Wow. It’d been awhile since my last post. In my defence, I have been super busy doing grown up things (such as job hunting, cooking, soccer, focusing on my business, etc.) so I haven’t had the chance to read or watch much Y.A. materials. I am currently watching a rerun of Clueless on Muchmusic. which reminded how much I miss y.a. stuff. I will start blogging again regularly, which means I will have to read more books/watch more tv 
Reading Response: The Knife of Never Letting Go
I was dreading this week because I hate dystopian novels and films. I don’t know why hate them so much, other than that reading is a form of escape for me and I don’t like escaping to terrible dystopian places. Having said that, I actually like this book. I was hooked after reading the first line: “The first thing you find out when your dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say.” The writer clearly knows how to get the reader’s attention, yet it is done in the most effortless way. I enjoy the characters, especially the protagonist, Todd. I find the idea of the Noise to be a brilliant reflection of our society of constantly communicating with others. With all the social software available I find that everyone (myself included) feel the need to share the most mundane details with people – TMI. What I like even more than the Noise is the transient Silence. It is so amazing! The way that Silence is a moving force is reflective our need for silence/ calm yet our inability to find amongst all the noise. I should just mention how surprised and happy I was that Silence is the form of a girl. I should have expected it but really didn’t. Due to the lack of time, I have only read the first half of the book. Then, I did something profoundly stupid – I read a summary what will happen in the second of the book. I feel like I need to take some time and really think about idea of Silence and the book [which I will do after finishing developing my collection for Collections Development].
Young Adult Friction
youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4itzHRpltQ
Reading (watching) Response: It’s Kind of a Funny Story [film]
I like the movie. It was suprisingly upbeat (especially the ending) without being cheesy.
I liked the fact that the film begins with the protagonist admitting he needs help after dreaming of jumping off the Brooklyn bridge. At first, I was worried that his life before admitting himself in the institution was going to drag on for awhile, but thankfully it didn’t. I have a fear of mental institutions so evidently I was scared for Craig, but somehow story became really sweet after he makes new friends in the mental institution. I liked the story about realizing you want rather than doing what you are expected to do by your parents or society, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the love triange (it seemed a bit unrealistic). Overall, it was a funny a story and I laughed out a few times but it was also at times touching.
The character of Craig was appealing but I feel the other characters were more interesting.Does anyone else think that Bobby (Zach Galifianakis) is kind of like Randle from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest‘s? I felt really empathetic towards the depressed father. I love Zach Galifianakis and he stole the show. He was funny yet so sad, and was an amazing “mentor” to Craig. I like Emma Robert’s performance as the self-mutilating Noelle.
One thing I found interesting was the absurdity of the “cool” culture. It is like if you are a little different than you are “uncool” and possibly ostrasized. However, if you are really odd or do something pretty crazy, you could become popular. Craig’s popularity level rises as his schoolmates find out he is in a mental institution?! I have noticed this in other shows and movies too. How does that work? I don’t get it and I probably never will!
Random Thing
This is the latest Addidas commercial aimed to attract primarily German audiences or fans of German national soccer team (like me). I kind of got emotional near the end of the commerial. The first and second time I watched it, I interpreted the commercial as the footballer looking back at the struggles and effort he put to get to where he is now. However, third time I watched it, I saw it differently. Instead of looking back, the kid is sorting looking forward by imaging what would happen. As he puts on those shoes, he “puts on” the chances of achieving my dreams – it is beyond the shoes, it is world endless possibilities. It’s so endearing! It reminded of myself when I was a teenager and I would imagine doing all these wonderful things I would grow up. I miss that sense of optimism!
Reading Response: Street Lit
Although I have heard the term before, I didn’t really know what Street Lit meant until I read the article. I personally don’t find the genre appealling because I am not a fan stories based on real life struggles because I tend over-empathize with characters and reading about people actually going through terrible situations is just too painful. I don’t think that made any sense. I read sad books once in awhile but they are usually set in a time or place that is foreign to me, which I use shield myself from feeling the characters’ pain, but with Street lit, I don’t have that shield. There are other barriers, such as linguistic and cultural differences, seem to be causing me to not want to read the genre. As I was reading the article, I began to worry about whether I would be able to help patrons find books or create programs about genres or subject areas where I don’t fully understand the appeal factors. However, I soon forgot my worries and began to feel all “mushy” about the success of the Street Lit reading program in the library mentioned in the article. It was so touching how the kids went from not really caring to showing up early to the meetings. I love how their understanding developed through the expression of their feelings and thoughts on the books, and led to them not only learning from each other but learning from themselves. I don’t think this experience of sharing and thus better understanding oneself limited to the topic of Street lit, it is applicable for any genres. I didn’t get any sleep last since I was working on two presentations, so I am semi-functional and was feeling rather jaded. However, this short article about how the library program impacted these kids and their understand of the world just made see value of libraries. One can say library programs don’t really make much difference since they are not changing kids’ lifestyles, they are still living the inner-city in bad conditions. I don’t agree with this view because a kid may change his/her perception based on his/her interpretation of books, which may lead the kid to make decisions differently. “Through urban fiction, many local teens have become empowered to use the library because they have found a genre that includes characters who look like them, talk like them, and live in neighborhoods similar to their own”. I am kind of glad that soon about become a [certified] librarian because I am going to make changes, big or small.
