March retrospective

What a crazy, crazy month. Thankfully, it's over and I get a week to work on some house stuff and clean.

March's Total Page Count: 5,879

YA Literature

1. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (3/1/2017) - 453 pages
2. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (3/3/2017)  - 541 pages
3. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare (3/4/2017) - 424 pages
4. *City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (3/8/2017) - 533 pages
5. Masterpiece by Elise Broach (3/9/2017) - 288 pages
6. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (3/22/2017) - 182 pages
7. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (3/25/2017) - 476 pages
8. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (3/27/2017) - 502 pages
9. *Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (3/28/2017) - 568 pages

Adult Literature

1. Abhorsen by Garth Nix (3/11/2017) - 358 pages
2. Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (3/13/2017) - 373 pages
3. *Clariel by Garth Nix (3/15/2017) - 382 pages
4. *Goldenhand by Garth Nix (3/18/2017 - 344 pages

Short Story Collections

1.  The Case Against Tomorrow by Frederik Pohl (3/20/2017) - 150 pages
2. Across the Wall by Garth Nix (3/30/2017) - 305 pages

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

So, it's hard to keep writing these little review thingies for multiple books in the same series. I mean, awesome though I may be, even I struggle with pithy turn of phrase and brilliant observations from time to time. Also, it's not like I'm in a significantly different mindset or found the book in some interesting way. I think sometimes, that's why I run out of steam for blog posts when I'm working my way through a long series.

However, that doesn't mean that the book isn't worthy of a post. Clockwork Princess, the last book in the Infernal Devices series, is an excellent finale. I'm not a terribly sentimental person but some books just really jab me in the tear box. I spent the last 50 pages snuffling and tearing up. It really just did me in.

So! Excellent third book that ties up all the major plot lines and resolves all the romantic sub-plots. I actually really like how Clare resolved the two boys for one girl thing. It's not the kind of thing that would work in other worlds and was a neat solution.

Tessa starts the book planning her wedding to Jem while the Institute as a whole still searches for Mortmain. Will, is taking the high road and supporting the relationship between his parabatai and the woman he loves. Everyone seems to be be struggling and the Shadowhunter Consul wants Charlotte out.

Excellent read.

Clockwork Prince

A continuation in Infernal Devices series. Actually, once I started the series, I really just had to keep going which speaks well of it.

Will inadvertently revealed that he had feelings for Tessa and he runs to Magnus Bane which starts a sort sub-plot that explains Will's spiky behavior. In the meantime, it becomes clear that not every shadowhunter believes a woman can run an institute and Charlotte's position as head is challenged by Benedict Lightwood. The institute has two weeks to find the Magister, Mortmain, or loose the institute.

Jem and Tessa get closer as Will works to find a solution to his problem. Gabriel and Gideon Lightwood are frequent visitors to the institute to train both Tessa and Sophie. Of course no one really believes that's all they are up to.

This is a fairly typical middle book in a series. The plot moves forward. What Clare has done well though, is weave in new levels of intrigue and new characters.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Sometimes authors write multiple series of books within the same world. When writing genre fiction, the most time consuming task is creating the world. It's hard to build a back drop that provides depth to the narrative. So, it makes sense to reuse it. However, multiple series means fresh characters and new plots. Some of my favorite series growing up are like this and I felt like I could imagining myself living in those worlds.

Clockwork Angel is the first in a trio of books sent in the same world as the "Mortal Instruments" series but set back in victorian England. Tessa is a young American girl who travelled to England to join her brother after her Aunt's death. However, she's met at the dock by two quite sinister figures and imprisoned. This is how Tessa, a mundane, comes to find out that there is more to world she's known.

What's worse, Tessa discovers that she has some mysterious ability to change her shape and become the thing/person she changes into complete with memories and mannerisms. She's soon discovered by accident and rescued by Will Herondale, a young Shadowhunter, and the rest of the London Institute.

This is one of those classic set ups where a young woman, Tessa, must choose between two suitors, Will Herondale and James Carstairs (Jem). Additionally, the villain known as the Magister intends to marry her as well. Will holds her at arms length with a sour disposition and tendency towards sarcasm. Jem is deathly ill but kind and marvelously patient.

Clare's depiction of victorian England is nicely detailed and she includes mainly of the typical plotlines of a gothic romance. That, combined with gritty industrial age London and creepy clockwork monsters gives this a steam punk kind of feel.

Much Ado of Weekly Lists

So, the weekly lists aren't helping. I don't think they hurt anything, they are just ineffectual and I think I have to face the likelihood that I will not be able manage 200 books in the year. I suppose it's still possible for me to catch up, I just don't rate it as very likely. We'll see.

I will dispense with the weekly lists.

