Posts Tagged ‘classic’

America’s most influential

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

American Profile featured “20 of the nation’s most celebrated and distinguished authors” in last week’s issue. The publication is inserted in the Sunday, Jan. 23, edition of the Messenger, but you can also read the story online here: http://www.americanprofile.com/article/44187.html.

It’s just a short description of each, and it mentions their most well-known work. If you’re looking to read more “classics” in 2011 or just feel the need to educate yourself in American literature, this list is a good place to start.

I’ve never been a big fan of English literature, always favoring early American authors. And reading through this list confirmed what I already suspected: My favorites are from the early 1900s. It’s funny because in my mind the list automatically split into pre-1900s and post-1900s (my favorites).

I came across several authors, novels and short stories that I plan to revisit. Happy reading!

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“… Mockingbird” celebrates 50

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

mockingbirdfirst

July 11 was the 50th anniversary of the publication of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

This is also the day I was married.

I only recently discovered that Shane and I share our anniversary with the American classic, significant because it’s one of our favorite books. In fact, before our daughter was born, he wanted to name her Scout, after Harper Lee’s feisty main character, which seemed like a good idea until you put it with our last name.

Scout Tribe.

Awkward. You sense that, right?

Despite abandoning the name, apparently our young ones harbor a few qualities of the Finch children. A co-worker maintained for months that my son and daughter, ages 7 and 5, reminded her of Jem and Scout. It had been years since I had read the book, and her claims prompted me to watch the movie for the first time.

I was mesmerized by the film, even though I knew what was going to happen, and surprised by the likeness of my children to the main characters, not only in some aspects of their behavior, but also in physical resemblance to the young actress and actor.

I’ll report back if my daughter pipes up with “Pass the damn ham,” this holiday season.

All of this in combination with the anniversary warrants a re-reading. I can’t wait to dive in. I think some people are disappointed that this is Lee’s only novel, and until reading some recent articles, I always thought I understood. I thought maybe one book was all she had in her. I mean, how do you follow-up “To Kill a Mockingbird?” And why would you …

But recently I’ve learned more about the author herself and the toll this book took on her. For some of us, it’s hard to comprehend the racial tension of the 1960s, but step back in time, and you can see why her book may not have been popular with a large segment of the population. Lee received hate mail after the book was published, and it’s reported that even her own sister was unhappy with the book.

Several articles I read also said that although the book was fiction, it was more autobiographical than most realized. I had always heard that the character Dill was based on Lee’s good friend and fellow author, Truman Capote, but was surprised to learn that some aspects of Boo Radley may have been based on her mother, who was emotionally distressed. Lee’s father was also a lawyer in real life.

I’ve included links below to a few articles either about the 50th anniversary or about the book in general.

After reading through only a handful of articles, I better understand the possibilities behind her making “… Mockingbird” her one and only, and why she has been a recluse in recent decades, which is in fact what has bothered me more. Her silence.

I want to hear her talk about the book. I want to learn about her writing methods and routine. I want to know about her experience being published and her friendship with Capote. I want to know if she’s tried to write another novel. I want to know more about Scout.

But maybe that’s all too painful. And maybe I’m selfish.

A re-reading must suffice.

Links to articles about “To Kill a Mockingbird:”

“50 Years On, ‘Mockingbird’ Still Sings America’s Song,” by Lynn Neary

“Monroeville’s Mockingbird: 50 Years after the debut of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’ Harper Lee’s Alabama hometown celebrates (carefully) the book that made it famous,” by Mike Wilson

“Don’t mention the mockingbird! The reclusive novelist who wrote the classic novel that mesmerised 40 million readers,” by Sharon Churcher

“‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Anniversary: Anna Quindlen On The Greatness Of Scout”

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J.D. Salinger – gone

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Author J.D. Salinger, 91, died yesterday. He wrote four books, but he is most well known for “The Catcher in the Rye” and its main character, Holden Caulfield. It’s been many years since I have read “Catcher,” and I don’t feel particularly qualified to write about Salinger’s career or his mysterious life as a recluse.

But I came across this clip, “J.D. Salinger, Reclusive Literary Icon, Dies at 91,” from PBS NewsHour and thought it was worth sharing.

I think it’s time for me to re-visit this American classic.

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Quote of the week

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Quote for this week is from “Gone With the Wind,” chapter 6. Everyone has gathered at the Wilkes for the barbecue and ball when Ashley is to announce his engagement to Melanie, and the men are having a “loud” discussion about whether the South should go to war with the North.

This is from Mr. McRae, described as “the deaf old gentleman from Fayetteville.”

