Okay, so the plan to post thrice-weekly sort of fell through. Apparently, I have one too many things to do on a schedule, and I was setting myself up to fail by establishing deadlines for here.
But, I'm back! And I still plan to post reviews, memoirs of my time as a librarian larvae, and on topics related to reading, writing, learning, and libraries. I'll tentatively say "expect a weekly post," and see if that's do-able. I'm off work and classes from 12/18 to 1/18/11, and have only knitting for Xmas and books to review for Horn Book, so there might even be a bit more posting between now and then.
Speaking of which, I am now a freelance reviewer for the Horn Book Guide. Not the magazine, sadly, but reviewing for the Guide is still good experience, it still looks good on the resume, and it still results in free books. (It's also a tiny lil bit of money, which will be nice, as this month "break" from work leads to a 6 week period with no income).
Semester one of grad school is THIS far from being survived. I have to revise a grant proposal draft before Thursday, and I'm DONE! Unless my final projects turned out way worse than I thought they were, I expect all As, which is nice.
Next semester brings the following courses: Library Buildings, Libraries in Society, and Youth Literature. I'm hyper-excited about the first and the last, and hoping that the reputation of 502 (Lib in Soc) turns out to be turn (that's she's very honest, direct, and a Foucauldian). The library buildings class should be good practical experience, as I want to make spaces for teens in libraries. And the youth lit class I decided to take, as I needed a reminder of why I'm doing all of this. And perhaps because I miss the world of English/Lit (teaching and student-ing), and it'll be nice to analyze literature, even in this different context.
Expect a review soon-ish (my loyal 2 or 3 followers), as I have 18 books coming this week from the HBG and 6 coming so I can get a jump start for the youth lit course. I also have Malinda Lo's Ash, Robin McKinley's Pegasus, and a few ARCs from the YALSA conference to get to when the urge to read darker fantasy kicks in again.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Jenn Matters' Book Review #1: Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green/David Leviathan
maybe tonight you're scared of falling...or how and when you're gonna land, and i gotta tell you friends that to stop thinking about the landing, because it's all about the falling.
Will Grayson Will Grayson technically falls into the YA genre of books, but anyone alive in the modern age should walk away from this book having laughed, learned something, and maybe even shed a tear or two.
"You're a pillar of fabulosity in the community".
This is what Will Grayson (the first we meet) tells his best friend, gayer than gay, and more alive than any teenager I've ever met, Tiny Cooper. And because I appreciate Tiny, I have to argue that this book is as much his story as it is the story of any Will Grayson.
The basic sitch: Two teenage boys named Will Grayson live in different Chicago suburbs. Will-1 is straight, best friends with Tiny, sort of in love with friend Jane, and living by 2 rules - Don't care too much about anything/one and 2. Shut up. Will-2 starts out emo-tastic and grows to become simply another person fighting depression, and falling in love with Tiny helps him realize the truth about a lot of things. Quite a bit of the story centers around the production of Tiny Dancer, a play about Tiny's life, and the truths that come out about our boys in the process of the play coming to life.
I was struck by the myriad of astute observations about life that Tiny and the two WGs made - truth and love are forever connected, love is way more than just sex or even romance, you don't chose your true friends, and its worth it to open the box (to see if the cat is alive/dead).
I searched for things to dislike about this book, but am still looking for them. If you are even vaguely bothered by the concept of homosexuality, or even scarier, the concept of wanting to be comfortable with who you are -- this book is not for you.
Everybody else, dive in!
If you like Will Grayson Will Grayson, you'd also like David Leviathan's Boy Meets Boy or possibly Joyce Carol Oate's Big Mouth and Ugly Girl.
Will Grayson Will Grayson technically falls into the YA genre of books, but anyone alive in the modern age should walk away from this book having laughed, learned something, and maybe even shed a tear or two.
"You're a pillar of fabulosity in the community".
This is what Will Grayson (the first we meet) tells his best friend, gayer than gay, and more alive than any teenager I've ever met, Tiny Cooper. And because I appreciate Tiny, I have to argue that this book is as much his story as it is the story of any Will Grayson.
The basic sitch: Two teenage boys named Will Grayson live in different Chicago suburbs. Will-1 is straight, best friends with Tiny, sort of in love with friend Jane, and living by 2 rules - Don't care too much about anything/one and 2. Shut up. Will-2 starts out emo-tastic and grows to become simply another person fighting depression, and falling in love with Tiny helps him realize the truth about a lot of things. Quite a bit of the story centers around the production of Tiny Dancer, a play about Tiny's life, and the truths that come out about our boys in the process of the play coming to life.
I was struck by the myriad of astute observations about life that Tiny and the two WGs made - truth and love are forever connected, love is way more than just sex or even romance, you don't chose your true friends, and its worth it to open the box (to see if the cat is alive/dead).
I searched for things to dislike about this book, but am still looking for them. If you are even vaguely bothered by the concept of homosexuality, or even scarier, the concept of wanting to be comfortable with who you are -- this book is not for you.
Everybody else, dive in!