Review II: Stardust
Gaiman, Neil. Stardust. New York: Spike, 1999.
Neil Gailman’s first prose novel, Stardust, tells the story of the mild-mannered eighteen year old Tristran Thorne, who lives in a little English village aptly named Wall. The quaint village of Wall, named after its large stone wall that divides this realm and the secret magical world of Stormhold. Tristan lives with his father and stepmother, but unbeknownst to him, his birthmother is the princess of Stormhold who is enslaved by a witch. One night, in an attempt to make the beautiful Victoria love him, he promises her that he would bring her a falling star. To do so, he crosses the borders between the two worlds and finds himself on an exciting adventure with a fallen star, who rather than being a massive luminous ball of plasma, is a stubborn girl named Yvaine.
The novel’s writing style and language pay homage to early 20th century English fantasy prose writers, such as Tolkien. At the same time, the protagonist faces challenges of finding one’s identity, gaining self-respect or the complexities of relationships, which are all very easily relatable for modern audiences. The thrilling story will keep audiences enchanted until the end with its humour, plot twists, and wit. The book highly is recommended for older teens and adults, due to its occasional adult language and content. The limited dialogue that almost seems to encourage reading it out-loud might be appear to be a deterrent for young adult audiences, but instead, it distinguishes the book from others of its kind. Gaiman’s narrative brilliance shines in this funny, yet sweet adventure-filled tale.
Highly recommended. 4p
Random thoughts
This relates to our class discussion from couple of weeks about sex and my presentation which will take place in a few weeks.
I don’t watch Glee [nothing against the show, but because I absolutely hate musicals (except old Gene Kelly ones)] but I have been hearing a lot about the show’s latest episode. The episode, which my curiousity and desire to procrastinate led me to watch, is about losing one’s virginity, which angered a lot of viewers: PTC president Tim Winter said: “The fact that Glee intends to not only broadcast, but celebrate children having sex is reprehensible. The gender of the high school characters involved is irrelevant. Teen sex is now more prevalent on TV than adult sex and Glee is only playing into that trend. Research proves that television is a teen sexual super peer that can, and likely will, influence a teen’s decision to become sexually active. Fox knows the show inherently attracts kids; celebrating teen sex constitutes gross recklessness.”
I am not surprised that conservative parents are reacting this way, but saying that showing and discussing teen sex is “gross recklessness” is kind of extreme. I thought they dealt with having sex for the first time in a cute and loving (bit unrealistic) way. I feel like the PTC don’t give teens enough credit. They say that TV shows are likely to influence teen’s decision to have sex, but what about the other factors? What about peer pressure or bad family situations influencing teens’ decisions? I don’t think that watching Serena and Nate having sex behind Blair’s back on Gossip Girl would lead someone to the same. I think that teens are smart enough to make their own decisions, and people need to realize that. I am just little annoyed because I am sick of people blaming TV for their or their kids’ decisions.
One of the many article about the Glee controversy : http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/11/08/glee-teen-sex/
Reading Response: Michael Cart
I was really surprised that non-fiction is such a small part of YA books. Upon thinking about it further, I realized that when I was a teenager, I barely read any non-fiction titles. The only time I read non-fiction is for research but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of titles for research on the level of teenagers. We have non-fiction materials for kids and then for adults, which maybe above teens’ comprehension or research needs. Maybe that’s why Wikipedia is so popular amongst teens. Wikipedia articles, despite their inaccuracies, are written in a well-organized easy-to-understand manner see one can easy find the information they seek. I am trying to get my little brother [who is 14] to stop using Wikipedia, but he has a hard time finding non-fiction appropriate for his reading level. As librarians, we definitely have to find ways find and promote non-fiction materials for teens.
Reading Response: Wonderous Strange
This is literally my fourth time writing this response since stupid wordpress keeps on bloody logging me out. One would think I would learn my lesson by now. It seems like my reading response is progressively getting shorter and meaner with every re-write.
I was surprised by Leslie Livingstone’s novel, Wonderous Strange. Personally, I did not enjoy it, but I can see so many people seem to like it. When I read the summary and reviews, I was really excited because Kelley seemed like a really interesting protagonist [especially because she was a fairy princess!]. While reading the novel, I couldn’t really connect with Kelley, while affected my reading experience. I like reading for the character, instead of plot, and this book is very much focused on plot. There was a lot of potential with the story and characters that remain unrealized.
Interestingly, the very thing that initially made me apprehensive about it, ended up being what I like the most about it – I enjoyed how the author set her story againt A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Livingstone uses the familiar lore of faries, but updates it so it accessible for modern young adults. Despite the fact I didn’t enjoy it, in the end of the day, it is still a well-written, face-paced, interesting story, and I understand why it wond so many awards.
