Author: booknutgirls

booknutgirls http://thebooknutdotcom.wordpress.com I read. I blog. I sell books. I chauffeur my kids. What more do you need to know?

Dewey’s Books Reading Challenge

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From the blog:

There are two ways to join this challenge:

1. Pick one book from each of the 6 years that Dewey has archives of. You can access her archives by clicking on the archive link in the sidebar of her website. It’s a dropdown menu. For instance, you would read one book that she reviewed in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 for a total of six books.

2. The other option is to read 5 books that Dewey reviewed. These can be from any year and I’m guessing that each of us has at least 5 books on our TBR list because of Dewey!

And the rules:

1. Choose either option 1 or 2 from above.

2. Commit to read your books (either 5 or 6 depending on which option you choose) throughout 2009. The challenge will end on December 31, 2009 but we’ll go ahead and unofficially start it right away! We’ll officially start it on January 1st, 2009.

3. Check back to this page often as I’ll put up Mr. Linky’s for reviews and I’ll mention prize giveaways!

I think I’m going to do option 2, and read 5 books that Dewey reviewed.

1. The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
2. Maus and Maus II, Art Spiegelman (also for the Jewish Lit Challenge)
3. Story of a Girl, Sara Zarr
4. So Many Books, So Little Time, Sarah Nelson
5. Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters, Courtney E. Martin

A Thousand Never Evers

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by Shana Burg
ages 12+

Over the years, when I have told people that the year we lived in Mississippi was hell for me, they always ask me what made it so hard. I have struggled to try and find the perfect answer… it’s a combination of moving from a huge city to a smallish rural town combined with the blatant racism of our neighbors that we encountered that made it the worst place on earth for me to live.

Now, when people ask, I’m just going to refer them to this book. Burg — no stranger to the situation, being both Jewish and the daughter of a Civil Rights lawyer — captured, for me at least, the hate that some white people down south had (and have) for African Americans so perfectly that it was both uncanny and disturbing.

It’s the summer of 1963, and Addie Ann just wants to figure out how to survive seventh grade. Then her boss, Old Man Adams, dies, and leaves his six acre garden to all of Kuckachoo — both whites and blacks. Of course, that doesn’t sit well with the mayor or the sheriff, so they conveniently forget to inform the white side of town that Mr. Adams wanted it that way. So, later in the fall, when the garden is discovered to be destroyed, the person that the town decides is at fault is Addie’s Uncle Bump. Being Mississippi, no one expects the trial to come out right, and it’s up to Addie to find the missing pieces in order to set Uncle Bump free.

Actually, this book isn’t that easy to sum up in one paragraph: there’s an awful lot going on. A lot of it centers on the basic conflict between white and black: in employment, in housing, in voter registration, in the administration of justice. Everything negative you’ve ever heard of makes an appearance: the Klu Klux Klan, cross burnings, home bombings. But, I think Addie’s narration has a softening influence — she’s an engaging main character, one who’s vulnerable and tough at the same time. Her voice makes this book worth getting through; without her, it would be too depressing.

It was a very tough book for me to get through at points. But, I think it’s the toughness that comes from a well-written, and honest, book.

(Just for the record: because this is a Cybils nominee, I’ve been asked to make sure y’all know this is my opinion only, and not that of the panel.)

2008 Challenge #9: Jane Austen

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The challenge requirements, as set out by Becky, were to read two of Jane Austen’s books (or see the movies), but I decided to take the challenge as an opportunity to re-read all of her works. I’m so very glad I did. I followed Brooklyn Arden’s calendar for reading Jane Austen, and I have to highly recommend it as a way to read all Austen’s works. It spread them out enough so that I was able to enjoy (mostly) each and every one, without getting Austened out. As a result, I thought it’d be fun to do The Jane Awards as a recap.

Least favorite — Mansfield Park (I didn’t like it the first time around, and this time still didn’t do anything for me!)

Favorite — Persuasion (It’s such a wonderful, beautiful, mature love story.)

Favorite Male Protagonist — Mr. Knightly in Emma (I had “best hero”, but my brother objected: the best hero is Colnel Brandon, in Sense and Sensibility. I do have to agree. He’s pretty heroic. But I still like Mr. Knightly best.)

Favorite Female Protagonist — Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice (She’s the most fun: sensible without being a pushover, energetic without being silly.)

