The Lover's Dictionary

I love this book.


I love that the story was told successfully out of order.
I love when it repeated and honed in on different parts of the same event, adding just a little bit more information each time.
I love that I actually had to look up some of the words.
I love that I could see myself and my relationship in some of the definitions--it made it do much more real. I believe that this covered so many emotions and scenarios, others will experience this too.
I love the gender ambiguity of the main characters and how they were only known as "I" and "you".
I love the cover.

This was an intriguing, unique concept, masterfully accomplished. A beautiful love story, heartwarming even at its most depressing. This was a joy to read and can not only be read once.

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin

I forget where I first saw the review for this book, but when I found it on Netgalley, I jumped. And then when I realized it was by the same authors as Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance and was told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Tessa and Luke, I was sure this would be another entertaining but predictable book. But I severely underestimated the authors. 

Tessa and Luke had been best friends for years. But, it wasn't until Luke asked Tessa to prom that she admitted to being a lesbian. So when Tessa bought a tux to take her girlfriend to prom, and Luke makes a misconstrued comment out of hurt to the school newspaper, Halpin and Franklin recreate the story of Constance McMillan.
The story was in the news a year or two ago--the school canceled prom rather than let two girls attend prom together, or encroach upon their first amendment right to do so.

Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom is a wonderful, entertaining, and hopeful story about friendship. This book is sure to be a hit.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

A delightful format for a graphic novel, Chopsticks
is told through photographs, drawings and images of the sort usually found in an art book.

This book begins with the disappeared of piano prodigy Glory and then jumps 18 months into the past to the beginning of her love story. The images are chosen well, thy truly allow the reader to feel the emotions of Glory and her boyfriend Frank as the struggle through the obstacles In their daily life and seek their only refuge-- each other. Theirs is a sweet and beautiful story, interspersed with pain and desperation. The emotions are raw and well-developed and certainly relatable.



The ending was the tiniest bit weak-- but not so far as to lessen my overall opinion of this book. A necessity for public libraries and anyone studying story through art.

It is my new obsession.

Ye Yucky Middle Ages

I ordered these two books from my library (thankfully in paperback) for the Teen Zone. There seem to be few reviews out on the Ye Yucky Middle Ages series, but I found one that said these books were for grades 5-8 and other that said grades 7-9. I figured they would be on the low end and entertain some of the six and seventh graders. But, I am a want-to-be Medievalist (that's what my undergraduate was) and I thought they looked fun and worth a try. 

I read through both of them, they do have some interesting information, but they are very much an introduction to the Middle Ages for someone who has barely heard of them, has never been to a Ren Faire, but does enjoy history. I think some sixth graders would like them, but I would give them out two fourth graders as well. They are entertaining, a bit silly and would be perfect non-fiction for the right kids. I send them down to the Children's room, where I am sure they will be checked out many times.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

This was the audio book I listed to while making Banana Nut Caramel Brownies.

Lennie has just lost her sister, has never met her mother and doesn't even know who her father is. She is being raised by her Grandma and Uncle Big (the town lady's man). This is the story of how she begins to live again, how her family heals and how she finds love. It is a love story after all.

I wouldn't often associate the phrase "wordsmith" with lyrical prose rather than witty turns of phrase, but I was really impressed with the phrasing. You should read it just for that, if for no other reason. Or listen to it, I did.

Banana Nut Caramel Brownies

There was snow on the ground, I was listening to a great audio book (The Sky is Everywhere) and I really needed to bake. We had a brownie mix in the pantry, but I decided that was too simple.

So I looked around the kitchen and the pantry and came up with this combination of ingredients: 

A sliced up banana, Rolos, chopped walnuts. and brown sugar. An odd combination, but I know from previous brownies recipes that brown sugar makes everything better and I really wanted something caramely and the Rolos were all I could find. As for the banana and nuts, if they are good together in other things and banana chocolate crepes are delicious, I figured this would be too.

I added the brown sugar to the pan and the bananas and walnuts to one side (Jess won't eat cooked fruit or nuts and it would have been really mean to make this and then not be able to share--plus chocolate gives me headaches and I NEEDED her to eat some of this).

I saved the Rolos to add once the brownies were almost done. I just wanted them to melt a little bit.

Verdict: For Kitchen Sink Brownies these weren't bad. Next time I would incorporate the banana a bit more, leaving them on the top dried them out, and there were a few too many nuts and not enough caramel, but the combination was good. I would try it again sometime.

Pinterest

So I finally broke down and joined Pinterest this week. It is my new obsession and there are several people out there who I know would love it too.

I've found lots of great program ideas, gift ideas and things I want to make and clutter up the house with (sorry Jess).

You can follow me...just use the button on the right.