Literacy Wednesdays: Read a G*dd*mn Book **The Faraday Girls**

Wednesdays were the night they were open until 8 PM!  Paaaarty!

The Redbud Library of Lake County, CA is a small but strong library.  The newest books are placed at the front in a proud display for a duration of time long enough to let everyone get a good peek at them.  One day I meandered by and picked up a new arrival: The Faraday Girls. 




It may look like a book for chicks, but that's because it is...


This book was published in 2007, but Lake County is always a little behind.  This book is aimed at young adults but written with a women's book club in mind.  "The Faraday Girls" follows the trials and tribulations of a family who emigrated from England to Australia.  Early on in the tale of their life, the reader follows the different view points of each family member.  This interesting take on the narrative allows us to see how each family member really feels about one another; it also allows us to have passages like this:

"It was like being in a film or playing at being a princess for a night, driving in a limousine through Manhattan in the hazy light.  Their first stop was the Algonquin Hotel for cocktails in the Blue Bar and then dinner in the Round Table Room.  Maggie had walked by the hotel several times over the past few weeks, peeping inside at the opulent lobby, the rich fabrics and leather, but never feeling confident enough to go inside.  It felt lovely to step inside now, with her grandfather beside her." p. 349

From another character's point of view we get: 

 "She'd present it to Clementine and Maggie on the little girl's fifth birthday.  It would be the perfect occasion.  She pictured Maggie's delight to see a whole scrapbook all about her, Clementine's graditude and amazement that Sadie had gone to so much trouble.  The others would be just as impressed, Sadie knew it.  She could hardly wait." p. 119

We looked good and hard to find a funny quote from the book, because we swear it does have some funny moments, but there weren't any that would stand alone without some background info on the characters and it has a lot of twists we didn't want to spoil.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY: chick flicks that don't solely revolve around sex.

This book can be summed up as a cross between When Harry Met Sally and Little Women because it follows a bunch of sisters through several decades.

Ask us if you want to borrow our well-loved (and hot chocolate stained) copy.

Literacy Wednesdays: Read a G*dd*mn Book **STARDUST**

It is quite possible that you are a fan of Neil Gaiman and unaware of it. Recognize this scene?

This is actually the first movie that Bry and I saw with David.

Among other things Neil Gaiman has written is the freakishly creepy Coraline. If you haven't seen Coraline, and if you haven't you NEED to, then perhaps you've seen the movie Stardust.

That's right, this is a picture of a star riding a freaking unicorn. 

And if you've seen Stardust then you know it's freaking fantastic, but did you know it's a book?

The Redbud Library back near our hometown had a free box near the front door.  The books and pamphlets you usually found in there were generally religious in nature, or very worn out.  One summer day I decided to brave the box and lo and behold there was Stardust.  A slightly used paperback, it shone up at me with pleading eyes: take me home.

It was brought home, it was read and it was deemed AMAZING.

This picture from vampire-knight.net does not accurately rate the awesomeness of this book.

Here are some awesome quotes to help persuade you to read this book:



“I knowed a man in Paphlagonia who'd swallow a live snake every morning, when he got up. He used to say, he was certain of one thing, that nothing worse would happen to him all day. 'Course they made him eat a bowlful of hairy centipedes before they hung him, so maybe that claim was a bit presumptive.” 







“He was painfully shy, which, as is often the manner of the painfully shy, he overcompensated for by being too loud at the wrong times.” 






“And there was a voice, a high clear, female voice, which said "Ow", and then, very quietly, it said "Fuck", and then it said "Ow", once more.”






“He shivered. His coat was thin, and it was obvious he would not get his kiss, which he found puzzling. The manly heroes of the penny dreadfuls and shilling novels never had these problems getting kissed.”

Literacy Wednesdays: Read a G*dd*mn Book

More and more these days people are turning away from reading good, old-fashioned books and finding different outlets (video games, tv, staring off into space, etc.) for their short attention spans. I am here to advocate for the poor dusty guys getting left behind in the, well, dust. Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic when teachers assign lots of readings they post online so that you don't have to lug bulky, heavy books around (Who needs exercise, anyway?) but I hate sitting at my computer trying to read. It can't be done. My computer has games, pictures and the internet which frankly makes it impossible to do homework without distraction. Every time I sit down to do some assigned online reading I end up on here, Cracked, FML, Texts From Last Night and so forth. So, despite the extra weight in my backpack or arms, I will forever advocate the book.

I still hate textbooks, though. I'm really here to stand up for people reading enjoyable books.

 

You're literally NEVER too old to enjoy one of these.

 This being said, every Wednesday, or as I'm going to call it: "Literacy Wednesdays: Read a G*dd*amn Book Day", Bry and I will be putting up a book review or two on books you (Yes, YOU!) should read. If you've read it, leave a comment and let us know what you think of it.

First review to come next week.

Brilliant Idea

After attending a writing workshop I was inspired to start writing again. The only problem, because of course there's a problem, is that between school and work I have hardly any time to write. Boo. In rides the white knight of good ideas, however, and brings me my brilliant idea!

\

According to Google, White Knight is a character in a game or something.