“You fire-eating young buck, listen to me. You don’t want to fight. I fought and I know. Went out in the Seminole War and was a big enough fool to go to the Mexican War, too. You all don’t know what war is. You think it’s riding a pretty horse and having the girls throw flowers at you and coming home a hero. Well, it ain’t. No, sir! It’s going hungry, and getting the measles and pneumonia from sleeping in the wet. And if it ain’t measles and pneumonia, it’s your bowels. Yes sir, what war does to a man’s bowels – dysentery and things like that – ”

So relevant today. No matter the day or decade,  war remains the same – controversial.

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Movie turned my stomach

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

*Warning: I use the word “book” a lot in this post. Go figure.

CloudyMeatballs2

In our strep throat stupor, we watched the movie, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” which claims to be based on the book by the same name. The title is about the only thing they have in common.

I’m 34 years old and shouldn’t still be disappointed or annoyed by these cinematic disasters. I’ve never seen a movie made from a book that was better than the book. I even have a friend who refuses to see movies based on her favorite books because it just aggravates her. Maybe I should adopt her philosophy.

I’m tired of movies claiming to be based on books, using the title to sell movie tickets, and then the story told on screen relating in no way to the actual book. In this case, there were only images from the book – a pancake draped over a school building; a gigantic, yellow Jello mold; boats made of bread; an open-ceiling restaurant; and of course, food falling from the sky.

Danielle reviewed the movie on Mom’s the Word back in September when it was released in theaters, and she came to this conclusion – weird. I concur. Maybe if I wasn’t so overwhelmed with its weirdness, I’d cut it some slack on not sticking with the book at all.

I mean, Chicken Brent? Really?! A cooked chicken eats a grown man … that’s all I’ll say. My husband says I might be overreacting to the whole Chicken Brent thing. It could be my general disdain for poultry, but I think it’s gross.

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My “best” books

Monday, January 18th, 2010

It’s at times like these that I really wish I kept a reading journal or at least a list of what I read. It would make naming my “best” books of the decade much easier.  Like Danielle, over at Mom’s the Word, we spent a big part of the last 10 years changing diapers, operating on 4.7 hours of sleep and stumbling through those early days of parenthood.

Although 2003 through 2007 is a blur, I managed to clear some of the cobwebs clinging to my long-term memory and pull together a list of my favorite reads. Remember, these weren’t necessarily written this decade, but they are books that held meaning to me for one reason or another.

In no particular order …

“Time Traveler’s Wife,” by Audrey Niffenegger, and  “Water for Elephants,” by Sara Gruen, are two books that I couldn’t put down – to the point I was almost neglectful of my children.

“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” by John Berendt – This book, which reads like a novel, changed my ideas about nonfiction writing and taught me a lot about how to not only convey the facts, but also tell a story. You can actually tour the Mercer House, the central location of the story, in Savannah, Georgia, now, and you can buy replicas of the bird girl statue that’s featured on the book’s cover all over town. *Note to my dear husband heading to Savannah soon: One day I’d really like the small bird girl.

“Angle of Repose,” by Wallace Stegner – It’s the 1972 Pulitzer prizewinner, and the first book that my husband and I both read together and discussed.

“The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini – Although upsetting and unsettling, this book taught me so much about Afghanistan’s history and culture.

“Calm my Anxious Heart,” by Linda Dillow – Okay, you laugh, but the words on every page seemed to be written just for me. I have recommended it to several people, some of whom continue to refer to it when situations become too overwhelming or stressful.

“Same Kind of Different as Me,” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore – This book moved me to tears and not sappy, love-story tears. It made me reconsider how I approach everyday life and think about what a different world it would be if we all gave help without hesitation or question and assumed the best of others.

“Where the Red Fern Grows,” by Wilson Rawls – This was the first chapter book we read as a family. It was a childhood favorite of mine and my husband’s, so it was a delight to share this classic with our little ones, even if I did do a little spontaneous censoring when the kid falls on the ax. That scene was a little more horrific than I remembered.

“Just in Case You Ever Wonder,” by Max Lucado – This is a gem that every parent should read to their children – another tear-jerker for me. (I promise that all of my books aren’t tear-stained.) It tells your child how they are a unique and wonderful creation of God and how you will always be there for them, even when it seems everyone else is against them. Just in case they ever wonder.

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Gifts for readers, part 2

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Christmas is only 13 days away, and if you haven’t already, it’s time to hit that shopping list hard. I’ve posted a few more literary gifts that are sure to please the bookworms on your list.

