Lazy River with Jo March

Yesterday I visited Louisa May Alcott's home, Orchard House, in Concord, MA. A lovely colleague of mine invited me to lunch and a stroll around this chic New England town, home of the "shot heard round the world" to quote Emerson. That is the first shots of the American Revolution. The weather was perfect...so sunny and bright but not hot, nice and cool. And Concord really is beautiful with grand homes and it just oozes with American history. I can't help myself. And throw in talk of Little Women? It was all I could do not to buy a needlepoint kit...I'm not kidding. Instead, I purchased a framed print of the March girls and mozied around Orchard House humming the song from Winona Ryder's retelling of an American masterpiece. I'm sure the tour guides love that. But really, how could I resist?

And then there's this scene for the weepy:

One of my charming college roommates Topher and I watched this movie constantly. We still quote it all the time. "Marmee's home!" or "Your potatoes!" are our favorites. My seven children from Heckedy Peg (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...) will call me Marmee, a name coined by Anna, the oldest Alcott girl represented by Meg in Little Women, who had trouble pronouncing mother as a baby. See? I paid attention on my tour.

This was not my first visit...not even my second. Here's a shot from a Christmas at Orchard House with the good sport Dave:

Also, in an amazing twist of fate, guess who will be drifting down a lazy river in about 24 hours?

It ain't Jo March.

My aunt (you can call her Aunt March even though my aunt is much more pleasant...just for fun) invited me to join her and my cousins on a visit to an indoor waterpark. Where do I sign? An indoor water park isn't something I'd think to do but DEFINITELY something I'll agree to. I told my brother and we both said "lazy river" at the same time. I also plan on wave pooling it just a bit and going on some raft slides. But if you're looking for me, you should start at the lazy river. I'll just be doing loops there.

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood, 1987

She's Heckedy Peg. She's lost her leg. And she took the children, all 7 of them,  back to her house to eat for dinner!

One of my all time favorite picture books by the great author/illustrator dynamic duo Audrey and Don Wood (also known for the Napping House, King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, the more recent Alphabet Adventure series, and many more), Heckedy Peg is a definite must-have for a home library. For now, my copy is from le biblioteque. But one day, when I have my LLBean Rug, I'll also have my own copy of Heckedy Peg.

There are some classic folktale elements and lessons learned in Heckedy Peg. The poor mother takes care of her seven children, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...you get the idea. She scrimps and saves to buy them all a treat at the market, but before she goes, Mother Dear tells her seven cherubs to not let any strangers in and to not touch the fire. Well, wouldn't you know that they let in a terrifying old lady dressed all in black and light her pipe?! The mother comes back to an empty house. What will she do?

Look at this warm picture:

And this one too:

The illustrations are all done in these rich tones and really convey the mood well. Also, each page has all 7 children on it somewhere so it can be fun for readers to find every kid.

And a little side note, while tooling around the internet reading about this book, I stumbled on a Booklist review saying Heckedy Peg is based on a 16th century English game. Who knew? Sounds a little scary.

I will have seven children and name them for the days of the week.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, 2011

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, 2011

Recommended by a really lovely lady with whom I work (who always brings me treats like Valentine's cards or coupons or funny comics or origami gifts or books), Miss Peregrine's starts off as a true delight. Following the mysterious and violent death of his eccentric grandfather, Jacob heads to a remote, Welsh island in hopes of revealing Grandpa's secret past. There he discovers the old abandoned orphanage his grandfather grew up in and some of its terrifying secrets.

I was really into Miss Peregrine's in the beginning. The creepy pictures (apparently gathered by Mr. Riggs from flea markets and garage sales) are sort of scary but not in any real, keep-you-up-at-night way. And then suddenly, about halfway through, I hit a lull and lost interest in the book.  I struggled to finish and was only motivated to continue so I could be done with it and move on to something I'd rather read. Part of the problem is the entire dilemma (initially) is whether or not Jacob will be able to uncover his grandfather's secret past. And then midway through, he does. There are more details to unearth, but for the most part, the cat's out of the bag. And once you know, the new sort of second story or dilemma that develops just isn't as enticing. Many new characters are introduced, but you don't feel invested in any of them except Jacob. And it all gets confusing and you kind of just don't buy it. Or at least I didn't.

