took, especially without those amenities. But these days, she doesn’t have an opinion about paved roads, because her memory is failing. She often asks for her mother and confuses her daughters for her sisters. But, despite her Alzheimer’s, she still loves to laugh. Last weekend we were all picnicking together upriver, and as the food was settling and the stories started flying, one cousin shared an anecdote that sent my wife and all the aunties laughing hysterically. Gram didn’t hear the story, because her hearing is bad, but she busted out laughing with all the ladies anyway. Gram said, “I don’t even know why you’re laughing, but I laugh along with you.” We’ve all heard this a hundred times. We all laughed anyway and kept telling more stories.

Our town is getting paved roads. But despite the pavement, I think progress is still happening here all the time. It’s just like anywhere else.

Roesch will be doing a reading in Portland at Annie Bloom's bookstore on Thursday at 7:30. If you're in the area and haven't read Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same (released today!), I highly recommend heading over there and getting a taste of the prose. Wish I could go!

On Korea (Guest Post by Softdrink)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Jill of Fizzy Thoughts wrote this guest post, inspired by the Diversity Roll Call Around the World question. Thanks, Jill!

I am currently reading The Calligrapher’s Daughter. Written by the talented Eugenia Kim, it is set in Korea in the early 1900s, a politically turbulent time in Korea’s history.

Since I pretty much know squat about Korean history (other than the fact that M*A*S*H was set there during the Korean War), I decided to do a little research. Now granted, this research is mostly comprised of info from www.korea.net and Wikipedia, but hey…it’s a start.

Korea is located in Asia, just west of Japan:

It’s that small yellow country in the top right of the map. The one without a name. How rude.

Korea actually has a long history. And since I used to be a history teacher, I can’t resist the opportunity for a little history lesson.

Way back in 2333 BC Dangun united many of the warring tribes of the Korean peninsula to found Gojoseon. This date is generally regarded as the beginning of Korean history. Gojoseon fell in 313 and several smaller kingdoms emerged. In 918 Wang Geon united these kingdoms and founded the Goryeo Dynasty, from which the name Korea is derived. The Goryeo Dynasty marks the beginning of a tradition of a strong central government and political and cultural independence that survived until 1910.

In 1392 the Joseon Dynasty replaced the Goryeo Dynasty and introduced Confucianism as the guiding philosophy of the kingdom. Civil service exams allowed for social mobility and emphasized learning. In the 1400s court scholars created Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Invasions by both the Japanese and the Manchurians were successfully repelled. By the 1800s Korea had become known as the “Hermit Kingdom” due to its resistance to demands for diplomatic and trade relations.

However, in 1910 Korea was forcibly annexed by Japan, which adopted a policy of cultural assimilation. It outlawed the Korean language and gave preference to Japanese for many jobs. On March 1, 1919 a peaceful demonstration for independence was brutally squashed. During this same period, many members of the Korean royal family died under suspicious circumstances and the Joseon Dynasty came to an end. Life only got rougher during WWII. Beginning in 1939 over 5 million Koreans were conscripted for labor. And over 200,000 Chinese and Korean women, known as “comfort women,” were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military.

After WWII North Korea was occupied by Soviet forces, while US forces occupied the South. The UN Commission planned general elections, but since the Soviet Union denied access to North Korea the elections were never held there. South Korea elected Syngman Rhee as its first president, while North Korea established a communist state under Kim Il-sung.

War broke out in 1950 when North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea. After three years of fighting a cease fire was called and the peninsula remained divided into two countries. The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, marks the boundary between the two countries. It is still heavily patrolled by the military, including US forces. Today North Korea remains a communist state under the leadership of Kim Jong-il, the son of Kim Il-sung. It has a completely nationalized economy with a heavy focus on military and nuclear arms. South Korea is a democratic republic with a strong economy. It has focused on high-tech industries, although it also maintains a large army.

Flag of North Korea

Flag of South Korea:

Some additional facts:

In Korea, the family name is placed first.
Koreans are considered 1 year old when born.
In 1234, during the Goryeo Dynasty, the world’s fist moveable metal type was invented.
The yangban class was the traditional ruling class of the Joseon Dynasty. It exemplified the Confucian ideal of the “scholarly official” and relied on the slave labor of the lower classes to enjoy the life of scholarly gentlemen.
Despite the cease fire of 1953, a peace treaty was never signed. Therefore, North and South Korea are still officially at war.

Besides The Calligrapher’s Daughter, here are a few other novels set in Korea:

The Red Queen, Margaret Drabble

Jia, Hyejin Kim

Year of Impossible Goodbyes, Echoes of the White Giraffe and Gathering of Pearls, Sook Nyul Choi

And a non-fiction book that looks interesting:

Korea: A Walk through the Land of Miracles, Simon Winchester

What day is it again?

