Pam Webb
a writer's journey as a reader
Archive for the category “Reflections”
Reader Round Up: June
I’m not sure why I think it’s automatically summer when May flips over to June on the calendar. It wasn’t the case this year. Our wet spring adamantly hung on through a major portion of June with only a scattering of sunny days. June ended with a torrential rainstorm complete with donner und blitzen (as my latent German surfaces).
Rainy days equal reading days. Here are the five star reads for June 2024.
Vendela in Venice by Christina Bjork, illustrated by Inja-Karin Eriksson
The adult Swedish author recounts a trip she took to Venice with her father when she was a child presented as a picture book. Informative and charming with beautiful illustrations that capture and complement the text.
The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Horowitz is a talented writer. He is also a cheeky one in how he can get away with writing himself in as a character in a novel, dropping names hither thither, promoting his other works, and elaborating truths into meta fictional facts to suit his purpose.
His latest foray into adult fiction involves him teaming up with the irascible Hawthorne, a former police officer, who wants Horowitz to write a book about a murder case he’s working on. The problem is that Hawthorne is unreliable and unlikable, and that Horowitz gets dragged into the investigation at the risk of his career and even his life.
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
Quite an original and superb novel emphasizing how books bring people together. Though translated, it easily becomes a story that any culture which values reading can embrace. Books, eccentric characters, even a cat with idiosyncrasies—a novel that is a delightful one sitting read.
Modernity overlaps tradition as the new bookstore owner wants to phase out home delivery service, which essentially phases out Carl. His simple life becomes more complicated when precocious nine year old Schascha joins him on his rounds. Her involvement on his deliveries begins the end of life as he knows it to open a door to other possibilities.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
A few years ago I read the book and have recently watched the TV series, which necessitated rereading the book. This proved the best way to thoroughly enjoy the author presentation of a Russian fairytale that deftly weaves in Russian history. Watching the TV series with Ewan McGregor playing Count Rostov is proving the old adage “the book is the book and the movie is the movie.”
Now that July has arrived the weather report indicates a hot summer is anticipated. No problem—I just bought a new hammock with an umbrella. My TBR is fully loaded. I’m looking forward to lounging and reading in the backyard.
Where’s your favorite place to read in the summer?
June 14th is Flag Day!
And I’m over the moon it’s my birthday!
I like having my birthday on a quasi-recognizable holiday. Some calendars don’t even list it (hummph). Banks, libraries, stores, are all open. Few flags are outside waving their recognition of the designated day. Ask most people what Flag Day is all about and most people don’t have a clue.
So instead I will talk about my birthday. As I’ve gotten older I’m more low key about my birthday. I tell my family: kids–just a phone call is fine (I don’t need more stuff); hubs–just take me out to dinner (he complies easily). I like that special feeling of walking around town, sometimes seeing a flag outside, and saying to myself, “Yeah, Flag Day is my birthday.”
I may not crave presents but I do like joining birthday clubs to get freebies. For instance:
- Anthony’s (favorite seafood restaurant) sends me a $20 coupon towards a dinner entrée.
- Red Robin will give me a free burger (with a $5.00 minimum purchase)
- Regal Crown theaters has a free small bag of popcorn waiting for me.
- True Lemon has a 30% coupon available.
- Panera has a free treat for me as long as I get there in the next couple of days.
- More than a couple of local massage therapists have special deals for me.
I love all those birthday bonus bargains!
My doctor and dentist send me greetings as well. No free visits thought, although I did find my birthday message from my doctor’s office a hoot and a half.
Yes–click here
I’m having a great birthday so far. If it’s not your birthday, then I hope you are having a fabulous Flag Day.
Word Nerds: Retro Slang
As we all know words come and go when it comes to usage and popularity. I recently came across an article through Reader’s Digest that discussed vintage slang terms no longer in use. The article suggested a return of these words. Hmm, what do you think?
