Stead-ily finishing Bud

Author Rebecca Stead signs at Old Orchard today

I have made sufficient progress reading Bud today. I will be finished by projected time tomorrow. The book has kept me entertained with it's child-like spirit! I love the confident attitude Bud maintains as he is running away from Flint, Michigan (I would be confident, too, running from Flint). His imagination is wonderful and his perception of librarians is still making me laugh. The librarian recalls his childhood likes of Civil War books. Bud requests a pencil and maps and the librarian tells him when he gets back to return the pencil she has a big surprise. His response runs along the lines of "Great. When a librarian says they have surprise for you, you know it isn't going to be that great." LOL. I was thinking...so true. That was my perception as a kid, as well.

When Bud leaves the Shantytown of Hooverville, he goes to the library to figure out how far it is from Flint to Grand Rapids. He is determined his dad is a bassist (or the man who plays the really big fiddle), Herman E. Calloway. Bud's last name is Caldwell, so it must mean this is his dad because how many names have a C, A, L and W all in common? Makes sense to me. So, this must mean Dennis Rodman is my dad...because how many names have a R, O, D, and N in common?

Look, isn't the resemblance uncanny? We both are naked. We both have orange in our hair. We both have muscles. It must mean he is my dad. And...one of my middle initials is a D (for Donald) and his first name starts with a D and we both have similar last names. Maury Povich paternity tests would say with a result of 98.99%, Dennis is his father. And I do have a quick story from college to narrate that parallels this (it will be in italics to represent story time): One day I was eating lunch with a couple of music majors. One of them, Katie, asked me how I got my name...my name for those of you who do not know has four names to it. She asked me if I was named Patrick because I was born on St. Patrick's Day. I told her no and that I was actually born in November the day before Thanksgiving. My friend Stephanie was sitting next to me and quickly retorts to her "My name is Mother because I was born on Mother's Day (which she was)." This gave us all a great laugh.

Speaking of doppelganger's, here is mine. This is Liev Schreiber. I have this pic up on Facebook as a profile pic. Everyone thinks it is me! :)
OK. So back to Bud. Bud is on his way to Grand Rapids (which is a pretty cool place if you haven't been. I have been to a bar there) to meet his dad he has never met before. He is walking, too, which is about a 120 mile trek from Flint. Well, at 2:30AM, a man drives by and stops to pick Bud up. The man insists Bud come with him because at 2:30 in the morning, you do not want to be a black man walking on the side of the road outside of Owosso, Michigan. So, he lures Bud into his car. Well, as a side, the man turns out to be Lefty Lewis (but call me Mr. Lewis); he transports medical stuff as a porter. Bud sees a box in the car labeled "Human Blood." When Lewis closes Bud's car door and walks to the other side, Bud reaches over and locks the driver's side door so Lewis cannot get back in. He thinks he is a vampire. Bud then attempts to drive the car off but does not get far at all. Mr. Lewis laughs when he finds out Bud thinks he is a vampire and tells him only a person from Flint would think something like that (Bud has told him he is from Grand Rapids so he can hitch a ride back to his dad). Mr. Lewis inquires about his running away and Bud tells him his dad is in Grand Rapids. Mr. Lewis turns out to know Calloway and sends him a telegram. Lewis takes Bud to his daughter's house and this is where I left off.

Bud is definitely a good, quick read. It is quite enjoyable. I have been entertained. I really wish I would have paid more attention to Newbery Medal winners as a child.

Well, speaking of Newbery Medal winners...today, we had the pleasure of hosting Rebecca Stead, author of the newest Newbery When You Reach Me. She and her publisher, Wendy Lamb, came to speak and do a reading and signing at our store at 3PM this afternoon. I must say, I don't think I have met two more down-to-earth people before. Both were extremely appreciative and grateful to be there. This was Stead's first time to Chicago and I think she really enjoyed it. I got the honor of doing her introduction before speaking. It will probably land in the top coolest things of my life category because really, how many people besides a handful of librarians and teachers get to introduce Newbery Medal winners? Not many. And I did (such a nerd, I know).