In other news it seems like the power outages have resulted in a revolution in my nieces sandwich preferences. Apparently she really like the hummus sandwiches we make for Thomas. Our daycare doesn't let us send peanut butter and I am (probably needlessly) uncomfortable sending in meat given that the food isn't refrigerated. I suppose I wouldn't worry as much if Thomas actually acted sick when he's under the weather, but he's a bit of a cypher. Hummus was my compromise.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I have to admit it that Ryan has good taste in books. He recommended The Westing Game because he remembered liking it as a kid. It took me a minute to get into it, but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down. Even better, a bunch of my students spotted me reading it and had a lot of comments about it which is always a good sign.

So, this is an Agatha Christie style mystery aimed at a middle school audience. The whole thing starts with a mysterious apartment building and an apparent murder. 16 people are then invited to solve the murder and earn a millionaire's fortune.

There are a lot of moving parts in this one, but usually I have a pretty good idea how a mystery is going to end by the mid point of the book. Not so for this one. I had some of it worked out for sure, but the end still caught me by surprise.

All in all, it's a worthwhile read.

Goldenhand by Garth Nix

This is the last of the extant Old Kingdom Series novels. It came out in 2016, so I have high hopes that there will be more soon. It's a little strange how, as a late comer to an author, I can get so invested.

Goldenhand picks up very soon after the events of Abhorsen. Apparently, there's a short story that fits in between the two but I don't think it's necessary to read if first, but it probably helps to understand the set up. It's called "The Creature in the Case."

Lireal lost a hand during Abhorsen and Sam has created her a new golden prosthetic to replace it, hence the name. Sabriel and Touchstone are taking a much needed vacation leaving Lireal in charge of all Abhorsen matters. In the course of this she's called to the wall to meet Nick who has discovered a free magic creature.

Poor Nick, the guy is a sort of magical freak. The events of previous books have left him infested with free magic, but the Disreputable Dog also baptised him to Charter magic. So he's kind of a living Charter Stone. (If you read the previous books, that made sense. If you haven't, think source of magic.)

In any case, Chlorr of the Mask shows up and causes problems that Nick and Lireal have to deal with. It's pretty fun. However, I will note that this volume reads more like YA than any other book in the series.

The Case Against Tomorrow by Frederik Pohl

I've been slowly working my way through this short story collection since some time last year. I like short stories but I don't read many of them. I have a tendency to focus on longer media. I also really enjoy old science fiction. For my purposes, old means anything published before 1980. Some of the best science fiction is in the short story format so a collection of old science fiction short stories is like cat nip.

The Case Against Tomorrow is a collection of six stories. As in any collection, some are better than others, but all of these are worth a read. As the collection title suggests, most of these stories deal with some sort of worrying modern trend that Pohl is examining. Part of the fun is looking at how some of these ideas played out.

• "The Midas Plague" - this is all about the flaws of a consumer driven economy. When the wealth of the nation is driven by the production and consumption of consumer goods it'll only be the truly wealthy that aren't forced to consume.
• "The Census Takers" - is about population control, kind of, and about how to fairly manage over population, kind of. It's also kind of about what happens when someone is discovered in a society like that who is not registered or part of the system.
• "The Candle Lighter" - this is a strange story with a lot going on. I think the idea that spawned it was having to do with the concept of "mental illness." However, it also has martians and interspecies relations. When I first read it, the ending absolutely floored me.
• "The Celebrated No-Hit Inning" - to my mind this is the weakest of the six, but that's probably because I'm not any kind of professional sports fan. This story plays with time travel but only as a plot device. The main thrust of the story is how contentious and rules lawyering baseball was apparently becoming in the late 50's.
• "Wapshot's Demon" - this is a relatively short little tale playing with the ideas outlined in Maxwell's Demon, but with molecules of information instead of air.
• "My Lady Green Sleeves" - this is the longest story of collection and one of the most troubling. Pohl was writing in the late 50's and he's examining the idea of segregation, but by using a social caste construct instead of race or religion. He seems to be suggesting that it is human nature to tend towards segregated groups. Like any science fiction, the idea is flawed, but it is worth pondering some of his observations about human nature, even if I don't think his conclusion is inevitable.

I think my favorite story of the group was either "The Midas Plague" or the "The Census Takers" followed closely by "The Candle Lighter." "Wapshot's Demon" is fun too.

Catch-Up Week . . . I Hope

I am continuing to slide behind so I'm going be a little underhanded in order to make up some ground. So I'm going to stack the list with books that are either short or likely to be quick reads. Normally, to read on pace I would have to read about four books a week so I'm going to give myself four easy/quick reads. The rest of the books on the list will be more normal for reading lengths. Ideally, I'll manage five books this week if not six.

1. The Case Against Tomorrow by Frederik Pohl - Short Stories (I only have three stories left in the collection)
2. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - YA (It's really short)
3. Life is Funny by E.R. Frank - YA (It's young adult and while not super short, it's also not long)
4. I Am David by Ann Holm - YA (very short)
5. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - YA
6. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - YA
7. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - YA
8. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare - YA (all the Clare books are hefty coming at around 500 pages each in length but I have them from various libraries and need to get them read and back)

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Clariel by Garth Nix

11 years after Abhorsen was published, Nix came out with Clariel. That's a long lag. Most authors produce one book every year to two years to keep a series going. Slower than that, and it can be difficult to get a new book out because the fans wander off and find new things to follow. Sometimes though, if a book has a big enough following, a new book in the series can be well received. Clariel is such a book.

