Reed Farrel Coleman’s books are always a good read and this is no exception, once you get past the implausibility of the situations Moe, as a college student, gets into and the actions that he takes. No college student I know or knew back in the day would do any of the things he did, let alone all of the things he did.  But then again, I grew up in Queens, which although geographically close, psychologically is a long way from Brooklyn. Maybe they did things differently there.

Anyway, as I said, once you get past this, it’s a fun read. Coleman brings up locales and TV shows from the period. Some of them are vivid. Any of you who routinely took the Belt Parkway past the garbage dumps can, even now, visualize and actually smell the noxious fumes. The rumble of the elevated trains never leaves you. The book brought back memories of me and my grandparents walking in Brighton Beach, getting Mrs. Stahl’s knishes, the shadow of the El darkening the street.

So, now that I think about it, Onion Street was more a walk down memory lane for me than a believable mystery. But, so what! I really enjoyed it. That’s what counts.

So, where do I begin? Dr. Radway describes the energy of Philadelphia in the early 1870s, the energy of factories surrounding you wherever you are, pouring out its dirt and smoke, spewing its noise, the streets full of stray animals and unsavory people and the language of this book matches this sooty energy (a different feeling than I’m used to from Beth). It is about William and his family, a product of this industrial society, which wears you down and spits you out; where it’s a struggle to make ends meet.

Dangerous Neighbors, on the other hand, has a more refined energy (and language)–that of Philadelphia in the midst of its tumultuous 1876 Centennial which drew millions of visitors, which seemed to take away the dirt and smoke and replace it with music and blue skies and prancing horses and soaring birds, although ever present Shantytown abuts the fairgrounds. The language of Dangerous Neighbors is the more refined, descriptive language that I’m used to in a Beth Kephart book and it totally matches the aura of the book.

The former book describes William’s relationship with his older brother, Francis, who would mysteriously provide for his family (the father being in prison) and then with his mother after Francis’ murder at the hands of the police. How William feels helpless in trying to avenge his brother’s death. It describes William’s mother’s descent into depression at the loss of a favored son and her subsequent ascent when there is someone else to care for.

The latter, describes the relationship between twins Anna (the older) and Katherine (the younger) who, in a seeming reversal of roles, looks after her older, more free spirited sister. It describes Katherine’s helplessness at the loss of her sister and her descent into depression and her subsequent rise. It describes their mother, immersed in her worldly causes, to the neglect of her children.

Dr. Radway contrasts William’s life, scrounging for food, while living in the working class section of Philadelphia with Katherine’s upper class upbringing, having a maid (surrogate mother) in Jennie  Bea, going on shopping sprees or to the opera.

What both books do so well is describe one city, Philadelphia of the 1870s, although two different worlds. Both books delve into their main characters, William and Katherine, making them come alive. And both books use language as only Beth Kephart uses language.

It was a luxury reading the books one after the other, because it highlights the contrasts that otherwise would have been hidden. So, Dr. Radway’s Sarsaparilla Resolvent and then Dangerous Neighbors. The one-two punch in books.

So, what are some of my favorites?  There are Rocks in My Socks Said the Ox to the Fox by Patricia Thomas definitely heads the list. As I’ve said before, Lisa, Abbe and I each have our own copy. Her Stand Back, Said the Elephant, I’m Going to Sneeze! is a close runner up. Senkak’s Night Kitchen is a winner. I even have a poster of it in my kitchen. The classic Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown has been a favorite since I was reading picture books to the kids. I still thrill when I find the mouse. Jamie Lee Curtis’ books line my library shelves. (I do have an autographed copy of one.) And Herb the Vegetarian Dragon by Jules Bass holds a special place in my heart. It was picked out by Lisa on one of our picture book shopping sprees. Madlenka by Peter Sis was a recent purchase and well worth it. And finally, Leave Your Sleep by Natalie Merchant, is a charming compendium of older poems for children with Barbara McClintock’s wonderful artwork.

No children’s booklist should exclude Shel Silverstein’s wonderful poems and artwork. Lauren Oliver’s The Spindlers, a new addition to great children’s books, is a thrill. Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz was an Abbe recommendation and was fun. And I’ll close with Brian Selznick’s Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck. The artwork will blow you away.

So, now that I’ve bored you to death, let me say that you’re never too old to read and enjoy children’s books. It’s only been the last dozen years, when I began library school, that I read them as part of my normal reading. If you don’t have a child to read to, don’t be ashamed to read them to yourself. You’ll enjoy the trip.