The question and answer session went extremely well. I am going to write a few things down she said. When asked what her inspiration for writing: My childhood and newspaper articles. I don't know what I would ever do if the New York Times would stop publishing. Newspaper articles have such interesting info that can be expanded upon and built into a wonderful story with the right amount of research. When asked about her inspiration for When You Reach Me: I am Miranda, the apartment was my apartment. The book is my childhood and my memories of the places I grew up in in New York. The streets were the ones I walked to school on. Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time was also a major inspiration. When asked about her writing process: I love to read. Reading is the gas that fills the tank for writing. When I feel as though I am stuck, I always read. It motivates me and makes me feel good. When asked about her first book versus the second: First Light took me four years to write. The first draft was finished in the first year. The other 15 were completed over the next three years. First Light is about a civilization that lives in Greenland under the ice sheet that is two miles thick. Peter goes to Greenland with his father who is a climatologist to study these sheets. Peter discovers this civilization under the ice. So, I had to research the jobs of these climatologists and create the research world on top of the ice and then create this parallel society that was completely from my imagination under the ice. It took time. When You Reach Me took nine months to write first draft and Wendy (her publisher/editor) and I spent about another nine months to finish it. Parallel universe and time: I love the idea of parallel universe or things not seen. We have Google Earth now that gives everything away about society and the world. We can now see anything anywhere with the click of a mouse. I like to think of places that no one can see and no one thinks about like the two mile-thick ice sheet in First Light. I like to think there are places we do not know about and have not seen. I like to create these places in the hopes that they might be discovered one day. On winning the Newbery Medal: I could not believe it (a big smile followed).

Stead was such a pleasant person. She took the time to talk to each fan that came through the line. She signed a poster, First Light and When You Reach Me for Me and thanked me profusely for her intro and for being so loving of children's literature. I think one of the most exciting parts was having Holly, a librarian at Skokie Public Library AND a member of the Newbery Committee that chose this book, at the signing and watching her show Rebecca the video from the conference where they announced the Newbery at the moment she won. Stead was so humbled by the video. She had her head almost all the way down on the table. I was truly appreciative to meet such a wonderful author.


Rebecca Stead has a website you should check out: Rebecca Stead

As far as her publisher/editor, Wendy Lamb. WONDERFUL woman. She was so nice. She talked to me for quite a while and expressed her appreciation for me and my understanding of children's literature, as well. And, as it turns out appropriately enough for this week, she was the publisher/editor of Curtis' Bud, Not Buddy. I thought that was awesome. She was thrilled I was reading the book!!! I was thrilled to meet her. I should have had her sign the publication page.

Wow, what a day! I also got to speak with the head of Skokie Public Library. She encouraged me to become a librarian (which is funny because a customer told me today someone needed to talk sense into me since I have a music degree and want to become a librarian...blah blah blah you'll never get a job) since I expressed my interest in attending U of I Urbana-Champaign for their Master's in Library Science. I actually called them last week.

Well, it is late and I am going to the gym in the AM before my Barnes and Noble shift tomorrow!! I hope you enjoyed words from Rebecca Stead! :) Have fun watching the Superbowl today!

Score. In so many ways.

First: A lady called work today. "Did I miss Ozzy?" I said: "He was here last weekend." I thought: No you DA. You did not miss him at all. He is actually coming for a second signing next weekend after he finishes his Peoria tour.
She says: "Do you have any books left that he signed." I said: "No, all of those have been sold." I thought: Are you friggin kidding me? Loser. Staff takes all.

Second: I ate Thai food tonight after working out. How is that salad diet going? Really great with a side of noodles, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry smoothie and a diet coke.

Third: I had the night off and played Mario with my friend. I lost but had a great time in the banter.

Fourth: I read. I read at the gym. Bally now has their reader back. And...a treadmill dancer was at Bally tonight. Oh victory. In case you were wondering...a treadmill dancer is in the video below. These are them moments I live for in Bally besides the one where people invent exercises that are obviously doing nothing for them but ripping tendons out of their joints.

Now...as far as the video below goes...sorry it is sideways. This is one of the biggest dancers at Bally. He flies down the aisles after he is on the treadmill. Sorry the quality is bad and the size is small, but he is very evident in the middle.



