Books galore (and the pictures I mentioned)

Courtesy of Lisa Chellman:

1. One book that changed your life:
A Ring of Endless Light, by Madeleine L'Engle.2. One book that you've read more than once:
Pretty much all of them, but let's go for The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. King.3. One book that you'd want on a desert island:
Something really long - maybe Les Miserables.4. One book that made you laugh:
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison. (And all the sequels, too.)5. One book that made you cry:
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, by Dana Reinhart.
6. One book that scared you:
I deal with those books by refusing to talk about them. You will not find the ones that truly scared me in my LibraryThing.
7. One book you wish had been written:
I really don't know what to put for this one - my TBR list is so long I don't think it's fair for me to talk about should-have-beens.8. One book you wish had never been written:
See #6.9. One book you're currently reading:
I started a reread of Persuasion last week.10. One book you've been meaning to read:
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.And yes, there is a seal (or a sea lion; I'm not really up on my pinnipeds) on that rock.

Yes, I've been away from the blog

This was what I did instead of blogging last week:
I was using a scanner, though, so imagine a touch of this thrown in:In short, I spent most of BookExpo America stationed at the door to the ABA Lounge, scanning badges and making sure that only members came in.

I also ended up greeting most of the authors who came by for signings - and as I mentioned earlier, we had a great line-up. Autumn Cornwell was adorable, Michael Reisman was absolutely charming (still kicking myself for not finding out if he's single) and Robin LaFevers and Barry Lyga were both great - I brought home books from all of them, plus a few more.

(Haven't read any of my new books yet; currently rereading Persuasion and catching up on critiques and such.)

And I spent a few days beforehand down in Orange County, trying to remember my way around my former home. (The GPS was much more useful.) Pictures to follow, once I offload them.

Not that I need another project for this summer (that WIP I planned to finish by the end of June? Yeah, about halfway there.), but a recent Fuse post pointed me to the Nancy Drew series Leila did.

Go. Read them all. They're fabulous.

They've also inspired me to do something similar with my stack of Trixie Belden books - and Cherry Ames, if this goes well. Because:
a) The Stratemeyer Syndicate can't have all the glory.
b) When I read these growing up, I always thought it was so cool that the books were set (albeit in a fictional town) just down the road from me. Who needs River Heights?

Five things

I was tagged for this meme (strongly dislike the word, but like the concept) by critique partner Patty, who could probably use something to take her mind off the dinosaur destruction awaiting her students.

What were you doing ten years ago?

I was still in high school at that point, so I probably spent a lot of time reading, writing, and pursuing unlikely crushes. I go to work instead of class these days, and I haven't written fanfiction in a long time, but on the whole it's not so different from what I do now.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

I'm not a big fan of to-do lists. This is a frequent source of conflict with my parents, who like to ask me what's on my agenda for a given day. And since I've actually accomplished most of these things already, I can't really say they're on my list - but I had to get things done before I could sit and blog. Thus, I say:

1. Get some laundry done. (As complete as it's going to get today)
2. Make granola. (I only get half-credit for this one, because I forgot one of the main ingredients. But it's edible.)
3. Try making carrot salad. (Another half-credit, because I forgot to make sure I had all the ingredients before starting. You know, there's a reason I don't cook much.)
4. Iron some shirts. (Still pending)
5. Finish A Foreign Affair. (Started at work yesterday, finished this afternoon, not thrilled with the last chapter or so, but otherwise a very good story.)

What are some snacks you enjoy?

Pretty much everything I shouldn't.

What would you do if you were a billionaire?

I'd take advantage of not having to work a regular job, and spend my days reading and writing - with a few shifts at the bookstore for a change of pace. I'd invest in a really nice stationary bike, because it's about the only piece of exercise equipment compatible with reading. (Reading US Weekly, but still.) I'd spend money on some great organizations like SonEdna, Heifer International, and YWCA.

What are three of your bad habits?

This is like being asked in an interview about your weaknesses.

I'm too quiet, I'm bad at networking, and if I'm reading something good it's a challenge to get me off the couch. How's that?

What are five places where you have lived?

Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Connecticut. All by the age of nine, so I've gotten used to rattling that off.

What are five jobs you have had?

Marketing coordinator, conservation assistant, bookseller, software tester, observatory assistant. And to be honest, that's barely half of them.

What five people do you want to tag?

I think most of my fellow kidlit bloggers have done this already, so I won't tag any of them. Christina, if you're interested, it's your turn.

The Diamond of Drury Lane: A Cat Royal Adventure

The Diamond of Drury Lane, by Julia Golding

Remember the discussion of literary crushes from a few months ago? Well, I have a new one. His name is Johnny.

This is an adorable British import and - apparently - the first in a series. I'm looking forward to the sequels.

Meet the author: Julia Golding's blog

Bonus: Cat spends a good part of the book evading the Bow Street Runners, but you can play one yourself online (via Boing Boing).

What stuck with me: The book starts off with a page of blurbs from William Pitt, James Boswell, Benjamin Franklin, and the Lord Chamberlain. How can you resist when Admiral Nelson says that he's made the book required reading for every midshipman, or Mary Wollstonecraft endorses it with "Write on, sister!"?

I also loved all the asides to the Reader, very much in the style of eighteenth-century novels.

This is a great book for someone who would probably enjoy the Sally Lockhart books in a few years, but is too young for them now. (Or, for that matter, anyone who's already memorized those, and would like Mr. Pullman to write more. :-)

Makes me want to read: The Enola Holmes books - I've heard good things about those.

Makes me want to reread: Master Rosalind, by Patricia Beatty, another story of a girl in the theater with touches of political intrigue.

Four somethings

Something validating: Remember how I drooled over The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society? Booklist's book group blog just called it "a book that begs to be read in August." (The release date, by the way, is July 29.)

Something to try: Via Caroline Hickey, a suggestion to try writing a character's dream if you're stuck. (Yeah, I think Jo's going to have a few now.)

Something only I would get excited about: A "pulsating carbon white dwarf." Yes, complete nerd here. We already established that.

Something useful: In response to HipWriterMama's discussion of plot, PJ Hoover posted a copy of her Hero's Journey plot outline.

Poetry Friday: Ode to the DiaspoRican

Last week the Nuyorican Poets Cafe celebrated its 35th birthday. Literanista has clips of some of her favorite performers.

From Ode to the DiaspoRican (pa' mi gente) by Mariposa (María Teresa Fernández)

What does it mean to live in between
What does it take to realize
that being Boricua
is a state of mind
a state of heart
a state of soul…

¡Mira!

No nací en Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico nacío en mi.

Read the rest at Boricua Poetry., or watch Mariposa perform below.

First Daughter: White House Rules

First Daughter: White House Rules, by Mitali Perkins

That's right - two months after stopping by the launch party for this book, I finally read it. Worth the wait? Yes.

Meet the author: Hang out with Mitali on the Fire Escape!

Bonus: Sparrowblog

Elsewhere: Bildungsroman

What stuck with me: Okay, I have to admit this is pretty bad, coming from someone who treats boiling up some pasta as a major event. But I loved the image of Sparrow and Miranda getting to have free run of the White House kitchens. (This, by the way, is why the Williams-Sonoma catalog is a dangerous thing to have lying around.)

Makes me want to read: For a much darker take on first daughterhood, Ellen Emerson White's Long May She Reign. Also First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover for all the backstory.

Makes me want to reread: Well, I can't think of any books that I'm inspired to go back to, but it did put me in the mood to curl up with my West Wing DVDs.