tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post114211688141546442..comments2024-03-28T02:36:55.037-04:00Comments on Brooklyn Arden: Rage, Goddess, Sing, & Recommended ReadingCherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972029478350879112noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-1142479447469892502006-03-15T22:24:00.000-05:002006-03-15T22:24:00.000-05:00Hey Cheryl --Thanks for posting that. I've been s...Hey Cheryl --<BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting that. I've been so jaded lately by children's books for some reason, but when you explicated that graf from the Iliad, I realized what my problem is: I read everything at a gallop, generally because I want to get to the end of the book before my girl starts going Mommy Mommy Mommy! (I got through David Almond's "The Fire Eaters" in about an hour. Gaah.) <BR/><BR/>So last night I put the kid to bed and got my copy of the Iliad (Fagles too, what do you know!) and read most of the first book out loud. And you know, there's some damned good stuff in there, esp. Apollo striding down from Olympus. "The arrows clanged at his back as the god quaked with rage,/ the god himself on the march and down he came like night." Oooooh! I loved all of it! <BR/><BR/>Tried to read it at the playground while pushing the kid in the swing -- didn't work out so good. But she's sleeping now! <BR/><BR/>I don't know why I didn't get into the Iliad before since I'm nuts about the Odyssey. But maybe it's a matter of being ready for it, too. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, thanks again for getting me back on track (though inadvertantly, but what the hey).<BR/><BR/>Melinda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-1142384441478662902006-03-14T20:00:00.000-05:002006-03-14T20:00:00.000-05:00Bravo!! I will send every children's author I know...Bravo!! I will send every children's author I know to read this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-1142272786493464962006-03-13T12:59:00.000-05:002006-03-13T12:59:00.000-05:00"Glorious Writing!" I think I want that on a teesh..."Glorious Writing!" <BR/><BR/>I think I want that on a teeshirt or at least a note taped to my monitor. Pullman calls it "caviar language" in this article:<BR/><BR/>http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,865561,00.html<BR/><BR/>The Iliad quote whooshed me back to when I was nineteen and trying to decide on a major... art? Music? Literature? It all seemed impossible to choose. Then I was wandering through the library and pulled a crusty volume off the shelf. I remember sitting between the stacks, reading the description of the Amazons riding to battle with their banners waving like ribbons. Comp lit it was. It was a total indulgence, not "practical" at all in terms of job skills but I have never regretted it for a moment. Delicious minds on shelves, it was like getting invited to a wonderful party where everyone you talked to gave you presents.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the reminder,<BR/><BR/>Marilyn.Thetoymakershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405265800595978197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-1142201534320734192006-03-12T17:12:00.000-05:002006-03-12T17:12:00.000-05:00Chris Crutcher! Of course! I left out the entire g...Chris Crutcher! Of course! I left out the entire genre of sports books, of which he is the shining example (while also humane and funny as hell). Thanks for the recommendation.Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05972029478350879112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-1142133768153986372006-03-11T22:22:00.000-05:002006-03-11T22:22:00.000-05:00I love your recommended reading list. Richard Pec...I love your recommended reading list. Richard Peck, for me, is like Moosetracks ice cream with Magic Shell. So good they’re almost too good. I allow myself one Peck a year or else I’d become too discouraged with my own writing. As far as your noted lack of boy books, I’d recommend Chris Crutcher...Stotan! being my personal fave.<BR/><BR/>- JayDisco Mermaidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749764215612594204noreply@blogger.com