Best Chemistry — Darcy and Lizzy (Swoon. Love to read them banter.)

Changed My Opinion — Northanger Abby (I get it now. And yes, it’s funny.)

One that Doesn’t Get any Press, but Is Actually Really Good: Sense and Sensibility. (I didn’t like this one the first time around, either, but I found that I actually quite enjoyed it. It’s not a highly accessible novel, it’s really long, but there are some good little bits throughout.)

Persuasion

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by Jane Austen
ages 14+

I was going to be good, and just read a chapter or two of this book in the evenings before bed. I thought that I could be patient, drawing out the story of Anne and Captain Wentworth for a couple of weeks. Not so, my friends. I managed that for a couple of nights, and then I was just sucked in. There are so many things to love about this little book, and I found that I just couldn’t put it down.

It’s not as funny as some of her books, and it lacks the popularity that others have. Everyone wants to hear about Darcy and Lizzy, or even Elinor and Marianne, but Anne’s plight? She’s not often given much thought. (Which is actually her lot in the book.) But this one: it’s my personal favorite.

Sure, Anne’s a bit of a pushover — she’s so incredibly kind and sweet and her family is so snobby and crass and mean to her — but she comes by her nature honestly. She borders on the annoying (really, how wonderful can a person be?) but I don’t think she quite gets there. She’s honsetly good-natured. And she’s honestly sweet. And I honestly feel for her, especially when she’s at Uppercross and Wentworth shows up, the first time in 8 years that she’s seen him. The last time being when she dumped him, on the advice of her dead mother’s friend, Lady Russell. Austen so perfectly captures the awkwardness of the situation: Anne being all nervous and fidgety — she still loves him after all, and has no idea what he thinks of her; he, all cold and aloof — his pride was wounded after all, and he thinks he’s over her.

But what really makes this book for me is the end. Austen penns the most romantic letter — from Captain Wentworth to Anne — ever written. It makes no sense out of context, but every time I read it (and it’s been quite a few), it makes my heart flutter, and I have to keep reading until the very satisfying conclusion. It’s raw pent-up emotion, it’s desire, it’s heartache, it’s hope… all in two paragraphs on page 214. It gets me every time. This book is the best one of Austen’s because it’s a re-finding of love lost, it’s the rekindling of hope, rather than the blush of first love. Anne and Wentworth were torn apart — by pride, prejudice, situation, class… all of which are Austen themes in her other books — and yet they overcome all in order to be together.

It’s beautiful.

A Merry Christmas Interview

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Since Becky and I have the same advent calendar day, we thought it’d be fun to interview each other about our Christmas traditions, memories, likes and dislikes. These are the questions she asked me. (You can see the questions I asked her and her answers over at her site today.)

When do you begin watching Holiday movies?
Not until after Thanksgiving. And, sometimes not even until partway through December.

What’s your favorite movie? Do you have a favorite scene? A favorite line?
I’m a sap: I love It’s a Wonderful Life. Every year I swear I’m not going to cry, and every year I give in and bawl at the end when they start bringing in the money and singing. Gets me every time, even though I know it’s coming. I also like the Muppet Christmas Carol. It’s a must-see every year, too.

What’s your favorite TV special?
The Snowman. I’d never seen this until my mother-in-law gave us a copy one Christmas. But I love it now. I also like Arthur’s Perfect Christmas, Charlie Brown’s Christmas, and The Grinch. (But ONLY the TV version. I boycott the movie.)

Are there any specials from your childhood days that you wish would make a come back? Any that you’re especially embarrassed of?
Nope. And nope. (And for the record: I’m not sure I’ve actually seen The Christmas Story in it’s entirety, and I’m not sure I plan on it. Ever.)

When do you start listening to Christmas music?
Thanksgiving. Our radio stations started playing Christmas music mid-November, but THAT’s too early. (Unless my girls or I are playing it on the piano, or we’re singing them in choir. Then I’m okay with it as early as October.)

What are some of your favorite albums?
Arthur’s Perfect Christmas (the music is as good as the special)
Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration
Barenaked for the Holidays, Barenaked Ladies
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (a Christmas staple!)
Rockapella Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller (it doesn’t really matter what album, though, does it?)
Raffi’s Christmas Album

Is there a particular album you couldn’t do without because it “makes” it feel like Christmas?
It’s not Christmas without the Osmond Family Christmas album. That one goes back to my childhood, and my girls think I’m nuts when I sing loudly (but mostly in-key) to it.

