Mal: Cut it out. Job's not done until we're back on Serenity. Zoe: Sorry, sir. Didn't mean to enjoy the moment.

'Ariel'


Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


Consuela - May 23, 2011 11:49:12 am PDT #14860 of 28289
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

Wait, we're supposed to assume that "abracadabra" in the muggle world came from "Avada Kedavra"? Or is it explicitly said and I blew past it?

I haven't seen it explicitly said, I just assumed it based on the similarity. Dunno what Big Thing that could mean inside the world of the books, though. Although it's worth noting that it's the only curse I've seen so far that doesn't appear to be Latin in origin.


Gris - May 23, 2011 11:52:08 am PDT #14861 of 28289
Hey. New board.

So I think the answer is that it's a publicly-funded or supported school with a semi-autonomous board of directors.

Hogwarts is a charter school!


Amy - May 23, 2011 11:56:37 am PDT #14862 of 28289
Because books.

I always assumed the "kedavra" was a play on "cadaver".


Laga - May 23, 2011 2:28:53 pm PDT #14863 of 28289
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.

I always assumed the "kedavra" was a play on "cadaver".

me too! (until I watched a documentary on the history of stage magic) Rowling said she chose the curse based on the origins of the word but I haven't heard her say it has a larger meaning in the context of the books. That was just an assumption I made after I watched the magic doc.


Strix - May 23, 2011 3:04:40 pm PDT #14864 of 28289
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger

Remember that time Harry Potter killed a basilisk when he was TWELVE? Eat your heart out, Kvothe.

BWAH, P-C!!


hippocampus - May 24, 2011 6:03:56 am PDT #14865 of 28289
not your mom's socks.

x-post from Natter, with added request for help:

HKF got a chapter book in the mail from my MiL. She's been reading for a while, and will trade pages of whatever we're reading together (Narnia, atm), but when I suggested she might be able to read this on her own and could ask me for help with tough words (it's a thinner book than Narnia, with slightly larger print, but still a big-person chapter book), she sat down on the floor in the hallway and started reading. 45 minutes later, she was still reading. She finished the book this morning. Her first full book on her own. I'm all choked up.

Now HKF has declared that she is going to Read Everything and that we will still read Narnia/HP/etc. at night. So, any suggestions from librarians, teachers, and readers for books that are at the grade 2-3 level (shorter chapters, slightly larger print seems to have flipped the switch for her), I would appreciate it! The book that my MiL sent is part of the Ivy and Bean series, which I'd not heard of. So, strong, smart female characters, geeky topics, etc., happily received.


DavidS - May 24, 2011 6:07:12 am PDT #14866 of 28289
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

So, any suggestions from librarians, teachers, and readers for books that are at the grade 2-3 level (shorter chapters, slightly larger print seems to have flipped the switch for her)

Isn't that prime Beverly Cleary territory? So Beezus and Ramona, maybe? Or possibly Mouse on a Motorcycle.


Hil R. - May 24, 2011 6:07:45 am PDT #14867 of 28289
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l

What about the Ramona Quimby books? Coraline, but that might be too scary.


Amy - May 24, 2011 6:09:19 am PDT #14868 of 28289
Because books.

I'd start with the Judy Moody books or the Junie B. Jones books. Sara loves Junie B., and Judy Moody seems to be a slightly updated take on the same theme -- curious little girl with a lot of personality taking on the world.


Hil R. - May 24, 2011 6:10:00 am PDT #14869 of 28289
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l

Ramona x-post.

How about Charlotte's Web, or some of the younger Judy Blume books, like Freckle Juice?