Literary T-shirts

As a fan of books and t-shirts, I can't help but collect and wear t-shirts that have literary themes.  Over the past month, I have purchased four new ones:

Charlotte's Web bought from Outofprintclothing.com

Austen Dating Service bought from The Orem Library

Dr. Seuss book bought from The Orem Library.  The quote is "The person I love more than Dr. Seuss is the person who read him to me."

Wuthering Heights shirt bought from The Orem Library

I guess I could have a worse habit than buying books or literary-themed t-shirts. 

June 2011 update

Slowly but surely I am publishing the life and times of the Singing Librarian. Here is the June 2011 update:

June sped by with lots of work. While one of my bosses went to Germany, another went to Spain. Keeping track of people in foreign countries (that are 7-9 hours ahead of us) can be difficult. Luckily, my bosses are pretty good about not calling me when it is morning for them and very late/early for me.) I was able to go to a children's book fair on June 4^th with Jen, John, Lauren, and Emily. Emily was a little shy around the book characters but both girls were able to get free books and play games. Lauren especially liked the blow up slide. We ended the afternoon at an ice cream parlor, which is always a good way to end a visit with Aunt Jess.

On June 11^th the family went to Lagoon. We went for Dad’s company summer party and were able to celebrate the birthdays of Lauren and Isaac. I made sure to take something to stop the nausea of riding on rides. Sid and Wyatt were unable to make it so I rode a lot with Isaac and Lauren. It was a lot of fun and it seems strange that Dad will be retiring soon (as we have been going to his annual work party for as long as I can remember.) Dad managed to get a picture of Emily and I on the Merry-go-round.

On June 25^th a friend (Rob) and I went up to Salt Lake to see Ira Glass, host of This American Life. He talked about radio and the impact it can have on us as well as how the radio program is produced. After wards, we (along with my parents, Jordan, Alison, Clara, and Aunt Renee ended up at The Bakery for dessert. The conversation and food were excellent.

A dream is a wish your heart makes....

I have a dream of having a home of my own one day. This home will include many bookshelves. A few days ago I saw this picture:

If I'm very good and send vibes out to the Universe, do you think I can have this one? Sigh.

Reading Rainbow

According to NPR, which I listen to on a daily basis, the children's show Reading Rainbow is coming to an end. The show, which helps children understand why they should read, has been on the air for 26 years. The only PBS children's shows that have run longer are Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. Farewell dear show, you shall be missed.

(If you are interested in learning more, here is a link to the NPR story.)

That's right; I'm awesome....

In April I decided to make 101 goals and achieve them in 1001 days. One of those goals was to write to 10 living authors that have written books that I've enjoyed reading. I have written to five so far: Cynthia Voigt, Stephenie Meyer, Dee Henderson, Nancy Pearl and Julie Edwards. Here is my story regarding one of them:

Julie Edwards wrote Mandy in 1971. It is a charming book about an orphan who find an abandoned cottage in the woods. I first discovered it at the library when I was in junior high. Since then I have probably read it four or five times. It was reprinted in 2001 and I was able to buy a copy of it. After a little research I discovered that Julie Edwards is actually Julie Andrews Edwards, who stared in such musicals as The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has won Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. I looked on the internet and found an address for her fan club. I dutifully wrote her a letter explaining how much I enjoyed her book and how I wished that she had written more young adult fiction. I also mentioned how much I enjoyed the movies that she had been in. I wrote the letter in May and haven't thought much of it until I received this on Friday:

That's right; I'm officially awesome. Just in case you can't read it, here's what it says:

"Dear Jessica,

How very nice of you to take the time to write such a lovely letter to Dame Julie Andrews Edwards to tell her you like her movies, music and that you enjoyed her book, Mandy.

Julie very much enjoys writing books for young readers She is please you liked her style of writing. When she gets nice letters such as yours, she just wants to get to work and write another book so she can keep all of her readers happy.

Thank you for taking the time to write. We are sending a signed photo of Julie. We hope you will enjoy it.