If you like Will Grayson Will Grayson, you'd also like David Leviathan's Boy Meets Boy or possibly Joyce Carol Oate's Big Mouth and Ugly Girl.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Fangirl of my Own Field
Before the fangirl-ing, I did promise some introduction of self and establishment of organization, so here goes:
The Plan (since it's simpler than I am):
Mondays: Posts about Words, Books, Writing, and/or Libraries - as larger concepts
Wednesdays: Posts about life as a librarian larvae
Sat/Sunday: Book Review
Me (These always feel like personals profiles):
I'm a 30 year-old teacher-turned-librarian-larvae, attending the GSLIS (graduate school of library and information science). In the past seven years, I have taught English at an inner-city school in Memphis, college Composition I/II at a state school in Missouri, English/Yearbook at a rural school outside of Colorado Spring, ESL in S.Korea, and Comp again at two Illinois CCs.
I'm increasingly less violently single. I love to travel, and have a wee bit of an obsession with compasses and my car, a 2003 Honda Civic plastered in bumper stickers bearing the name Persephone. Sarcasm and blatant honesty are my natural habitats, which leads me to a high level of social awkwardness, despite my love of meeting and connecting with new people.
I love books, words, stories, music, libraries, tattoos with meaning, not sitting still, and crafting with fiber arts (knit, crochet, sew, etc...). When I watch TV or movies (usually as background noise for other things I'm doing), it's Supernatural, Gilmore Girls, Buffy (or anything Joss Whedon), or movies that are character-driven and/or a little off.
My area of interest in LIS is libraries as socio-cultural spaces, specifically creating library spaces for teenagers that would promote growth and learning in ways they need (instead of ways that state-testing mandates).
_________________________________________________________________________________
That being said, my GSLIS discovery of the week is how much everything ties in to everything else. This seems simple - of course an English teacher would find things connecting in library classes. But it really seems this week that serendipity has been raining down all over me.
For example, I didn't even realize that "library spaces" were something you could study as a field. There's been a lot of concern in the last 40 or so years about making libraries into more than just a place for people to borrow books. In the past decade, there's been a lot of shifting in the style of academic libraries to suit user needs -- more computers, less or more librarian-help for students, as needed. There's even a (somewhat controversial) category of librarianship called User Experience, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Even more narrowly, there is the study of libraries as socio-cultural spaces. Think about it - at many a public library you can get information about how to get a job, research a new religion, take a class in HTML, meet with a book group, find tax forms to fill out, and read People magazine. I truly believe the library now is a place built against ignorance, including but not limited to the information contained within its walls and computers. The terms used to describe librarians supports this - advocate, teacher, relentless, seeker.
All this makes me want to delve into the questions of what effect do libraries have on people and what effect do people have on libraries? What do people use libraries for now, as opposed to 20 years ago (or 50 or 100)? What type of physical space would best promote a critical learning environment for teenagers? How can we make them lifelong learners, and not just people set on graduating to the next grade level/pay grade?
All that being said, what makes me squee with joy about my field of choice is the fact that it's the more practical sister to my former life as an English major. The study of English and education is about providing critical thinking/reading/writing/learning opportunities for my students. The direction I'm meandering within LIS wants to provide the EXACT same things, but in a practical manner. Where teaching is curriculum-mandated (and curriculum is stated/government mandated), libraries are mandated by the needs of the patrons. Granted, the patron needs will be driven by their education needs...but not being the wielder of the red grading pen means I can go beyond what the lesson plan says.
(I'm aware of my idealism. It's gotten me through 30 years of a chosen, whirlwind life, so I'm keeping it!).
The Plan (since it's simpler than I am):
Mondays: Posts about Words, Books, Writing, and/or Libraries - as larger concepts
Wednesdays: Posts about life as a librarian larvae
Sat/Sunday: Book Review
Me (These always feel like personals profiles):
I'm a 30 year-old teacher-turned-librarian-larvae, attending the GSLIS (graduate school of library and information science). In the past seven years, I have taught English at an inner-city school in Memphis, college Composition I/II at a state school in Missouri, English/Yearbook at a rural school outside of Colorado Spring, ESL in S.Korea, and Comp again at two Illinois CCs.
I'm increasingly less violently single. I love to travel, and have a wee bit of an obsession with compasses and my car, a 2003 Honda Civic plastered in bumper stickers bearing the name Persephone. Sarcasm and blatant honesty are my natural habitats, which leads me to a high level of social awkwardness, despite my love of meeting and connecting with new people.
I love books, words, stories, music, libraries, tattoos with meaning, not sitting still, and crafting with fiber arts (knit, crochet, sew, etc...). When I watch TV or movies (usually as background noise for other things I'm doing), it's Supernatural, Gilmore Girls, Buffy (or anything Joss Whedon), or movies that are character-driven and/or a little off.
My area of interest in LIS is libraries as socio-cultural spaces, specifically creating library spaces for teenagers that would promote growth and learning in ways they need (instead of ways that state-testing mandates).