But what do I know? It was/is very popular so maybe my distaste is just a personal reaction. But I think readers are drawn to Miss Peregrine's because of the images and the creepy beginning. After that, you might keep reading to see how it will wrap up. It definitely sets itself up for a sequel(s).

Watch this book trailer if you're interested:

In other news, I had a great, long weekend and was lucky enough to cheer on this year's Boston marathon runners close to the 25 mile mark! I was so impressed with these tough participants braving the record heat and putting one aching foot in front of the other all the way to Copley square. It was just the kick I needed to get me motivated for Chicago, 2012...I'm running it and need to get moving!

*Thanks for the pic BarnesandNoble.com!

It is the eve of my spring break.

Let the celebrations begin!

Things I plan to do over the next 10 days:

• Hobknob around Boston with Dave's lovely sister and her boyfriend...catching a Red Sox game and gorging ourselves at the Union Oyster House
• Trek on up to the LLBean flagship store in Freeport, Maine to look at things I don't need and can't afford like this (love!) 
• Visit my wonderful aunt and uncle and cousins in western Mass
• Cheer my heart out on the sidelines of the Boston Marathon and then go home to burrow on the couch and read these books:

Rez Life by David Treuer, 2012

I stumbled across this book on a new nonfiction display at le library, and I don't know too much about it. BUT the inside cover described an account of life on an Ojibwe reservation in northern Minnesota which sounds pretty dang interesting to me. Shout out to northern Minnesota! I'll see you this summer.

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin, 1998

The show caught me up. I'm ready for book 2. Enough said.

Happy Spring everyone! 

*Thanks for the pictures BarnesandNoble.com!

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, 1996

Guess what?! You know how I'm always singing the praises of the holds system at the library? Well, it has served me well yet again. The first season of HBO's Game of Thrones series was available for yours truly to pick up today. What a great way to get through the next 4 days before break! Let me explain.

So a few Septembers ago my brother Matt and I had this long conversation about a series he had been reading. We were sitting on the floor of a doctor's office waiting room passing the time talking about books. He is a pretty avid reader and much better at finding obscure fictional gems than I. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin came up. I'd never heard of it. Matt went on to describe an epic fantasy series that has yet to be completed. He said I should read it.

So I did.

And I couldn't put it down.

The first book, Game of Thrones, is 807 pages long and introduces a whole slew of characters and back stories and really, an entirely imagined world. So there's a lot to learn and digest. The very basic gist is there's this island kingdom called Westeros which is the home of many long lived and noble families. The kingdom is under the rule of one king since the fall of a ruling dragon kingdom in the past. All is running pretty smoothly in Westeros until the "King's Hand" dies and Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell is asked to take over the position. Honest Abe Stark assumes his new duties but makes some shocking discoveries in the process...and then the whole thing comes crumbling down in a power struggle of battles, assassinations, love affairs, etc. Also, there's this whole forbidden world on the north end of Westertos cut off by a giant wall full of terrifying things. The first book really left me interested in the dark, frigid area beyond the wall and what role it would play in the future of the story.

I got through book one and was interested in reading on in the series but figured I needed a breather. Better to pace yourself than burn out. Well, a short break of a month or two has become 6 or 7 months, and now I feel like I can't remember what I read! Cue the television series! I thought I'd watch season 1 for a refresher before picking up book 2, A Clash of Kings. Brother Matt thinks I may get the imagery and actors stuck in my head which is always a let down when you still have more reading to do, and he's probably right, but I don't really care. I would care with, say, the Lord of the Rings, but Song of Ice and Fire ain't no LOTR. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Song of Ice and Fire, and it is certainly an entertaining read, but it is rife with problems. It is extremely graphic and violent which I can handle but can get old. The lurid , masochistic sex scenes really started to wear on me. The new dragon queen who is maybe 13 if I remember correctly and the husband to whom she is promised...some of their scenes were just hard to read. So I read it with a grain of salt and am only so invested. It is the type of book you don't mind watching on television. Got me?

