The End

I finally finished it.  In the midst of all the other books I’ve been reading, last night I turned the last page of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance–the final volume in the series that began with the publication of Eragon in 2003.  After nearly nine years, it almost feels like the end of an era.  One can imagine that it may have seemed so to the young author, who began penning this fantasy series when he was only fifteen years old.

Many things have been said about the Inheritance cycle.  Some have likened it to a mixture of The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.  This is not necessarily criticism; many great works contain elements of other great works.  (An aside: I am not one to put movies on my outstanding literature list.  There are only a relative few that I believe hold a candle to the books on which they are based, in the case of those made from literary works.)  Most readers and reviewers have been mesmerized by the descriptive language, the fascinating characters, and Paolini’s extraordinary imagination.  There are, of course, those who were disappointed, their displeasure often stemming from what they believed to be the repetitiveness of the novels’ plots and themes (it’s not the first time such events have occurred in fantasy fiction).

My take on these novels?  From the early pages, I began to like and empathize with young Eragon.  Paolini did an admirable job developing his character and that of his dragon Saphira, as well as those of the other personalities–human, dwarf, elf, dragon, werecat, Urgal, even Ra’zac.  As Eragon and Saphira grow and metamorphose, they remain refreshingly “normal,” with the fears, foibles, desires, and dislikes that are common to us ordinary people.  If some of their experiences have appeared in literature before, this is not a drawback: for the particulars of the plot are unique to these novels, and everything is woven together as the story arrives at its conclusion.  They are a bit wordy, yes; but the descriptive phrases are literary gems, and the action does not falter.

After having bidden farewell to Eragon and all the characters populating the novels, I happened to read part of the beginning of Eragon, and had to smile at the passage introducing the teen and relating the story of his discovery of Saphira’s egg.  If only Eragon knew what was in store…

Oldies But Goodies

In this world of lightning-fast changes–that new laptop you bought last year is already on the road to obsolescence, the good old black-and-white Kindle has been supplanted by Kindle Fire, we are able to Skype friends and loved ones when we can’t be there in person, and what was once “only” a cell phone is now a device for sending and receiving emails, surfing the Web, taking pictures, and reminding you when it’s time to go home and feed your dog.

However, even with these innovations occurring faster than we can say “ipad touch fourth generation,” some things are timeless. Those who know me, or are familiar with my mindset, have probably already guessed that I am talking about books that have stood the test of time. So, without further ado, here are a few treasures from years–and decades–past that are as worth reading today as when they were published.

A little girl awakens one night and sees a deer in her back yard.  Filling her hands with salt, she goes outside and, singing softly, holds them out.  This lyrical, brilliantly illustrated story has enchanted a generation of young readers and listeners.  Its dreamlike quality will charm the most sophisticated kids today.  Ages 3-7

Darek can’t wait until he can go on his first Dragonquest.  However, when he finds a baby dragon inside the pouch of its mother, which was killed by his older brother, Darek is determined to return him to his own kind.  He learns some important truths about dragons, and himself, along the way.  An outstanding series for fantasy fans waiting to be old enough for Harry Potter.  (They might find Darek to be every bit as much a hero!)  Ages 7-10

When a rather clumsy boy named Harry Houdini Marco helps a strange elderly man at a bus stop, he is given a bottle containing a mysterious substance as a reward.  After Harry applies the liquid, to his amazement, he grows wings!  Readers have been taking flight with Harry since this marvelous story first appeared in 1966.  Ages 10-13

Cathy is a typical 14-year-old when her eyesight begins failing, and she is soon left in total darkness.  Undaunted, the teen is determined to carry on with her life–including attending a “regular” high school.  Cathy’s story, which is as mesmerizing as it was when it was published nearly fifty years ago, is continued in Gift of Gold.  Ages 13-16

Check out  http://bookandagarden.com  for more fantastic reading suggestions.

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Lights, Action…Chanukah!

 

Chanukah is here.  As I descended the stairs to the high school library as evening fell, the fact entered my consciousness.  It’s interesting to think that the Festival of Lights commences when it becomes dark.  One might feel there is something incongruous about a holiday that celebrates light beginning to be observed at a time when there is an absence of the natural phenomenon.

But it’s not incongruous at all.  Chanukah commemorates the victory of the few over the many and the weak over the powerful.  One small amount of oil that should have only burned for one day lasted for eight.  A tiny flame has the power to illuminate the dark world with a magnificent light.  We only need open our eyes.

May this holiday season be one of joy for all of us and our loved ones.

Time Waits for No Man…or Woman

“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

Dr. Seuss certainly got it right.

I keep thinking of our recently married daughter as a new bride.  However, a recent glance at a calendar made me realize that her June 27 wedding was almost six months ago.

On occasion, when I come out of a subway station, it takes me a moment to recall what happened to the leaves that were so recently on the trees, weren’t they?

And that isn’t all.  Some students came into the elementary library and, looking at newborn pictures of two of our grandchildren, asked who they are.  When I told them that the pictures are not recent–the boys are now almost four and five and are both big brothers–my words gave me pause.

Even the end of our marigold season sent a message about the passage of time.  For, as I mentioned in my previous post, in only four months it will be possible to plant new blossoms.

Lest one think this is cause for a bout of depression, the forward movement of days, weeks, months, and years can be a reason to celebrate.  Each flower that grows and blooms, every child who is born, grows, becomes an adult, marries, and becomes a parent, demonstrates that the world is running exactly as it should.  I feel like dancing already…

Farewell to the Marigolds

I finally have to admit it.  The season of our beautiful marigolds is ending.  The flowers planted by my three-year-old grandson and myself at the end of July, and which burst into beautiful bloom in October, have given us such pleasure.  When the little gardener returned from Florida for a visit at the end of November, he was delighted to see his marigolds in full bloom.  For a full two weeks afterwards, the plants continued to provide us with new blossoms.  We began to joke we might have them the entire winter…

But it was not to be.  One night, the temperature dipped below freezing, and I noticed that new buds were not opening.  However, the flowers remained bright and the plants sturdy, so I hesitated to think this was the end. 

Yet the end is now arriving.  The blossoms are a little less colorful, and some petals are beginning to droop.  It is time to accept the inevitable, and collect seeds for next year’s marigolds.

Our First Marigold Blossom

But before I do, I want to take a moment to say express my appreciation and pay tribute to the beautiful flowers that beat the odds–and a hurricane named Irene–to provide us with so much beauty and enjoyment for more than four months.  And, come to think of it, it’s not only four months: for when I do go harvest those seeds–and plant them in as little as four months from now–these marigolds will be with us for at least another year.  So it’s not really farewell, after all.

 

Thank you.

 

Favorites

When checking my email, I saw a post from a listserve member asking fellow librarians to recommend their favorite books.  As I mentally went through the titles I would include, it dawned on me that such a list would be very long, indeed.  (It’s not that I like everything I read; far from it.)  Limiting by age group, dates of publication, or other such criteria may shorten the list, but omit some quality books.  So I took a deep breath, chose a few favorites of the favorites, and sent them along.  Before I change my mind, here they are:

After Ben and his parents move across Canada to their new home in Victoria, the thirteen-year-old awaits his mother’s arrival with a new baby.  However, the infant is not a human, but a chimpanzee, and the subject of a study in animal intelligence.  Can Ben treat the little primate like a member of the family–and what will happen when the “experiment” is over?

Ida Mae loves to fly.  But she is Black and a woman, realities which make it almost impossible to follow her dream in 1941 Louisiana.  But then America enters World War II, the Army forms the Women Airforce Service Pilots, and Ida Mae sees her chance to take to the skies: but at the cost of denying her background.

When a caterpillar eats a hole in a leaf that was sheltering a young bird from the rain, her action is the beginning of a marvelous friendship.  Farfallina and Marcel play together daily.  However, one day, the caterpillar is too tired to do anything, and climbs a tree to rest.  Marcel faithfully waits for her to return, but Farfallina does not reappear.  Will the friends see each other again?

When Mom brings home a stray cat, Dad refuses to allow it to stay–until he is convinced that the hapless pussy needs shelter and will be gone the next day.  Needless to say, the kitty becomes a member of the household.  This scene repeats itself again and again, with Dad’s strong, hilariously illustrated, protests each time, and with the same results.  The ending is a delight.

 

The beloved old king is at the end of his life.  But before he will allow the haughty Prince Raphael to wear the crown, his son must find a wife who is his equal in intelligence, beauty, and wealth.  Where will the proud Raphael find a princess who matches him in all these areas?  Magnificent illustrations add charm to a beautiful, timeless story.

Flory is a young night fairy.  She lives a carefree and happy existence until an encounter with a bat severely damages her wings.  Unable to fly and too young to utter a spell to repair them, Flory finds shelter, new friends, and help from an unexpected source.  The plucky heroine will fly right into the hearts of readers of all ages.

Melody is a genius, but only a few people know it.  That’s because she has cerebral palsy, and cannot speak or control most of her body.  Melody’s world begins to open up when her special education class is mainstreamed for part of the school day, and she discovers that there is a computer that can “talk” for her.  However, the fifth-grader’s struggles are only beginning… 

Georgie is a bright, talented fourth-grader.  However, he can’t do a lot of things other people can do, because he is a dwarf.  Georgie’s world becomes more complicated by a number of events.  First, his mother is expecting a new baby–one who will quickly outgrow Georgie.  Second, he’s paired for a school assignment with Jeanie the Meanie, a classmate who lives up to her nickname.  Then, somebody got him chosen to play Abraham Lincoln in a school play.  How can the shortest kid in his class portray someone as tall as Lincoln?

Serendipity, or Help from Another Source

Maybe because it was Friday shortly before the end of the school day, maybe because kids think the library is a more relaxed environment than the classroom, but the second graders were a rowdy bunch.  The teacher warned the class that they had to behave if they wanted to continue visiting the library.  And here was the librarian, who had spent so much time planning activities and preparing handouts for the school’s Book Festival for this group that she hadn’t chosen a story to read or any books to “talk!”  With the boisterous youngsters finally quiet and giving me their attention, I began talking about the upcoming program–with no idea what to read to the eager listeners.

Serendipity struck again.  On a nearby display rack, I noticed a book I recently reviewed for my web site, http://bookandagarden.com: The Secret of the Leaves by Esther van Handel.  It tells the story of a little boy who frequently yells when things aren’t exactly to his liking, then wonders why nobody listens to him.  He receives an answer from an unexpected source, which teaches him that speaking softly is the best way to ensure that his words will be heard.  After I finished reading the story (which the kids enjoyed so much that one girl asked right away if she could borrow it), I went over the details of the Book Festival activities–and girls with questions politely waited their turn to ask them.

I wonder if anyone thinks I planned this.

Rainy Days and Reading

This day is made for reading.  Okay, every day is a great day to read, but the damp dreariness that is expected to continue at least until nightfall, and end as a bit (or a fair amount, depending on where you are) of white stuff is tailor-made lose-yourself-in-a-book weather.  If this were not a work day, I know what I would be doing: finally coming closer to the conclusion of Inheritance, the final volume in Christopher Paolini’s fantasy series that began with Eragon (which the author started writing when he was 15 years old).  In fact, the balance of my lunch break will be taken up with reading a book, but which one?  As always, I am in the middle of several. There’s  Gary Blackwood’s Around the World in 100 Days, an ingenious follow-up to Jules Verne’s masterpiece.  Heart of a Samurai by Mari Preus is another possibility.  Or I could continue checking out Nina Blazon’s Pact of the Wolves. 

But the clock is ticking.  If I do not make a decision soon, it will be time to return to my post and I will not have read a single page. 

What are you reading on this rainy/snowy/sunny day where you are?

Picture Books Forever

Picture Book Month is over.  And what a phenomenal month it was.  Kids from preschoolers to the chapter-book crowd discovered (or rediscovered) the delights of this literary form.  Classes visiting were introduced to some of my favorites, and then the tables were turned: students were asked to vote for the picture book they like best.  From stories with beautiful messages like The Library Lion by Michelle Knudson, to the entertaining Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming (a book that begs for audience participation), to Jeanette Winter’s inspiring Biblioburro: a True Story from Colombia, to the magnificently illustrated The King’s Equal by Katherine Paterson (not technically a picture book, but the art work is phenomenal), children of all ages–including the grown-up variety–were wowed as they traveled through the picture-book universe.  It is my hope and belief that each of us came through the journey richer and more appreciative of this type of literature, one that will never go out of style.  For there is nothing like cuddling up with a little person and sharing Pobble’s Way by Simon Van Booy, or watching a young reader enjoy the critter’s antics in Jackie French’s Diary of a Wombat.

“You may have tangible wealth untold.

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be –

I had a mother who read to me.”

— Strickland Gillilan