Monologue over. Get reading. Let me know what are some of your favorite children’s books. My niece has already chimed in with Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett.

I did learn something from the book, though. Alfred Hitchcock’s movie The Birds was based on a Du Maurier story of the same name. That and the fact that Du Maurier wrote the story and the screenplay is almost where the similarity ends. One takes place in the U.S. and the other in England. One has a romance and one doesn’t. One is about survival and the other isn’t. I must admit the original story is quite compelling. They are both scary, though!

I’d tell you my favorite story, but they are all so different and as I look at the titles to write this, they all conjure up the story lines and I like them all. Kiss Me Again, Stranger, the story, is about GIs being murdered. The Apple Tree is about a tree taking revenge. The Little Photographer is about a vacation liaison turned bad and No Motive is about a suicide. You see, the stories are all over the place, but once started, I couldn’t put the book down.

I find that Du Maurier’s stories and Vera Caspary’s writings have a similarity in their feel. Contemporaries (Laura by Caspary was written in 1943 and Rebecca by Du Maurier was written in 1938) it is not the mystery that is commanding but the story, the atmosphere created by the authors, the surroundings described by the authors.  These are not ‘police procedurals’. They are creations. A few days ago I wrote about painting a picture with words. I found both Du Maurier and Caspary created canvases.

I know I’ve just rambled but since I couldn’t really describe the stories, I had to find a way to tell you why I like these authors so much. I hope I have and I hope my enthusiasm will rub off on you.

Just a note on Westsider Rare and Used Books. Quite a store. It’s very narrow. It has a second floor and the stairs are lined on both sides with books. Be careful climbing. Books are stacked on shelves reaching  all the way to the 20+ feet ceiling. It’s got a great mystery corner as shown in this photo to the left of the door (the paperbacks are shelved two deep), but it has a very eclectic collection. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by.

So is This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith. If Smith isn’t a teen household name, she should be. Her books are fun and well written. Happy is her latest. Ellie and Graham find out what happens when an email goes to a total stranger. Taking place in Maine, it’s got all the trappings of a good beach read, including a beach.  There’s mystery, romance, picnics, 4th of July festivals. I rest my case.

Smith’s other books that I read include The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and The Comeback Season.

Sarah Dessen’s latest love story, The Moon and More, is coming out in early June. Of course I’ve got my reserve in on that one. But if you’re longing for a good romance, try her previous book, Along for the Ride. Lately she’s been referring to previous characters or situations in her new books, so maybe start from the beginning and see how many embedded references you can find.

I”m sure there are other Beach Read favorites that I have but I can’t think of them at the moment. I’m sure they’ll come to me but in the meantime, let me know your Teen Chick Lit-Beach Read favorites.

By the way, look at yourself in the mirror when you read This is What Happy Looks Like, because, indeed, it is.

One Saturday, Susan and I started out early from Warwick. Our goal was to visit Roger’s Book Barn in Hillsdale, NY. Secondarily, we wanted to stop at the Hillsdale General Store. Roger’s is in the middle of nowhere and you can meander through its aisles for hours. Needless to say, we both got some books…me some mysteries (but, of course!). Fun was had.

Next was the General Store. It was so cute and very tempting, but we restrained. Being hungry after shopping, we entered Crossroads Food Shop right next to the General Store for some very tasty pancakes (me) and omelets (Susan). So, Hillsdale has more to offer than we imagined. If you ever want an adventure, try it.

Not wanting to rush our way home, I let Susan pick the route.  Surprisingly, it led us to Hudson, NY. For the longest time, we both kept on saying “Remember that town we went to that we really liked? What was its name?” Well, it turned out to be Hudson. As we walked its streets, I kept saying, I remember the streets being much wider. Susan kept on saying, it was near the river and I remember it being cuter. Obviously our memories were playing tricks on us…making us remember the sunnier side of the street.

Further in our meandering, we hit Saugerties, NY and the Inquiring Minds Bookstore. Which brings me back to the question: How old are you before you’re too old to read picture books? And the answer: Never!!! Because there, in the Inquiring Minds Bookstore, staring at me, face out, was Madlenka by Peter Sis. A quick scan of the book and I knew it was mine. I used to read to my children all the time and even when they were in their teens, we’d go to Barnes & Noble and look for the perfect children’s book. I knew Madlenka would fit the bill. (Other perfect picture books are the standard, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon by Jules Bass and Debbie Harter and There are Rocks in My Socks Said the Ox to the Fox-we each have our own copy of this one-by Patricia Thomas and Mordicai Gerstein.) Madlenka has a loose tooth and she must tell everyone. So she runs downstairs from her apartment and walks around the block telling all her friends, the baker, the newspaper vendor, etc. Sis’ view of the world is unique. I can’t even describe how he draws the courtyard of the apartment complex. The book has cutouts. You need to turn the book this way and that to read everything. The drawing is AMAZING! You can read Madlenka over and over and find something new in his drawings. I must now go and get his other books, some including Madlenka and some without.