Sometimes an author gets interested in the backstory of a villain which can lead to some interesting problems. If the villain cannot be made sympathetic in someway, it can be hard to run a book from their perspective. Make them too sympathetic and it is no longer believable that they can be villainous. So, it's a very hard line to walk. I imagine it is made harder when the first exposure
the audience has to the character is as a villain.

In this case, Nix came up with an interesting solution. The events of Clariel happen about 600 years before the rest of the Abhorsen books. For most of the book, it is unclear how, or even if, the main character Clariel relates to the other later timeline. By the time I figured it out, the book was about three quarters of the way through.

Clariel is a girl uprooted from her environment by her parents and moved to the capital city of Belisaere. Her parents are goldsmiths and it's a good move for them with plenty of opportunity. However, it's a disaster for Clariel who wants nothing more than to be alone in the forest. Normally this just makes for an unhappy teenager, but Clariel is related to both the royal and abhorsen bloodlines and so is an inheritor of power. Power, can be a wonderful thing or it can be terrible.

I like the story of Clariel and, while the end made sense and was satisfying, it made me sad. The best part of the book for me was the glimpse of the Old Kingdom at or nears it's height of glory. All of the Abhorsen books take place in a time when the Old Kingdom is struggling to put itself back together, so it's interesting.

Abhorsen by Garth Nix

This is the last in the original Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix and follows very closely the events in Lirael. Actually, this is sort of a weird series. Sabriel, the first book, feels like a stand alone. Lirael and Abhorsen really feel like one book chopped in two which was probably done to keep the page count down. Generally, each book in a trilogy should have a complete plot arc and a common through line that links the books together. Think J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings." The Abhorsen trilogy reads more like an open-ended series which tends to feature discrete plot arcs with shared characters but where to main character can shift from book to book. This is more similar to Mercedes Lackey's "Valdemar" series or Terry Pratchett's "Discworld."

Anyway, Abhorsen concludes the events started in Lirael. Lirael and Sam continue their journey with Mogget and the Disreputable Dog to Red Lake in an effort on rescue Sam's friend Nick and stop an ancient evil from being unearthed. Things in Ancelstierre have completely destabilized and the book begins with an assassination attempt on King Touchstone and Queen/Abhorsen Sabriel.

This book features a more extensive description of nine precincts of death as well as a return of the enigmatic Wall Builder bloodline. The mystery surrounding both Mogget and the Disreputable Dog is finally resolved. The end reads as final as though Nix didn't envision writing any more in the world. While it was a pretty excellent way to close out the trilogy, I'm glad he decided to write more.

Pied

Every few years, the school has a fund raiser where the chase prize is that some lucky staff member gets a pie to the face. Somehow, I always end up being one of the lucky few.

Here is me reporting to be pied. This has happened before. No big deal. Really.

Turns out this time, we get to pick our pie wielder out of a box and I happened to pick a student I've had in classes since freshman year.

Here's where he expresses his love and affection. Truly, I love this kid. I've been working with him for years. Although as it turns out, he finds me a challenging sort and decides it's not enough to just mash a pie in my face.

Oh no. There must be whip cream in the hair, just so I feel the love and appreciation :)

Really, this is what teaching is about because at the end of the day, it's the teachers that challenge us that make us feel seen. Today was a good day.

Definition of YA

I've been thinking lately on the topic of what makes YA, YA. I know this is a topic that I've picked at before. However, I think it bears examination.

I encountered the first book in Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series, Sabriel, in isolation. It was in a box of books that was gifted to my classroom library because a coworker was downsizing their personal library. There was nothing on the cover of the edition I had to indicate that it was considered YA. So, I read it without preconceived notions.

I gobbled down all three of the original trilogy in about two weeks. They are great books and it's an amazing nuanced fantasy world with strong philosophic overtones exploring a range of topics in a gritty mature tone. In fact, nothing really indicated to me that it was intended as YA until Ryan said, "Hey, Garth Nix. Isn't he that YA author." My response was something like, "clearly not, no way, can't be, are you crazy? Do you have the brain worms?" However, it's pretty rare for Ryan to be that off base with his name recognition so I researched and sure enough Garth Nix is known for several YA/Middle Reader series and the "Old Kingdom" series is, in fact, currently marketed as YA fiction. Well slap me with a monkey and call me banana!

So, ok, what makes something YA? Is it a meaningless definition? Or a marketing ploy? Is it, in fact, a valuable distinction? I'm not alone in feeling some frustration with the ambiguity of the term. The Guardian ran an article on it. YALSA, the Young Adult branch of the American Library Association, has published a white paper on it acknowledging the amorphous nature of the term. If you do a basic search on the question, there's quite a lot out there.