Alice in Wonderland playing cards

Alicecards They make playing cards with Disney princesses, Star Wars characters and even Littlest Pet Shop figures, but these might be a little more appealing to adults on your list. And at $10, they make a unique stocking stuffer.

They are described on The Reader’s Catalog web site as “beautiful playing cards with quotes and illustrations on every card. Every card features a quote from Lewis Carroll’s original “Alice in Wonderland” tale or his companion book, “Through the Looking-Glass,” with the full-color artwork of famous English illustrator Sir John Tenniel as featured in the classic original first edition.

The text on these cards by Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) has delighted children and the literary elite for over a century. Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914) is one of the most famous illustrators in English literature. Each deck contains 54 cards with a blue back. 3.5″ x 2.25″.”

Mark Twain Bookplates

TwainBookplatesI’ve always had a fascination for bookplates and longed to have a beautiful set for my own books. These are sold by The Reader’s Catalog and is a classic choice.

As described on the web site, they are “based on the design of the cover of the first edition of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” published in 1876, in the collection of The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Conn.”

The web site also says “a portion of the proceeds of the sale of these bookplates benefits the education programs and ongoing preservation of this National Historic Landmark.” They are printed in black and gold on Nile blue stock. There are 25 bookplates per pack.

You’ll also find a variety of design choices at www.bookplates.com. They are a little pricey. The minimum order is 125 plates for $90, but they do come with your name printed on them. Barnes and Noble also offers a pretty good variety of bookplates that are much more affordable – you just write your own name on each one. B&N also sells clip art so that you can design your own.

The Literary Garden

GardeningBookAnyone who loves to read and has an interest in gardening would probably enjoy this book. It’s similar to The Book Lover’s Cookbook I mentioned in a post earlier this week, but instead of featuring recipes, it gives step-by-step instructions on how to recreate gardens made famous by literary works.

The description on Amazon says the garden plans are accompanied by excerpts from the works of

A practical step-by-step guide accompanies excerpts from the works of Louisa May Alcott, Ivan Turgenev, Carl Sandburg, D. H. Lawrence, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charlotte Brontë, Thomas Hardy, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Victor Hugo, and others.

Twilight Barbie dolls

twilight-barbiesTwilight fans are hardcore, so if there’s one on your shopping list, these dolls might be just the thing to make their holidays merry and bright.

Team Jacob fans are sure to be giddy about the new doll, which is, of course, shirtless. You can pre-order the Jacob doll, and it will be shipped in January.

The Bella and Edward dolls are available now, but I’m guessing a real fan would want all three!

To me, Edward’s doll looks a little “off,” but that’s probably a discussion for a different day.

Happy shopping!

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Carrey’s “Carol” not for kids

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Charles_Dickens-A_Christmas_Carol-Title_page-First_edition_1843Walt Disney’s “A Christmas Carol,” featuring Jim Carrey, opened Friday, and I’m hearing many of the same complaints from parents as I did a few weeks ago with “Where the Wild Things Are.”

A friend took her kindergartner to the movie, and they had to leave before it was over because it was “too scary.”

Reviewers also warn against taking kids under age 8. Reviewers Matt Mungle and Wes Singleton give helpful reviews at neighborsgo on The Dallas Morning News site. Singleton says “in spite of what Disney wants you to believe, this is not a film for young children.”

I admit that all of this is disappointing news. I was looking forward to taking my kids (ages 4 and 6) and thought it would be a fun “holiday activity.” On the other hand, Charles Dickens’ book, first published in December 1843, was not written for kids. I re-read it two years ago, and it’s a ghost story that just happens to take place at Christmas time. It’s meant to be scary – Scrooge had to be scared into better behavior. In Mungle’s review of the movie, he said “(the ghosts) are there to frighten Scrooge into facing his life and the point is not tamed down for a kid audience.”

But even understanding all that, it is still frustrating because this is a Disney movie, which traditionally produces features for children. And even when its movies are not particularly suited for children, they are still heavily marketed for children.

After watching several trailers, featurettes and interviews on YouTube, none of which Disney would allow to be embedded here or anywhere else, I understand why reviewers and parents are complaining. It looks like it would be alarming for young kids.

The Dickens classic has long been a favorite of filmmakers, though, first appearing on film in 1908. In the 100 years since, countless versions have been created. Some of the more kid-friendly versions include the likes of the Muppets, Mickey Mouse and friends, the Flintstones, the gang from Sesame Street and Barbie.

Maybe you can treat the little ones in your household to one of these … better yet, if they’re old enough, have them read the book.

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