Category: Misc. Bookish Thoughts

The Book Was Better!!!

We’ve all been there. You read that one of your favorite books is being made into a movie. You are filled with anticipation and scour social media looking for more information. The first disappointment comes when the cast is revealed. The actors look nothing like the characters in your head. Then, the previews start, and you notice subtle changes. Scenes don’t look quite right, characters say things they would never see. Part of you wants to skip the movie know, but you can’t resist. Out of loyalty to the book, you have to see it.

At the theater, you bite your tongue to keep from shouting out. Why are they in a different city? Why is it now a comedy? Why are characters who were twelve in the book now being played by adult actors- and where did that love triangle come from?

But nothing could prepare you for the ending. The screenwriter probably had good intentions. They genuinely thought they were improving the story by making the ending happier or more dramatic. But it really did was change the entire message of the story. This person clearly did not understand the story at all.


There are exceptions, but the book just won’t live up to the book in most cases. Part of it is inattention to detail. Part of it is that some things don’t translate to the screen, primarily if the book focuses more on characterization than action. But your brain just isn’t as engaged watching something created by someone else as when it has to formulate the movie in your head from the words on the page.

Print books vs. Ebooks

There is a constant debate over the merits of print books versus ereaders. There is plenty of research that will proves we retain and process information differently when it is on a screen. But that isn’t why most avid readers prefer the printed book. I broke down and got a Nook several years ago. I can’t deny there are some benefits. When traveling, it’s so much easier to pack one device without worrying about running out of reading material. You can look up unfamiliar words as your read. You can adjust the brightness and font size. What you can’t do with an ereader, is replicate the feeling of reading a print book.

Despite all the warnings we’ve been given, part of the reading experience is judging the cover. The start of the reading experience begins with exploration of the cover. While all of that information is in an ebook, it takes a series of searches and clicks to get to it. I often skip it all together and go into the book blind.

Once you move onto the reading of the book it is an entire sense experience. The weight of the book in your hand, the smell of the ink and paper, the sound of pages turning. All of these elements combine to create the full reading experience.

There’s another, often forgotten aspect of the reading experience: bookmarks. Any avid reader has a collection of bookmarks throughout their house. While they perform a function which is just as often accomplished by the closest receipt that the reader happens to grab, they are also the opportunity to express the reader’s personality. The fun of picking out bookmarks is lost to the ereader user. Bookmarks are functional tools that help you keep your spot. But, it’s more than that . Watching your bookmark move through the book, gives the reader a sense of accomplishment. An experienced reader can glance at the bookmarks placement and easily gauge how long it will take to finish. It has taken me years with the ereader to make accurate “time to finish” estimates.

So, no matter how many advancements in ereaders take place, my home will still be overflowing with books. Which looks much more impressive than a shelf a single device sitting on it.

My 2021 Reading Stats

I’ve used Goodreads for years to track my reading. This year I decided to put that information into storygraph to get more specific data.

Read

76 books, 24,642 pages

I reviewed my stats starting in 2008, when I joined Goodreads, and emotional, mysterious and lighthearted are consistently my preferred moods.

I’m definitely a fiction reader. This is actually a higher percentage of nonfiction than most years.

I found it interesting that my genres vary more from year to year than other factors such as mood and pace.

You can identify me as a teacher from this chart alone. Every year July and August have the most books read and October has the least.

Top Ten Features of Christmas books

I love holiday themed books for all seasons, especially Christmas. Every genre has at least a few books with a holiday theme. I have not done a top ten list in awhile, so I thought I’d post a list of my top ten things I look for in a holiday read.

10. New Traditions- I love reading about traditions I’m unfamiliar with, whether it’s historical, from a different culture or one that’s just made up by the author

9. Crazy relatives

8. Blizzard- A winter storm is the perfect setting to force characters together

7. Reunion- estranged family members are reunited through the magic of Christmas

6. The perfect gift- a character is given the perfect gift that shows the giver really knows them and cares

5. Christmas magic- Santa, reindeer, elves are real

4. Guardian angels (my favorite are Debbie Macomber’s Shirley, Goodness and Mercy)

3. A Scrooge/Grinch character who learns the meaning of Christmas

2. Christmas baking- bonus if recipes are included (Jenny Colgan books are my favorite)

1. Holiday romance- Forget about Valentine’s Day, nothing beats a Christmas romance.

What do you look for in a Christmas movie?

Thankful for books

This is a day late due to some technical issues. But, I couldn’t let Thankgiving pass without a post about gratitude for books. Here are just a few of the reasaons to be thankful for books.