Now for Bud. Bud is on the run. He is not really sure if he is a runaway or what he might be. He knows he should not go back to the Home because it is becoming overcrowded. He decides he wants to go to the library to talk to Ms. Hill, the librarian, about how to get a move on and make his way to a destination. So, he goes to the library and asks for her. *The librarian says "Haven't you heard?" Bud automatically equivocates that with her being tragically killed. The librarian just breaks it to him that she has moved to Chicago. Bud asks how far away it is from Flint, MI (the setting) to Chicago. Now the funny part of this is that Bud comments about how he knows better than to ask a librarian a question because by the time they got an answer she had already consulted three books (she must have been a Southerner).

Bud also has to wait in line for food to receive from a mission. As he is in line, a "family" adopts him for the meal just to help him move up in line and to keep him away from a man that is about to clobber Bud. The family refers to him as "Clarence." They reached out and did a very good deed to help Bud get some food.

Bud runs into his friend "Bugs" from the Home. Bugs is on the lam, as well and wants Bud to join him on his excursions to try to make it out West to pick fruit. He says they can jump trains and make it there. They first have to make it to a Hooverville to get a train (Hooverville...something I need to research...were apparently makeshift towns outside of cities for the down-and-out people to settle temporarily). This is where I left off for the evening.

Nintendo got the best of me and claimed reading time. I blame Justin for it.

*So, the side note. The Post SCRIPT. Curtis has a fantastic writing style. He writes as if he is a kid and I do not mean this in a bad way. He understands how children think and really conveys it well in his writing. The book is well written. Bud's thought processes are so mature but yet have the very immature 10 year-old side to them. This is why I think Curtis makes it such a wonderful story. Bud also has a way of explaining himself and his thoughts that are great.

My favorite thing that Bud looks within to understand is the thought "When one door closes, another opens." Bud has to think about this expression for a bit before determining that it is not a physical door but a metaphorical door. I think it sends a wonderful message and shows kids to persevere.

I am impressed by this book and understand why it received the Newbery.

Well, it is about time to sleep. Shower and then listen to the waves outside. And yes...the waves are huge tonight. I can hear them in my bedroom.

Tomorrow...Newbery Award winning author Rebecca Stead will be signing at 3PM at Barnes and Noble. Come and purchase her books When You Reach Me (Newbery Medal) and First Light. Until then, have a wonderful night and day!

FAIL

As my high schoolers would say: FAIL.

Today, I failed. The only reading I did consisted of reading the tags of panties, sports bras, tank tops, shoes, scarves, t-shirts, blue jeans (boot, sexy boot, curvy, straight, low rise, easy, loose, authentic, skinny, always skinny, long and lean and flare) and pajamas. I tell ya, when you open Gap at the asscrack and I mean ASSCRACK of dawn, motivation for reading the rest of the day does not come to mind. I began shipment at Gap today at 6am. Although I am a morning person, waking at 5AM does not constitute a day conducive to avid reading. In fact, my brain and eyes would simultaneously catch on fire if I were to read a book. When I got off of my shift, I came home and slept. Mind you, I don't mind folding panties, sports bras, blue jeans and t-shirts at 6AM, in fact I couldn't think of anything more productive to do, but I just did not feel like reading. So, I am failing you readers. To top off working at Gap at 6AM, I had to turn around and be right back out at Old Orchard at 4PM-11:30PM to work Barnes and Noble. WTF. Maciek offered me the couch in the Gap breakroom to sleep until my Barnes shift. I almost took it.

Shipment was not too bad. I had sassy Gopi and Polish Maciek and amazing Marianna to work alongside. So, we bitched and griped and moaned about being at work. It is so much better when one is with such an agreeable party of people.

And, to my dismay, my fitness guru buddies' dismay and the dismay of the Bally staff today, I did not work out. Plus, I did not even stay within my salad guidelines. Crap, I will pay for this. I wonder what Bally did without me today? Did they miss their eliptical entertainment reader? I wonder if I gained 10 pounds? Probably. The next time I go, I need to take a trashy romance novel to spice things up for them and burn at least 17,000 calories. Give them something to talk about.

Barnes and Noble was a drag today. Not because of the co-workers or the atmosphere: all of the customers who insist on letting their children act like something off of that old Nickelodeon show Zaboomafoo. I have never seen anything like it. Books were everywhere. The children were so loud and chasing each other. They were throwing stuff all over the floors. Holy crap I was mad. When I go to their houses, I am going to make sure to throw shit all over the floor and make them pay for that. Retail or not, I am not a maid.

