I've got a new job! And I'm moving!
My new title is Associate Acquisitions Editor.
My new town is - well. It's in the Albany, NY area. Not sure yet EXACTLY where I'll be living, so we'll just say the Capitol Region.
I'll be working for an educational publisher, doing some traveling, and really just - making a difference with the books I publish. I'm very, VERY excited about this opportunity, even though I am a little sad to be leaving children's books behind.
I'm still going to try and keep up on my YA though. So - the blog won't change any, but this at least explains my absences? My hiatus and then, my comeback that was really wasn't a comeback at all because I haven't been posting as regularly as I wanted to?
Anyway - my last day at Sterling is the 25th. I'll have a lot going on - packing my life and such. But I should be back to regular posting soon enough, once my life is at least a little bit settled.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Geek Love - Katherine Dunn
Rating: 5 stars
Shelf: Reading Now
Not at all what its title implies - even when you find out exactly what Katherine Dunn means by Geek. Should have been called Freak Love, but I think the mystery and the - "Oh my god, this isn't about two nerds falling in love?" is half the attraction.
Concerning a traveling carnival whose acts were bred instead of hired - the story is told by Olympia Binewski, a bald, albino, hunchback dwarf and the youngest daughter of Lil and Al Binewski. Olympia records her memories of the freak family - which included a boy with fins, Siamese twins, a telekinetic, and a host of baby experiments gone bad and preserved in jars - so that her daughter, Miranda, might one day understand not only why Olympia had to give her up, but also why Miranda is so special.
The book focuses on freak as norm and norm as freak. The reversal not only aids in highlighting familial relationships, but also, and more importantly, shines a light on the problems with social constructs and cult-like, follower, behavior. For one - the Binewskis seem to value their more messed up children higher than those who could pass for "normal." Olympia is told that she herself is barely a keeper, though she meets none of the standards of normal in our culture.
Dunn was, apparently, influenced by the events of Jonestown at the time she was writing this book. Having just read Raven by Tim Reitermann, I was really drawn to these comparisons and their power over all of the characters - both immediate and secondary. Arty - the boy with fins instead of hands and feet - forms a cult that is strangely reminiscent of The People's Temple. Jones' followers gave up their entire lives for him, cut themselves off from their worldly possessions to follow Jones to the promise land - Arty's followers gave up their limbs, quite literally, to become more like him and to be able to shake societal norms and become their most pure.
But mostly, I just loved the characters and the language. The Binewskis, for all their troubles, are an incredibly close family who rely on their differences to keep them safe and keep them together. There were moments when Dunn painted such a beautiful, emotional - and normal - scene - especially those which depicted Olympia interacting lovingly with her siblings- I was moved practically to tears.
The future of my reading endeavors for 2011 seems so bleak, now that I've already read what will most likely be my favorite book of the year.
Purchase Now from Amazon: Geek Love: A Novel
Shelf: Reading Now
Not at all what its title implies - even when you find out exactly what Katherine Dunn means by Geek. Should have been called Freak Love, but I think the mystery and the - "Oh my god, this isn't about two nerds falling in love?" is half the attraction.
Concerning a traveling carnival whose acts were bred instead of hired - the story is told by Olympia Binewski, a bald, albino, hunchback dwarf and the youngest daughter of Lil and Al Binewski. Olympia records her memories of the freak family - which included a boy with fins, Siamese twins, a telekinetic, and a host of baby experiments gone bad and preserved in jars - so that her daughter, Miranda, might one day understand not only why Olympia had to give her up, but also why Miranda is so special.
The book focuses on freak as norm and norm as freak. The reversal not only aids in highlighting familial relationships, but also, and more importantly, shines a light on the problems with social constructs and cult-like, follower, behavior. For one - the Binewskis seem to value their more messed up children higher than those who could pass for "normal." Olympia is told that she herself is barely a keeper, though she meets none of the standards of normal in our culture.
