So. I have had lots of things interfering with my blogging lately. Most of it has been job (or lack thereof) related.  That part has started to work itself out a bit.  I have my third interview in as many weeks on Friday. After a long dry spell, that’s a very good thing.

This good news has a cloud over it, though.

My little sister, Melinda, was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer.  From the time of the bad pap smear, to the discovery that the cancer had spread, to the decision to have a radical hysterectomy, about 3 weeks has passed.  It’s been pretty…distracting.

The hardest part for me is that I’m a 14 hour car ride away from my sister, and I just don’t have the means to pick up and go.  She’s worried about me, and she has given me a special dispensation to call her every day and annoy the hell out of her.  She’s normally a text-only girl, so this is a big deal.  She’s looking out for me, when I’m the big sister. It’s kinda my job to look after her. This is frustrating.

Should there be an emergency or if she just asked, I could get there, and I could probably get an old friend or two help me get back. That, plus knowing that my mom’s been able to get some time off from her job (she’s like a travel nurse, except she’s a lab tech), has helped.  And my brother is there.  I’m the one who is missing.

Wait. I almost forgot – but only because I don’t know him very well, and I haven’t been home since the wedding – Melinda’s also got a really awesome husband who takes really good care of her. They just celebrated 2 years together. I hope they found a way to make it happy.

I had already decided not to go to New York for BEA this year because I wanted to spend any money I was able to get together on a trip to Idaho to see my dad.  He has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and it seems to be progressing more rapidly than I had realized.  I found this out when I called my step-mom to see if he was up for talking about my sister.  She has shared the news with him, and he is angry and confused and wants to see her, too. Travel is not in the cards for either of them right now.  This of course increases the frustration for everyone involved.

Because I don’t know when I will be able to get home, I’ve started sending my sister cards and packages in the mail. I’m trying to remind her that I am thinking of her all the time. The first book she’ll be getting is a copy of my current favorite, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson.  Melinda likes to laugh, and Jenny likes to make people laugh.

My boyfriend is currently organizing a fundraiser to be held in my sister’s honor. She and her husband will be missing a lot of work, and I’m not sure that it will all be paid time off.  The details are not yet set, but there will probably be food trucks involved.  I’ll let you know what’s happening as soon as I can, and if you’re in Houston, maybe you can stop by.

That’s the situation.  I’m still posting at Book Riot at least once a week, and I hope to get back to a more regular schedule here soon.  I had been wanting to change the blog up a bit, so I might do some tinkering with it when I can’t think of what to write. Don’t be surprised if you notice a few changes.

I do not tell you all of this because I want sympathy or anything of that sort.  Things will work out, and it will be all be okay.  I’ll just be doing my sister-ing from a distance for now. I wish things were different, but I can make this work.

Thank you for listening (reading).  I feel better.

Dad, Farrell, Melinda, and me in 2009, just after Dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Indie Reader Houston

Today, over at Book Riot, I have written about my first introduction to the work of Maurice Sendak and the lessons I learned from Where the Wild Things Are.  Here, I thought I would keep it simple and share some of my favorite Tweets about his life and work.

Indie Reader Houston

This post originally ran on Book Riot as The Top American Writers? and prompted a really interesting discussion.  What’s your take? What makes an Author American?

Recently, the MLA* ranked the top 25 American writers according to the amount of scholarship that has been devoted to those writers and their works in the past 25 years. I looked over the list, and, for the most part I was not all that surprised by the names that I found there. I was pretty proud of myself, actually, because I have read something by each author. There were a few names, however, that made me stop, including the first one on the list – Henry James.

My confusion about James’ position on the list stems from the fact that he is called an American author. Let me explain. Henry James was born in the United States. This is true. However, he spent much of his life abroad, traveling extensively throughout Europe and living for extended periods in Paris and London. In 1915, the year before he died, he actually became a British subject. That is the nationality that he chose to identify himself with. As a result of the years that he spent in that country and his choice to become an official citizen, the British claim him, too, as part of their literary cannon – much of the time.

T.S. Eliot makes an appearance as number 3 on this list of American writers. He left the US at age 25, became a British subject by age 39, and spent the majority of his life across the pond. He is almost universally accepted as a British writer. Why, then, does he qualify to be on the list of top American writers? It would seem, at this point, the main criteria for being considered American is that the author was born in the United States. Then we come to number 5 on the list- Vladimir Nabokov.