  • Reading may be a solo activity, but it forms a community for introverts. When you discover someone else is a reader you have an instant connection, even if you don’t read the same books.
  • Books are cheap entertainment. Just compare the price of going to a two hour movie, to the price of a book which will provide countless hours of enjoyment.
  • Readers can live vicariously through characters. We can travel anywhere we want, do whatever we want and feel whatever we want through books.
  • If handled properly, books are forever. No need to upgrade like the old VHS tapes laying around the house.
  • If it wasn’t for books, we’d all be reading handwritten scrolls
  • Filling your house with books makes you look smarter to guests
  • Books let us know that there are others who experience the same feelings and experiences as us.
  • Books help you empathize with others
  • You can carry a book with you anywhere and you’ll never be bored
  • An e-reader can provide all the entertainment of a book, but nothing smells or feels like a book

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Why are you thankful for books?

Tribute to Gary Paulsen

Guts: The True Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books

I was eating my breakfast Thursday morning when it scrolled across the screen that Gary Paulsen had died. I knew right away that I wanted to write a post about him. Paulsen’s writing accomplished the impossible: getting reluctant readers to enjoy reading.

Lawn Boy

Since each reader is unique, the key to hooking a reluctant reader is finding the book that will appeal to them. Paulsen more than any author I know, had a knack for writing books that you can hand to almost any kid, and they will enjoy it. It is a rare kid who would find no interest in stories about animals, survival or humor. There’s a Paulsen story for everyone.

Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1)

My personal favorite Paulsen book is the autobiography My Life in Dog Years. Paulsen highlights the dogs who shaped his life in stories that are touching, suspenseful and humorous. But for most students, Hatchet is the book of choice. Through the years, I’ve had many students who insist that Hatchet is the only book they like. That’s okay because Hatchet is what I would call a gateway book; once you experiment with Hatchet, you will start trying other books. There are four more books in Brian’s Saga, plus Guts , the nonfiction companion. From there, you can move onto survival stories by other authors or other Paulsen books which may lead you to other genres. Before you even realize its happening, Hatchet isn’t the only book you like.

My Life in Dog Years

The mark Gary Paulsen left on young readers is indelible, and he will be missed.

Top Ten Books with dual timelines

I love books with two stories from different times intertwined. The authors on this list often write in this style, but I limited the list to one book per author.

10. Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

Claire Aldridge is a reporter assigned to cover the 1933 blackberry winter storm. While researching she learns of an unsolved abduction the same day and vows to solve it. Through her research she discovers unexpected connections between herself and he child’s mother, Vera.

9. Off the Wild Coast of Brittany by Juliet Blackwell

Natalie and Alex were raised by survivalist parents. Once she reached adulthood, Natalie fled and sold a bestselling memoir about her experiences. The memoir ends with her falling in love, but real life ends with her boyfriend leaving her. Hiding this from the public, she’s living on a small island restoring her estranged boyfriend’s family guesthouse when Alex shows up with a secret of her own. The two uncover a cookbook from the WWII era and investigate the story of Violette, whose story the reader learns in alternating chapters.

8. Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

In 2018 Morgan Christopher is released from prison to restore a mural from 1940. The mural holds the key to the mystery of what happened to the talented artist who disappeared without a trace. Like many of the books on this list, half of it takes place during WWII, however set in a small southern town, the war is not really part of the story other than vague references.

7. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

This book is different from the others on the list in that the two time periods are close together. Osla, Mab and Beth are code breakers during WWII. They are as close as sisters, until a betrayal turns them into enemies. In 1947 they reunite to unveil a traitor. Readers also get to meet a young Prince Phillip and Princess Elizabeth.

6. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

As far as her family knows, =retired librarian Eva Traube has lived a quiet life. No one suspects that once upon a time she forged papers which helped Polish Jews escape to Switzerland. But, when she recognizes a book from a photo, she must follow its trail.

5. The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White

Sarah Blake is a bestselling author desperate for a new idea. When she discovers secrets regarding her great-grandfather’s death on the Lusitania, she goes to England to investigate. With three different authors there are three very distinct points of view, that manage to come together to make an intriguing story.

4. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours

In the late 1930’s a Memphis adoption agency kidnapped poor children and sold them to rich parents. In the present day Avery Stafford has a chance encounter which leads her to dig into her family’s history. I love the Wingate finds lesser known pieces of history to write about. I knew nothing of this real-life scandal.

3. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

When Cassandra’s grandmother dies, she inherits a book of fairy tales written by an authoress who disappeared in the early 1900’s. As she investigates, she finds unexpected family secrets. This one is more than a dual timeline as the story spans from the 1890’s to the present.