Mutton Shunter
Definition: Policeman
Gigglemug
Definition: An habitually smiling face
Fly Rink
Definition: A polished bald head
Sauce-box
Definition: The mouth
Row-de-dow
Definition: Riot
Etymology: A play on “row” (18th century slang for “quarrel”) or “rowdy.” Also spelled, “rowdydow.”
I’m partial to “Row-de-dow” not that I’ve been to many riots lately. I know once upon a time “pigs” were bandied about as a term, but “sheep” for police? “Gigglemug” sounds like something from Willy Wonka, and “fly-rink” and “sauce box” don’t make the grade.
Your votes?
The Writing Life: Link to Fame (and it’s hoped, fortune)
Our local library has a feature in which it posts interviews with local authors. My thanks to the library for promoting writers, especially local writers. Here is the link.
I’m always hoping to be discovered by more readers. As well as agents, editors, reviewers, and publisher. Hoping for fame, and wouldn’t mind if some fortune came with that.
Reading Roundup: May
I would be infinitesimally poorer if it were not for the local library. Our library prints at the bottom of the check out slip how much money saved by using the library. My last receipt stated I had saved $183.50 since I chose to check out books instead of buying them. That’s a lot of chocolate I could be investing in instead. So, my thanks to the library for providing books and helping me save money.
May was full of variety as I am trying to get away from my mystery mode of preference. Here are the five star reads for last month.
Preston’s quiet novel is based on the findings of the Sutton Hoo archeological dig in Britain, discovered just prior to WWII. While it’s difficult to get overly enthused about the discovered artifacts through descriptions, Preston balances the historical significance of the find with well-rounded characterization, providing hints of personal conflict, even though the focus is on the dig and its ramifications. The Netflix movie with Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan, and Lily James is what prompted me to read the book. I would say seeing the movie first enriched reading the novel.
A reader never quite knows what to expect from the talented pen of Anthony Horowitz. He tossed the murder mystery genre on its ear with Magpie Murders and gave it a sound shaking with his Hawthorne series. Mixed reviews on this fifth entry of the series indicate readers are not always pleased when a writer changes up the format. In Close to Death Horowitz again collaborates with police consultant Hawthorne, but as a writer mandated to deliver a book to the publisher. Instead of following Hawthorne’s lead, Horowitz must dig for information on his own, which is challenging since this is a five year old murder. Horowitz discovers the case takes on a different appearance when he find the ruled suicide is perhaps a murder, yet there are far too many suspects with alibis making this seem to be a suicide after all. Somewhat confusing? Yes. Very clever? Definitely.
Dickens, Twain, Homer, and a bit of Elmer Gantry comprise this epic coming-of-age tale of four orphans who dub themselves the Vagabonds as they escape injustice in hopes of finding home. The author acknowledges how he spun together the pathos of Dickens with the journey adventure of Twain to create the tale of Odie, a midwestern Odysseus of the Depression. All components of a riveting story are present: setting (the horrors of a school institution in the landscape of the Midwest Depression era); characters (evil school administrators, stoic adults, rascal children, precious little girls, morally ambiguous women); conflict (spoilers!). The prose complements the sincerity of the narrator’s voice, as he loses his naïveté and develops a more realistic perspective of what life is all about.
What would it be like to live in an alternate reality, one that is nearly perfect? People must wonder because films such as The Lake House and novels like Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse continue to remain popular. For Kitty, whose double life as Katharyn, her two worlds are both so real she can no longer tell which she is dreaming and which one she is living. A compelling debut by Cynthia Swanson, that is addictive and a storyline that leaves one pondering the different ways of coping with loss, change, and what constitutes the perfect life.
A middle grade debut that deservedly earned the Coretta Scott King award for its sensitive portrayal of a young boy who migrates from Alabama to Chicago when the mother passes. Cline-Ransome captures the sorrow, confusion, and sense of loss as Langston tries to adjust to moving to the city. Bullied and lonely, Langston finds solace in the words of his namesake, Langston Hughes.
Do you find yourself returning to the same author or the same genre? I wonder if that is a problem or is it more of an indication of being content with a choice that is satisfying. Thoughts?