Sincerely,
Kathy Juliani
Fan Mail Coordinator"

While I realize that this letter seems to be written to a girl in junior high, I was still excited to receive it and yes, I did also receive a 4x6 autographed picture of Julie Andrews. I was totally excited and have already told my roommate, a cousin, and several people at work. I don't care if it makes me a geek, I think Julie Andrews is great and I'm considering getting the picture and letter frames.

How long has it been? - the book version

I was looking for a book recommendation for a friend today and realized how long it's been since I've talked about what I've been reading. Here's a quick list of some of the things I've read in the past eight months:

1. A Wolf at the Door - Datlow and Windling (Retold fairy tales)
   
2. Fairest - Levine (Young Adult fairy tale by the author of Ella Enchanted)
   
3. An Ice Cold Grave - Harris (Newest in the Harper Connelly mystery series)
   
4. Quicksilver - Spinner (A recreation of the myth of Atlanta)
   
5. The Sirens - Evslin (Greek mythology)
   
6. The Sphinx - Evslin (Green mythology)
   
7. The Nemean Lion - Evslin (Green mythology)
   
8. Cerberus - Evslin (Greek mythology)
   
9. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (Awesome Young Adult book about a boy growing up in a graveyard)
   
10. Thriving on vague objectives - Adams (Book of Dilbert cartoons)
    
11. Don't step in the leadership - Adams (Book of Dilbert cartoons)
    
12. Thirteen reasons why - Asher (Horrible, harsh Young Adult book about suicide and guilt)
    
13. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life - Rosenthal (Interesting biography)
    
14. A Northern Light - Donnelly (Thoughtful Young Adult book set in early 1900 Canada)
    
15. Brooklyn Rose - Rinaldi (Young Adult book that had an incomplete ending)
    
16. Assassination Vacation - Vowell (Awesome non-fiction journey to historical monuments and other places that are associated with Presidential assassinations)
    
17. Me talk pretty one day - Sedaris (Good book of short essays)
    
18. Dead and Gone - Harris (Latest in the Southern Vampire Mystery series)
    
19. A Countess below stairs - Ibbotson (Slightly cheesy romance set in England after WWII)
    

This list isn't comprehensive but it is a start. My recommendations include Assassination Vacation, The Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, and The Graveyard Book.

Do I need a support group?

As I was cleaning my room yesterday, I noticed something. Let me show you:

Does anyone else see a disturbing pattern? I have four almost full bookcases in my room and still have the urge to buy more. All this, and I still manage to go to the library once or twice a week. Do I need a support group for this problem? On one hand, I haven't resorted to stealing or even debt to support my obsession. On the other hand, I am slowly running out of room to store my books. It is a quandary.

Monkey Portraits

Last week I read, or rather looked at, an awesome book. It is called Monkey Portraits by Jill Greenberg. Jill, a photographer, decided to take portraits of various primates. Many of the monkey's that are used in her book have also been featured in movies or tv. Other than the foreward, there is very little text in the book. I was struck not only by the clarity and lighting in the pictures but by the humanistic expressions on the monkeys. If you get a chance, I would highly recommend taking a look at this book.

Randy Pausch

When I got on the computer tonight, a headline on Sarah's homepage caught my eye: "Last Lecture professor dies at 47." I was suprised in a way, but shouldn't have been. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, go to the ABC News website for more information. I first learned about Randy Pausch from Sarah, although she doesn't know it. I saw a CD on the kitchen hutch that said "Last Lecture-Randy Pausch." Being stubborn, I didn't ask Sarah about it. Instead, I turned to my trusty friend: the internet. I found his videos on Youtube and was amazed at what I saw. How could a man who had been diagnosed with cancer have such an attitude? It was amazing. I then went to his website and read more about his struggles, his passions, and his life. (As a side note, when I tried to connect to it this evening, it wasn't working.) I then went out and bought the book The Last Lecture and read it almost all in one sitting. It was inspiring and sad all at the same time. I raved about it to my coworkers the next day and even loaned my book to Emily, the payroll supervisor. (For those of you who know me, you realize how much it takes for me to loan a precious book out.) I have two quotes from the book on my whiteboard at work. The first is "Decide if you are a Tigger or an Eyore" and the other is "The brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things." I would encourage everyone to either watch the Youtube version of The Last Lecture or read the book. I only wish that I could live my life as well as Randy Pausch did. I extend my sincere condolences to his wife and children.