Nabokov is widely recognized as a Russian author, having been born there and having written his first several novels in Russian. After fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution, his family moved throughout Europe. When he was in his early forties, he brought his family to the United States, where he worked as a lecturer at several colleges and wrote his most famous work, Lolita. The Nabokov family stayed in the US for just over 20 years, until they could save enough money to return to Europe. He then lived the remainder of his life in Switzerland. A little more than 20 of his 78 years were spent in this country, but because he wrote such a well-known work during his time here, we claim him as one of our own?

The methodology used in constructing this list is flawed. There is a glaring inconsistency when it comes to the classification of these authors as American. I also find fault with the assumption that, because a lot of scholars are researching one particular author, said author must be one of the “top” writers in America. I have attended many a conference where these sames scholars wrote about authors that they felt were overrated with the hope that their careful consideration of the works produced by those authors would make people see reason. I have even sat in on a panel or two where Henry James received that treatment, and I heard a very convincing argument for why he is, most certainly, NOT American (the very bare bones of which I took you through earlier).

Earlier, Edd asked readers to help him figure out whether or not there is such a thing as an American novel. Today, Riot readers, I am asking for your help in determining what it means to be an American writer. Is it dependent upon where that author was born? Or does it only matter where the author did his or her best work?

 *The list was actually compiled by D.G. Myers at Commentary Magazine. It is merely based on the MLA International Bibliography.

Indie Reader Houston

Afterwards

Rosamund Lupton

Crown (2012)

This is this first book by Lupton that I have read, and I think she fits nicely in the ranks of Kate Atkinson (as far as the mystery element goes) and Audrey Niffenegger (in terms of somewhat creepy out-of-body experiences). I will be spending some quality time with her earlier work. Afterwards is only the beginning.

The story focuses on the love a mother has for her children.  It is that love that motivates every move that Grace makes, from spending the afternoon at the school sports day with her 8 year old son Adam, to running into the burning school to save her daughter.  Of course, the reader only learns of these events after they have happened.  Grace is telling her story to her husband, though he cannot hear her. Her body is lying  in a hospital bed, trying to recover from the brain damage she suffered when debris from the building fell on her as they tried to escape.  She has to tell her story, even if no one ever hears her.

Grace wakes up after the fire to find herself trapped in a body that will not move. She is able to leave that body behind, though, and watch the efforts of the doctors.  She remembers that her teenage daughter, Jenny, is with her and leaves her own body to get a glimpse at that of her daughter.  She discovers that Jenny has left her body behind, too.  And her body is in much worse shape. The two listen as their family and the police try to find out what happened, and they are both shocked when they learn that Adam is blamed for the fire – an innocent prank gone wrong.  Grace becomes desperate to prove her son’s innocence, and Jenny fights to remember what happened in those minutes before the fire. They find their answers, but they come at a cost.

I had expected this to be…well, I’m not sure what, exactly, but something other than what it turned out to be.  I found myself sucked in, not minding that they were going over the same events over and over again, trying to find the detail that was forgotten or hidden.  I found myself admiring Grace for her fierce loyalty to her family and for her ability to see things in a new light, acknowledging when she had made a mistake. I was impressed by Jenny, too.  She proved herself to be the adult that she claimed to be. Grace saw that, too.  That’s what gave her the strength to leave the safety of the hospital on her quest for answers, and it is what enables her to save her daughter’s life – again.

It has been my experience that books about motherhood are too emotional or too desperate.  And that is just too boring. This story has both of these elements, but there is something about it that is different. Afterwards is never boring.  There is always a sense of hope, even when there should not be.

As for the ending – well, let’s just say that Grace’s decision puts her in the ranks of that mom at the end of that Macauly Culkin movie The Good Son.  It’s that drastic. Unlike that mom, however, Grace gets to saveboth Jenny and Adam. She does not have to make a choice.

To get a taste of Afterwards and a glimpse at Grace, read this “extract” posted at Lupton’s website.

TLC Book Tours is giving away 10 copies of the book to one lucky book club this month.  Visit their website to enter!

This book review appears as part of a TLC Book Tour. As such, a copy was provided by the publisher for review.

I maintain an affiliate relationship with Indiebound. I will earn a small commission from any purchase you make after clicking the Indiebound link. All earnings will go to the maintenance of this site.

Indie Reader Houston

Last Monday saw me sitting in Hermann Park, my favorite place in Houston.

Photo by Andrew, who kept me company.

I had 30 books, 3 different titles, with me when I went into the park around 5 pm.