Wow.

So, for reading, I am continuing Bud, Not Buddy and will definitely finish it in the prescribed amount of time. There is no problem with that. I still have motivation and breaks at work and eliptical time to read. Never fear. It will get done.

As far as next week's reading goes. I FAILED to tell you what it was going to be on my set day to do it. So here it is if you are reading with me.

The adult book I shall be taking pleasure in reading is from adult biography: Funny in Farsi: A Memoir in Growing up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas. The book and its sequel were recommended by a customer a few weeks ago. But, here is the real reason I want to read it: Currently, as you all know, I am being certified to teach English as a second language. For all of you ignorant people, rednecks, idiots or close minded people: teaching AMERICAN as a second language (hope you understand what I mean). I wanted to read an account of someone who basically assimilated to our culture. I think it will go well with my classes I am taking currently at Concordia University. The copy I am reading is paperback published by Random House. It is $14.00...and of course, don't forget the Barnes and Noble Member Card benefits. ;)

My second book of choice...the Newbery Award winning Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. I have always wanted to read it. It should be quick...and it is about a mouse. Who doesn't want to read a book about a French mouse?

Tomorrow night, Elizabeth Kostova, author of The Historian and The Swan Thieves will be signing at my store. Be sure to check it out. I don't know if I will be there or not. I am definitely taking a copy of my book to have it signed regardless.

So, I hope this blog suffices even though it has no details on the book I am SUPPOSED to be reading at the moment. But please, give me a break. I am dedicated. I love reading. Kiss my wrist if you are pissed.

Have a wonderful night.

Bud, Not Buddy will kiss your wrist

Bud, Not Buddy was written by African-American award winning author Christopher Paul Curtis. The book won the Coretta Scott King Award for outstanding African-American author and the 2000 John Newbery Award for best in American Children's Literature.

The book came to mind when I was resetting the Children's Picturebook Wall in Barnes and Noble the other night. I knew I wanted to read an award winning children's book for each letter of the alphabet, time permitting. Since I finished Alice so quickly, Bud became a possibility. Plus, February is African-American History Month. I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to begin celebrating the month and to read another Newbery Award winner (It is sad the only ones I have read are The Graveyard Book by Gaiman, A Wrinkle in Time by L'Engle, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by Konigsburg, Holes by Sachar, The Giver and Number the Stars by Lowry and When You Reach Me by Stead). I am really excited to add another Newbery to my list of books. :) I am such a dork.

Christopher Paul Curtis was born May 10, 1953 in Flint, Michigan. He has written several books on African-American families and youth including The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 and Elijah of Buxton. During his early years, Curtis attached doors to cars in an assembly plant. He decided to take a year off to write The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 which turned out to be a major success. He currently lives with his wife and has two children.

Bud, Not Buddy is about a young African-American boy who is an orphan. So far, I have only read the first five chapters...I think I am up to page 42. Basically, he is sent out to a foster family that is paid to take care of him over the summer, the Amos Family. They are really rude to say the least. Their son, Todd, is a total butt. He wakes Bud up one morning by shoving a pencil in his nose. Bud punches him. Todd beats him. Todd lies about it all to his mom and fakes an asthma attack. Bud is kicked out and moved to the shed to sleep for his last night at the Amos house because Todd's mom is an idiot and believes anything he says. Bud is stuck in the shed and is terrified. He thinks a vampire bat is in there to suck his blood, so he takes a rake out from the corner and beats at the "bat" on the ceiling...it turns out to be a hornet's nest. The hornets sting. Bud breaks the window. He gets out and goes in the house while the Amos family is sleeping and gets "revenge." He fills a glass with warm water and puts Todds hands in it while he is sleeping so he will wet the bed (Mrs. Amos hates NOTHING more than a bed wetter). Then, Bud runs away finally freed.

Bud has one attachment: his suitcase. He is particularly proud of it since no other kids have one at the Home. The Amos' hold the suitcase "hostage" until Bud can prove he can make the night out in the shed without doing anything to the family, but Bud is able to escape anyway and take it with him. The suitcase has memories of his mom who died when he was six. Bud is now ten. The book takes place in 1936 during the Great Depression.