EW's book list

At the family reunion yesterday, I read Entertainment Weekly's list of the top 100 classic books of the past 25 years. A few people asked me to post it, so here goes:

1. The Road - Cormac McCarthy, 2006
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling, 2000
3. Beloved - Toni Morrison, 1987
4. The Liars' Club - Mary Karr, 1995
5. American Pastoral - Philip Roth, 1997
6. Mystic River - Dennis Lehane, 2001
7. Maus - Art Spiegelman, 1986/1991
8. Selected Stories - Alice Munro, 1996
9. Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier, 1997
10. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami, 1997
11. Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer, 1997
12. Blindness - Jose Saramago, 1998
13. Watchmen - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, 1986/1987
14. Black Water - Joyce Carol Oates, 1992
15. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers, 2000
16. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood, 1986
17. Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1988
18. Rabbit at Rest - John Updike, 1990
19. On Beauty - Zadie Smith, 2005
20. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding, 1998
21. On Writing - Stephen King, 2000
22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz, 2007
23. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker, 1996
24. Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry, 1985
25. The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan, 1989
26. Neuromancer - William Gibson, 1984
27. Possession - A.S. Byatt, 1990
28. Naked - David Sedaris, 1997
29. Bel Canto - Anne Patchett, 2001
30. Case Histories - Kate Atkinson, 2004
31. The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien, 1990
32. Parting the Waters - Taylor Branch, 1988
33. The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion, 2005
34. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold, 2002
35. The Line of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst, 2004
36. Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt, 1996
37. Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi, 2003
38. Birds of America - Lorrie Moore, 1998
39. Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri, 2000
40. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman, 1995-2000
41. The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros, 1984
42. LaBrava - Elmore Leonard, 1983
43. Borrowed Time - Paul Monette, 1988
44. Praying for Sheetrock - Melissa Fay Greene, 1991
45. Eva Luna - Isabel Allende, 1988
46. Sandman - Neil Gaiman, 1988-1996
47. World's Fair - E.L. Doctorow, 1985
48. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver, 1998
49. Clockers - Richard Price, 1992
50. The Corrections - Jonathan Frazen, 2001

For numbers 51-100, please click on the link to Entertainment Weekly above. (Sorry, my fingers are getting tired.)