I'd given a few away at this point.

Most of my recipients were young couples, some pushing strollers or holding little hands.

There were a few teenagers, too, looking for something that was better than what they read in school.

There was one couple that made quite an impression on me.

World Book Night = Date Night(s)

When I had run out of books, my friend Andrew and I made the trip across town to a friendly, neighborhood sports bar. I took another stack of books inside. After giving a few away to the patrons and employees. I would share my pictures, but they turned out incredibly blurry.

Except this one.

This is Andrew. That's his picture at the top of the post.

There were only a handful left.  I took them to class (I’m a teacher) on Wednesday and gave them to my students.  They had been hearing me talk about it for a while, so they had been hoping that I might have some books left over.  When I saw how interested they were, I made sure that I did.

There were a few refusals over the course of the night. And one person wanted to know about my relationship with Jesus.  Beyond that, it was an amazing – and somewhat extended – event.

I have to wait until next year before I can do it again, right?

Indie Reader Houston

Tomorrow is World Book Night, and I, along with many other readers in the Houston area, will be giving free books to not-exactly-frequent readers in the Houston area.

I am planning on being in Hermann Park, near the reflecting pool, around 5pm for at least an hour. Depending on how many books I have left, I will move on to another spot.

I have a lot of books – I ended up with extras – so please spread the word, especially if you have friends who not the most enthusiastic of readers. I’ll be happy to share.

To find other givers your area, follow the #WBNAmerica hashtag on Twitter. I’ll be marking my tweets with #Houston, too.  If you are a giver in the area, and you’re not on Twitter, you can leave your planned donation site in the comments, and I’ll tweet for you!

If you have pictures from the day that you’d like to share, please email me at indiereaderhouston [at] gmail [dot] com.

Indie Reader Houston

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?

I’m holding up pretty well so far, but I’ve been fairly active today. I’m sure that helps.

2) What have you finished reading?

I’m done with A Greyhound of a Girl and The Frost on His Shoulders.

3) What is your favorite read so far?

I really liked both books, though for very different reasons. They are both pretty short books, with a very clear and focused story.  One is heartwarming, though, while the other is a bit disturbing.  Thankfully, they both have happy endings.

4) What about your favorite snacks?

Today has been a day filled with snacks!  I think my favorite thing was the fried chicken on a stick that we got from the Stick It! food truck.  It was amazing!

5) Have you found any new blogs through the read-a-thon? If so, give them some love!

I haven’t done much visiting of the other blogs yet (sorry guys!), but I plan on finding a few new ones either later tonight or first thing in the morning.  Now, I just want to get back to reading!

Indie Reader Houston

Before diving in to book 2, I thought I would participate in the Introductory Meme that the event sponsors have put together:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

I’m reading from Houston, TX

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

I really don’t have a one book that I am anticipating more than any other. I’m hoping to finish a bunch of shorter books that I’ve been over-looking.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

When the boyfriend gets done at work, we’re going out for a little food-truck buffet. I think I’m looking forward to something from Stick It! the most.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself

My cat thinks that I should be reading less and petting him more.  This may prove to be an obstacle later.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

 I like that I have an actual reason to read all day. The boyfriend can’t argue with an organized event. Especially if there’s an official Twitter handle.  Now, I just have to worry about him telling me that I’m not doing it right!

Indie Reader Houston

Getting Started

It is 5 AM local time as I write this, and I just added my name to the Mr. Linky for Dewey’s Read-a-thon.  I couldn’t commit before just now, and I already know that I can’t commit for the whole day.  I realize that technically, it doesn’t start until 7 am for me (CST), but I just sent my boyfriend off to work for a special event, so I’m going to read while he is gone.  Once he’s back around noon, there will be lunch to be had, and my reading time will not be as focused.  That’s okay, though.  I like that I’ll have this to motivate me for the next 7 hours.  Here’s what I’m starting with:

I will be updating this post throughout the day. Now, I’m off to eat my bagel, drink my chai, and start reading!

Update 1

8:15 AM : I read about 60 pages, then my eyes started to droop (that’s what I get for reading in bed), and I set the timer on my phone and planned on sleeping 30 minutes – a little cat nap, right?  Well, it’s now two hours since I set that timer, and I had a bad dream, and my head hurts. I just called the person I dreamed about, and she’s okay, so I’m going back to my reading.

Strange start.

 Update 2

9:35 AM:  Just finished Roddy Doyle’s Middle Grades novel, A Greyhound of a Girl, out in May.  It is one of the books that I picked up during my visit to the exhibit floor of the Texas Library Association conference on Wednesday (also known as the day I met Judy Blume!).  I’m going to move on to:

Update 3

7:45 PM – I know.  It’s been a little over 10 hours since my last update.  That’s because I spent the afternoon following food trucks around town with the boyfriend.  He was gracious enough, however, to let me keep reading while we ate (can’t read in the car, though, ’cause I get sick. No audiobooks, either).

I finished The Frost on His Shoulders while sitting in a little bar called Under the Volcano.  It’s pretty awesome.

Then, we visited a nearby indie bookstore that I hadn’t been to in a while, Brazos Bookstore. They’re under new management, and the store has had a bit of an update, so it was good to see how things are now.  I like what I see.

Now, I’m off to upload books to my e-reader and choose a final title for the night.  I say final because I’m pretty sure I’m not going to make it until the morning. We’ll see.

Update 4

10:30 PM: Well, folks, we had a touch of family drama just after I posted my last update in the form of a parental phone call.  We all know how those can be.  I haven’t chosen a book yet, and I’m not sure that I have it in me to read anything else new tonight. I may try to start a one or make a dent in something that is already in progress. I’ll be doing it in bed.  And I do much better reading in bed at night.

Final Update

…except when life gets in the way.  We ended up talking about that family drama for a bit, then we both fell asleep. I really wanted to get another book out of the way, but I’m really glad that I finished the two that I did. They are both books that I’d been putting off for a while, so it was nice to get them off the stack.  I have a lot of work to do today – Sunday is like my Monday – so I won’t be reading a lot.  I do have a fully loaded Nook ready to go, though.  And this other book is calling my name.  I read the first chapter, and I’m interested. It might get finished this afternoon.

*Isn’t that cup cool? Here’s a link to where it can be purchased.

Indie Reader Houston

Last week, YALSA announced the 2012 nominations for the Teens’ Top Ten. The list is posted now, with the hope that teens will read the titles over the summer, then vote on their favorites in the fall.  As I looked the list over, I realized that I had read a few of the titles, and I had to agree that they were Top 10 worthy.  Here are the 5 Best 2012 YALSA Nominations.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

“Teenage love stories that are all about intensity like this one often annoy me, but there was a sincerity to this story that made it, not only palatable, but necessary.  The intensity had to be there, or I would not have been able to finish reading the story. The only way to do anything in their lives is to go all out. Given the level (and nature) of uncertainty that they deal with, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Read my full review.

Cinder by Marisa Meyer

“Cinder is complex. Meyer raises important questions about the limits of technology, human rights, and corruption in government. It is not a simple matter of girl meets boy.  In this case, girl meets boy. Boy is a prince, so it seems impossible, except that girl is secretly so much more than what she seems. Girl is powerful. She is also dangerous, more so because she does not understand her power and what she can do with it. She didn’t even know she had it.”

Read my full review.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

“For younger readers, there are some areas of the story that they might find.  For adults, there is, at the very least, a fair amount of suspense.  There is also discussion of/allusion to issues that are far more complex, like the boy in the upstairs bedroom at Miss Peregrine’s or the eternal childhood of the home’s inhabitants. These issues may prove confusing for some younger readers.  These same readers might just read right over them, as if they are nothing more than a part of the scenery. Adult readers might view them differently.”

Read my full review

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

“They each needed to be rescued.  Jill’s mom thought that adopting Mandy’s baby would be her salvation.  Mandy thought that giving her child a better home than she had ever had would be enough. Jill did not know what it would take to make things right again, but she was sure she knew that Mandy and a new baby were not the answer.  It was very interesting to watch each of these characters (primarily Jill and Mandy) develop, one pulling it together while the other falls apart. In the end, they find their salvation, though it takes a very different form than the one they expected.   Saving a life can be as simple as letting someone save yours.”

This is most of my mini-review.

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

“I am drawn to books set in a not-too-distant future, but I am so often disappointed that I tend to stick with the ones that have been around a while (like Fahrenheit 451) rather than trying something new. I was very pleasantly surprised by the world that Zevin creates and by the heroine that has to figure out how best to survive it. Things that I thought might bother me, particularly in regards to Anya’s friends and the family dynamic, were handled with a delicate touch.  When they might have proved hindrances to story, they actually succeeded in giving it depth.”

Read my full review.

Indie Reader Houston