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:53:00 +0000

I'm on vacation, mostly without internet access. More importantly, my brain is on vacation and I don't think I could write a coherent review of Hop on Pop right now, much less my pile of books awaiting review. In fact, I just messed up when cooking Hot Pockets in the microwave, because I misinterpreted their use of the word "unwrapped." The three-hour time change from west coast to east coast flattens me every time.

So, I thought I'd post a little update on what I'm reading. Not Hop on Pop, you'll be happy to know.

I just finished Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same, by Mattox Roesch, to be published September 8th. It's about a kid named Cesar whose mother moves him from a troubled life in L.A. to the remote Alaskan village where she was raised. Cesar is part native but never identified as such. Kind of Northern Exposure with a gang-involved teenager instead of a doctor. The writing style is deceptively simple, and the character development is both delightful and heartbreaking. I loved it, and I'm bummed that I'll miss Roesch's book tour stop at Annie Bloom's Books in Portland on September 10th.

Hey, I think I just reviewed a book.

I'm currently reading NurtureShock, which delves into various counter-intuitive facts about children and how to raise them. It's research-based and I'm finding it fascinating reading. How does praise affect the way kids learn? Why do kids lie, and how do they get good at it? How does being marked as "gifted" in kindergarten impact performance in third grade and above?

This book will affect how I parent and how I homeschool, and if my kids were in school it would heavily impact my decisions about their schooling. I'm looking forward to writing about the specifics in depth, but this advance copy contains explicit instructions not to share the specifics of any of the research until the book is released, which will be September 3.

I just started Kathleen McCleary's House and Home and it kept me up too late last night because I had to know what was going to happen. From the publisher: The story of a woman who loves her house so much that she'll do just about anything to keep it.

Ellen Flanagan has two precious girls to raise, a cozy neighborhood coffee shop to run, terrific friends, and a sexy husband. She adores her house, a yellow Cape Cod filled with quirky antiques, beloved nooks and dents, and a million memories. But now, at forty-four, she's about to lose it all.

After eighteen roller-coaster years of marriage, Ellen's husband, Sam--who's charismatic, spontaneous, and utterly irresponsible--has disappointed her in more ways than she can live with, and they're getting divorced. Her daughters are miserable about losing their daddy. Worst of all, the house that Ellen loves with all her heart must now be sold.

I have mixed feelings about this one so I won't say any more about it until I've finished and had some time to think it over.

I have guest posts scheduled here and there throughout the next couple of weeks. If any of my readers are interested in contributing an additional guest post, I'd love for you to submit a post to me at worducopia/at/gmail/dot/com between now and September 8, 2009.

Great bestsellers by 1940s novelists you probably never heard of(Guest Post by Linda Gorton Aragoni)

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:45:00 +0000

I'm sipping tea in a lakeside cabin in New Hampshire. In my absence, Linda Aragoni was kind enough to write a guest post focusing on some great books from another era. Linda is an educational communicator whose work includes the website YouCanTeachWriting.com. For fun, she reviews bestsellers of 50 or more years ago on their anniversary years at GreatPenformances.wordpress.com.

The 1940s produced some wonderful novels, including some by novelists whose bestsellers have been all but forgotten. Here are are 10 novels from that decade’s bestseller list that are worth digging out today.

The Family (1940 #10). Russian ex-pats in Tientsin, China run a boarding house for a rag-tag assortment of people of various nationalities. Nina Fedorova writes with wit and sensitivity about the struggles of people whose lives consist mainly of looking for work and doing without.

Many novels tell about how slavery degraded slaves. The Sun Is My Undoing by Marguerite Steen (1941 #4) tells about how slavery degraded the slave traders. A mediocre novelist couldn’t have envisioned a story whose lead character is a slave trader, let alone written it.

In 1900, Kings Row was a good place to raise raise children. Author Henry Bellamann takes us behind the lace curtains of the little Midwestern town for a different view. When you read Kings Row (1942 #9), you don't just imagine it happening: you stand beside its lead character and experience it.

Mrs. Parkington (1943 #6) celebrates the art of growing old by living every day well. Mrs. Parkington, 84, is the very rich widow of a larger-than-life scoundrel whom she adored. As she puts her affairs in order, events trigger memories through which Louis Bromfield lets readers see how an innocent Nevada lass became an indomitable woman.

Strange Fruit by Lillian Smith (1944 #1) is a simple love story in a setting where nothing is simple. Nonnie is black, Tracy is white, and they live in 1940s Georgia. Lillian Smith shows that the most important factor in race relations in America is human choice.

Thanks to Adria Locke Langley’s decision to let Verity Martin tell the story of her charismatic husband’s political career, A Lion Is in the Streets (1945 #7) is a political novel the a-political can enjoy. Much of the plot has to be grasped from innuendo. You’ll need to read slowly, picturing the scenes, but the novel is worth the effort.

