2005-Coretta Scott King HonorWhy is this book so acclaimed? Does it merit this recognition? Most of these are not outright awards, instead listing Fortune's Bones as a recommended title. Hm.
2005-Books for the Teen Age — New York Public Library
2005-Notable Children’s Books — American Library Association
2005-Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children
2005-The Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry
2004-Editor’s Choice — Kirkus Reviews
2005-YA Top Forty 2004 titles — Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
2005-YA Top Forty Nonfiction 2004 titles — Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Dissent in the ranks
We seem to be in general agreement with each other about meh-ing Fortune's Bones, but the critics of the book world think otherwise:
Gay-themed library exhibit prompts ban
ALA | Gay Pride Events Banned in Hillsborough County. This happened after people complained (separate article) about a Gay & Lesbian Pride Month book display.
Gah.
Also, there's a mother in Arkansas who Demand[ed] Removal of 70 Titles in the school's library collections.
I need to start finding articles dcoumenting success in THWARTING such acts.
Gah.
Also, there's a mother in Arkansas who Demand[ed] Removal of 70 Titles in the school's library collections.
I need to start finding articles dcoumenting success in THWARTING such acts.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Disney princesses make me barf
You have to watch an ad to access it, but this Salon.com article, "A Nation of Little Princesses," includes input from Maria Tatar and features the kind of girls I actively persecute and campaign against.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Venturing Forth
I still want to read Fortune's Bones again, aloud, but here are some off-the-top-of-my-brain thoughts.
The illustrations & images particularly brought this book together for me. The book is physically beautiful with pleasing design: cover, music sheet endpapers, poem on right - illustration on left, the concept of the poems as a requiem in vocal parts. That was all good.
The poems themselves didn't blow me away. Fortune's story is fascinating (I think I enjoyed the non-fiction, left page bits more than the poems themselves), and as I said above, I like the idea of the requiem, but most of the poems seemed overly simple, even awkward in parts.
The parts I read from Nelson's Carver: A Life in Poems at Simmons, struck me as being more sophisticated. It seems that a lot of thought and care went into Fortune's Bones (Author's Note, research involved, notes, requiem structure, the museum itself) but I was left wanting in the poetry department.
See Fortune's Story at the Mattatuck Museum, if you haven't already.
The illustrations & images particularly brought this book together for me. The book is physically beautiful with pleasing design: cover, music sheet endpapers, poem on right - illustration on left, the concept of the poems as a requiem in vocal parts. That was all good.
The poems themselves didn't blow me away. Fortune's story is fascinating (I think I enjoyed the non-fiction, left page bits more than the poems themselves), and as I said above, I like the idea of the requiem, but most of the poems seemed overly simple, even awkward in parts.
I call a hey, Luigi, come-a quick:What's with that? It makes me think of some bushy-browed pizza man dressed like one of the Super Mario Bros. exclaiming over Fortune's skeleton. Mamma mia!
The parts I read from Nelson's Carver: A Life in Poems at Simmons, struck me as being more sophisticated. It seems that a lot of thought and care went into Fortune's Bones (Author's Note, research involved, notes, requiem structure, the museum itself) but I was left wanting in the poetry department.
See Fortune's Story at the Mattatuck Museum, if you haven't already.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Susan, this one's for you!
An interview with Jon Ican'tspellhisnameforthelifeofme.
Do we have a book discussion starting tomorrow? Yes! Have I read the book? NO! Did I, in fact, suggest the book? YES!
Do we have a book discussion starting tomorrow? Yes! Have I read the book? NO! Did I, in fact, suggest the book? YES!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Make Way
It's going to take me days to sort out all my photographs from Pride, but here is one that I couldn't resist posting so that I could share it with the rest of the Hedgehogs.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Since we are reading Marilyn Nelson -
Today's NYT includes an article on Emmett Till, the focus of another of Nelson's books - A Wreath for Emmett Till. Has anyone read it? I remember Ms. Nelson reading excerpts at the Symposium.
After 50 Years, Emmett Till's Body Is Exhumed.
After 50 Years, Emmett Till's Body Is Exhumed.
Bye Bye Buffalo Tree
Remember Buffalo Tree from Cathie's Criticism class? It just caused a little
furor.
I liked it a lot, as I recall. But it's pretty harsh. Almost Clockwork-Orange like, in fact. I guess I can see how some people would object to it being taught as a classroom text, and I don't see anything wrong with it being available to kids in class libraries, so those who want to read it can find it. I guess I'd prefer the decision not to teach it to be left up to the teacher, though -- not the school board.
furor.
I liked it a lot, as I recall. But it's pretty harsh. Almost Clockwork-Orange like, in fact. I guess I can see how some people would object to it being taught as a classroom text, and I don't see anything wrong with it being available to kids in class libraries, so those who want to read it can find it. I guess I'd prefer the decision not to teach it to be left up to the teacher, though -- not the school board.
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