So, I’ll end my meandering tale now and tell you that a meandering day of bookstores and sightseeing and new towns is the perfect day. And if it ends up with a new favorite book, all the better.

It’s been a rough winter for our garden. The snow reduced our once chest high Japanese maple to a few spindly twigs but there’s new growth coming. In an effort to dig a drainage ditch, road workers threw gravel on my little sedum garden (the one I’ve been cultivating for the past two years) covering the plants with pebbles. But they are hardy, these sedum, and they’re coming back in full force. The bleeding hearts are sprouting.  Plants that I thought were goners are showing life.

I’m reading a children’s book (yes, I must mention a book) called Plants and Their Children, written in 1896 by Mrs. William Starr Dana. In it she talks, yes actually talks, to children telling them about plant life, how seeds are formed, what buds are, etc. Although the 1896 language is a bit stilted especially compared to today’s lackadaisical grammar and spelling, it is a reaffirmation of the wonders of spring and nature. It is the perfect book to read as we watch the wonders of our garden reveal themselves. So, here’s to gardens and gardeners everywhere, as we tend our little plots of wonder. Enjoy, everyone.

I am not an opera snob, buff, connoisseur, nor do I claim to be an expert of any sort when it comes to opera or classical music.  What I am is a lover of both.  I listen to what I like and what transports me, and treat myself once a year (when possible) to a trip to the Metropolitan Opera.  I began this “treat” two years ago. Ed and I had been talking about the things that we love to do and I had mentioned my desire to see a live performance of an opera.  Now I do realize that many of you out there hear the word opera and shudder.  I am not immune to that sensation in regard to some operas – I have tried to listen to some operas on CD and must admit that some of them are just not my cup of tea.  So when Ed offered to go with me I was skeptical, but he insisted. He said “Just tell me when and I’ll be there.”  I looked at the schedule and I wasn’t sure which opera to choose, but we ended up seeing La Boheme.  We were both blown away.  What a great experience.  I had never been to the Metropolitan Opera House.  It is truly a sight to behold and a feast for the senses.  As the visitor winds up the stairwells (if you can take the stairs I highly recommend them) the carpeting is lush and the stairwells are lined in soft crimson fabric.  Ushers greet and direct you to your seat.  I couldn’t help but marvel at the gold leafed ceilings (some repair needed but glorious none the less.) I can’t afford orchestra seating and have always been in the balcony, but the views are still magnificent.  Just before the performance begins the chandeliers are raised – another awe-inspiring aspect of the theater.  Once the lights go out  and the performance starts  it doesn’t matter where you are seated because you are transported from your seat into the world on stage.

Last year I saw Carmen – it was wonderful but didn’t compare to La Boheme (a must see spectacle and my favorite so far.)

For my birthday this year I treated myself to La Traviata.  I had never heard Placido Domingo perform live, so once I found out that he was in the cast  I just couldn’t miss the opportunity.  As he entered the stage for the first time the audience went wild.  Even at over 70 years his voice is still spectacular and German soprano Diana Damrau was exquisite.  The vocal performances just blew me away. Unfortunately I was not a fan of the staging or set design.  I do realize that the minimalist setting was intended to draw the audience deeper into the performances, but I felt oddly distracted.  Instead of marveling in regard to the orchestration or the vocal performances I found myself trying to figure out why it was staged in such an odd way or wondered how the stage would alter to allow for change of setting. Even with the distractions it was a great experience.  One that should be shared with children (if you can afford it) to offer the experience and hopefully foster an interest in the opera.

I consider myself lucky.  When I was growing up in Bayside, Queens I lived near Crocheron Park (some of my best childhood moments were in Crocheron with my 215th St. friends.)  Some of my fondest memories are of out-door performances from the Philharmonic.  My friends and I would watch the trucks as they passed on 35th Ave. heading into the park.  We would wait and watch as the stage was set, and were lucky enough to catch some glorious rehearsals  Later we would watch from the front steps as others wandered by with lawn chairs and coolers, and then before the park got too crowded we would find a hill or a tree and wait for dusk and the performance to begin. I truly credit those performances for my love of music and classical theater.  Such fond memories.