Bud has a "publication" titled Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making Better Liar Out of Yourself. He often reflects on this set of rules and uses it to make decisions. Two things he says multiple times already: You can kiss my wrist (if only I could put it that way) and My name's Bud, not Buddy.

I did not read much today because I had to open Gap at 7am. I was knocked out after my shift and the gym. I went to bed at around 4 this afternoon, woke up at 845 for dinner and watched Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (such a riot) and then wrote this. As usual, forgive my shotty writing...it is just free expression. Tonight, I am not going to read anymore, either. I have to open Gap at 6am and then complete a closing shift at Barnes and Noble 4-midnight. UGH.

This Friday, Elizabeth Kostova, author of The Historian and the newly released The Swan Thieves will be signing, speaking and reading at Barnes at 7:30PM. Saturday, Newbery Award winning author Rebecca Stead will be doing the same. Come out to Old Orchard Barnes and Noble for these two great women!

Have a lovely, lovely night. ;)

Leaving Wonderland

Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.

-The Duchess to Alice

Tonight, I completed Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. My head hurts. HAHA. I feel as though this is about the craziest book I have ever read. Of course it is easy to understand, but at the same time it is not. I cannot imagine a child trying to swim through the pages of this classic. The above quote is a good representation of a lot of the text. The book is full of rhymes, riddles, tongue-twisters and odd (I mean ODD) poems. Obviously, if you have seen the movie, nothing does make sense. In fact, one of the most used words in the book by Alice is 'nonsense;' she also says 'queer' a lot. hmm.

The book needs a companion guide and about a thousand accompanying notes and that is what it came with. So many sentences have a superscripted number for plenty of explanation. It is nice to read those annotated notes to understand what Carroll was envisioning whilst writing this absolutely intriguing piece of literature. Normally, I think such absurd grammatical and syntactical conventions (as used by Carroll) in the text would turn me away from a book. But, the fact that I know this book is supposed to be poking fun at Victorian writing, it does not bother me. Plus, I understand. Everything is quirky. Alice is confused as Hell just as the reader.

In the second half of the book, Alice comes across an array of talking animals, most famous the hookah (but we really know it is MJ) smoking caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat. Of course we are introduced to the March Hare, the Mad Hatter and the sleepy doormouse. Her last encounter with the crazies is the Queen of Hearts. What a ridiculous woman. "Off with her/his/its/their head(s)!" She knows no other speech than this and everyone be damned if they do something off kilter in front of her...which seems to defy the whole book because everything is wacky.

Alice spends most of her time shrinking and growing and shrinking and growing, etc. She also pisses off a lot of uber sensative animals and creatures. Everyone is menopausal, especially the Queen. The Cheshire Cat is about the only sensible creature in this nonsensical world (even though he disappears).

Favorite quote: "Really, now you ask me," said Alice, very much confused, "I don't think-"
"Then you shouldn't talk," said the Hatter."
Everyone is so hateful. SCHADENFREUDE.

My favorite moment is when the Queen's executioner is told to chop off the head of the Cheshire Cat. They cannot decide how they are going to behead a disembodied head. The Queen says that if they cannot figure something out, the entire court will be beheaded. The Queen's bitchiness reminds me of a former co-worker.


So, there you have it. Alice is finished for now. Through the Looking-Glass is the next installment, but I am not going to read it right now. I need to go to therapy first and then I can read it.

Overall, it was enjoyable. It was definitely an escape from reality. I don't know how many people I would recommend this book to, though...not because it was bad but because it was schizophrenic. It was nice listening to Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretal while reading it today at the gym. I feel like the fairy tale music went well with the nonsense.

Since I am finished reading the first Alice, I am going to read a "C" Newbery Award Medal winner. The book I am going to start tomorrow is Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. Details will follow and will be on tomorrow night's blog. You will get book and author info. Sorry for the short notice!

I did join goodreads.com tonight. You should definitely check it out. I hope I can get it attached to my blog as a widget. Ok! Off to bed! :) Gap at 7AM.