Mary Jane Ward’s The Snake Pit (1946 #10) takes readers inside the mind of mental patient Virginia Cunningham as she tries to cope with ordinary tasks that seem hopelessly beyond her. In a quiet way, The Snake Pit is as terrifying as anything by Stephen King.

House Divided by Ben Ames Williams (1947 #7) follows the Currain family of Virginia as they attempt live down the shame of distant kinship to “the black ape,” Abraham Lincoln. Williams produces believable characters, high drama and superb dialogue, all resting on an extensive base of facts of the War Between the States.

The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw (1948 #10) is a superbly plotted novel about three solders in World War II: a cultured German, an American Jew; and a clumsy, idealistic American playwright. War defines and intensifies each one's essential nature. There are no stereotypes, no heroes or villains from central casting. The men are so distinctive, you feel almost as if you actually knew them.

In The Point of No Return (1949 # 4), John P. Marquand explores the one time in his life when investment banker Charles Gray almost stepped out of character. Marquand is so skilled a writer that he makes an entertaining novel out of experiences that didn’t excite even their participants.

The Sunday Salon: A Bevy of Book Bloggers

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:03:00 +0000

What a week it's been Chez Worducopia! First, I was delighted to have Trish, Teddy Rose, Wendy, and Kristen join some of us Oregon book bloggers (me, Gabe, Bethany, Gilian, and SuziQ) for a mini-convention. I would tell you all about it, but the Rose City Reader did such a good job of summarizing the weekend that I'll let you read her version instead.

One of the things we saw in the library's special collections room was an artsy copy of Katherine Dunn's Geek Love. I'm sure Trish will have pictures of this up on her blog eventually, because she was literally jumping up and down with excitement. Jim Carmin, our presenter, mentioned an article about Katherine Dunn in today's Oregonian--I'm posting the link for Trish, in case she didn't see the paper, and also because it's a fascinating interview and article.

The day before our flock of book bloggers gathered for dinner, I realized that those nice emails which told me that somebody had actually nominated me (me?) for Book Blogger Apprecation Week awards, in fact had a deadline for submitting posts that would prove (or not prove) my worthiness for the awards. And that this deadline was Friday. And that midnight actually meant 9:00 pm in my time zone.

So, I was in the middle of scrambling to get those put together when another email came in, informing me that I'd been nominated for yet a third award which I needed to submit links for! Meanwhile, Florinda was Tweeting that the deadline was 7 hours away and I was due at dinner in two. Thrilled and panicked, that was me.

There are so many fabulous blogs out there that I don't expect to even make the short list, but the fact that even one person thought of me is a total heart-warmer. So, thank you. And to the person who nominated Striving for Greatness for best post: you made my day. And it was already a great day to begin with, so that's saying a lot. If it was you, Mom, don't tell me.

And while I'm all thanking people and bragging and stuff, thanks to Jessi for the Zombie Chicken Award (whose button I've been wanting an excuse to post for ages!) and to Rebecca for the Lemonade Stand Award. Right back at you, ladies! I admit to mixed feelings about these things. I never pass them along because I can't do it without worrying about whose feelings are being hurt by being left out, but I'm always delighted to see my name on someone's list. And Zombie Chickens and Lemonade stands--does it get any better?
Edited to add: I'm passing this award combo along to Jodie of Book Gazing! (See the comments for why).

Jodie, zombie chickens have set up a lemonade stand on your blog! It's your choice whether to offer the lemonade to your blogging friends, or keep it all for yourself.

(Anyone else want some Zombie Chicken Lemonade? I'm happy to share.)

C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call: We're looking for a few good men

worducopia@gmail.com (Ali) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:54:00 +0000

For this week's question, I'd like to take a comment from Doret and put it out there for the group to work on. Doret (The Happy Nappy Bookseller) has been a regular contributor to the Roll Call as well as reviews for the Diversity Rocks reading challenge. In the comments of my summary of the Gender & Book Cover posts, she had this to say:

One thing I have noticed regarding gender. Most YA featuring people of color, with the stories set in another country, tend to have a female protagonist. I am having a difficult time finding many with male leads of color set in other countries.

I wonder why this is so. And I would love any suggestions.

Okay, team, this one's for Doret. Let's get out there and find her some titles! We're looking for titles and descriptions (publisher's blurb or link to a review is fine), not necessarily books you've read or can vouch for. Could be fiction, memoir, biography, and so on. The criteria again are:

Has appeal to young adults (an adult book which might appeal to a teen is fine)
Setting is outside the U.S.
At least one person of color figures prominently
Lead character is male

Ooh, I just thought of one! It's a book I reviewed, where the main character is a black American male, the setting is a foreign country to him. Can anyone guess what it is?

I've also featured another book where the main character is a male person of color, most of the book takes place in the U.S. but there are some scenes in a foreign country--maybe more than I realize since I have yet to finish the book.

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. The next assignment will be posted in two weeks at Color Online.