Eleanor is a big boned girl with exceedingly red and exceedingly curly hair who dresses in an exceedingly unique way. On her first day of school, she boards to school bus, only to find no one willing to move over and let her sit. That is until Park, a short, skinny half American, half Korean kid, sitting in the back of the bus, right in front of the cool, taunting kids, takes pity on her indecision and whispers “Jesus-fuck, just sit down“. An auspicious beginning? As you can gather, that becomes Eleanor’s permanent seat.

As the days progess, they ignore each other on the bus and in the several classes they have together. But one day, Park notices Eleanor reading his graphic novels over his shoulder on the way to school…so he reads a little slower, making sure she’s finished the page. Then he starts bringing her comic books from home and leaving it on her bus seat. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

What makes eleanor & park so special? Oh, so many things. The story of course. You know something will happen to thwart their relationship and you kinda know what it is, but you so wish it wouldn’t happen. Who would want to break these kids up?

Rainbow Rowell has so so so accurately described the insecurities felt by the ‘not in crowd’ around self image and romance and sex, it’s amazing. You can picture Eleanor and Park as they hesitate to admit their attraction, hold hands or kiss. The way they see themselves, the fat girl, the skinny Asian dork, is so palpable.

And finally, Eleanor and Park’s individual stories. The degrees of dysfunction. The concept of parental love.

I truly cannot think of a thing wrong with this book. This is no sappy love story. It’s true and genuine and totally entrancing.

I got my copy of eleanor & park signed by ms. rowell at the Mega-Teen Author signing at Books of Wonder a few weeks ago. Of course, Abbe took that copy (it was addressed to both of us, so I guess she has some right to it). Ms. Rowell, in the short signing time, was just as charming as are her book characters. This is by far, one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time. I can’t say enough about it.

If you want a totally hypnotizing book, eleanor & park. I did not want it to end.

The book on the left is new. The book on the right is my childhood friend.

Books

In Ed’s post about Books of Wonder he mentioned that I found a book from my childhood.  It was truly  happenstance.  Ed and I had wandered the store and I had already purchased the book that I wanted to get signed. We were standing and chatting and I looked over and saw the cover.  I just couldn’t believe it.  I found my way across the aisle and picked it up, cliché here I know but my hands were shaking as I went to turn to the first page. Would it be the same? As I flipped pages memories flooded back.  I loved the stories, but it was the illustrations that enthralled me as a child. I would sit for hours reading the fairy tales and being transported into these magical places. My copy has all the signs of being well used – the cover fell off, the pages have my little fingerprints, I had even at some point doodled on the inside cover (shame on me I would never do that now, but it’s OK because it somehow makes the memories deeper.)  It truly is amazing how important books are and how deeply they can impact us as children and as adults.  I can’t go into a bookstore without looking for old friends from my youth or for books that are special to my children.  I am always on the hunt for Gone With the Wind and Elizabeth by Liesel Moak Skorpin for Kate, or Where the Wild Things Are for Stephen, or books about Band of Brothers for Kevin.

Manhattan

I had a day off not that long ago – when spring was new and the weather chilly so I took myself to Manhattan for a day of walking and the opportunity to visit the Frick.  I hadn’t been to this museum since my days at Hunter College but my memories of it had faded as they are apt to do.  The museum is an eclectic mix of American and European art – Goya in the same room as Turner. And a lovely place to sit and just contemplate.  If you’ve never been, it’s an intimate and approachable collection that I highly recommend.

On my way to the museum I took the subway up to Central Park (my foot was hurting otherwise I might have walked from Penn Station – oh how getting older can be a drag!). The trees hadn’t yet presented themselves for spring but along the way flowers brightened the path. I never tire of the happy yellows of daffodils.

Central Park smelled like rain.  

I had a great day in the city but the rain followed me all day. After the museum and the park I had plans of meeting Kate for dinner, but I had a few hours to kill so I ducked into a coffee shop, Irving Farm Coffee Roasters,  to warm up, grab a cup, read a bit and people watch. Oddly enough Ed and I had stopped in a downtown location of the coffee shop on the day of the book signing. I thoroughly enjoyed the cappuccino and chocolate croissant, but I must admit it’s more fun to share.

As I sat by the window I watched people come and go – umbrellas up and down as the rain fell or the sky momentarily cleared.

 Parting

It was a full day and it didn’t end there, but I won’t bore you any longer. Thanks for putting up with my musings and ramblings.