Happy New Year – Good Reading Ahead!
January 3, 2012
Happy New Year to you all … and yes, a wish as well for a year of good reading ahead!
To give you a little kick-start, here are a few articles I’ve enjoyed on-line in recent weeks – just click on the link and read away!
How many of you have crossed over to the e-reader side? Were you the recipient of an e-reader gift this Christmas? I’ve not surrendered but admit to being tempted. I enjoyed Daphne Bramham of the Vancouver Sun’s take on her e-reader experience here.
Katherine Paterson, recent US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and author of Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, reviews her tenure in a moving article here in the Huffington Post.
Read about the true life inspiration for the beloved novel National Velvet: Enid Bagnold’s daughter and British First Lady Samantha Cameron’s great-aunt, Laurian, Comtesse d’Harcourt. Liz Hunt’s article in the Telegraph beautifully captures the lady and the fascinating life she’s lived. Ah the trivia!
Did you manage to read some good books over the holidays? Let me/us know which ones were hits. I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately – haven’t read a “love-it!” book for a while so I’m all ears.
And finally, a lovely quote to read at the start of a year from the short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
The Greatest Gift: A Wonderful Life
December 18, 2011
Before there was “It’s A Wonderful Life” (the movie that’s become a heartwarming Christmas classic starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed) there was a charming little short story that seemed destined never to be read.
Philip Van Doren Stern was a writer and editor with particular expertise on the topic of the Civil War. One morning he awoke having had a strikingly clear dream about a suicidal man who was given an opportunity to view what life would have been like for those he loved had he not lived to impact their lives. Van Doren Stern quickly wrote down the dream in its entirety and then, over the following few years, worked it into a short story he called “The Greatest Gift”. When he believed it was ready to share, he distributed the story in hopes of publication but was met with unanimous rejection. Finally, during World War II, he printed 200 copies himself and distributed them as Christmas cards to friends and family. By chance, a Producer at RKO pictures had a chance to read the short story and was immediately motivated to purchase its film rights. At about the same time, Good Housekeeping magazine printed the story in their January 1945 issue with the title, “The Man Who Was Never Born”. In 1945, RKO sold the film rights again to Frank Capra who created the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, released in 1946. “It’s a Wonderful Life” did not enjoy box office success at all but still managed to be nominated for 5 Oscars – it won none. The movie faded away until the early 1970s when a clerical oversight resulted in a failure to renew the film’s copyright. It entered public domain and was promptly picked up by television networks whose frequent seasonal airings turned it into the classic it is now considered.
This holiday season, Graphic Image has issued a limited edition hard cover reproduction of Van Doren Stern’s first self-printed pamphlet which he shared with his friends. It’s a beautiful little book and can even be purchased in a fancy red leather collectible version. Take a peek at it here on the Graphic Image website. What a wonderful Christmas gift for your friends.
I love when a book is the star of the story!
I hope you’re finding time during this week to enjoy a few holiday classics – either in written or movie form.
Jan Brett – Snowy Delight!
December 12, 2011
If you are seeking a seasonal tale for a child in your life or an adult who enjoys gorgeous illustrations and heartwarming folktales, then do visit the Jan Brett section at the bookshop. Every one of her colourful stories is brilliant but I particularly delight in her wintry tales; they’re perfect for this time of year. All of her books feature a wonderful array of animals and often exotic locations – she’s even blogged for the National Geographic about her travels and furry inspiration. (Read more here.) It’s also fascinating to hear about Jan at home with her very own menagerie – she raises a fancy brood of chickens and has a resident hedgehog who always graces the pages of her tales. It’s hard to choose a favourite but I am smitten by The Mitten!
Want-to-Reads
November 30, 2011
Yes – I am fully aware that I have a stack of books right here waiting for me to get back to reading at a normal rate of consumption (Ve-e-ee-ery slow lately!) but … these relatively new titles are among those on my “Want-to-Read” list. You have one of those too, right? I was chatting with a Bedside Table Books community member (Hello Jessica!) the other evening about good book club titles to suggest. These are ones I’d have on my suggestion list. Have you read any of them? Let us know what you thought. What titles are on your current “Want-to-Read” list?
Eloise … and Kay!
November 22, 2011
Ahhhh Eloise. Who doesn’t love this little scamp? She’s precocious, chatty, and cheeky, lives in New York City’s Plaza Hotel, torments her Nanny and the hotel staff, has a pet turtle named Skipperdee (he eats raisins she’s ordered from room service) and a pug called Weenie. She’s a busy one for all of six years old and she’s a favourite of several generations of storybook readers for sure. I couldn’t even begin to do justice to all of the reincarnations of Eloise out there so instead I offer this link to her home page where you’ll read about her various stories and the background. Meanwhile for present-day activities at The Plaza Hotel be certain to take a peek here.
Eloise was first published in 1955 and is a product of the imagination of one Kay Thompson – a musical performer, renowned vocal arranger for the likes of Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, actress famed for her appearance with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in Funny Face and a generally quirky character herself. She collaborated with illustrator Hilary Knight who was perfectly skilled in bringing to life the words of Kay in the form of our beloved Eloise. It seems obvious that Eloise was just a smaller version of the real-life Kay though rumours swirl that her God-daughter Liza Minnelli was the inspiration. To straighten out this story and learn more about the lively Kay Thompson I’m delighted to report we can turn to the pages of a newly released biography by Sam Irvin.
If you think Eloise is a handful, you’ll be astonished by the sassiness of her creator. This quote from Kay has me hooked on wanting to learn more about her:
I’ve discovered the secret of life: a lot of hard work, a lot of sense of humor, a lot of joy, and a whole lot of tra-la-la!