2. The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

If I didn’t limit this list to one book per author, it would’ve been almost entirely comprised of Susanna Kearsley books. It was a difficult decision, but the second book in her Scottish series is my favorite. Nicolla has the gift of seeing the past through touching objects. Through a wooden firebird carving, she traces the history of a young girl named Anna and the Jacobite movement. The ending makes more sense if you’ve read The Winter Sea, but it works as a stand alone as well.

  1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Vianne and Isabelle are sisters living in France during WWII. As the men go off to war, the women are left behind to deal with invading Nazi soldiers. Vianne does what she must to protect her family, while Isabelle joins the resistance movement. A beautiful story that will bring tears to your eyes.

Top Ten Picture Books inspired from other stories

Last week I posted a top ten list of my favorite novels which were inspired by other stories. This week I decided to keep with the theme, but focus on picture books.

10. Cinderella Penguin, or The Little Glass Flipper by Janet Perlman

10. I love any picture book with a cast of penguins.

9. Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella written by Tony Johston Illustrated by James Warhola

This version of Cinderella is about a Bigfoot Prince searching for his princess. It follows the traditional plot closely, but the Bigfoot cast adds many humorous touches.

8. The Frog Prince Continued written by John Scieszka illustrated by Steve Johnson

Every fairy tale ends in “and they lived happily ever after”. But, do they really? This continuation of The Frog Prince suggests that kissing amphibians may not be the best way to pick a husband.

7. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly By Simms Taback | Used | 9780670869398 | World of Books

The twist in this book is not in the story, but the illustrations. Holes in each page reveal more animals that have been eaten by the old lady.

6. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

This Cinderella story set in Africa won a Caldecott Honor and The Coretta Scott King Award. Nyasha and her sister Manyara are both beautiful on the outside, but only Nyasha is beautiful on the inside. When the great king summons eligible girls in the land in order to choose a wife, their actions show their true beauty.

5. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munch

Prince Ronald is captured by a dragon and Princess Elizabeth sets off to rescue him. Along the way she loses her dress and is forced to use a paper bag. When she outsmarts the dragon to rescue the prince, he is not grateful. This humorous story gives a positive message to young girls.

4. Lon Po Po written by Ed Young

The 1990 Caldecott Medal Winner is a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. While there mother is away visiting their grandmother, three sisters must deal with a wolf disguised as their grandmother.

3. The Rough-Face Girl written by Rafe Martin Illustrated by David Shannon

A touching Native American version of Cinderella. An Algonquin girl is mistreated by her older sisters. When an invisible being seeks a wife, she is the one chosen.

2. The Wolf Who Cried Boy Written by Bob Hartman illustrated by Tim Raglin

Bored by the dinners his mother has been serving, Little Wolf claims to see a boy in the forest. His parents are busy chasing after the nonexistent boy and dinner is ruined, and they are left eating chipmunks and dip. Little Wolf is so excited he tries the stunt again. But, when an entire boy scout troop shows up in the woods, his parents no longer believe him. Great for teaching theme.

1. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! written by John Scieszka illustrated by Lane B. Smith

I love using this book for teaching point of view. Alexander T. Wolf is baking a cake for his dear granny when he runs out of sugar. He goes to neighbor’s straw house to ask to borrow a cup, and his sneeze inadvertently blows down the house. The rest is history. I love the details of this story. I’ve read it hundreds of times and still notice new details in the photos and text.

Quarantine Confession

Quarantine Confession

In December of 2019, social media was flooded with posts declaring that 2020 was destined to be great: the 4th of July and Halloween fell on a Saturday; Christmas, and Valentine’s Day on Fridays. Even Cinco de Mayo fell on a Taco Tuesday. Those posts were like the builders of the Titanic declaring their ship couldn’t be sunk.  Covid was the iceberg that took us down. By St. Patrick’s Day, we were locked in our homes, scrambling to work remotely and isolated from friends and family.

I talked to many avid readers who said they found they couldn’t focus on reading during this time, and reverted to audiobooks, or only reread favorites (or relied strictly on Netflix for entertainment). Not me. Reading is my escape. I read more than the average person in any year, but in 2020 my reading reached new levels. According to goodreads, I read 99 books through quarantine. (If I’d paid closer attention, I would’ve squeezed another in to make an even 100).

Don’t get me wrong, I watched my share of Netflix and spent time on social media and texting friends. But, reading is still the ultimate form of entertainment for me. For the first time in my life, I could sit down with a book, knowing that I could read as long as I wanted because there was nowhere else to go.

While I am thrilled to get together with friends and family again, and hope we never go through another lockdown, a part of me will always feel a little nostalgic for that time.

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