Saturday with The Host

Ladies and Gentlemen, you are not being deceived. The time this blog entry was posted is correct. It is now past 3am on Sunday morning and I have still not gone to bed. "How can this be?" an astonished reader might ask. Well, it all started this morning when I went to my neighbor's house for brunch. My visiting teachers decided to invite their girls to brunch so that both bodies and souls could be fed. Luckily, the place where it was held was in a townhouse in the same row as the one I live in. I walked a few doors down and shared a wonderful meal with Angie, Missy, and Rebecca (I think that is her name; it is late after all.) I offered to take out their trash. When I went out their back door, I found a plot of dirt. Instead of the cement and rocks that are in my backyard, I found that it had cement and dirt. My mind raced with excitement. It had weeds that were almost as high as my waist and was app. 5ft x 12 ft. I went back in and almost begged to be able to weed and plant it. The weather was perfect and it had rained the night before, making the earth soft. Even though I was looked at as odd, they gave their permission. After talking for a while, I went home and changed into appropriate gardening clothes. I went and pulled all the weeds out. It took me about 2 hours. After a discussion with Angie about what she would like there, I ran to the greenhouse. I bought a tomato plant, acorn squash, and flowers. I went back, planted them all (using the techniques instilled in me by my parents) and was done by 4:45pm. It was exhilarating and exhausting. I came home and took a shower. I know that I'll be sore all day Sunday.
Earlier that day, Sarah had asked me if I wanted to read The Host by Stephanie Meyers and I said that I did. I enjoyed Twilight so I was willing to give it a chance, even though I have heard a few mixed reviews. (Some lovers of Twilight don't like it as well since it has a science fiction feel instead of her usual fantasy. The idea of aliens threw them off.) Well...get ready for a shock...I liked it better than Twilight. Before all of you start throwing stones at me or shunning me at parties, I would like a chance to explain. Unlike some fantasy readers, I enjoy the science fiction genre as well. I have always liked authors like Orson Scott Card, Sharon Shinn, and others. I liked the more mature characters and the serious inner conflict of Wanda/Wanderer/Melanie. It showed a depth and a moral struggle that I found to be engaging. Anyway, there it is. If you are interested in science fiction at all, I would highly suggest reading The Host. I started after I got out of the shower at 6:30 and couldn't put it down. I read all 624 pages in one sitting with only two bathroom breaks. I am now hungry, wide awake, and wish there were more to read. Oh well, such is life. Is it strange that I get this excited about books?

I still read...really.

Even though I haven't written a book review since December, I still make time to read. Over the past couple of months, I have read the following books:

1. Paperquake by Reiss
2. A gracious plenty by Reynolds
3. Fairest of them all by Medeiros (I don't recommend it)
4. Lithium: what you should know by Eshom (informative yet slightly boring)
5. It happened in Utah by Wharton
6. Summers at Castle Auburn by Shinn (I like this fantasy author)
7. The Innocent's story by Singer
8. Austenland by Hale (Not as cute as I would have liked but, as a huge fan of Jane Austen, I still liked it)
9. Dream Chaser by Kenyon (interesting premise but had some smut-don't bother unless you can read sex scenes and not be bothered. I didn't make it all the way through.)
10. The night dance by Wayn
11. Fire study by Snyder (the third in a pretty good fantasy series)
12. A field guide to high school by Walsh (part of it is written in a diary format)
13. Over the moon at the Big Lizard Diner by Wingate (a cute, clean romance)
14. I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you by Carter (fun teen spy novel)
15. Deep and dark and dangerous by Hahn (ok but no Wait Til Helen Comes)
16. Beauty by Wilson (I likes this story of a painter and a recluse disfigured by disease)
17. Feathers by Woodson
18. General Winston's daughter by Shinn
19. The Titan's Curse by Riordan (An interesting series that involves Greek Gods and heroes)
20. When Cricket's Cry by Martin (I would recommend it to almost any adult)
21. The Fire Rose by Lackey
22. The Quantum Rose by Asaro (would have been better without the romance)
23. Cross my heart and hope to spy by Carter (second in a series)
24. The Uses of Adversity by Broderick (very good spiritual book for any adult)
25. The arrival by Tan (excellent graphic novel with few words)
26. The Thirteenth tale by Setterfield (I would like to thank my sister Jen for recommending it.)

Since the list is fairly long, I will not give my usual 2-5 sentence review. If there is something particular that I wanted any reader of my blog to know, I have included it. I hope you all are still reading and can make time to escape into a good book.

Goodreads.com and reading

A few days ago I received an e-mail from Alison that invited me to join goodreads.com. I joined and look forward to finding out what other people are reading and getting recommendations on what to read next. I bring this up because I have recently been reflecting on how my life has changed over the past year. In April, I will have worked at Prosper for a year. In the month and a half before I started there, I read a lot. I was looking for a job and, in my spare time, I read a lot of new books. Over the past few months, the number of hours I have worked has steadily rose. Last week, due to circumstances beyond my control, I worked 56 hours. I also have started attending a HR class every Tuesday night. So, on Tuesday, I work from 9-5:30pm and then attend class from 6-9pm. It makes for a long day. A year ago, I read three or four books a week. Now I'm lucky if I finish a book every two or three weeks. I supposed that's what happens when you grow up and get a grown-up job.