— Kay Thompson
Tra-la-la!
Shel Silverstein
October 26, 2011
Shel Silverstein is an icon of the written word – poetic, lyrical or prosaic. Collections of his poetry, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up and A Light in The Attic, are nostalgic favourites of several generations now. Award nominations came his way for writing chart-topping songs like A Boy Named Sue and The Unicorn (bet you know the words yourself to those classics!) as well as many other more serious ones performed by musicians like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Marianne Faithfull, and Peter, Paul & Mary. While the words captivate and amuse in his written collections, the charming illustrations are just as entertaining. Silverstein began his creative life as a cartoonist and only well into that career began to add writing for children.
Leaving behind an astounding legacy of words, written, sung, and performed in theatres, Shel Silverstein died in 1999. In 2005, Runny Babbit: a Billy Sook, was released – apparently Silverstein had been creating this collection of spoonerisms for over 20 years. Another posthumous release, and only very recently, is Everything On It – again combining over 100 poems with delightful drawings. Prophetically perhaps, one of the poems in this collection reads:
“Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing–and I smile.”
A reviewer of this latest production wrote: “It should come as little surprise that I thought Every Thing On It was really great, setting my brain’s wonder-and-glee-meter off the charts many times.”
And so if you’re not familiar with the legend of Shel Silverstein then I hope you’ll make yourself so by reading one of his beloved books, listed below. (Unintentional poetry!) If you only know him by his poetry then be tempted to listen to compilations of his music and be entertained. If you are a devotee already then share your favourite poem with us in the comments. I’ve always been partial to this one:
Dragons!
October 14, 2011
The CBC television program, Dragon’s Den, is a runaway success. Viewers watch hopeful business innovators seek financial investment and expert guidance from a panel of extraordinarily successful Canadian business persons. These experts are willing to invest significant sums to give the aspiring entrepreneur an advantage on the road to success. Of course the panel members do so only when there is strong faith and proof that they will gain impressive returns. The business ideas are creative, witty, and practical with huge potential and with great risk for failure, while the entrepreneur wannabees range from confident to colourful with a healthy dose of crazy too. It is great viewing and has spawned what appears to be great reading as well.
The experts or “Dragons” have their own intriguing stories – rags to riches with adventurous highs and lows along the way. Three of the Dragons have recently put their tales (not tails!) into written form. If you are familiar with the show you will know that each Dragon has his or her own strong and unique history and personality – the book titles and images clearly reflect this. (Click on book cover to be taken to website)
Oh Canada!
October 3, 2011
Four wonderful Canadian writers have recently released new novels. Having savoured previous novels by each of the authors I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into these new stories. The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens, The Birth House by Ami McKay, The Custodian of Paradise by Wayne Johnston and Mercy Among the Children by David Adams Richards are all evocative and memorable – each one capturing an element of the Canadian experience with beautifully crafted language and imagery. Harsh elements and themes of survival make all of these particularly well suited to long winter nights curled up in an armchair. Enjoy!
War Horse
September 25, 2011
Michael Morpurgo is a prolific and well-loved English writer of children’s literature. A number of his more than 120 cherished stories have been adapted for television, theatre and even opera and ballet. The beloved War Horse, first published in 1982, has recently been enjoying enormous success as a stage play in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York City. Steven Spielberg has been working with Morpurgo to share the story on an even larger scale – his movie version will be released during the Christmas holidays this year. By all accounts it’s going to be a winner.
Our family had an opportunity to attend one of the theatre productions and we were all bewitched. The story is a classic heart-wrencher: love, loss, pain, hope and reunion. Remarkable puppetry is used to portray the horses and must be seen to be believed – incredible! If you have an opportunity to attend one of the big shows or a travelling version, gallop, don’t trot, and get yourself a ticket. Here’s a quick glimpse though the clips really don’t convey the realism adequately:
We’ll be looking forward to the movie version as well. The trailer has recently been released:
It really is worth becoming familiar with Michael Morpurgo, the writer, himself. He receives accolades for his award-winning writing but is also a keen educator and philanthropist. I’m personally enthralled with the Farms for City Children project he and his wife masterminded and generously support. This endeavour allows urban children to experience the wonders of the rural world: “Over the years the formula has changed very little. Simply, children are involved in everything necessary to keep the farms going. They learn hands-on where their food comes from, the importance of caring for animals and the land, and the value of working co-operatively as a team. The rewards are, unusually, non-material and self-generated: children discover an active enjoyment in life and a sense of achievement, the effects of which remain with them long after they have waved the farms goodbye.”
I hope as the weather cools you’ll find some cozy reading time and can enjoy some of Michael Morpurgo’s stories – he is a wonderful storyteller and his books shouldn’t be limited to children’s bedside tables – add a few to yours. I’m sure you’ll be delighted you did.
Creative Juices
September 14, 2011
September seems to prompt the creative juices to get flowing – a loyalty to acquiring education that remains in our hearts long past the school years perhaps. I found myself inspired to read an intriguing non-fiction book called The Element – How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson. Robinson may be a familiar name to those of you who’ve had an opportunity to see his TED talk on the importance of incorporating creativity into education. I’ll include links to the talk and to his books below for those who would like to know more about Sir Ken and his theories. He is a compelling (and funny!) speaker and writer. Find his website here and enjoy a number of his archived articles as well.
Meanwhile, I thought I’d share this list with you – it’s posted above my desk to keep me focused (with varying results) – and I hope it prompts you to explore your own creativity with great success!
Books by Ken Robinson:
TED talks:
