Happy Spring Everyone!
http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-spring-everyone.html
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Jellicoe Road (copy)
I remember the first birthday party attended as a child. It was my friend Ellen’s party held outside Castalian Springs, Tenn., in an old Victorian complete with picket fence. The tall ceilings and huge rooms were so different from our cookie cutter ranch houses in town; consequently, it was like entering a magic kingdom.
Once inside, we stood grouped in the large dogtrot hall waiting for the party to begin. Ellen’s mother gave a nice welcome, took our presents to the kitchen and returned to instruct us on a little game. Each child was to look for his/her name on a piece of paper with yarn attached. Once located, we were to roll the yarn around the paper as we worked our way through the maze creating a ball of yarn in the process.
She turned her back and pushed open the enormous pocket doors. In awe we stood as we faced a web of multi-colored yarn from floor to ceiling. She then hollered, “Go!”
Once finding my name, I weaved in and out of the other children, between spindles on a rocking chair, around a couch leg, up through a book on the library shelf, across to a ceiling fan blade, and finally to a little present for me!
It was during the reading of Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta that I thought of this day. Somewhere in chapter six, I began to realize the many different characters and separate storylines were tangled much like the web in my friend Ellen’s house.
Main character Taylor Markam attends the Jellicoe boarding school, outside of Sydney, Australia, ever since her mother dumped her at a 7-Eleven on Jellicoe Road nearby. She has spent the last 11 years learning the layout of the school, its dormitories, the woods, and the significance of the prayer tree. It is because of her extensive knowledge and the fact holidays are spent on school property that the year 12 students have elected her president.
This unofficial title is known only amongst the student body. The faculty remains blissfully in the dark. Along with official duties as house leader, Taylor must memorize the purple Rule Book of Engagement. With this book she will lead the Jellicoe students through war with two factions: the town kids called Townies and the encroaching campers named Cadets. Within the sacred purple book are the boundaries and possibly the answer to her missing mother’s whereabouts.
Wind the yarn of this mystery and be rewarded with a perfect present from this year’s Printz Award winner, Jellicoe Road.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Making of Common Craft!
I watch Common Craft videos to help me explain all this web 2.0 stuff. On my feed, I let this one sit because I thought it fun to actually watch them make a video. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
American Masters of the MS Gulf Coast (copy)
The librarian called and I put on my running shoes! She was holding a new book for me and I could not wait to flip through the pages. Yes, I work at a library but this particular book was still on order. My book lust was too strong to let the copy sit one more minute on the public library’s shelf.
I am speaking of American Masters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast: George Ohr, Dusti Bongé, Walter Anderson, Richmond Barthé by Patti Carr Black. In book form, it is the catalog for the current exhibit traveling the state of Mississippi until 2010. The closest venue for the exhibit is Oxford at University of Mississippi Museum during the month of August 2009. Can you say road trip!
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a magical, mystical place that feeds its artists’ passions. From a mad potter to an exclusive purveyor of African souls, Mississippians, whether art enthusiasts or not, will delight in the examples provided in this book. It is our coast’s natural beauty which flames the fires of imagination in our state’s inhabitants.
“’The Coast’ is abundantly gifted in arts and culture, has produced world-class visual artists, and boasts of a unique agua- and agri- culture that melds the rural simplicities of Mississippi lore with the rich eccentricities of New Orleans,” states the Director of Mississippi Arts Commission, Malcolm White, in the introduction.
The format of the book includes a brief history of the area by Patti Carr Black and then breaks into four parts for each artist. The four parts are separated further by a biography of the artist, the artist’s approach to his art and a brief sampling of works in the exhibit. Unfortunately, Richmond Barthé’s sampling of work is too brief. The artist has only four sculptures depicted on full pages where the others have over ten.
Flip through these pages and reacquaint yourself with fellow Mississippians: George Ohr, the mad potter of Biloxi who may have the honor of being the first American performance artist, Dusti Bongé, a woman of privilege who singlehandedly brought modernism to Mississippi, Walter Anderson, a recluse who rode his bike 200 miles for art supplies, and Richmond Barthé with his rags to riches then back to rags story who may be the first African-American to receive $100,000 for a single piece of art.
American Masters is well worth the run to the library, but I wish it included more art.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
The Art of Racing in the Rain (copy)
My name is Enzo and my master’s name is Denny. He named me after the famous race car driver Enzo "the Commendatore" Ferrari. Have you heard of the Italian sports car Ferrari? Well, he is one in the same, and one day my master will have a car named after him.
Denny is a great race car driver. He has a unique skill that makes him a desirable team member. He can race in the rain. Wet conditions on the track do not scare him; actually, he perfected a maneuver which allows him to accelerate through the turns. Denny is a natural at finding the curve’s apex and shooting for the exit.
For the first year of my life it was Denny and I alone. Life was quieter with daily walks in the park and plenty of fetch then we stumbled upon Eve. Her hairlessness didn’t appeal to me, but they soon married and Zoe entered our family a year later.
Life was good. I spent my time watching over the fascinating Zoe. She filled my nose with all kinds of baby scents; plus, it was rather fun watching someone else teethe for a while. I kept company with Eve while she cooked in the kitchen and every so often she gave me little tastes; although, I never begged—that was for lower class dogs. And Denny didn’t treat me differently now that there were more people vying for his attention. He was a true gentleman master.
Unfortunately, there was down time when I was left alone for long periods such as when they had to work. I would amble from room to room looking for entertainment but none was to be found. I was literally bored to death then Denny noticed me watching television. Oh, I thank the day he decided to leave it on while he went to work. My vocabulary really blossomed during these periods. Too bad my tongue wasn’t designed for speech.
If I could talk, I would be able to warn Eve. I would explain my heightened sense of smell and the unmistakable scent of death coming from her ears and nose. I would tell Denny something bad was eating her brain. I would scream, “See an oncologist!” Man, if I had thumbs, I would drive her to the hospital myself. Why was I only a dog?
These are my words as Enzo the narrator of Garth Stein’s new book titled “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” I highly recommend this read. I was awake into the wee hours crying while reading the last two chapters. Not yet spring and I may have read the best book of the year; although, I did have one slight problem. Enzo’s vocabulary will rival that of a scholar. Scary to think my dog may be smarter than me.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Library Loot ~ Overdue!
I rushed to the library after the librarian called to tell me my hold was available! Yes, I'm a sucker for art and am having a grand time discovering Mississippi artists!
American Masters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast: George Ohr, Dusti Bonge, Walter Anderson, Richmond Barthe by Patti Carr Black is a catalog for the current exhibit traveling the state of Mississippi until 2010. Just my luck, the closest venue will be Oxford. Why didn't we get this for Northwest?
Check out other Library Loot at A Stripped Armchair.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