I think in the end there's quite a lot going on here.

First, "YA" is a designation of the intended audience, but that doesn't mean older readers can't find value in the material. Many "adults" read YA because, being aimed at teens, it tends to deal with morally or socially complex issues in a straightforward manner. I think we all benefit from reading such material, so it's not a surprise that a diverse group read it.

Second, ultimately it's a marketing decision to call something YA. Authors tend to develop followings and fans tend to impose their preconceptions on material. In Nix's case, most of what he's written is Middle Reader or YA. I feel that if I called the guy up, he would tell me that the "Old Kingdom" series was his attempt at writing for a fully mainstream audience. (I could be wrong. Maybe someday I'll get a chance to ask) However, from a publishing business point of view, teens and pre-teens are an enormous consumer block with tons of discretionary funds to spend on non-essentials. It's in their best interest to get as many things market towards teens as they can.

Third, on many levels there are more similarities between teens and adults than differences. Intellectually speaking teens are in a phase of deliberately exploring their world and the ideas that control their lives. Most teens, who are intellectually capable and educationally prepared (many if not most of them), can read and understand anything an adult can. It comes down to interest and engagement.

So what are the common factors for something called "YA"?

I can really only come up with one. All YA fiction has an age appropriate protagonist: somewhere between 12 and 20 years old.

Everything else is up for grabs.

I know in my mind, some things are and somethings are not "YA". I'm a little unclear in my own mind what the distinction is and it's something I will continue to wrestle with, but I am pretty sure that it has something to do with authorial intent. However, I am sure that it's a soft distinction. Teens can read and should read "adult fiction" and adults can and should read "YA." The more ideas we are exposed to, the better off we are as people.

In other news, I finished my eighth book in March on on the 15th, which considering that I'm picking my way through The Power and the Glory a chapter at a time between novels, puts me exactly on pace for 200 books but doesn't help me make up any ground.

Master List 2.1

It's amazing how the more I read, the more I find to read. I always start into these lists with the vague idea that there will eventually be an end to the stack. Of course there never really will. The number of books on my YA Lit list is daunting on its own.

However, it's also always been interesting to me how one book leads to another and how a reader finds books. For me, it seems like there are four main ways.

• First, I find a book because a friend or close family member hands it to me. I think this is how most people find the literature that they enjoy and the most common access people have to new material. In my case, because I make reading such a large part of my life, I have a massive number of people who recommend me books ranging from students, to family, to friends, and even to the relations of those people who have heard of me. 
• Second, I find a book because I am attracted to the cover art and because it is on display at library or bookstore. For people who consider themselves readers this is a pretty common thing as well. However, for it to happen, you have to be the kind of person who spends time in bookstores and libraries. 
• Third, one book leads me to another. Generally, this is a sort of lateral move as I discover new authors, find that I like something they've written, and then pursue other books they've done either within a series or other stand alones. However, sometimes one book mentions another, or in the case of my professional reading I can be exposed to whole lists.
• Fourth, I actively research for new material specifically in the area of YA and middle readers. I follow the big awards and I track various YA authors who are also big (and public) readers. I'll find places where other teachers publish their recommendations and actually read the publishing lists. Some of my bigger reading students do this in a less organized way. It can take a lot of time but can also yield very satisfying results.

Regardless of how I find them, the number of books on the master list has expanded and I'll need to cull it down some soon.