What’s your favorite Christmas song? Traditional? Nontraditional?
Hymn — Angels We Have Heard on High (love the Glorias and is has a great alto part). My favorite arrangement is done by Mack Wilberg for full choir. I’ve loved it since I first heard it at school, the Christmas of 1991. This one isn’t exactly it, but it’s close. 🙂

Carol — Here We Come a-Wassailing

Song — Elf’s Lament, Barenaked Ladies

I don’t know how “involved” you want to be, but if you were to make your own holiday soundtrack what would it have on it? Hmmm…. I made a mix CD (we’re ancient here; no iPods) last year. Here are the tracks from it:
12 Days of Christmas, John Denver and the Muppets
Mr. Heatmiser, Big Fat Voodoo Daddy
White Christmas, Tony Bennett
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings, Sarah McLachhlan/Barenaked Ladies
Old Toy Trains, Raffi
Jingle Bells, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Gladys Knight
Sleigh Ride, Boston Pops (the instrumental version, thank you very much)
Jamaican Noel, Voice Male
Fum, Fum, Fum, Arthur’s Perfect Christmas
The Friendly Beasts, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
In the Bleak Midwinter, Shawn Colvin
(It Must Have Been) Ol‘ Santa Claus, Harry Connick Jr.
Petit Papa Noel, Raffi
Elf’s Lament, Barenaked Ladies
The Night Before Christmas, Carly Simon
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, John Denver and the Muppets
Gabriel’s Message, Sting
Christmas Time is Here, Charlie Brown’s Christmas
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, Rockapella
We Wish You a Merry Christmas, John Denver and the Muppets
Auld Lang Syne, James Taylor

Do you have any favorite holiday-themed books?
I like to collect nice Christmas picture books, so I have a bunch of favorites. The one I picked up last year was Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo, which is just beautiful. I also like the traditional stuff: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Polar Express, The Other Wise Man, The Night Before Christmas (our version is illustrated by Jan Brett; I have to stop myself or I’d have a ton of different versions of that book alone!).

Is there a book (or two) that you make a point of reading each year?
We have a picture book of a chapter in Little House on the Prairie, Santa Comes to Little House which we read every year. I like to try and get to The Dark is Rising around mid-winter. This year, I’m actually reading A Christmas Carol for the first time in ages.

What about recipes? Do you have a special food (or drink) that you make or bake only during the holidays?
Oh, let me think… A Canadian friend of mine put me on to mint nanimo bars, which I try to make (my version anyway, since we can’t find the custard powder my friend’s recipe requires) every Christmas. That, and Christmas Bark (recipe follows). It’s my husband’s absolute favorite. I don’t make much special that’s non-junk food. 🙂 Our traditional Christmas meal is pot roast, and I don’t do anything really special to it.

Want to share a favorite recipe or cooking tradition?
Christmas Bark
**Note: like everything, the better quality the ingredients, the better the candy. That, and you have to unwrap and smush the candy canes. You can’t substitute and put mint in the white chocolate. part of the charm of the candy is the crunch from the broken candy canes. That, and you have to feel like there’s some “work” involved in this. 🙂 **

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups white chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed candy canes, about 6

Line a large, rimmed cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Microwave semi-sweet chocolate in a medium bowl on high for 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring halfway though heating time. Stir until completely melted. Spread on wax paper. Let set while melting white chocolate in the same method.

Sprinkle the candy on top of the white chocolate before it sets. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

Store in an air-tight container for up to two weeks. Refrigerated, it lasts longer.

What’s your favorite memory of Christmas as a child?
There are several. But I’ll only tell about one. The Christmas I was sixteen, we noticed a strange gift under the tree. It was rectangular, small, and very very heavy. It got us all incredibly curious — it was too the whole family — and no one could figure out what it was. My dad, with his amazing poker face, swore he didn’t know what it was, either. Christmas morning, it was the last present opened. I don’t remember who opened it, but it was a brick. We all wondered what kind of prank it was, until someone turned it over: on the back were six tickets to a performance of Phantom of the Opera in Chicago. My dad. 🙂 He also started a tradition (I don’t know if he keeps it up when there aren’t kids present): every year, taped to a brick are some kind of tickets to something (the last time we were home for Christmas, it was gift certificates for a night out at the movies for all his married kids). He’s an amazing dad. (I have an amazing mom, too. 🙂 (BTW, going to Chicago for the performance was a whole lotta fun. I’m not terribly thrilled with the musical now, but I remember absolutely loving it then.)