Alice Trippin' into Wonderland

So, my "C" week has arrived. Lewis Carroll is up to bat. I think it is probably pretty evident why I chose to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Tim Burton's demented, but probably incredibly accurate version, starring Johnny Depp, premieres March 5 in IMAX and 3D (here I come Navy Pier! :) )

When I was younger, I was always intrigued by Alice in Wonderland, the movie produced and animated by Disney. Visually and mentally it was intriguing. I think it serves as a kind of catnip for children. It is one of the few Disney movies I remember most everything about (the others being Hercules, The Emperor's New Groove, Mulan and Mary Poppins). So, since I am speaking of this, I have taken the liberty to post the links to the movie on my blog so you can watch it, too. If you are a Disney person, I AM NOT the person with this youtube account.

Alice 1
Alice 2
Alice 3
Alice 4
Alice 5

Alice 6
Alice 7
Alice 8

I have three favorite parts of the movie. The Unbirthday Song is so wacky (as is the whole movie). I love the repetitiveness of it. The little mouse, the rabbit and the Mad Hatter...what a combo. I also like the part when she is in the garden and flowers want to know "What is an Alice?" Then, there is the Queen of Hearts. What a biotch after my heart. OFF WITH HER HEAD!!! What a WONDERFUL witch.

So, now that we have Johnny Depp portraying the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and Anne Hathaway as Alice, who knows what will happen. Add a little Burton and this will probably be one of the craziest of his movies yet. I will have to say, I am a fan of his style. One of my favorite movies by Burton is Sleepy Hollow along with The Nightmare Before Christmas and Sweeney Todd. So, hopefully Alice will live up to my expectations of Burton...and Depp, as well.

If you have not seen the previews to the movie, just click on the picture below.

I have always heard Lewis Carroll was a bit of a pedophile. To what extent, I was never really sure. I know he cared for the little girl in which the book is based. I was never quite sure if it was just people pointing dirty fingers at him or if he really was a twisted, dirty man. So, I now present to you a brief summary of my findings on Lewis Carroll.

Carroll, named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was born January 27, 1832 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England . Dodgson went by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll as a writer. Carroll was widely appreciated by many for his writings beyond Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. His work Through the Looking-Glass gained much acclaim. After writing Alice, he was approached by Queen Victoria and asked to dedicate his next book to her. Carroll was mathematician, nonsense writer, ordained priest, photographer and inventor. His early life was spent preparing him for priesthood, but he never actually pursued the profession. Instead, he took up a post as an Anglican Deacon at Christ Church. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford.

Carroll favored photography, as it was a newly invented art medium at the time he began. He was extremely successful in his photographic endeavors and was able to set up a business. Over 3,000 photos were taken over his time as a photographer and many still exist. In 1880, he gave up photography.

The so-called inspiration, even though he never admitted to it, for writing Alice were the daughters of Dean Henry Liddell of Christ Church. His daughters were Lorina, Edith and of course Alice. Alice is thought to be the girl portrayed in the book.

Nothing is documented of Carroll being a pedophile. The reasons for this thinking are because he became so fond of children, especially little girls. He enjoyed being around children because he grew up stammering. Adults made him uncomfortable and he would stammer (thought to be a reason for not joining the priesthood), but he would never have a problem around children. So, he felt like he could get along fine being side-by-side children all day. Another reason for thinking he was a pedophile was because he took nude pictures of children. Some still survive today. Like I said, nothing is documented as him being inappropriate; Carroll was a well-respected man.

Alice Liddell:

The moment Carroll decided to write Alice seemed to have come about during a rowing expedition with the Liddell children.

Carroll only traveled abroad once and that was to Russia. He died in Guildford January 14, 1898, only a few days shy of turning 66.

Hopefully this clears a little of the pre-conceived notions one might have about Lewis Carroll.

Today, I read through 33 pages of 112. I think I should be done in about a day, depending on the time I have to read tomorrow. Hopefully I can wipe it out. I am amidst the chapter The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill. So far, I am enjoying it. I probably looked ridiculous reading Alice at the gym this morning...but, it is a good calorie burner.