After the white knight of ideas brings me my idea, I sit down in the only possible place I can write in my spare time (Bayshore Mall's food court) and begin my new story. It starts as follows:

She had never intended to leave the party with a stranger. A sexy stranger. Hell, she hadn't even been intending to stay long enough to finish a drink. It's not that she was a rude person by nature, she just never felt comfortable in a short dress and heels. She was a cop. Her uniform was more comforting to wear than a plush robe and slippers after a bubble bath. Her uniform came with a gun. She needed that sense of security by her side to feel safe.

This wasn't safe. Two drinks and a flirty conversation later, though, and here she was. his name was Jeff. or was it George? There was no subtle way to ask him now that she was in his apartment watching him strip off his shirt. His skin was tan and taught over his bulging muscles. He ripped his shoes from his feet and hopped onto his bed. He pulled down his pants, revealing the hard bulge beneath. She gasped at the size of his

"Jesus Christ!" she muttered under her breath. "What on earth made me think I could write like this? How does anybody write like this?!"

"Having trouble with your homework, dear?" asked a voice from the kitchen.

"I'm fine," she called back, shutting her notebook. In retrospect, trying to write a romance novel while visiting her grandmother should have struck her as a bad idea.

I think my shocked Grandma image might be an old man in drag...

Kittens and Hugs

I have ever more Dramatic Writing class things to share. These two are very short. The first prompt was to write a story in 100 words. I failed. I only made it 70 words in so I won't post it. The one after it was supposed to be a story in 30 words. The one after that was supposed to be a story in six words. Here are my stories with picture accompaniment:

The small child was playing with her new kitten in the driveway of her house. Her father came home from work and pulled into the driveway. Oops. No more kitten...

They hugged then parted ways forever.

Last Date

My latest assignment in my Dramatic Writing class was about burning bridges. We were supposed to write a scene where something happens and makes it so that nothing will ever be the same from that point on between the two characters.

Last Date

By Rachel Fix

WILLIAM, grad student, age 23

MARIE, grad student, age 23

                                                                                   (The scene opens on WILLIAM and 
                                                                                    MARIE in a  restaurant, laughing.)

WILLIAM

I really don't want to sound cliche but this has literally been the single best first date I've ever been on.

MARIE

No, I know exactly what you mean. It's that much more amazing that this was a blind date, too. And my first one at that! I was so worried. You could have been any old weirdo George is friends with.

WILLIAM

Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I guess I'm just full of cheese and cliches tonight but you have the most striking blue eyes.

MARIE

So do you, which is odd because I'm not normally attracted to other people with blue eyes.

WILLIAM

Me neither! I usually melt over green eyes. Gosh, we just have so much in common. Even our childhoods were similar. I never would have figured I'd meet someone else who was adopted.

MARIE

I'm the first for you? I've met plenty. The university I studied at for my bachelor's degree had a meeting about it once. They tried to get us all to be friends or something.

WILLIAM

Oh, so you're not originally from here either?

MARIE

Oh, no. I may not have a strong accent but I'm originally from New York.

WILLIAM

What a crazy random happenstance! That's where my birth mother was from. That's all I really know about her, though. I've always wanted to go to New York. Return to my roots and all. Is it pretty there?

MARIE

You know, you really do have the most striking blue eyes.

WILLIAM

Why thank you. I don't normally hear that a lot. They're so pale that a lot of people find them odd looking.So, is New York- I'm sorry, are you getting a call?

                                                                                (MARIE pulls her cell phone from her purse and uses                        

                                                                                the reflective screen to look at her face.)

MARIE

Such striking blue eyes.

WILLIAM

Well... yours are lovely, too?

MARIE

What did you say your birthday was?

WILLIAM

I don't believe I did.

MARIE

What day is it?

WILLIAM

You're scaring me...

MARIE

It's September 16th, isn't it?

WILLIAM

How did you know that? Did you steal my wallet?

MARIE

Don't you see?! Look at me. I'm the spitting image of you! Our birthday is the same day. Both of our birth mothers are from the same state. How is this not connecting in your head?

WILLIAM

You couldn't possibly be suggesting that we're...

MARIE

I think we are.

WILLIAM

Oh my God, I held your hand during the movie!

MARIE

There's nothing wrong with that. I'm sure brothers and sisters do that all the time.

WILLIAM

What about when you let me get to second base in the theater?

MARIE

That we're going to need therapy for.

Lots and lots of therapy.

Dramatic Writing is Dramatic

So, for those unaware, I am taking a Dramatic Writing class. Also for those unaware (read: me), Dramatic Writing does not involve writing dramatically. Okay, it CAN but it actually means writing plays. Or, in the case of my class, individual scenes.I find myself hilarious so I want to share some of the things I've written for class and during our writing exercises. Today, I wrote the following thingy as my writing exercise. The prompt was to write something that has to do with Superheros or Villains.


"You shall never defeat me! Muahahahaha!"


"Shut up, Derek. You're interrupting my teddy bear tea party."


"I said, 'You shall never defeat me!' That's when you're supposed to try to defeat me!"


"Tea. Par-ty. I'm busy. I don't have time to be King Booger Brains or whoever today. My tea is getting cold."


"You're not even drinking real tea, Thomas. Your cups are empty. And it's Captain Awesome but I'll call you King Booger Brains and tell dad you're playing with Sarah's bears again if you don't play with me."


"Play tea party with me or I'll tell dad you tried on mom's dresses and lipstick yesterday."


"...So, which cup is mine?"