Dunn was, apparently, influenced by the events of Jonestown at the time she was writing this book. Having just read Raven by Tim Reitermann, I was really drawn to these comparisons and their power over all of the characters - both immediate and secondary. Arty - the boy with fins instead of hands and feet - forms a cult that is strangely reminiscent of The People's Temple. Jones' followers gave up their entire lives for him, cut themselves off from their worldly possessions to follow Jones to the promise land - Arty's followers gave up their limbs, quite literally, to become more like him and to be able to shake societal norms and become their most pure.
But mostly, I just loved the characters and the language. The Binewskis, for all their troubles, are an incredibly close family who rely on their differences to keep them safe and keep them together. There were moments when Dunn painted such a beautiful, emotional - and normal - scene - especially those which depicted Olympia interacting lovingly with her siblings- I was moved practically to tears.
The future of my reading endeavors for 2011 seems so bleak, now that I've already read what will most likely be my favorite book of the year.
Purchase Now from Amazon: Geek Love: A Novel
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Song of Ice and Fire Series Continues - FINALLY!
Okay - okay! I have to calm myself down right now, because I just saw this on Omnivoracious:
Actually, I haven't read A Feast for Crows yet, because I didn't want to be finished with the series and have nothing but a bleak future of promises from Mr. Martin. Running out to purchase that one and gobble it up before A Dance with Dragons comes out. Hrm - since I re-read Game of Thrones recently - perhaps I'll just re-read the entire series this year?
Sounds good to me!
George R.R. Martin fans, take note: A Dance with Dragons, the newest book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, will publish on July 12. It's over 1000 pages long and six years in the making -- the previous book, A Feast for Crows, published in October of 2007--and according to Martin's official website, he's still tinkering with A Dance with Dragons. But he assures everyone that the publication date is firm: "Barring tsunamis, general strikes, world wars, or asteroid strikes, you will have the novel in your hands on July 12."Oh my god, you guys! THE NEXT BOOK IS COMING OUT! So that means - HBO series due out in April followed by the next book in the series, oh my!
Actually, I haven't read A Feast for Crows yet, because I didn't want to be finished with the series and have nothing but a bleak future of promises from Mr. Martin. Running out to purchase that one and gobble it up before A Dance with Dragons comes out. Hrm - since I re-read Game of Thrones recently - perhaps I'll just re-read the entire series this year?
Sounds good to me!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
A Lion Among Men - Gregory Maguire
Rating: 1 stars
Shelf: Reading Now
I struggled with whether or not I should finish this book. I'd read so much that it seemed, how could I not finish? Can I even review it if I don't finish? A friend told me I could review it, but I'd have to let all of you know that the book was so horrible I couldn't find it in me to finish it.
This was incredibly disappointing because I absolutely LOVED both Wicked and Son of a Witch. But this was... it wasn't even written in the same tone. It didn't hold any of the same magic as the first two. It's sole purpose for existing seemed to be to explain whatever gaps existed in the first two books - but I didn't need any of that. I wasn't curious. The "gaps" were intentional and added a sense of literary mystery to the books.
In short, I wish A Lion Among Men had never been born.
Purchase Now from Amazon: A Lion Among Men (The Wicked Years, Book 3)
Shelf: Reading Now
I struggled with whether or not I should finish this book. I'd read so much that it seemed, how could I not finish? Can I even review it if I don't finish? A friend told me I could review it, but I'd have to let all of you know that the book was so horrible I couldn't find it in me to finish it.
This was incredibly disappointing because I absolutely LOVED both Wicked and Son of a Witch. But this was... it wasn't even written in the same tone. It didn't hold any of the same magic as the first two. It's sole purpose for existing seemed to be to explain whatever gaps existed in the first two books - but I didn't need any of that. I wasn't curious. The "gaps" were intentional and added a sense of literary mystery to the books.
In short, I wish A Lion Among Men had never been born.
Purchase Now from Amazon: A Lion Among Men (The Wicked Years, Book 3)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
Rating: 4 stars
Shelf: Reading Now
What a challenging book to read. At the start, it made me angry. It didn't really seem as though Hannah committed suicide because she just couldn't face another day - it seemed as though she committed this tragic act as a means to get revenge on the 13 people who are forced to listen to her tapes. I thought that this book was going to be a book about bullies. And while the kids that affected Hannah's life weren't the nicest, many of them didn't quite deserve to get the brunt of Hannah's own obvious emotional problems. How dare she do this to those kids?