Intrigued? Read the book. You'll never regret reading the book before seeing the movie or watching the show.

Thanks brother! Matt always knows whats up.

sunday, sunday.

The cake was just as great the second time around!

Carrot cake is officially my new favorite cake...for now.

I am not a good Sunday-er. Even Saturday night little inklings of dread start forcing their way in, and when my eyes open Sunday morning, that dread has found a nice comfortable spot in the pit of my stomach to settle for the rest of the day. You'd think I was about to walk the plank the way I get all worked up. But I'm trying to make Sundays more pleasant, more about doing nice things like playing catch or watching a movie instead of last minute laundry or closet reorganization. And I only have 5 more days until an entire week off. What's to complain about?

I only got about half way through Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, but I am enjoying it very much.

In other reading news, I arrived home to an Outside magazine in my mailbox. I received a free subscription to the magazine, and who doesn't love free?! But I have to be honest, it is a little too adrenaline junkie for me. I really enjoy being outside, but as I always say, I am no X-gamer. There was an interesting cover story about the increasing use of helicopters for rescue of stranded and injured climbers on Everest. If you're into that kind of thing, I recommend it, but it certainly isn't calming for a Sunday night.

I am at a loss for a good magazine to look forward to. Back in the day, the arrival of an American Girl magazine in the mailbox made my day! And it only came once every 2 months so there was a lot of anticipation. But since then, nothing has quite captured my attention. Sure I'll pick up a mag or two at the airport. I had my Glamour days for a while and Vanity Fair, and I really love flipping through Cooking Light, but I don't have a magazine that really keeps me waiting, one that I want to read from cover to cover. I enjoy the Week. It has a good balance of smart stuff and some lighter articles as well. Maybe I should subscribe.

Do you have any magazine subscriptions or do you just pick something up that strikes your fancy in the check-out line? Any suggestions?

Easter Parade!

Well, it's that time of year again. Easter! It was always a big deal in our house in Indiana. Still is. The fridge overflows with cartons of expertly dyed and waxed eggs, baskets are filled with homemade cheese, bread, and sausage for midnight church services, and the Easter bunny leaves rhyming clue cards scattered from room to room for my brother and I to find. This scavenger hunt would take place every Easter morning, and each participant was forced to hop from clue to clue in order to claim their basket at the end of the hunt. The basket would usually be full of cartons of strawberries, jars of pickles, and a magazine or two.

My mom has this great habit of saving some of our old children's books (according to our ages, some of them are 40 years old). She now keeps them in different boxes divided seasonally, an interesting and intriguing method for a librarian...I like. Here are some of my fav old Easter books, and we're not talking Pat the Bunny:

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Du Bose Heyward, Pictures by Marjorie Hack, 1939

This mama bunny has about a gagillion baby bunnies (21 to be exact). Dang, mama bunny! And then she is somehow chosen to take on the exalted bunny duty: Easter bunny. Can she do it with all those needy babies?

The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

See that bunny next to the egg? He's waiting for the baby duck to come out so they can be buddies and make a story for you to read. There are lots of colorful illustrations to enjoy.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, 1903?

You know the idea...Peter Rabbit sneaking around Mr. McGregor's garden. I won't give away the ending. While you're at it, you should read Ms. Potter's other lovely little classics. Remember Jemima Puddle-Duck?




*There's also a real creepy book my brother Matt and I always manage to find in the pile. We flip through the pages in horror as pictures of real baby rabbits dressed in clothing tell some terrifying tale about getting lost and disobeying your parents. I'll make a point to look for it when I'm home and show you all pictures of your next nightmare.

Happy Easter to all! Dave and I are headed to Scranton to visit his family for a quick trip. I'm bringing a small carrot cake from Modern Pastry in Boston's North End to celebrate the occasion. I love carrot cake, but last weekend I had a piece from Modern while visiting the little shop with my friend Laura. My life changed. It brought my carrot cake love to a new level. It may, in fact, be my favorite kind of cake which is saying something because this girl loves some good cake.