YA Lit

1. He Said, She Said by Kwame Alexander (UF)
2. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (UF)
3. Booked by Kwame Alexander (UF)
4. Solo by Kwame Alexander (UF)
5. The Playbook by Kwame Alexander (UF)
6. Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimee Carter* (UF)
7. Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit by Aimee Carter*
8. The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (CL)
9. The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (CL)
10. The Dragon Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (UF)
11. The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (UF)
12. The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (UF)
13. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco*
14. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (L)
15. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (UF)
16. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (UF)
17. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (UF)
18. The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare (UF)
19. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (UF)
20. Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare (UF)
21. The Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare (UF) 
22. The Pants Project by Cat Clarke*
23. The Maze Runner by James Dashner (L)
24. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (UF)
25. The Death Cure  by James Dashner (UF)
26. The Eye of Minds by James Dashner*
27. The Rule of Thoughts by James Dashner* (UF)
28. The Game of Lives by James Dashner* (UF) 
29. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany (L)
30. Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany (L)
31. Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany (L)
32. Destiny and Deception by Shannon Delany (L)
33. Rivals and Retribution  by Shannon Delany (UF)
34. A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer
35. City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
36. Life Is Funny E. R. Frank
37. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (L)
38. One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn*
39. The Someday Suitcase by Corey Ann Haydu*
40. I Am David by Anne Holm
41. The Water Seeker by Kimberly WIllis Holt
42. Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck (CL)
43. Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck (UF)
44. Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck (UF)
45. Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck (UF)
46. Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes (L)
47. Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johnson (UF)
48. The Right Track by Harmony Jones* (UF)
49. The High Note by Harmony Jones* (UF)
50. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
51. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore (UF)
52. The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore (UF)
53. The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore (UF)
54. The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore (UF)
55. The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore (UF)
56. United as One by Pittacus Lore (UF)
57. Hero by Mike Lupica (Dalton Recommendation)
58. Sold by Patricia McCormick (Jess Recommendation)
59. Wildwood by Colin Meloy (L)
60. Under Wildwood  by Colin Meloy (UF)
61. Wildwood Imperium  by Colin Meloy (UF)
62. Autobiography of my Dead Brother by Walter Dean Myers (L)
63. Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers (CL)
64. The Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers (CL)
65. I'll Give you the Sun by Jandy Nelson (L)
66. The Seance by Joan Lowery Nixon
67. Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
68. The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (UF)
69. Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker (UF)
70. Clementine, Friend of the Week  by Sara Pennypacker (UF)
71. Clementine and the Family Meeting by Sara Pennypacker (UF)
72. Clementine and the Spring Trip by Sara Pennypacker (UF)
73. Completely Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (UF)
74. The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman (UF)
75. The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman (UF)
76. The Tiger in the Well by Philip Pullman (UF)
77. The Tin Princess by Philip Pullman
78. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Ryan Recommendation)
79. The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda
80. The Wizard of Rondo by Emily Rodda (UF)
81. The Battle for Rondo by Emily Rodda (UF)
82. A List of Cages by Robin Roe*
83. So B. It by Sarah Weeks (UF)
84. Window Boy by Andrea White (UF)
85. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin (UF)

Short Story Collections

1. Wizards edited by Jack Danin and Gardner Dozois
2. Thrilling Tales edited by Michael Chabon
3. The Art of the Story edited by Daniel Halpern
4. The Sci-Fi Factor edited by Perfection Learning
5. The Case Against Tomorrow by Frederik Pohl

Adult Literature

1. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
2. Company by Max Barry (RR, Ryan Recommendation)
3. Machine Man by Max Barry (Ryan Recommendation)
4. Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon
5. King Rat by James Clavell (Ryan Recommendation)
6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (L)
7. Circuit of Heaven by Dennis Danvers (Ryan Recommendation)
8. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (RR)
9. The Magician King by Lev Grossman (UF)
10. The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman (UF)
11. Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah (Siree Recommendation)
12. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (Ryan Recommendation)
13. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
14. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver (Sandy Recommendation)
15. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis (Ryan Recommendation)
16. Swan Song by Robert McCammon (Ryan Recommendation)
17. The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (L)
18. Clariel by Garth Nix
19. Goldenhand by Garth Nix
20. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (B)
21. Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (B)
22. Interesting TImes by Terry Pratchett (B)
23. Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (B)
24. Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (B)
25. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett (B)
26. Fool on the Hill by Matt Ruff (Ryan Recommendation)
27. Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
28. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (CL)
29. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut (RR, Ryan Recommendation)

Poetry

1. Birthday Letters by Ted Hughs (Nathan Recommends)
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (RR)

Professional Reading & NonFiction

1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah (NF)
2. Turbulent Mirror by John Briggs and F. David Peat (NF, Ryan Recommendation)
3. L.A. Noir by John Buntin  (NF)
4. The Science of Star Wars by Jeanne Cavelos (NF)
5. Literature Circles by Harvey Daniels (P)
6. Mini-Lessons For Literature Circles by Harvey Daniels & Nancy Steineke (P)
7. Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman (NF)
8. The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean (NF)
9. Book Love by Penny Kittle (RR) (P)
10. Choice Cuts by Mark Kurlansky (NF)
11. The Eastern Stars by Mark Kurlansky (NF)
12. Reading Ladders by Teri S. Lesesne (RR) (P)
13. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (NF)
14. Good-Bye Round Robin by Michael F. Opitz (P)
15. The Writer's Workout Book by Art Peterson (P)
16. Cooked by Michael Pollan (NF)
17. Stiff by Mary Roach (NF)
18. Black Beard and Other Pirates of the Atlantic Coast by Nancy Roberts (NF)
19. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks (NF)
20. Teaching English by Design by Peter Smagorinsky (P)
21. A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage (NF)
22. An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage (NF)
23. Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf  (NF)

(L) = from a Library    (B) = borrowed     (RR) = ReReads    (UF) = unfound/don't have access yet
(GN) = Graphic Novel    (NF) = NonFiction    (P) = Professional

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

The daughter of my principal gave me this book last year and in her way told me that it was an awful book. Now, I take that with a grain of salt but, I have to admit, it didn't make me in a hurry to read it. Now that I have, I think she was reacting to the age of the protagonist. That is as always the struggle with struggling readers: finding something age appropriate that is also written at their reading level.