Recent Readings

Here are some recent readings that I would recommend:

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman is a charming teen fiction. When Julia's best friend become obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, she goes along. Along the way, she meets her own Mr. Darcy. As a lover of Pride and Prejudice myself, I identified with the young main character. I am still looking for my own Mr. Darcy.

In Another Day in the Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik, a neurosurgeon describes why she went into medicine and some of the interesting cases she has encountered. For a non-fiction book, I found it fascinating.

Heart of Gold by Sharon Shinn is a book of fantasy. In a world where their are races with blue and gold skin, a young man discovers that a genetic weapon. He risks his life to save a race that dislikes his own. Along the way, he falls in love. Every other chapter is written from the perspective of the woman he kidnaps to help him in his scientific quest.

Mary Roach, the author of Stiff: the curious lives of Human Cadavars, has written a fascinating book about how dead humans have helped the living through crash tests, medical research, organ donation, and other interesting ways. One might think that this book would be revolting, but I highly recommend it for the curious mind.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan is the second in a trio of books. When a modern day boy discovers that his father is the Greek God Poseidon, all sorts of monsters start trying to kills him. With the help of a daughter of Demeter and a satyr, Percy goes on a quest. Although this books was written for the junior high crowd, I quite enjoyed it. I plan to read the third book in the coming months.

Great Books for Every Book Lover by Thomas Craughwell has 2002 reading recommendations for all types of readers. I love books that recommend other books. I find them a great resource for new authors.

Man's Search for Meaning

A few days ago, I lent my copy of Man's Search for Meaning to Sarah. It is a book that I read a few years ago and then bought a copy of so that I could reread it and make notations in the margins. It is the Nazi death camp experiences of Viktor Frankl. A Jewish Austrian psychiatrist, Frankl spent time in four death camps during World War II. Along the way his parents and his pregnant wife were killed. In Man's Search for Meaning, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. These ideas became the basis of logotherapy, for which he has become famous for. I would recommend this book to anyone. The first part of the book are the actual experiences of Viktor as he labors in the death camps and tries to stop several suicides. The second part of the book is a more technical explanation of the therapy and how it can be applied. I have yet to be able to make it through the second part of the book. Anyway, I thought I would recommend this book to those you are looking for a serious, non-fiction read that has a touch of spirituality.

My chair

I saw a picture of this chair on a website for book lovers. It is made by a company in Italy and costs a bundle. I still found it intriguing, as it is able to hold many books and looks like a lot of fun. It comes with a similar ottoman. I will admit that I do wonder if it would be comfortable for me to sit in. When I read, I prefer to have my legs tucked up next to me.

Finished

I have finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and thus have finished the entire Harry Potter series. I finished on Tuesday after work and, after having a few days to process, can write my review. For any of those who have not finished the book, I will not give major plot points away. This was the darkest book in the series but it was nice to see a one or two light points, such as the wedding. I have to admit, there was a little more camping that I would have liked but I still enjoyed the quest of Harry and his friends. The deaths of several characters that I liked was a blow but I accepted them with my usual grace; meaning I became angry, then a little sad. (I have yet to figure out why I become so attached to fictional characters.) I accepted the ending of the book in stride although the epilogue was a little much for me. (It wrapped it up in too perfect of a picture.) I heard a rumor from a coworker that J.K. Rowling is writing two new books. While it is known that they will not be sequels to Harry Potter, I am hoping for a prequel. I have always wondered how James and Lily got together, how the ministry of magic was started, and more about the founders of Hogwarts. I apologize to the readers of the blog for the lack of specifics. If you would like to discuss the book in more detail, feel free to call me.

