Something to Hang On To by Beverley Brenna

Ah, yes, this is a BOOK BLOG, isn't it? Where the writer is supposed to share her views about books she has read. I remember now...

The book I've read most recently is a collection of short stories for young adults (and apparently at least one middle-aged adult, me) entitled "Something to Hang On To" by Canadian author Beverley Brenna.

Although short stories aren't usually what I gravitate to (they're so short!) I did enjoy these. In particular, I was moved by the story "Gift of the Old Wives", a retelling of a Cree legend. Bev did a masterful job of bringing the legend alive.

There are stories for almost any taste (no vampires, though!). Some of the characters have physical, mental or emotional challenges (Bev has been a special education teacher and consultant, so knows first-hand the sort of struggles such kids have). Some of the stories are just plain funny (she has a quirky sense of humor), as the story about a kid getting his big toe stuck in a vacuum cleaner (based on a true life story of Bev doing just that -- the moral of that is Never Vacuum with Bare Feet). Another story that grew out of real life experience was one of a first parachute jump. What I found missing from that story was the fear experienced by the person back home who knew the first jump was happening that day and was sworn to secrecy (that person still remembers the relief when Bev walked in the door, safe and sound, at the end of the day...)

I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of the book was the "Author's Notes" at the end of the book. In it, her sense of humor has free rein, and the notes are just delightful!

The book has been available in Canada for a few months, and will be available in the U.S. soon. Check it out!

Something to Hang On To

Read to me to read to you

(Cross-posted from Where there are Meadowlarks, my "ordinary" blog)

Do you remember being read to as a child? I remember my grandmother reading stories over and over to me, from the pile of children's books that had pride of place on the round oak table in the hallway at my grandparents' house. Have you ever read to a child? Given voices to the Three Bears, or watched the eager eyes of a little one who just can't wait for you to turn the page, or had a small boy who is riding around the living room on his tricycle, whom you're sure hasn't heard a word you've read, say "Again!" as soon as you've read the last page?

Reading is magic. I firmly believe that. It opens so many doors, into wonder, and learning, and make-believe, and real life...

Reading has a lot of competition these days. Computers. Game-Boys. Nintendo. The list goes on and on... but reading is still magic, and it's up to us -- even those of us without kids -- to introduce children to that magic, and to keep the magic alive.

Emma, over at the Raising Bookworms blog, has recently been interviewed by a website called Reading Rockets. It's a video interview -- quite long, but broken into segments, so that you don't have to watch the whole thing at once (although I did -- this is a subject very close to my heart).

Please indulge me -- and Emma -- and the kids who need books and reading in their lives -- and watch this interview...

Emma, Raising Bookworms and Telling Stories

Then, go read to someone. Someone young -- or someone old. Buy a book and give it to a child, or donate it to an organization that will see that some child's life is enriched by your gift. Tell them a Bookworm sent you.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The title grabbed me right from the start. The book was on the bookstore shelf, with its face showing (rather than its spine), and I could not resist. I'm glad I didn't resist.

It's hard to remember that this is a novel -- it reads like a slice of reality. Yes, reality, despite potato peel pies. It is mainly written as letters, letters which all center around the main character, Juliet Ashton, who is a writer in England just after the Second World War. Her letters are sent to and received from her publisher, her friends -- and a small group of people on the Channel Island of Guernsey, who are putting their lives back together after years of German occupation during the war.

One feels slightly voyeuristic, reading other people's letters* (although there's nothing risque in them). And yet, reading their letters draws one more intimately into their lives than simply reading a narrative -- and it is a terrific writing device for introducing a number of different points of view into one novel.

Along the way, through the letters written to and from Juliet, one receives hints of a romance; anguishes at the horrors of war; feels rising hope, and crashing despair; and is finally left with the feeling that indeed love and life itself do conquer all.

My only regret about this book is that there will not be another from this author, Mary Ann Shaffer. You will note from the cover that there were, in fact, two authors -- Mary Ann Shaffer's niece, Annie Barrows finished the manuscript when her aunt became too ill to write any more. So perhaps life doesn't conquer quite all, after all.



* For a completely different take on delving into the correspondence of others, check out the children's book "The Jolly Postman: or Other People's Letters". It's delightful!

Tea for One (or Two?)

cross-posted from Where There are Meadowlarks, because I felt like it.

In my "fun" writing, I was pondering tea. In my "serious" writing, I've been pondering tea. I used to drink and enjoy many varieties of tea, black teas, flavored teas, herbal teas/tisanes (green and white teas had not yet appeared on the horizon). Unfortunately, I can no longer drink any of those, but when I needed names of good teas to include in my writing, they all came pouring back from the recesses of my memory.

