Does anybody mind if I pass out?

Willow ,'Beneath You'


We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good  

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."


sumi - Dec 09, 2003 6:26:10 am PST #141 of 10002
Art Crawl!!!

Hey, there's a current discussion of the Prydain Cycle going on over at Readerville.


Lyra Jane - Dec 09, 2003 6:38:31 am PST #142 of 10002
Up with the sun

Even as a kid, I loved how her stuff was slightly darker than the other children's books

It's awesome. Her kids almost never come from the typical happy homes -- the main character (Dawn?) in The Egypt Game has basically been dumped at her grandmother's house (her father is dead; her mother has ambitions that don't include children); the kids in The Headless Cupid are none too happy about the whole stepfamily deal; and in The Changeling, which is still one of my favorite novels, Martha is regarded as a disappointment by her family for much of the book, while Ivy comes from a chaotic family. (Mental illness and substance abuse are implied, and criminal behavior is mentioned outright, IIRC.) Those are the three books I remember best, but I believe that the kids in her other books are in similar situations.

Also, I have to tell my ZKS story: When I was 16 or 17, I found her web page and sent her a fan note. In it, i mentioned being sad that The Changeling isn't in print anymore. She wrote back and said she'd send me one of her copies if I gave her my address. I did, and the copy I have now is signed by her. I've always thought that was incredibly nice of her.


Jess M. - Dec 09, 2003 7:06:37 am PST #143 of 10002
Let me just say that popularity with people on public transportation does not equal literary respect. --Jesse

This discussion of childrens books is incredibly usefull; I need to purchase gifts for a kindergardner (boy) and his older sister (7-8). I don't really know them, but I'm told they're a reading family. I've been taking notes. Any other suggestions, beyond what's been posted?


Nilly - Dec 09, 2003 7:09:17 am PST #144 of 10002
Swouncing

A not-helpful post:

Micole is quite amazing, just for the record.

Lyra Jane, that's such a lovely story.

t Natter Kate P and Jess M - I hardly ever "see" either of you anymore, so it's nice to post with you here t /Natter


Kate P. - Dec 09, 2003 7:09:27 am PST #145 of 10002
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love

t making notes

It's hard to triangulate similar authors from those two points -- Gibson and Dick don't have much in common besides from writing near-future SF that's been recognized as "literary" (and they're both good, of course). Do you know what your brother likes about them?

Hmm. I know he got into Dick because he loves Blade Runner with a passion (he's studying film), and I think I gave him Gibson's Neuromancer a few years ago and he finally read it recently and liked it. I don't really know of any other authors he likes--like I said, he doesn't really enjoy reading, which is why I really want to encourage him reading the stuff he does like. I'd guess that it's the ideas he finds really exciting in both Gibson and Dick, and probably the cyberpunky style too (at least in Gibson--Dick preceded cyberpunk, didn't he?).

Neverwhere might also appeal unless he hasa big hate on for fantasy - then it might be to far out of his interests

He doesn't hate fantasy (loves the Lord of the Rings movies and is slowly working his way through the books) but for the most part it doesn't appeal to him like SF does.

Will definitely check out Stephenson, Sterling, Delany, Lethem, et al. at the bookstore today. Thanks!


Kate P. - Dec 09, 2003 7:11:01 am PST #146 of 10002
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love

Hi Nilly! Lovely to see you around.

Any other suggestions, beyond what's been posted?

For age 7-8, I think that's about when I started reading Lloyd Alexander, so I'd definitely rec the Prydain Chronicles.


Jess M. - Dec 09, 2003 7:12:34 am PST #147 of 10002
Let me just say that popularity with people on public transportation does not equal literary respect. --Jesse

that's a good suggestion, thanks Kate.


joe boucher - Dec 09, 2003 7:18:47 am PST #148 of 10002
I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve. - John Prine

Will definitely check out Stephenson, Sterling, Delany, Lethem, et al. at the bookstore today.

Hayden's Jonathan Lethem article from The High Hat, Vol. 1.


Kat - Dec 09, 2003 7:22:14 am PST #149 of 10002
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo

Jess, Picture books for the kinder?

My faves of the past two years are (and they might not already own these):

Daisy Comes Home, by Jan Brett. A chicken named Daisy runs away and she has to go through trials and tribulations to get home.

Snowmen at Night, Caralyn Buehner. What do the snowmen do when you aren't around?

Goldfish and Chrysanthemums, Andrea Chang. A grandmother is homesick for hong kong so her granddaughter attempts to build a koi pond to make her feel better.

"Let's get a pup!" said Kate, by Bob Graham. I love this family. They go to the pound to get a puppy and they end up falling in love with a dog.

Max, by Bob Graham, Max is the child of a superhero family, but he himself lacks superhero powers.

Blabber Mouse, True Kelley. Blabber Mouse is always blabbing everyone else's secrets. His friends turn the tables to show him what it feels like.

I stink, Kate McMullan. A sad sad dumptruck. I adore this book.

Old standbys I love?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (best rhythm EVER!)


Maysa - Dec 09, 2003 7:22:26 am PST #150 of 10002

Also, I have to tell my ZKS story: When I was 16 or 17, I found her web page and sent her a fan note. In it, i mentioned being sad that The Changeling isn't in print anymore. She wrote back and said she'd send me one of her copies if I gave her my address. I did, and the copy I have now is signed by her. I've always thought that was incredibly nice of her.

That's so cool. The Changeling is one of the few books that made me cry and I still remember so much of it. I've never read The Egypt Game (I should try to find it) but I loved the Stanley family books and The Birds of Summer. I've actually been to her website too and I liked the essays she has there about how she got started as a writer and her writing process.