"Wintersmith"

So, I'm officially moving out of Pittsburgh on Friday. Even though 6 (that's right, 6) banker boxes worth of books have already made the pilgrimage back to Gettysburg in the back of my dad's truck, I figure it's only appropriate to write about one of the few that stayed behidn. (Relax...only a few books stayed in Pittsburgh with me because I knew I'd need something to read or I'd go crazy. And some weren't unearthed from under the bed until yesterday. Oops.)

"Wintersmith"
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins 2007
ISBN#: 978-0060890339

Tiffany Aching, practically thirteen and still learning witchcraft far from her home on the chalk, has accidentally inserted herself into the role of the Lady Summer. Now, the Wintersmith is calling on her, with all sorts of gifts (like frost roses and icebergs that look just like her) and all sorts of trouble. Can Tiffany put the seasons to right or will everyone end up as blue as the Nac Mac Feegles?

This is the third book in the Tiffany Aching series, Terry Pratchett's young adult books. I also have a feeling it's the last, but that's fine. Like "Wee Free Men" and "A Hat Full of Sky", "Wintersmith" follows Tiffany and her never-ending learning to be a real witch. You could probably read this book on it's own, but it's a lot more interesting after reading the other two first. Roland, the Baron's son, plays a much bigger part in this book, as does Annagramma. But, these characters really help to shape who Tiffany is throughout the books. And, of course, the Nac Mac Feegles are in full swing. The part about Explainin' is worth a chuckle. While the Wintersmith is new, the story is old. It's the same sort of myth all sorts of cultures use to explain the change in seasons, andPratchett does an excellent job of weaving it together. He also takes elements and characters from the other Discworld novels and makes them just as likeable in this setting. This particular volume contains Granny Weatherwax from the start, as well as Nanny Ogg, and I'm sure Magrat puts in an appearance (although she's not mentioned by name). Pratchett also includes Anoia (Goddess of Things that Get Stuck in Drawers) who is mentioned in some of the late Discworld novels, Greebo the cat, and Shawn Ogg. But, my personal favorite is at the very end of the book, when Rob Anybody reads a very special picture book. "Where's mah coo?" It all comes around again. :)

The Last Post (for now): "I Lick My Cheese"

Huzzah! The 22nd post!

I decided to go for a slightly unusual book this time around...

"I Lick My Cheese and Other Real Notes from the Roommate Frontlines"
Oonagh O'Hagan
Abrams Image, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-8109-8362-5

Collected here, complete with snarky commentary, are the scribblings of frustration, amusment, and oh-so-carefully-concealed hostility.

I love passive-aggressive (and just plain aggressive) notes. Not necessarily being on the giving or receiving end of such notes, but there's just something hilarious in the way people deal with their problems on paper. I'm a fan of the snarky commentary in this book as well. On a note that reads "You know, that I know that you know that I know that you took it...So give it back", Oonagh comments "This is the kind of message that the mafia would leave for a victim as the first chance to pay up before getting to wear the not-so-fashionable concrete shoes". This books great to just pick up and leaf through and smile, becuase it's not you. :)

Quick Post: "The Chocolate War"

Believe it or not, in a two sentence summary, there will be spoilers. Ye have been warned!

"The Chocolate War."
Robert Cormier
Dell Laurel-Leaf, 1974
ISBN# 978-0-440-94459-1

Boy stands up to repressive Catholic school bullies and refuses to sell chocolates. Boy gets crap beaten out of him.

This book gets my sense of justice all riled up. Read it. But, be told...it'll enflame your sense of justice and fairness.

"Nets"

Squeaking a few in under the wire. This is the first (and only) poetry book I'll probably ever include in this blog. I've been packing a lot lately, and this little volume seemed to miss the box.

"Nets"
Jen Bervin
Ugly Duckling Presse, 2006 (third printing)
ISBN# 0972768432

In a fit of experimentation, Jen Bervin transforms Shakespeare's immortal sonnets into small phrases by letting a few words slip "through the net".

Of all the crazy experimental poetry I had to read for my various poetry classes in undergrad, this is one of the few ones I enjoyed. Jen Bervin takes full Shakespeare sonnets and fades the text except for a few choice words. The effect is one of two sentences (that actually make sense...what a novelty!) that seem to capture the essence of Shakespeare. Because this book isn't so mainstream as our works discussed here, I'm including two examples. (Copyright moment: I don't own them. These works belong to Jen Bervin.)