Assam
Lapchang Souchong
Darjeeling
Keemun
Earl Grey

In my teens, I discovered Twinings tea. From England. "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen". That was enough in itself to recommend it to me, at the time. It came in tins. Real metal tins with metal lids that fit tightly. I didn't use tea bags, I used the loose leaves. This was 'proper' tea.

(Note: I didn't link to the Twinings site for the different varieties of tea I listed above, because links didn't go to the specific tea, they all went to the home page, but if you want to explore the Twinings site, and see what they have to say about those specific teas, go to Twinings UK and click on the black boxes, then make the boxes dance in a circle until you find the one you want more information about.)

If I could still drink tea, I'd buy some Darjeeling, or some Keemun, or some Earl Grey. I'd boil the water. I'd warm my lovely new teapot (the saleswoman cautioned me to warm it with hot tap water before pouring boiling water into the fine bone china -- with the old Brown Betty teapot, the boiling water itself was used to warm the pot). I'd put in the tea -- a spoonful for each cup of tea, and one for the pot. I'd pour in the boiling water. I'd let the tea steep. I'd pour the tea into a lovely china cup, and savor its aroma, then, finally take a sip. Ambrosia.

Care for a spot of tea? Shall I be mother?

And a spot of music to drink tea by...

Sultry tea for two, sung by one (me)

Oh, to be in Narnia...

I've just been checking out the listings for BBC Canada, hoping that they might be carrying the special that's to be on BBC 4 in the UK on Monday, The Narnia Code.

BBC Canada seems to believe that I'd like to watch 5 episodes of Eastenders on Saturdays and Sundays, instead, and various other things (many of which are available on other channels) during the rest of the week.

This is not the case. I've just learned about the program The Narnia Code, and it seems rather intriguing. And when I look at the offerings on BBC 4, well, "oh, to be in England..."

I suppose it's just as well I can't access BBC 4 here. I've just weaned myself away from much of TV -- which proved to be a much less daunting task than I expected it to be -- and I'm finding so much more time to write, to listen to music, to read. That time would be lost to me if I started watching the Beeb Tube. (Very different to watching the boob tube, but still... ... ...)

Still -- one more reason to wish I was in England.

It's Children's Book Week!

At least it is in the United States! And with this little flag, I'm claiming it for Canada as well.

Emma has a fantastic post with suggestions of what to do for Children's Book Week over on her blog, so I'll adjure you to go over there and read the post for yourself.

I'll just talk a bit about children and books from my own experience. Emma's latest book is called Raising Bookworms and there's no doubt whatsover that my mother raised one when she raised me. Seeing one's mother with a book in her hand so often has to influence a child. Oddly, my earliest memories of being read to aren't of my mother or father doing so (although I'm sure they did) but of my paternal grandmother doing so. Grandma and Grandpa had a round oak table in the hallway of their large farm home. It was the repository for children's books, and Grandma would read stories to me over and over. There was a book about a flamingo named Petunia, there was the story of "The Teeny Tiny Woman", later I remember Grandma reading "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch". Being read to is such an important foundation.

Back in 1985, I visited some cousins who were then living in Prince Edward Island. My cousin left me in charge of her 3 year old daughter, Juja (not her real name, but it was her nickname at the time) while my cousin went out to do errands. When she came back, she found Juja and me sitting on the couch, with me reading "The Three Bears", giving different voices to each Bear, and to Goldilocks. My cousin said, "I remember your Mum reading to my younger sister -- you sound just like her." That was very special to me -- still is.

Have you read to a child lately, or read one of the wonderful children's books that's available? Here are a few suggestions, if you have slightly older children --

Dragon: Hound of Honor I love this book!

Keeper of the Trees Did you know that there are tiny horses underground who keep the horse chestnut trees in London alive?


Guests of War Two children are evacuated from London to Canada during World War II .... how dare this book be out of print? Ah... thankfully it is still available in the separate titles that make up the trilogy, The Sky is Falling ; Looking at the Moon ; and The Lights Go On Again


Great books all -- give them a go! Tell them I sent you!

If you're going to Pasadena...

(well, it does fit the tune...)

If you're anywhere near South Pasadena today, May 9, 2009, and if you have any interest in music or art, stop by the First Annual Eclectic Music Festival and Art Walk. I'll be there -- in spirit...Here's some info about the event in general ...

Eclectic Music Festival and Art Walk

As part of the event, Angela (Said & Done) will be signing copies of her latest book, In This Garden. I have my copy sitting here beside me on my desk. Wish she was going to be signing it this evening! Here's some info about the book-signing (and check out the website of the artist's store, Zinnia, while you're there -- cool, yes?)

Hmmm... one of my ancestors emigrated to Pasadena in the early part of the 20th century -- perhaps I still have relatives there. Anyone with the surname Edwards want to claim me in time for me to get to Angela's book-signing?