What’s your favorite memory of Christmas as an adult?
Last year, when I completely caught Hubby off guard by buying him a replacement wedding ring for the one he’d lost. I’d searched around until I found one exactly like the one we’d gotten when he got married. He was definitely surprised. 🙂

Let’s talk gifts. What’s on your wish list this year?
Money to pay back debt? I asked for a big crock pot (I’m practical that way). But if I could have anything… I’d ask for a bunch of DVDs. Anything from the Signals catalog. A bunch of useless stuff. Possibly a Wii. Notice that there are no books… I’m actually very picky about my books and I don’t like to get them as gifts. I prefer to pick them out myself. (I think this bit of snobbery is something I picked up from my husband.) Though, I won’t turn one down if I get one. 🙂

When do you begin shopping? Is it something you love or hate?
Love giving. Don’t mind shopping; it’s kind of fun picking out things for people. And I don’t even mind the crowds… as long as I leave my 2 year old at home! But I’ve been trying to spread it out this year… so I’ve been buying since October.

When do you do gifts–Christmas Eve or Christmas?
Christmas morning. Preferably after 7 a.m.

Is Christmas Eve family time? Or rushing around crazy time? Or a bit of both?
Growing up, I had friends of other faiths who went to church Christmas Eve, and I became enamored by that idea (our church doesn’t have services on Christmas Eve). So, when Hubby and I got married, I insisted upon attending midnight Mass. We’ve kept up that tradition, though we pick a different church every year. We have what we call our “meager meal” — bread, cheese and fruit — by candlelight, and then pack the girls off to church. Once home, it’s pretty much straight to bed for them. After they’re in bed, we end the night by watching It’s a Wonderful Life. We never do get to bed at a decent hour, though. 😉

If you were to make a list of “favorite things”–like Oprah for example–what would be on your list?
Oh, I don’t know. Everything. But being season-specific:

My kids and husband
Christmas lights on snow
A fire in the fireplace
The girls’ faces on Christmas morning
A good night’s sleep
A home to keep us warm
A good book, a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa!

Merry Christmas!

A Geeky Tribute

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For this week’s Weekly Geek, Becky said,

I was thinking that it might be nice for those bloggers who are Weekly Geeks to pay tribute to Dewey in the next week or so. To take the time to post to their blogs a “Weekly Geek” post about Dewey–maybe share their favorite posts from her site, maybe share a memory or two about participating in weekly geeks, the bookworms carnival, the 24 Hour Readathon, or one of Dewey’s challenges, maybe just share a favorite memory of Dewey in general, what they’ll miss most, how they’ll remember her, etc.

I’m actually lousy at tributes. That’s my husband’s department. (Yeah, we have a tribute department around here…. it comes in handy.) I’m not sure what to share. Except that Dewey was one of those bloggers that I assumed would always be there. She was a pillar in the book blogging community: someone that gathered everyone else around her. She also had brilliant ideas: the read-a-thon, the Bookworms Carnival, the Weekly Geeks. It’s good to know that people will be carrying on those things in her memory.

She did come by my little site once (I do remember being tickled when she linked to me on a Weekly Geeks. I felt like I made it, somehow) or twice, and even left a thoughtful comment or two. I think what I’ll miss most, though, is just knowing that she’s out there, ready to post something thoughtful, or fun, or exciting, or just something Dewey.

She will be missed.

P.S. At the time of her death, Dewey was working with Jackie on a top 10 of 2008 project that would be a part of Weekly Geeks. Jackie said that Dewey would probably want to see it finished, so please go here to vote, and help spread the word to other Weekly Geeks.

Alvin Ho

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by Lenore Look
ages: 6-10

Alvin Ho is allergic: to girls, school, bridges, substitute teachers, the dark… pretty much everything. And he has a quirk about it, too. It makes him clam up. He can’t say a word. He’s okay at home, on the bus, playing outside (for the most part), but when he’s scared, there’s nothing. Nada. Not a sound. Which makes it hard to make friends. (Well, that, and the fact that he carries his Personal Disaster Kit everywhere. A boy can’t be too prepared.) Still, he tries, and through a series of mishaps and pseudo-adventures, he manages to figure some things out.