63
Against my love shall be, as I am now,
With Time's injurious hand crushed and o'er-worn;
When hours have drained his blood and filled his brow
With lines and wrinkles; when his youthful morn
Hath travelled on to age's steepy night,
And all those beauties whereof now he's king
Are vanishing or vanished out of sight,
Stealing away the treasure of his spring;
For such a time do I now fortify
Against confounding age's cruel knife,
That he shall never cut from memory
My sweet love's beauty, though my lover's life:
His beauty shall in these black lines be seen,
And they shall live, and he in them still green.

136
If thy soul check thee that I come so near,
Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy 'Will,'
And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there;
Thus far for love my love-suit, sweet, fulfil.
'Will' will fulfil the treasure of thy love,
Ay, fill it full with wills, and my will one.
In things of great receipt with ease we prove
Among a number one is reckoned none.
Then in the number let me pass untold,
Though in thy store's account I one must be;
For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold
That nothing me, a something sweet to thee:
Make but my name thy love, and love that still,
And then thou lovest me, for my name is 'Will.'

"Into the Twilight, Endlessly Grousing"

"Into the Twilight, Endlessly Grousing."
Patrick McManus
Simon and Schuester, 1998
ISBN # 068484799X

In yet another volume of outdoorsman humor, Patrick McManus addresses such serious issues as: Firecrackers and other fun hobbies, what to do when the Stamp People come for you, the hazards of growing a beard, and why men cry.

I always think it's funny that two of my favorite authors don't seem to match up with me in any way. Firstly- Lewis Grizzard, Southern newspaper columnist from the the 70's (and a bit of a good ol' boy), and Secondly- Patrick McManus, an outdoorsman who pursues hunting, fishing, and camping. And yet, I love reading their work because, even though I have no common ground, their writing is so funny, you can have no knowledge of the subject and still get a chuckle. Patrick McManus has written a number of short story/personal essay collections, including "The Good Samaritan Strikes Again", "Real Ponies Don't Go Oink!", and "The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw". While there are some heavily fictionalized stories in this particular book, ("The Chicken Fried Club" and "Sam Spud and the Case of the Maltese Fly" definitely reek of the hard bitten detective genre), there are also some stories that have to be straight from Pat's life (and heart). There's usually a lot of laughs, but there are also a lot of moments that make you pause. One character, the Old Man, always makes me laugh and, at the same time, tear up. And, speaking of characters, Patrick McManus stories are populated with some of the best: Rancid Crabtree, the crotchety old mountain man. Retch Sweeny and Crazy Eddie, Pat's friends. The Troll, Pat's sister. And, my personal favorite, Patrick himself. Even if you aren't into the nature scene, Patrick McManus stories are still laughable.

Valiant

"Valiant"
Holly Black
Simon Pulse, 2005
ISBN 9-780689-868238

Valerie, betrayed by the people she was closest to, tries to disappear in New York City. When a chance encounter with two other runaway teens leads her to the dark and dangerous world of street life, she finds out there's more living in the dark tunnels of the subway than she ever imagined. Val tries to understand the world of the Faeries, not the average Tinkerbells found in stories, and her connection with a troll may very well be the key back to her life.

Pegged as "A Modern Tale of Faerie", "Valiant" is absolutely creepy. It's a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast", kinda, but it's the first retelling I've ever read where the Beauty is not so self-sacrificing and nauseating. Val is undeniably human, and acts foolishly and impulsively. It makes her a much more sympathetic characters. The cast of street urchins is just as creepy as the Fair Folk they interact with, and Holly Black has a very vivid imagination. Definitely worth a read if you want a little edge to your fairy tales.

ALA Funness! :)

So, this is technically not a book review, but I was at the ALA national conference all weekend, and I've managed to add to my book collection with tons of galleys, picture books, and freebies. :) Instead of a review, here are some pictures of authors and some books that are now on my shelf.

Mike Thaler, author of "The Teacher from the Black Lagoon" and other similar titles. His shirt read "Read, or Get Laminated!", compliments of "The Librarian from the Black Lagoon".

The marvelous Holly Black, who was signing copies of the galley for "Geekitude", which she edited. What I didn't place together at the time was that she's also the author of "Valiant", which is amazing. :)

Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith might very well jsut be my heroes. Not only have they presented with world with the wonderful "Squids will be Squids", but also "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales". True men of genius.

Mo Willems, author of the Pigeon books, is just as fun and funny as the pigeon. The original of this picture involved Mo trying to balance the pigeon on his head. Yep.

Neil Gaiman is, without a doubt, one of my favorite authors of all time. Waiting in line to get his autograph is always worth it. He's extremely polite, cooperative, and he'll draw your name on a tombstone while you gush about how much you love "The Graveyard Book." No lie.

This is just a bonus picture from the Neil Gaiman line, take two. Yes, I'm that much of a fan.