I'm rereading the Emily of New Moon series now. Every time I read these, I struck by just how many characters in these books have psychological problems. And they're not played for laughs or as "local color" like I've seen similar characters in other kids' books of the period. The one that always gives me the most, "Whoa, really?" reaction is Teddy's mother. She's totally possessive about Teddy, and gets incredibly jealous of anyone or anything that she thinks Teddy might like more than her. Teddy mentions that he doesn't play with his pets much in front of her anymore, because she killed two cats that she thought he loved too much. Parts of these books are presented in an almost fantasy-like way, but most of the scenes with Teddy's mother are done really realistically -- like this is just another part of the everyday troubles. I really can't think of any other kids' book from that period that deals with mental illness in this way.

Hee!

This genre that started with Pride and "Prejudice and Zombies" has really taken over. I've seen just about every possible permutation and yesterday I saw "Paul is Undead". oy

I saw "Android Kareninna" at Powell's, which at least made me laugh.

I thought it was an amusing idea when they first started coming out, but now ... "Android Karenina", Queen Victoria as a ... demon hunter? Abraham Lincoln as a vampire hunter (soon to be a movie, I understand), a prequel to "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", "Little Women and Werewolves", "Shakespear Undead", all kinds of mixtures of classic books/historical characters combined with various paranormals. I think it's gotten to be a bit much.

Now Toddson, I don't think the publishing industry is prone to taking a trend and running it into the ground.

"Shakespear Undead"

I admit I totally want to see the "Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Undead" movie. *IF* it comes to Cincy.

Alert for Librarians, Children's Literature fans, Fantasy Fans.

There's a new critical study Four British Fantasists which looks at the generation of British fantasy writers which followed after Tolkien and Lewis, focusing on Diana Wynne Jones, Alan Garner, Susan Cooper and Penelope Lively.

A literate, illuminating look at four authors whom Butler calls, important contributors to the formation of a corpus of modern children's literature…capable of bearing the weight of academic scrutiny. All four studied at Oxford while J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis were writing and lecturing, and Butler notes the influences that these men had on each writer. The text is divided into three major sections. Applied Archeology deals with the interplay between past and present, especially as it is played out on the landscape. Longing and Belonging addresses the complex relationship between identity and place. Myth and Magic explores each author's use of traditional literature, especially from the British Isles. Butler convincingly demolishes reductive, issues-oriented critics by explicating and celebrating the artistic choices made by these four masters of their craft. Since many of today's undergraduates grew up with these writers, this important title should not be limited to academic libraries supporting graduate and undergraduate children's literature courses. It belongs in any library that serves a liberal-arts curriculum. It is highly readable, commandingly intelligent, and refreshingly jargon-free. A seminal work of criticism.–Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams

I don't know anything about Penelope Lively. Anybody a fan?

I don't want to sound like a snob, because I read nine of them myself I think, but anyone else think it's crazy there are now *sixteen* Stephanie Plum books? I hope she's still not deciding between(Guy With Short Italian Name) and Ranger, Mystery Man. Maybe she finally got married and has a daughter that alternates between cute and fat, and she's teaching her how to look in her sights without messing up her eye shadow as she snarks over donuts with her own Designated Ethnic Sassy Friend.

Umm I hate to admit to being addicted. Essentially nothing has changed.

Well in all fairness have not read 16 & 17. I have to be in the right mood for Plum.