I actually found Masterpiece fairly delightful. It's about a beetle named Marvin who befriends a human 11 year old named James. James is a pretty ordinary kid in a quiet and serious way. His mom is a high powered New York real estate agent (and everything that implies) who is remarried to business type man. James father Kyle is an artist. So, when James turns 11 his father gets him a pen and ink set. However, James isn't terribly artistic so he's not super excited about this.

The beetles who live in the walls of James's apartment rather like him so Marvin decides to make him a present with his ink set. What he produces is a miniature masterpiece reminiscent of Durer. This, of course, leads to problems.
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I was already vaguely familiar with Albrecht Durer, but I wasn't expecting to find his work to be so strongly referenced in a middle reader. Sometimes there can be a tendency to shoe horn educational topics into novels for kids. This can be clunky and annoying. However, when it's done well, it can be brilliant. This was done well. I loved the little art heist set up and James/Marvin's involvement seemed oddly plausible given the circumstances. Over all, this was a good read for a middle schooler but the characters will come off a little childish to older readers, I think.

State of the week

So I managed a solid three and a half books last week. Most of them in the fantasy genre. It's enough to not fall behind too quickly but not enough to actually stay on track let alone catch back up. The problem is that there is more to life than reading books. As much as I love them, sometimes I need a break.

Anyway, my substack this week:

1. Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (I'm already half way through and he's riffing off "A Midsummer's Night Dream" in this one)
2. Power and the Glory by Graham Greene - Adult/classic (sheer stubbornness at this point)
3. Clariel by Garth Nix - adult/fantasy 
4. Goldenhand by Garth Nix - adult/fantasy (both of these Nix books because I have them out from the library and I'd like to finish the series up)
5. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare - YA (last book that I have from the series)
6. Thrilling Tales edited by Michael Chabon - short stories (I'm reading some seriously long and dense books otherwise, maybe this will help break it up.
7. Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes - poetry (still working at it, poetry takes time to digest)

Much of this is getting dictated by finishing a couple of series. I'd really like to get them done and get the books back to their respective homes.

As it turns out. . .

Gardening is hard work. I had forgotten how hard it is to break new ground for my garden boxes. Apparently, the first two were done sufficiently long ago that the memory has faded some. Let me tell you, our glorious rich red clay is obstinate about staying put. It's like the wunderkind of inertia. That stuff is solid.

To make it worse, I was digging up the most bizarre stuff including pieces of polished marble, various other rocks, ancient plastic twine, bits of wire, and a marble. I actually started to wonder what I would do if my shovel turned up a human skull. Do I call the police at that point? or do I skip right on up to the FBI? It's clearly too late for an ambulance in any case.

The box is in, and the ground inside has been turned once. It was too wet to continue with it today, but I'll have to get in during the week to add topsoil and compost. As nutrient rich as that clay may be, right now it's a solid sodden wet dense slimy mass.

In other news. The peas came up. I'd just about given up on them but I've got at least a dozen shoots. We'll see how far they get before the weather turns hot. It's probably time to plant out the first round of radishes, pak choy, and spinach. Might try a line of beets too.

It all depends on if my muscles ever forgive me for the abuse I've put them through this weekend. One box in, five more to go.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones is the first book in a series. I picked up these books because I'd seen them around both online and in the library. Also, the edition of the series I have access to all sport very striking cover art. I admit, sometimes a read a thing because of good art on the outside.

Once I started walking around with them, people started stopping me in the halls to ask me what I thought of them. Usually it works the other way around. I'm usually the one pouncing on people and asking them what they think. It's also pretty amazing how many different types of people were asking. I had everyone from science teachers, to teenage girls, teenage boys, and the occasional student parent. It was bizarre to say the least.

The fact that it's been made into a television series, probably has something to do with its popularity in written form. Still it's odd how diverse the readership base is.

Clary is an artistic teen in New York City. She thinks she's pretty ordinary. She has a best friend named Simon and an over-protective mother. However, a chance encounter opens her eyes (literally) to her magical heritage. She is, in fact, a Nephilim, a human with a smidgen of angel blood that allows them to battle the demons that threaten to invade earth.

Oh and by the way, there are also vampires, werewolves, faerie, and warlocks too. It's all real on some level and it's all hidden from the world of mundane humans. So, how did Clary not know this. Ah! Intrigue.

It's good stuff. Oh, and there's a hot boy (Jace) because there's always a hot boy. However, the romance is not the most appealing thing to me. It's an interesting world and the mystery of Clary's origins is a compelling puzzle.

La La La

It has been a weird week in the sense that the family is getting into some new habits. All things take time to become really entrenched but I think we are making progress.

I've been getting out more often in the afternoons to work on the garden infrastructure. Today I was pounding inverted beer bottles into the ground to mark out my semi permanent semi circular strawberry patch. I'd already done most of the edging so it only took about 30 minutes but I was having fun working out the circle packing problem of the number of strawberry plants that can fit in the segment of a circle that is the four foot outer band of about a quarter of a circle with the overall radius of 8 feet. Assuming that each of the strawberry plants need a circle of space that has a diameter of about 12 inches.  (See kiddos, geometry comes up in everyday life.)

