Confession: I like to imagine I could be in a band. When I’m alone in the apartment, I like to dance in front of the mirror and pretend I have actual musical talent. Until some fairy godmother grants that wish, I’ll stick to reading books about bands. Upcoming novel The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour sounds right up my alley. The trailer is really fun too!
Maybe I should start practicing my band hair now. (via Book Riot)
A few more links for Tuesday:
Over at #engchat, author Jo Knowles has a fantastic guest post about what’s real in fiction. It’s very common for readers to wonder if the events/characters in a book are at all connected to real events/people in the writer’s life. People have certainly asked me that. And a lot of writers do base their fiction on real people and places. But I’d argue that more often, novels aren’t thinly veiled versions of our real lives. They’re fiction for a reason. We might take inspiration from our lives, but we also get to create new characters and new experiences. Knowles says:
“Fragments of my own truths can be found in all of my books. Feelings. Emotions. Deceits. Joys. Confusions. My wink or nod wouldn’t really mean “Yes, it did happen to me.” It would simply (but honestly) mean: “I understand what you’re going through.” But I think the asker already suspects this by asking the question in the first place.
Realistic fiction requires us to write as honestly as we can. The honesty isn’t literal. It’s deeper than that. It’s universal. I think that many teens who are drawn to realistic fiction are looking for connection. They are looking for entertainment, too, of course. But there is something comforting in recognizing something familiar, even–or maybe especially–when that familiar thing is something they’ve never talked about with anyone. Often, because they’ve been too afraid or ashamed.”
Perhaps even more so than listening to someone’s factual account of their life, fiction allows us to connect with real emotions. A biography or book of essays can do that too, but fiction allows the author the freedom to explore emotions and experiences without worry about what the facts were.
This doesn’t mean that fiction is any less valuable because it’s not as concerned with “the facts.” The emotions are still genuine, and can help expand a reader’s sense of awareness about himself and the world.
Make sure to check out the rest of Knowles’s post, and feel free to share your thoughts about what is the truth in fiction in the comments.
In the ongoing debate about books vs. e-books, a little rationality:
“According to McKeown, the data, from Verso’s third annual survey, suggest that print and digital books will coexist for a long time. McKeown based that prediction on several trends: the number of readers who do not intend to buy a reading device seems to be solidifying at around half of all readers, and even among digital device owners the preference seems to be to buy both print and digital books. According to the survey, conducted November 30–December 4, 51.8% of book buyers said they are unlikely to buy a reading device, up from 49.0% in the 2010 survey and 40.2% in the 2009 survey. (In the most recent survey, 15.8% of book buyers already owned a reading device, up from 2.9% in 2009.)”
I consider myself in this group. I have an e-reader that I really enjoy for its convenience. I can pack it easily in most purses and enjoy several books if I’m traveling over a long period of time (ie, more than few days). But physically, I prefer the feel of a traditional book. I like being able to flip back easily or immediately see how much I have left to read. Both varieties of text offer me better ways to read. It’s not like the introduction of the CD or MP3, where I was getting a much better experience without any drawback. Even if e-readers take over eventually, I think it’s going to be a much longer haul.
Books and e-books unite!
Literary (and not-quite-literary) links for your Monday:
In case you weren’t at the ALA Midwinter meeting or listening in on the livestream, check out the winners/honorees for this year’s ALA awards. Lots of great choices, some surprises. I wasn’t really pulling for any particular book or author, so overall I’m pleased with the results.
I was excited to see Susan Cooper win the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, winner of the Belpré Author Award, sounds fantastic too.
What are your initial reactions to this morning’s award list?
Welcome to the third Friday Fifteen, in which I review fifteen books in fifteen words or less. Onto the books!
1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Creepy, well-written. Love it even more every time I read it.
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
I was very proud to have figured out what the deal was with Crouch.
3. Waiting for the Rain by Sheila Gordon
7th grade, learned about apartheid. I remember kids go to the movies and share chocolate.
4. A Certain Strain of Peculiar by Gigi Amateau
Very sweet, gets the small Southern town vibe. Made me want to say y’all afterward.
5. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Scarlett is the tragic protagonist. You’re not supposed to like her.
6. The Winner (The Gymnasts #4) by Elizabeth Levy
Another 90s tween series. I read one or two instead of taking gymnastics.
7. Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Three mice discover red, yellow, and blue can make other colors too. Blew my mind!
8. Just as Long as We’re Together by Judy Blume
Read this a zillion times. Judy gets the weirdness of shifting friendships in middle school.
9. Women Artists: An Illustrated History by Nancy Heller
Won this as part of the art award in high school. Lots of cool images/info.
10. Snow in August by Pete Hamill
Assigned in 9th grade. I liked it until the end, which went off the rails.
11. The All New, All Purpose Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker
Want to cook bear? That’s in here, along with pretty much everything food related.
12. Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle by Stephen Dunning
6th grade, first foray into poetry that didn’t necessarily rhyme. Didn’t understand most of it.
13. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Very clear memories of reading this at my desk in first grade.
14. A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg
Wizenberg combines the best of food writing with a touching memoir.
15. Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey by Martin Handford
He’s on a boat! Or the beach…
Feel free to share your own Friday Fifteens in the comments. Happy weekending!
An interesting quote from this interview with Judy Blume:
“With Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, I thought I was writing about organized religion, yet the book has become famous for dealing with puberty. Hardly anyone ever mentions religion or Margaret’s very personal relationship with God.”
I know that if you ask almost anyone what Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is about, they’d say a girl getting her period, but I actually really enjoy Margaret’s struggle with organized religion throughout. It feels very natural, and I like that Margaret is always reaching out for something greater in the universe, even if she can’t call herself Jewish or Christian exactly.
Make sure to check out the whole interview!
Check out artist Eric Fonteneau’s new installation, “La Bibliotheque,” at the French Institute Alliance Francaise. A little about the exhibit:
“Fonteneau traveled Europe and North America with graphite and charcoal. The artist goes to libraries and rubs them on book bindings, taking with him a facsimile of the offerings of the particular branch. At first, Fonteneau rented a warehouse in Nantes for his collection, but has since taken them on tour, showing internationally.
A press release for the installation described “La Bibliotheque” as “playing with the idea of real versus imagined and memory versus record,” and the images below offer a promising peak into what’s sure to be a haunting experience. The “books” are carefully arranged, and the rubbed bindings are legible. Diminutive lights illuminate the space and provide an eerie scale to the room, interrupted only by spare wood furniture which suggest a hidden, important library where one is never seen, but always caught.”
What a cool idea! I love the combination of documenting travel with a technique like rubbing (which reminds me of gravestone rubbings) to create an eerie yet beautiful atmosphere. Click through for more pictures of this gorgeous exhibit.
A few more links to get you through Thursday: