The All Day Reader

Where the Wild Things Are: The 7 Facts

2010-02-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

A favorite past time of mine is going in a bookstore and immersing myself in the different titles and genres of books. I forget about time when I am in a bookstore.

Now in all of my recent trips to our local bookstore I have come across a book entitled Where the Wild Things Are. I have always been curious to know what this book was all about, however despite my curiosity I have never once lifted a displayed copy of the book not even to read the synopsis. One particular trip though, I was about to lift the book up when I heard my husband's car horn honk. I returned the book and hurriedly got out of the store. This time I left the bookstore with a plan in mind. The moment I got home, I Googled the title, and found out seven things that I think you should know about the book.

1. Did you know that the book was banned in libraries when it first came out because parents were concerned about the grotesque appearance of the characters on the book.

2. Although the initially surfaced with a bad reputation, It reaped numerous awards. In 1964 it was awarded the Caldecott Medal, which is awareded to the artist who published the most distinguished American picture book for children. It also received the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awardn which is one of the most prestigious awards in the United States in the field of children's and young adult literature. The book was also given the citation as an American Library Association Notable Book.

3. The original cover of the book was supposed to have horses instead of these monsters, but author Maurice Sendak didn't know how to draw horses and could only draw "a thing." Well it's a good thing Maurice Sendak doesn't know how to draw horses because they are not exactly a proper portrayal of the word "wild" are they?

4. Did you know that this book was once portrayed in the opera, and Muarice Sendak used the names of his relatives for the characters instead of the names on the book. They were Tzippy, Moishe, Aaron, Emile and Bernard.

5. A movie version of the book has already been released for viewing in Ocotber 2009. The film is directed by Spike Jonze and the real name of the boy who plays Max in the film is Max Records. Talk about a movie meant for him!

5. The Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia holds the orignal color and artwoork of the book Where the Wild Things Are.

6. Where the Wild Things Are is included in Oprah's Kid's Reading List. Click on the link to see other books included in Oprah's Kid's Reading List.

7. Finally, Maurice Sendak admitted that he was gay in the September 2008 issue of the New York Times. Quite a shocker ha?!

Some of the other literary works of Muarice Sendak are In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life.

Where the Wild Things Are is the story of Max, who one evening plays around his home making "mischief" in a wolf costume. As punishment, his mother sends him to bed without supper. In his room, a mysterious, wild forest and sea grows out of his imagination, and Max sails to the land of the Wild Things. The Wild Things are fearsome-looking monsters, but Max conquers them by "by staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking once", and he is made "the king of all wild things", dancing with the monsters in a "wild rumpus". However, he soon finds himself lonely and homesick and he returns home to his bedroom where he finds his supper waiting for him still hot.

(Facts and findings of Where the Wild Things Are courtesy of www.wikepedia.com)

INSPIRATIONAL BOOK FOR MOMS

2010-02-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made a playhouse for my daughters using an old box which was used to hold the television set we got last Christmas. I simply cut a rectangle shape in the middle for the door, two small boxes on both sides for windows, punched holes on each end of the cover and tied it together for the roof, and presto instant and costless playhouse. To get the feel of a playhouse I added small curtains for the windows and placed a small comforter inside the box for its floor. I was so happy with my latest masterpiece that I took a photo of the makeshift playhouse, but my happiness was nothing compared to my daughters. They were so delighted that they both went inside this small box to play. Imagine my amazement when I saw my six year old together with my one year old both inside the box, I never thought they would both fit inside it. They were such a delight to behold, but what wasn't so delightful to behold was the disarray that came after playtime. I didn't feel like picking up after them so I just left it alone and went upstairs and looked for something to read. Then I saw the book that my husband gave when I was just pregnant with my eldest daughter, Gabby. It kind of called out to me so I picked up, scanned the pages for a story to read and then I saw the lesson that was highlighted and boxed in page one hundred seventy-four. It said "The darn trouble with cleaning the house is it gets dirty the next day anyway, so skip a week if you have to. The children are the most important thing." I read this passage and nodded somewhat in agreement. Yes children are important, but it is equally important to teach them the proper things to do and cleanliness in a home is one of those. At the end of my reading and the epiphany that came with it, I stood up and went downstairs and watched my children enjoy themselves, but we made an agreement that they would have to clean up after their mess if they ever wanted to play inside our makeshift playhouse again. Not only did this reduce my cleaning time, but also taught my kids organization and cleanliness.

This book has been a big help to me when I was raising Gabby. I should probably look it up more for reference and inspiration with raising Yvaine this time. Contrary to other books, it doesn't have a concrete how to guide in raising a child. It doesn't tell you that this method is much better than that. What it does is that it inspires you with real life stories of mothers, the situations they had with their kids and how they tried to deal with it. It is an inspirational guide to motherhood and it certainly worked for me. I hope it does for you too.

Zaki!

2010-01-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Sing Hallelujah! The clouds have parted and revealed my very first follower. An angel in the form of Zaki.

The Lovely Bones

2010-01-12T23:23:00.000-08:00

Today I did a different kind of reading. I wasn't reading the pages of a book or a magazine, I was reading subtitles from the movie The Lovely Bones.

I had seen the preview of the movie and voted not to watch it. I am a mother after all, and movies like this tend to leave me crying, immersed in paranoia. As I said I am a mother, mothers reading this will understand. Today, however, my curiosity got the best of me. I watched it, even read the subtitles 'til the end.

This one had a different effect on me. Undeniably, tears were streaming down my face and the paranoia of the same tragedy ever occurring, dare I say it, God forbid, to me, was still there, but what lingered was the lesson that came across.

The connection between a parent and a child transcends all boundaries just as Alice Sebold portrayed in her story. The feeling of serenity and comfort that a child feels from a mother's simple touch is a testament of that. It is only natural that letting go would be a hard thing to do. No parent wishes to lose a child. No parent should have to bury their child. It violates the natural order of things.

People tend to say that their simple misfortunes are reasons enough to end things, i.e their lives. Living takes a lot of courage. A tragedy such as losing a child is a big enough reason to want to stop living, but the Salmons lived one day after another. Trying to find the best means to cope. Coping is never easy, most especially the loss of a loved one, where a million questions abound with no answers to either one. But, one tedious step at a time, they did it. They tried to live in spite of it all and that is pure courage. If there is one thing that this movie has instilled in my mind, it is to be thankful of the little misfortunes that I have had to suffer everyday. To be thankful that although I am faced with loads and loads of problems each and every single day, I still get to see my beautiful daughters. I still get to share mornings, noons, afternoons, midnights and dawns with them. I cannot even begin to fathom the grief of a love lost and never found.

Where I come from, society tends to highlight the pregnancy of an unwed daughter as a big tragedy to the family. Most families consider it a shame and hide their daughters far away for no one to pry on. If you watch this movie, it will show you that conservatism is overrated and that there is no need to be ashamed. Do not get me wrong, I do not condone this act, but quite frankly being pregnant out of wedlock isn't really that big of a tragedy as we paint it. We should count our lucky stars that at least after giving birth, she can rebuild her life. She can take back the life that was taken from her and build it brick by brick. It will never be easy but at least she has a fighting chance. A daughter, however, forcefully taken from you, by a stranger who justifies that it was his "need" to do it, is the real tragedy. It is unthinkable! It is unspeakable! Nobody has the right to cut short a life that was supposed to be, no matter how messed up it is. Nobody!...and to kids out there, you better think twice each time your parents tell you "no." Bear in mind that we are not trying to ruin your life, we are just protecting you in the best possible way we can. Like I said no parent wants to lose a child, so the next time we tell you not to talk to strangers, do not talk to strangers.

Life as we all know is fragile. We may have the free will to move our limbs, or do as we please or go where we wish, but the benefit of waking up to a new day basking in the warmth of the sunrise is not always ours to decide. So bask in the sun while you can, enjoy everything and everyone, think of it as the tiny little blessing that make up the entire miracle that is your life. In the words of Susie Salmon "I wish you all a long and happy life."

P.S
I bet the book would have been a good read. I just can't bear the thought of reading the lines that describe how the girl was taken. Peter Jackson did a fine job of translating it in cinema.

New York Times Best Selling Books

2010-01-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

The New York Times has been widely accepted and known to be the best source of reading materials that are worth reading. Let's see who made it in this month's best sellers, shall we? Drum roll please!

Under the Hardcover Fiction, still reigning supreme is Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Man I have really got to finish reading this book while it's still on top.

Moving on, drum roll again please...and the winner for best hardcover nonfiction is Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom. Now I know for a fact that Mitch Albom is a great writer having seen a few films of the book he's written such as the Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie, but I have never, not once read a book of his. Maybe I should try sometime soon when I'm done with Dan Brown, hopefully!

Continuing, this time with paperback trade fiction. Drum roll if you please...and the number spot for paperback trade fiction goes to, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. According to my sister this is in fact a good read, quite frankly I am one not so eager to flip through its pages being a mother of two daughters myself. I find that if I do, I will suffer paranoia. I also know that this book has been translated on screen, but you know what they say "it is always better in the books."

Our next award ladies and gents will be for the number one spot under the paperback mass-market fiction, and the number one spot goes to, the Street Game by Christine Feehan. Sorry guys, I cannot relate. I am afraid I am not so much a fan for this sort of reading. Let's get a move on shall we?

Our next category is the paperback nonfiction. The nominees for this categories are, Blink by Malcom Gladwell, Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler, The Blind Side by Micheal Lewis, Freakonomics by Steven D. Libitt and Stephen J. Dubner, and lastly Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin...and the "Oscar" goes to, The Blind Side by Micheal Lewis. Now I believe that this book has also been brought to life on screen. Sandra Bullock, in my opinion, did a fine job with this movie. Totally inspiring to see and I presume an equally inspiring read as well.

Next in line my friends is the top honcho for the hardcover advice. Drum roll please...the winner for this month's hardcover advice is, The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Also brought to life on screen by Oscar Winner Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, this book is the reason for their second collaboration on film.

Ladies and gentlemen we are nearing the end of our award ceremony, and I have here the last three winners for this month's Best Selling Books for the New York Times. We begin by announcing the winner for the best paperback advice, the winner is Flat Belly Diet by Liz Viccariello and Cynthia Sass.

Our second to the last award is for the Best children's book, pay attention moms, and the winner is Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O'Connor! Now this I have got to buy, I bet my daughter's would still love a good christmas story, after all we are all still hung over the spirit of the holidays. I know we still are.

Finally, bookworms we close this night's awarding ceremony with the winner for the Best Graphic Book, and without further ado, the winner for this month is, The Book of Genesis illustrated by R. Crumb.

There you have it ladies and gentlemen! This month's New York Times Best Selling Books. If you haven't gotten a copy of these books yet, rush now to your nearest bookstore.

Happy reading everyone!

A Good Short Read

2010-01-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

I came across this poem over the internet. I'd like to share it with you.

Someone To Fall Back On

I'll never be a knight in armor with a sword in hand,
or a kamikaze fighter
Don't count on me to storm the barricades and take a stand,
or hold my ground
You'll never see any scars or wounds
I don't walk on coals
I won't walk on water

I am no prince
I am no saint
I am not anyone's wildest dreams
But I will stand behind and be someone to fall back on

Some comedy, you're bruised and beaten down
and I am the one who's looking for a favor
Still, honestly
You don't believe me but the things I have
are the things you need
You look at me like I don't make sense
Like a waste of time
Like it serves no purpose

I am no prince
I am no saint
And if that's what you believe you need
You're wrong you don't need much
You need someone to fall back on

And I'll be that
I'll take your side
If I'm the only one, I'm used to that
I've been alone, I'd rather be
the half of us, the least of you, the best of me
and I will be
I'll be your prince
i'll be your saint
I will go crashing through fences in your name
I will, I swear
I'll be someone to fall back on
I'll be the one who waits
And for as long as you let me
I will be the one you need
I'll be someone to fall back on,
Someone to fall back on, one to fall back on.

After reading this poem, i thought to myself "this could really make a good song with the right arrangements." Not long after that my husband came home with a movie in hand with the title Bandslam, and that's when I heard it. The song was beautiful, it was like a cross between a love song and a religious, inspirational song. The lyrics had depth and if I were a teen in love this could be a potential boyfriend-girlfriend song, "our song" if you will, or if I were a firm believer of any faith, this could be a good ending to a mass or a prayer rally or a religious lecture.

I salute the writer! I wish more songs with good lyrics abound.

Quotable Quotes

2009-12-18T02:10:00.000-08:00

Good evening bookworms! Just logging in to share with you four quotes from different characters of The Lost Symbol. Ponder on these will you.

1. "Knowledge is a tool, and like all tools, its impact is in the hands of the user."
-Trish Dunne

2. "There is a fine line between insanity and genius"
-Inoue Sato

3. "Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of validity."
-Robert Langdon

4. "In the correct hands, fire can provide illumination...but in the wrong hands, fire can be
highly destructive."
-Robert Langdon

Bleak!

2009-12-16T22:17:00.000-08:00

Hello bookworms! I feel that I might let you and myself down this holiday season. Judging from the number of days left 'till the year ends, my hopes of finishing this book in time is bleak. I have been away for two days without the book in hand, and now that I'm home I haven't been able to pick it up and read because of all the necessary holiday preparations. I just hope that even if I won't make it to my own deadline, I'll be able to finish this book. Just finish it...we'll see.

Slacking!

2009-12-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Good morning bookworms! It is the 7th day of December and I can already feel the cold breeze of the Christmas air. I'm sipping a cup of coffee feeling the cool kiss of the breeze kiss my cheeks, i'm loving it! I, however, am not loving the fact that I haven't touched a page of my book. I'm now starting to wonder if I ever will finish this book in time. I am slacking! I guess the cool wind is getting to me. It's making me just wanna lie in bed all day and dream! But you are right, if I have any respect left for myself and for my husband, I have to motivate myself and do this. The change must first start with me. So now I am going to take my cup of coffee and finish this with my book. Happy reading bookworms!

Religious Diversity

2009-12-04T00:37:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! It is the second day of my reading marathon. I'm happy to report to you guys that I was able to finish thirteen chapters yesterday. The book got me hooked. Chapter six got my attention, particularly the part where Langdon was discussing to his students the religious beliefs of the masons. In a world where most people fight over which religion is the best, the open-minded rationale of the masons about religion is very commendable. If only all of us were like the masons who didn't impose a specific definition or name on a higher power and just respect each others beliefs, then this might enable us to gather together and alter paradigms of thinking. Just think a world where no man is butchered because he insists that his religious belief is better than the other, the world would be less chaotic...what do you think?

Brief Description of The Lost Symbol

2009-12-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

If like me, you haven't read through the pages of the book The Lost Symbol, then you might want to have a brief idea what this book is all about.

Apparently this book is a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets and unseen truths which is set within the hidden chambers, tunnels and temples of Washington, D.C. According to the book's synopsis, Robert Langdon, Dan Brown's hero in this book, receives a mysterious invitation and realizes that this invitation is the only clue and hope he has of rescuing his beloved mentor, Peter Solomon. This invitation apparently plunges
Langdon into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations, all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth. (Source of synopsis: thelostsymbol.com)

Now I don't know about you, but the book got to me at 'secrets.' So I am now going to begin with the Prologue then on to Chapter 1. c",)

Fresh Start

2009-12-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

December is the last month of the year. It is usually the time when most people wind their affairs for the year to make room for a clean slate to begin the coming year. I ,however, am going to deviate from this practice and begin my fresh start today. Today I am going to revive my habit of reading. You see ever since Friendster, Myspace and Facebook erupted into fame, I became one of the many "zombies" who logged into these sites day in and day out. I guess you could say I was a little addicted to it...okay, maybe a lot, but I want to change that now. If I am going to be a couch potato, I might as well be a well-read couch potato, right? Right.

On my birthday, my husband gave me a book for my birthday present. It wasn't just any book, it was a book written by Dan Brown, my favorite author at present. It was his latest masterpiece-The Lost Symbol. My husband figured that if he gave this to me I'd stop pressing my face in front of his computer, to his dismay. He ended up reading the book first. So as my early Christmas present, I am going to get the book now and I am going to make sure that before 2009 ends, I am going to finish reading The Lost Symbol.

Today is the 3rd day of December 2009, I only have twenty-eight days left before fireworks and firecrackers and the song Auld Lang Syne paint the New Year.
Wish me luck! c",)