While I've been doing that, or cooking dinner, Ryan and Thomas have been getting in an evening walk. The pediatrician wanted us to keep an eye on his weight, so we've been keeping an eye on the snacking and encouraging more physical activity. I think he was just gearing up for another growth spurt (lord help us) as he already appears to be slimming out.

In work life, both Ryan and I are getting behind in our grading again. I would feel bad except that somehow I'm spending over 10 hours at my job and still falling behind. It's a big job with a lot going on. Even so, I'm going to earmark naptimes over the weekend for grading.

And always there is the reading. I've been reading the Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument Series which apparently everyone, their mother, and itty bitty grandmother has read before me. It's interesting, I'm more accustomed to being the one who pounces on a reader with questions about their books as opposed to being the one who is pounced on. It's a good thing though.

So things are moving along. Mostly, I'm pretty happy with things. Thomas has gotten oddly resistant to story time, so that and potty training are the big projects at the moment. Oh, and my strawberry plants shipped today, so I should be able to get them into the ground tomorrow or Friday which is very exciting.

Lirael by Garth Nix

Having finished Sabriel, I realized that it was the first book in the series and started quickly looking for the rest of the books. Library to the rescue. As always.

Lirael picks up a couple decades after the events in Sabriel and mostly follow completely different characters. Lirael is an orphaned daughter of the Clayr, the prophets of the Old Kingdom. It's kind of a neat system actually. Individually, they all have the power of foresight but individually it isn't very useful because it is too vague and fractured. However, they can pool their talent together to get more usable predictions. Like I said, kind of cool.

Poor Lirael is alone among the Clayr in that she does not have the gift which singles her out and makes her feel like an outsider. Much of the first third of the book has to do with her feelings on this and how she distracts herself with magic studies and as a librarian.

The other character that the book follows is Prince Sameth who is Sabriel and Touchstone's son. Sameth seems kind of like a fish out of water, it's assumed that he's going to be the next Abhorsen but he's absolutely terrified of the job. So, he ends up running away, in effect, even though he convinces himself that he's really trying to help his friend.

Eventually, the two find each other.

This is a good sequel that continues to develop the world. I actually really love the thought that Nix put into the magic system and the sort of odd layered history and the new villains are pretty seriously creepy.

Keeping the Pace

So, according to the little widget in Goodreads, I'm about 5 books behind my pace for 200 books. The pace I'm at would put me at about 160 books by the end of the year which is none too shabby anyway. However, I would really like to see if I can manage the 200. So, while the number to make up is still low, I'm going to make up the difference.

To stay on pace it works out that I need to read 16.66 books per month, or 3.8 books week, or roughly 1 book every two days. It's not an impossible pace, but it is a tough one.

Additionally, I have all those subgoals. It's turning into an interesting puzzle. I think for the next few weeks, I'm going to start putting together a weekly selection of about six books just to keep things moving in the right direction.

So for this week, the selection is:

1. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - YA (I'm in the middle of the series and would like to keep it moving.)
2. Abhorsen by Garth Nix - Adult Lit (Also the middle of a series)
3. Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes - Poetry (on loan, so I'd like to get it back before it gets absorbed)
4. Masterpiece by Elise Broach - Middle Reader/YA (been sitting on it for a while and it's short)
5. Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett - Adult Lit (middle of a series but also just because)
6. Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes - YA (I have it out from the library and I'd like to get it read and back)
7. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene - Adult/Classic (because I've already got it started...so a bonus book)

We'll see if this helps me get going.

Collards Stew with Pork Two Ways

This started off as a Bittman recipe, but as with all really good food, it evolved into something slightly different. I had a lot of leftover stuff in the fridge. Specifically, I had a meaty pork bone leftover from a couscous recipe and 3/4 of a beer that I opened and then realized I didn't want. Adding them to the recipe meant that it was no longer a quick one, but also added immeasurably to the depth of the flavor.

Serves 6-8

2 Tbl butter
2-3 onions, chopped (I used a mix of red and yellow onions)
1 pound (or so) meaty pork bone (mine was from a shoulder roast)
1 pound smoked pork hock
2 pounds collards, sliced into thick ribbons
1 beer
4 1/2 cups water or stock
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a large pot. When it is melted add the onions, pork bone, and ham hocks. Saute until the meat on the bone is brown and the onions are softened.

Start adding collards to the pot in batches stirring with each batch. Once all the collards are added, add the beer and water or stock. Bring to a boil. Turn down to a gentle bubble and simmer for 30 minutes.

Pull the meat out and let cool until it can be handled. Strip the meat from the bones and chop. Return the meat to the pot along with any juices and toss the bones. Continue to simmer until the meat is fully cooked, usually no more than an extra 10 minutes or so at this point.

Adjust seasoning and serve with hot sauce.