The Writing Life: Bird Buddies + One
Since retiring from teaching (two years come June) I am writing more, since my excuse of not having time because of how much time teaching requires is no longer my safety net of non productivity.
I diligently try to write from 9 am to 2 pm and even though the hubs will pop in and say a brief “hi” as he does retired guy stuff around the house, I have to say writing is quite solitary.
However, I have discovered writing has become less solitary since I have set up a bird feeder, birdbath, and squirrel platform outside my office window. My bird buddies, an ever changing rotation of chickadees, nuthatches, and sparrows brighten my day. The squirrel adds hilarity as it plots to get more than its fair share of birdseed.
The other day a white-crowned sparrow discovered the feeding station as well as wayward seeds on the windowsill. He hung out all day.
At times it seemed as if he was peering in at me. Wanting to encourage his return I sprinkled more birdseed on the window ledge. The sparrow did not return, instead the resident squirrel crashed the party.
I do not get as much work done, unfortunately, with all this distraction, but I did manage a blog post.
Bard Bits: Talk Like Shakespeare Day
It’s here. The day you have been waiting for. Yes! It’s Talk Like Shakespeare Day, which happens to coincide with the day historians figure to be both William’s day of birth and day of death: April 23.
As an English teacher I had zero background in Shakespeare as somehow his works were never taught, presented, or discussed in my school days. And this took place in a modern school district!
This meant I came to the classroom on the same playing field as my students: zero knowledge and lacking comprehension. I dove right in and learned as much as I could in order to sound like I knew what I was talking about.
Something clicked because I am a professed Bardinator today and even attended Folger Library’s Hamlet Academy back in 2015. I am also adapting Shakespeare plays into reader’s theatre scripts and they are regular sellers on my Teachers Pays Teachers website.
All in all I’m quite pleased to have traveled the journey, transforming from Shakespeare zilch to Shakespeare rich over the years.
However, to talk like Shakespeare is a talent I am not quite conversant in yet. I did find this nifty website which takes randomly generated sentences and turns them into Shakespearean speech. I am having fun playing with it. Here are some examples:
Crouch before you jump or miss the mark. Our plans right now are hazy.
Becomes—
Crouch bef’re thee jumpeth ‘r misseth the marketh. Our plans even but now art hazy.
Or—
It was done before the boy could see it. Hop over the fence and plunge in.
Becomes—
T wast done bef’re the knave couldst seeth t. Hopeth ov’r the fenceth and plunge in.
An anniversary is eclipsed…
Today’s focus is on the eclipse, which for some didn’t register as an event because of a)not being in the path of ta-dah or b)dealing with cloudy skies. There is also c)there was an eclipse?
For me the event of focus today was the four year anniversary of my debut picture book Someday We Will.
Yup, four years ago Beaming Books brought out my book in the beginning of April having postponed its publication from the previous fall. FYI: Grandparents Day is the first Sunday in September.
Instead of fall, the idea was Mother’s Day and the summer months of vacations when families visit. Good plan except four years ago about this time the pandemic showed up closing schools, libraries, bookstores, all those places where I might have personally promoted my book. A virtual book launch does not quite have the same impact.
Since then I have tried to make up for lost time and have done some story times with the library and have done a couple of bookstore appearances.
If you have yet to check out Someday We Will I hope you will. It’s a dandy little book for sharing just how special those family visits are, especially the grandparent ones.
As for the eclipse event? I hope your experience was satisfying. I ended tidying up the garage in hopes the clouds would part. They didn’t, but the garage looks better.
Word Nerd: Silly Words
Such a Word Nerd that I am I subscribe to Dictionary.com to receive their word of the day and to play word related quizzes (I do so like to determine if my grammar knowledge is up to snuff). They recently did their own version of March Madness, except with words, as in which words are favorites in terms of putting a smile on your face. Here is the bracket. What word puts the biggest smile on your face?
It’s difficult to pick, isn’t it?
Pam Webb aka Cricket Muse
A writer's journey as a reader
Recent Award
Children’s Insider
Society for Children’s Writers and Illustrators
Pam Webb 