I find the book interesting. I feel as though I should be listening to Danny Elfman's Serenada Schizophrana while reading (if you have heard it, you will understand). From what I can tell so far, Disney did a nice job incorporating the book into the movie and keeping it true to the author's intent and purposes. The writing is pretty witty and is probably above kids. I know the book can be found in Barnes and Noble under Adult Fiction/Literature and Juvenile Classics. I just don't think they would quite understand the subtle nuances and witty phrases Carroll utilizes to help the book flow along. One of my favorite parts right now is after Alice has cried (as a giant...remember when she had to drink from the "Drink Me" bottle in the movie?) while she was a giant. She then shrank and was carried through a salty stream of her own tears. As she was in the stream, she met a talking mouse. The only time he would respond to her at first is when she spoke French to him (haha). Well, the mouse was wet and gave Alice a ride. When they got to dry land, there were other animals who were swept away, as well, who were trying to dry off (most of these animals were birds). The mouse says he will make everyone dry, so he begins to recount William the Conqueror's conquests of Mercia and Northumbria. I thought it was hilarious because the mouse kept talking and talking and talking. So, expect the same kind of laughs you saw in the Disney movie. Dinah is Alice's cat, the White Rabbit is how she got to Wonderland, How Doth the Crocodile is recited and the points she shrinks and grows over and over all appear.

I am having a great time reading this book. I am impressed with the books I have chosen so far, especially since they have all been by authors I have never read before. I left off as Alice drank from a bottle in the White Rabbit's house and grew to the size of the house. One thing I find funny is (all of the) parentheses Carroll uses. So many afterthoughts (I know I do it, too!). Great minds...

So, here is to a brand new day of reading tomorrow.

As far as Barnes today...there was a birthday of a beloved co-worker. She used to star on Another World which is pretty sweet! She is awesome. I got her a scarf from Gap. I had to reset the whole Picturebook wall to Caldecott, Newbery Medals and Black History Month Books. There was so much e-planner I thought I was going to pull my hair out...or maybe not e-planner, just the fact I had to friggin' rearrange the whole kid's section of endcaps.

When we left work, it was snowing. This has been the story of our life every single Monday night when we leave Barnes; it is snowing.

This is what my beach has been looking like lately:

Only in Chicago can you have an Arctic Wonderland right outside of your apartment. :)

Okie doke. I will talk to you tomorrow! :)

Saying Goodbye to Avalon

Well, I finished The Child Thief. I will have to say...I was very impressed. This is a book that could possibly disgust people or make people angry. There are so many intense moments. I feel as though Brom gave us the feelings of the characters without having to be overly verbose and flowery in his writing. Each person was enveloped in beautiful description (even if they were despicable). There were so many moments when I was really not sure with whom to pledge my allegiance. The only two characters who were easily set apart from the rest were the Reverend and Ulfger. Both were evil in so many ways. Both represented so many struggles of today's society. The rest of the mix were so "bipolar (but I really hate to use that word)" but always came around in a redemptive manner.

I am not going to write about the end. I think it is the best part of the book. It blew me away. I did not see it. I feel as though it was wrong but very right at the same time.

*Now...for anyone who reads this, as I don't know if anyone other than my followers read this blog...do not take this as a personal attack, especially if you are a book junkie. Do not take that last statement so literally that it will make you question my intelligence. Brom's writing style is easy to navigate, so I am sure some very intelligent people would be like "I can't believe you said the ending blew you away..." or "I saw it coming all along." Shut it, just shut it now. I was just impressed.

The themes in the book are basic good vs. evil. But other things occur. Promises, friendship, alliances. Rules are broken and lessons are learned. The message of Christianity is so strong. Today we act as the Reverend acts. Everything is an abomination. We cannot accept that which is not normal or that which is not mentioned in The Bible or that which is opposite of what is stated. We take everything so seriously when we don't realize God is really not condemning anyone, he is condemning those who are passing all of the judgment.

BTW...it is late and I did just write a grad paper, so please forgive me for the crappyness of this writing.

I also like how Brom points out that everything is not as it seems. The Mist represents our minds closing off so many things. When we are children, we see things we do not see as adults. Sometimes I think it is why adults are harder pressed to believe in ghosts. We forget things and develop this "mist" around us that makes us block things in which we don't want to see anymore. We easily write things off and move on. The Mist also represents struggles we all have to live through and it is not until we open our minds and PUSH that we will make it through. Instead, we let ourselves suffer, forever shrouded, and fall content in whatever routine or darkness in which we are in.

I really need to go to bed now.

READ THIS BOOK. IT WAS WONDERFUL! I really hope maybe Brom will run across this blog.

Tomorrow, Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Here comes the "C" week!