It’s probably too simple to say that I adored this book. It’s partially because it reminded me of a nephew — not so much the scared part, but the mishaps and adventures — but also because it was so dang entertaining. I wanted to wrap him up and put him in my pocket as a mom, but I could see how he’d be exciting and amusing and fun for kids to read. Especially younger, beginning readers, or those who aren’t as interested. I’d say call it Clementine or Moxy Maxwell for boys, but I think girls would get into it too. (I did.) The best part, though: Alvin’s Wonderful Glossary at the end. That made the book just about perfect.

I’m off to send it to my nephew, and am pretty confident he’ll enjoy it as much (if not more) than I did.

(Just for the record: because this is a Cybils nominee, I’ve been asked to make sure y’all know this is my opinion only, and not that of the panel.)

Notorious

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So, I was at the library yesterday for our weekly storytime-and-book-checking outing. K and I picked out a handful of picture books, some DVDs for the girls, browsed for books for M (didn’t find any… I was in a rush and uninspired), and then got in line to check out. When I got to the counter, the librarian eyed me warily.

“Do you have any holds today?” she asked.

I chuckled, a bit nervously. “I honestly don’t know.”

She checked and sighed in relief: “Only one.” And off she went to get it.

I suppose word of my 20-hold pickups is getting around.

Chancey of the Maury River

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by Gigi Amateau
ages 10-14, but a younger horse lover might like it, too

I am not a horse person. Never have been. I’ve read Black Beauty and The Black Stallion, but neither really stayed with me. I don’t particularly have an affinity for horse books. (I also know I’m not supposed to start a review out this way, but bear with me.) Yet, I found myself captivated with this book. I don’t know if it’s enough to change me into a horse person, but Amateau’s love of the horse came through the story, not just loud and clear, but in such a way that I couldn’t help but care, too.

Chancey is an albino Appaloosa. This, for various reasons, leads to a hardship in his life when, after 20 years, his owner goes bankrupt and he is unable to be sold. Eventually — after months of neglect and abandonment — he’s sold to a stable-school, where he meets 10-year-old Claire. Her parents are going through a divorce, and she’s suffering (internally, of course). Through Chancey, she finds her confidence again, and Chancey — after years of being hardened by abuse and neglect — finds that he can love. The two of them forge a companionship and partnership that will take Chancey through the twilight of his life, changing not only each other, but everyone they come in contact with.

Hubby pointed out, when we were talking about this book, that a lot of animal books aren’t actually about the animal, but rather those who are interacting with it. This one is not that way. Chancey is our narrator, our guide through this world. And for the most part, it works quite well. There are times when Amateau digresses into horse-lecturing (whether about breed, or status, or teaching) that I started to tune out, but when the story is actually going, progressing forward, Chancey is a wonderful guide and an interesting narrator. I liked seeing the world, and the human interactions through a horse’s eyes. I also think Amateau handled the dialogue quite well: Chancey talked, but only to other horses. The humans Chancey interacted with talked to him, but his communication back was limited to whinnys, nickers, and nudges.

And the ending is quite touching; it had me in tears. I’m not sure I’m going to go out and read a bunch of horse books, but I can highly recommend this one.

(Just for the record: because this is a Cybils nominee, I’ve been asked to make sure y’all know this is my opinion only, and not that of the panel.)

Tis the Season, Part 2

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December’s Estella’s Revenge is online!

‘Tis a small issue (don’t you love the holiday banner? So festive!!), but a good one nonetheless. Oh, and there’s a call for writers: we could ALWAYS use your ideas, author interviews, and reviews. Email us at estellabooks AT gmail DOT com. We’d love to hear from you!!

As for my contribution (what? I managed to finish books that weren’t Cybils related? AMAZING!): I interviewed the ever-delightful Howard Whitehouse (author of the Cybils-nominated book, Island of the Mad Scientists… I managed to sneak the Cybils in there after all!), as well as reviewing The Triumph of Deborah (warning: it will trip off your Net Nanny) and Chasing Windmills.

There’s other stuff, too. Go check it out!!