_________________________________________________________________________________
That being said, my GSLIS discovery of the week is how much everything ties in to everything else. This seems simple - of course an English teacher would find things connecting in library classes. But it really seems this week that serendipity has been raining down all over me.
For example, I didn't even realize that "library spaces" were something you could study as a field. There's been a lot of concern in the last 40 or so years about making libraries into more than just a place for people to borrow books. In the past decade, there's been a lot of shifting in the style of academic libraries to suit user needs -- more computers, less or more librarian-help for students, as needed. There's even a (somewhat controversial) category of librarianship called User Experience, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Even more narrowly, there is the study of libraries as socio-cultural spaces. Think about it - at many a public library you can get information about how to get a job, research a new religion, take a class in HTML, meet with a book group, find tax forms to fill out, and read People magazine. I truly believe the library now is a place built against ignorance, including but not limited to the information contained within its walls and computers. The terms used to describe librarians supports this - advocate, teacher, relentless, seeker.
All this makes me want to delve into the questions of what effect do libraries have on people and what effect do people have on libraries? What do people use libraries for now, as opposed to 20 years ago (or 50 or 100)? What type of physical space would best promote a critical learning environment for teenagers? How can we make them lifelong learners, and not just people set on graduating to the next grade level/pay grade?
All that being said, what makes me squee with joy about my field of choice is the fact that it's the more practical sister to my former life as an English major. The study of English and education is about providing critical thinking/reading/writing/learning opportunities for my students. The direction I'm meandering within LIS wants to provide the EXACT same things, but in a practical manner. Where teaching is curriculum-mandated (and curriculum is stated/government mandated), libraries are mandated by the needs of the patrons. Granted, the patron needs will be driven by their education needs...but not being the wielder of the red grading pen means I can go beyond what the lesson plan says.
(I'm aware of my idealism. It's gotten me through 30 years of a chosen, whirlwind life, so I'm keeping it!).
Monday, September 27, 2010
Banned Books Week
I promise to do an introduction to me, and the format of the blog, within the next few days. But today is Monday of Banned Books Week 2010, so I'm going to jumpstart this blog with a post about that.
I've been doing a word/reading/writing meme on my LJ for about a week now, and today's topic was relevant: Choose a banned book you've read and tell me how it has affected you, POSITIVELY.
I've read 55 of the top 100 list. Here's a list of the ALA's top 100: List!.
The banned book I'm going to claim had the most influence on me iseither Sylvester and the Magic Pebble or A Light in the Attic.
Sylvester was banned/threatened in 1977 by The Illinois Police Association, along with 11 other states, because it portrays policemen as pigs. Silverstein was banned in 1993 for promoting disrespect, violence and horror. It ended up being one of the most banned books in the 1990s.
These books influenced me, not to call police pigs or to become highly disrespectful (thought sometimes I am) or violent. Sylvester is one of my three favorite books, alongside The Big Orange Splot and The Elephant's Sneeze. It's beautifully drawn, the writing flows and it shows what family is all about. The pig-cops are NOT portrayed in a negative light - they do the best they can to help Syl's family find him.
And Silverstein was a vague part of my life, but became more prevalent when I was an English undergrad. He helped me to see that not all poetry has to be boring, hard to read, or about trees and romance. Reading him at Dead Poet's Night for my English honor's society lead me to branch out and find more poetry I liked, including Slam. (For those of you who know me in RL, you know how much I did slam poetry).
So, yeah, I've been horribly deformed and mentally depraved by reading books that offended other people. Hmm...maybe the fallout of me reading all these banned books is that I think EVERYONE should be able to read the books they want to read.
How 'bout you?
I've been doing a word/reading/writing meme on my LJ for about a week now, and today's topic was relevant: Choose a banned book you've read and tell me how it has affected you, POSITIVELY.
I've read 55 of the top 100 list. Here's a list of the ALA's top 100: List!.
The banned book I'm going to claim had the most influence on me iseither Sylvester and the Magic Pebble or A Light in the Attic.
Sylvester was banned/threatened in 1977 by The Illinois Police Association, along with 11 other states, because it portrays policemen as pigs. Silverstein was banned in 1993 for promoting disrespect, violence and horror. It ended up being one of the most banned books in the 1990s.
These books influenced me, not to call police pigs or to become highly disrespectful (thought sometimes I am) or violent. Sylvester is one of my three favorite books, alongside The Big Orange Splot and The Elephant's Sneeze. It's beautifully drawn, the writing flows and it shows what family is all about. The pig-cops are NOT portrayed in a negative light - they do the best they can to help Syl's family find him.
And Silverstein was a vague part of my life, but became more prevalent when I was an English undergrad. He helped me to see that not all poetry has to be boring, hard to read, or about trees and romance. Reading him at Dead Poet's Night for my English honor's society lead me to branch out and find more poetry I liked, including Slam. (For those of you who know me in RL, you know how much I did slam poetry).
So, yeah, I've been horribly deformed and mentally depraved by reading books that offended other people. Hmm...maybe the fallout of me reading all these banned books is that I think EVERYONE should be able to read the books they want to read.
How 'bout you?
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