A book meme

Name a book that changed your life: This is a hard question. I would say either The Bible or The Book of Mormon for religious reasons. I was also changed by Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. It, along with The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, taught me how to forgive and gave me two amazing people to admire.
Name a book that you have read more than once: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I believe I have read it eight times all the way through, and have read the more interesting parts ten or eleven times. I can also almost recite The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton word for word.
Name a book that you would take on a deserted island: Besides the obvious answer of some sort of survival guide, I think I would take The Complete Works of Shakespeare (with footnotes). When not reading it, I could use it to squash small animals.
Name a book that you wish you had written: Any of the Harry Potter books. They show an amazing imagination and planning, have gotten kids to read more, and have made lots of money.
Name a book that you wish had never been written: Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. Enough said.
Name a book you have been meaning to read: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. (Please don't yell at me, I'm afraid if I start reading I will not put it down. I just don't have the time right now. Give me a couple weeks.)
Name a book that you are currently reading: The Watson go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. I am reading it for my book group.

Book reviews

In the last week and a half, I have gotten a lot of reading done. Along with looking for a job, I am trying to keep my mind active so that when I return to school I will still be able to form complete sentences. Thus follows my book reviews for your reading pleasure:

The Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen is a cute picture book. I have a special spot in my heart for children's books that take place in libraries. This one is worth reading. The illustrations by Kevin Hawkes are also worth a look. Double Helix by Nancy Werlin is a science fiction book about the use of cloning and genetic engineering by todays scientists. While the main character, a teenage boy, is well written, the book does not stand out as anything to shout about. It was also strange for the writer to put a teenage romance in the middle of science fiction mystery. It seemed a little out of place and made me wonder if most non-LDS teenagers sleep around as much as this character. While an adequate book, I wouldn't really recommend it.

Two books about genetic engineering I would recommend are both by James Patterson. When the wind blows and Maximum Ride: the angel experiment are both well written with levels of suspense and thoughtfulness. Both have some language but are well worth the read. When the wind blows was written first and is told from multiple points of view. In fact, the only problem I had with this book is that it may have too many points of view. It tells the story of a veterinarian, an FBI agent, a group of evil scientists, and several genetically engineered children who can fly. This book, while not connected by characters, brought about Maximum Ride: the angel experiment. The preface of Maximum... explains that there are no characters in common with When the wind blows even though they both have children who can fly and a main character with the name of Max. Maximum Ride: the angel experiment and its sequel are both books that I would highly recommend. There is an occasional swear word in both but the plot is tightly written, the characters real and accessible, and the action intense. For those of you who like science fiction mixed with scientists run amok and government intrigue, I would advise you to read this book. As a person who has always dreamed of having wings, I really liked this book.

Jenna Starborn by Sharon Shinn is a futuristic retelling of Jane Eyre. Since I have read Jane Eyre twice, I thought I would give it a try. It was well written although I could see what was going to happen because it so closely paralleled Jane Eyre. I am always fascinated by the retelling of classic stories, especially fairy tales. This was an excellent read and anyone who liked Jane Eyre will appreciate this book as a science fiction companion piece. One piece of caution though, Jenna seemed to be in more mortal danger than Jane ever was. Jenna comes close to death several times. If you are the type that gets very attached to your characters, your heart might beat a little faster than normal during these brief but trying times.

I would like to thank Jen for recommending The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. This book meanders through the childhood recollections of a boy as he grew up in Montana during the first decade of the 1900's. The stories of his family, new housekeeper, and one room schoolhouse were charming. My only complaint is that four or five times during the story, he referenced his current status as narrator in the book. His childhood stories were great but his mention of being superintendent of the school system were distracting. Doig's characters were so well drawn that a reader could see the mean trapper, the honorable father/farmer, and the exuberant younger brothers of the narrator. The prose is sometimes a bit poetic, especially when describing nature, but is worth reading so that it can bounce around in your head when you are taking a walk through the park later. Although slow in serious action or suspense, this book was a good study of farming life and the ties that bind.

The next book I plan to read is Beast by Donna Napoli, who is a master at the retelling of fairy tales. It should be good. Thus ends this former librarian's review.