DSL...Fixed...Finally

There is something about AT&T's organizational structure that causes me to experience rage and frustration at a level that I usually reserve for bad breakups. I mean really. Every technician I've ever met in person has been an excellent and competent individual. The problem is getting to the real people. The phone and departmental set-up is some sort of byzantine labyrinth complete with dead falls and nasty monsters.

The storm last Wednesday night really only clipped us. We had some high winds and some thunder and lightening. However, it was bad enough to knock out our internet. Thursday morning we woke up to red flashing lights and no connectivity. No problem. These things happen. We went to work, worked hard dispensing knowledge to the young and ignorant, and then came home. Still no internet. We checked the outage sites, but nothing really popped out.

By this point, I'm actually twitchy. It's one thing when I choose to be a slacker and don't blog. It's another thing entirely to lose the ability to choose. I even tried the mobile blogger app. Oh my gawd is that a buggy app. It's kept closing itself for no apparent reason and losing my progress.

Anyway, Friday morning, still no internet, so after school we call AT&T and get a very personable fellow named Carlos on the phone. Ryan opened with, "We've cycled the modem several times." Carlos naturally takes Ryan through the step-by-step process of cycling a modem... cause you know, we just lied about already having done it...yeah that's likely. I know they have to follow a script, but jeez. 40 minutes later, Carlos agrees we have a problem and tells us a tech will be out in the morning.

Saturday morning, out comes a very nice technician named Brian. Brian cycles our modem, checks the connection outside the house and at the street. Brian replaces the modem. Brian runs a new line from the pole to the house. Nothing works. Brian puts in a ticket for a DSL technician. Very nice guy, Brian. He keeps pit bulls and is looking for a large breed of cat for his girlfriend so that the cat has a fighting chance with the dogs. Nice guy.

So, Brian told us that the DSL technician would probably just show up outside and not bother us. However, Ryan and I have had dealings with AT&T's disorganization before. So, Ryan checks. He got a text saying that our service call has been delayed due to a network outage. Now, what does that mean. I understand all the words but they don't really string together. After all, we called because we had a network outage. He calls AT&T tech support (big mistake). The most unhelpful lady on the phone makes him verify his identity by reciting the alphabet backwards, listing off his favorite vocalists three years ago, and sending a pic of the bottom of his right shoe. (not really, but it felt like that.) Once Ryan's finally had enough to snap (rare event) the woman says, "well I see here that your service call has been delayed due to a network outage." Oh really. Thanks for that new and fascinating information.

So, what can you do. We went to bed. Sunday morning, Ryan called again while chanting a vulcan mantra in aid of calm under his breath. Ryan starts by overviewing the situation and saying, "and we are still without internet." There is a long pause followed by, "hold on a second while I check something." Well, it turns out our ticket was marked resolved somewhere along the line. She reopens the ticked and tells us someone will be out by noon. At this point I put on work boots and start beating up the front lawn with a shovel.

However, less than 20 minutes later a new tech shows up in a boom truck and ultimately fixes the problem. Apparently, lightning struck somewhere up the line on Wednesday night. So that's all great. However, why does it take three days to get anything done with AT&T and why is it that every time I have to deal with them, they screw up something meaning that I loose even more of my time waiting around for them to fix their equipment.

*fume*

DSL

Internet down. Blog app buggy. Sad face.

The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring by John Bellairs

This is the last of a trio of kids books that Ryan recommended that I read a while back. I'd never heard of them before, but apparently they had quite a little following in my generation.

Despite being the last book in the Lewis Barnavelt Series, this book switches protagonists to Rose Rita (Lewis's best friend) and Lewis almost doesn't appear in the entire book. Rose Rita is having a hard time adjusting to the idea of growing up. She's very good at being a kid. She likes running around, playing sports, and generally being pretty feisty. That she knows actual genuine magicians is a complete bonus.

Lewis is not as successful at being a kid. He's not very athletically inclined and he's a little chubby. In fact, he has a hard time keeping up with Rose Rita which is why he decides to go to Boy Scout camp that summer. Of course, Rose Rita can't go to Boy Scout Camp with him and she feels abandoned. The idea of Girl Scouts is repulsive but so is the idea of knocking around all summer without Lewis. She's angry. Boys get to have all the fun.

Mrs. Zimmerman to the rescue. Mrs. Zimmerman invites Rose Rita to accompany her to a farm in upstate Michigan that her cousin owned before he died. It's up to Mrs. Zimmerman to put his affairs in order and she'd like the company.  Soon the two of them a gadding about the small towns of Michigan sight seeing and having a good time. Things take a turn though when it becomes clear that Mrs. Zimmerman is under magical attack. Rose Rita finds herself on her own to figure out who's after her friend and deal with it before it's all too late.

It's a fun book. It's always a bit jarring when a series with a consistent protagonist shifts point of views like this but it's easy enough to adjust too. Rose Rita is an interesting point of view for the girls out there who are convinced boys get all the fun stuff. I know I was pretty convinced of it. Boy Scouts sounded so much more fun that what Girl Scouts was after all.