Then by the end, I sympathized more with Hannah. Her story started to change and as the dots connected, from one person to the next - it was easier to see that she wasn't really blaming the individuals so much as trying to teach them to see outside of their small box. I mean - she did out some of them for some truly terrible actions. But, mostly she finally admits: "No matter what I've said so far, no matter who I've spoken of, it all comes back to - it all ends with - me."
I mostly have to wonder what Jay Asher's purpose was with the story and with the characters. Were we supposed to sympathize with Hannah straight away? Or did he want us to feel the true range that all of us feel that have been affected by something like this? Because - I have and... it was fairly spot on. When my friend killed himself I was extremely angry and confused. There were times when I really hated him for what he did. But I was also so sad and I missed him terribly. And I wished there was more I could have done. And, like Clay, I started watching everyone around me so that next time, I will be able to reach out, reach beyond.
Good work, Mr. Asher. Good work.
Purchase Now from Amazon: Thirteen Reasons Why
Shelf: Reading Now
What a challenging book to read. At the start, it made me angry. It didn't really seem as though Hannah committed suicide because she just couldn't face another day - it seemed as though she committed this tragic act as a means to get revenge on the 13 people who are forced to listen to her tapes. I thought that this book was going to be a book about bullies. And while the kids that affected Hannah's life weren't the nicest, many of them didn't quite deserve to get the brunt of Hannah's own obvious emotional problems. How dare she do this to those kids?
Then by the end, I sympathized more with Hannah. Her story started to change and as the dots connected, from one person to the next - it was easier to see that she wasn't really blaming the individuals so much as trying to teach them to see outside of their small box. I mean - she did out some of them for some truly terrible actions. But, mostly she finally admits: "No matter what I've said so far, no matter who I've spoken of, it all comes back to - it all ends with - me."
I mostly have to wonder what Jay Asher's purpose was with the story and with the characters. Were we supposed to sympathize with Hannah straight away? Or did he want us to feel the true range that all of us feel that have been affected by something like this? Because - I have and... it was fairly spot on. When my friend killed himself I was extremely angry and confused. There were times when I really hated him for what he did. But I was also so sad and I missed him terribly. And I wished there was more I could have done. And, like Clay, I started watching everyone around me so that next time, I will be able to reach out, reach beyond.
Good work, Mr. Asher. Good work.
Purchase Now from Amazon: Thirteen Reasons Why
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Top Ten Tuesday - Top 10 Movie Adaptations
Brought to you by: The Broke & The Bookish
Boyfriend and I should probably do a similar theme for our Top Five on our movie blog. In no particular order:
1. Harry Potter (I love them all, but particularly The Order of the Phoenix )
2. Pride & Prejudice (sorry. I know y'all LOVE Colin Firth as Darcy, but the BBC version puts me to sleep. So this is the Keira Knightly version, which I LOVE)
3. Jane Eyre (The TV series where the little girl who played Lucy Pevensie plays young Jane Eyre)
4. The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (ESPECIALLY because Jim Broadbent plays Professor Kirke)
5. The Golden Compass
6. Jurassic Park
7. Bridget Jones' Diary
8. Into the Wild
9. Princess Diaries (even though the books are way different and way better - I still love the movies for what they are)
10. Sense & Sensibility (I LOVE Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon)
Boyfriend and I should probably do a similar theme for our Top Five on our movie blog. In no particular order:
1. Harry Potter (I love them all, but particularly The Order of the Phoenix )
2. Pride & Prejudice (sorry. I know y'all LOVE Colin Firth as Darcy, but the BBC version puts me to sleep. So this is the Keira Knightly version, which I LOVE)
3. Jane Eyre (The TV series where the little girl who played Lucy Pevensie plays young Jane Eyre)
4. The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (ESPECIALLY because Jim Broadbent plays Professor Kirke)
5. The Golden Compass
6. Jurassic Park
7. Bridget Jones' Diary
8. Into the Wild
9. Princess Diaries (even though the books are way different and way better - I still love the movies for what they are)
10. Sense & Sensibility (I LOVE Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon)
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