And 3 other things that are coming along for the ride:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, 2011

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, 1999

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, 2006











I'll probably only crack one of these books, but who doesn't like options?!

Thank you for the pictures BarnesandNoble.com!

The Short American Century: A Postmortem by Andrew Bacevich, David Kennedy and Emily Rosenberg, 2012

Remember Brookline Booksmith? Well, they host all these great author events, and I am dropping by one Thursday evening. What a good way to start off a 3 day weekend, right?

I am attending a discussion by Andrew Bacevich, a renowned professor from Boston University and retired military officer whom I was lucky enough to hear speak back as an undergrad at Indiana University. Two other professors from Harvard named Jeffrey Frieden and Akira Iriye will join the discussion. Down in the basement of the Booksmith, these 3 academics will discuss a new book by Bacevich, David Kennedy, and Emily Rosenberg on America in the latter half of the 20th century. The Short American Century: A Postmortem is a reflection, if you will.

I don't even remember much about Mr. Bacevich or what he talked to us fine, young 20 year olds about, BUT I remember it was riveting. He visited my American Military History class which I took spring semester of my senior year. And though I didn't agree with everything he said, I could tell this guy knew what he was talking about. He made me want to know what I was talking about. I am always impressed with knowledgeable people. They inspire me to read more and learn more and take more classes and run more and write more letters and just generally be less lazy. And maybe what I need right now is a swift kick to get me back on that track I was once on many moons ago. Andrew Bacevich, impress me with your knowledge. He will have truly blown me away if I walk out of the Booksmith with a hardcover copy of his book. I almost NEVER buy hardcover. Can he do it?

Read this interesting essay by Bacevich and then come join me at the event! Afterwards we can romp around Coolidge Corner eating chocolate bunnies and making plans on how to get smart like that guy we just saw. Deal?

*Thanks for your picture, Brookline Booksmith!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, 1958

So this is not the old school cover you might have recognized, but it will do. This cover is vibrant and telling, but the original is much more windswept and lonely just like the story. Covers are really powerful and continue to become more so. I even read a really fascinating article about cover work, but that is for another post. Back to puritanical Connecticut circa 1687!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond tells Kit Tyler's story. When her grandfather dies, Kit is sent from their plantation home on Barbados to her only remaining relation's home in Wethersfield, Connecticut . Having never met her aunt and knowing little of the New England way of life, Kit is shocked by the strict rules and extreme work schedule. Even her cousins Judith and Mercy work to the bone. Desperately homesick for her life on the island and finding it impossible to fit into the stifling Puritan life, Kit befriends an old Quaker woman who lives alone near Blackbird Pond. Shunned from Wethersfield, Kit's friend Hannah is so welcoming and friendly. How could anyone believe she is truly a witch?

This is a great read from yesteryear. I was struck by the slow pace and the extremely wholesome characters. Of course, knowing the setting you wouldn't expect some adventure packed tale starring a 16 year old "hussie" (ha!), but even Kit, the daring odd man out, is really genuine and likes teaching young children how to read and saving kittens from burning homes. Wholesome. Also, there is much about her daily life and young love and Hannah's cozy home that is slow paced. And for someone like me, someone who loves Little House on the Prairie, this is perfect, but it takes a certain kind of teenager to agree...definitely a girl who likes to read, likes to read historical fiction, and likes to read books like Jacob Have I Loved. Are you getting my vibe? All of that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am glad I picked it up. Everyone loves a good witch story, and it is easy to feel for Kit and her extreme loneliness. And reading about the Puritans can really creep you out so much so that at certain points when things seem really hopeless for our young protagonist, you find yourself hoping she'll flag down a boat and head back to Barbados despite her being promised in marriage to a 50 year old plantation owner back there...what?!

Anyway, read on, dear friends! And happy April! We've made it to another month, and in the springtime, that always seems like a big event especially if you go to or work in a school. Two and a half months until summer vacation, but who's counting?!