Posts by Amy Gale
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
From that Times article:
Britons don’t worry about a corporation controlling their lives.
Quite. I see what he means.
You would never see a British miniseries about government/corporate nuclear misdeeds.
They're not remotely interested in TV shows featuring corporations that send gameshow contestants to evil aliens, turn people into robots, abuse and enslave the innocent, or feed on people's bodies.
There isn't anything in other media either. Certainly not comics set in worlds where there is fascist corporatism, or a huge multinational bankrolling the events of the central plotline. In no way are there large evil corporations in any comic fantasy novels, supergroup musicals, or YA literature.
So yeah, it must just be an American thing.
-
I don't believe making craploads of money is worthy of having a sword waved near your heard and getting to put 'Sir' on your business cards, it seems to me that having craploads of money is reward enough.
This. Loudly.
-
Once you're in, though, it's very easy to stay in. I maintained membership at the Wellington and Christchurch city libraries for several years after I'd left Wellington, which proved useful on extended visits to family.
I may or may not have done this for a certain public library with lions out the front and spies everywhere.
-
Best Christmas wishes to all the children's librarians out there, active, retired, and still to be.
Yes!
I want to especially send warm fuzzies to Mrs Hindmarsh, Mrs Fellowes and the rest of the librarians I grew up with at Miramar Library. Thank you for always having a book recommendation for me. Thank you for listening to my garbled and incorrect plot descriptions and always, always magically coming up with the book I meant. Thank you for giving me the run of the library and reserving your secret looks at my parents for "this is crap and not worth her time", never ever "this is too old for her". Thank you for letting me fill out my own cards and teaching me to use the microfiche, making me feel adult and trusted. Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
-
Just back from a highly successful trip to the children's section of the local book store. Those represented in the booty include George Selden, Tove Jansson, Philip Pullman, and Ellen Raskin.
My big find (which I am totally keeping for myself): "The Serial Garden", a complete collection of Joan Aiken's stories about the Armitage family. Can't wait to finish work and go home to curl up and read Harriet's Hairloom, Rocket Full Of Pie, and all the others.
a class that weeps openly together will get along better
I suspect this is also the reasoning behind certain required courses in graduate programs...
-
Harry Potter.
yabbut
a) Harry Potter is set in a world where everything is magical and gets plenty of explanation. Many Americans are stunned to learn that prefects, houses, house points, and so forth are not in fact original inventions of JK Rowling.
b) EVEN SO, the editions sold in the USA are translated into American English. (The first example that comes to mind is that Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans come in 'booger'.) Though I suppose the same may end up being true of whatever other books I end up finding. Like the copy I bought a while ago of that well-loved Gerald Durrell novel called - without a word of a lie - "The Battle for Castle Cockatrice".
-
Five Children and It
Ah, yes, I love E Nesbit.
I'm coming to realize that a lot of my favourite books from childhood are very English (Ooo! You know who else? Lucy M Boston! Now, where was I?)
Normally I would be inclined to say pfft, very well, then they are very English. But I have recently acquired a number of American children to give books to [*], and I can't help worrying that they might not be able to connect with a lot of these books. Is this worry well-founded?
[*] I've recently acquired the book-giving relationship, I mean. Not the children. I don't think the cats would go for it. -
Oooh, also, Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising - perhaps a little old at this point...
I think I was about 8 when I read that series. There was also a radio series of The Dark Is Rising (at least) - or perhaps it was a book on tape. That was beautiful, really atmospheric. I can still hum the music, a little.
Do not under any circumstances watch the movie. Don't tell yourself it might be interesting to see how the story works with an American(!!) protagonist. Don't tell yourself it might be worth it to see Christopher Eccleston as the Rider, or that any movie with Frances Conroy and Ian McShane has to be at least ok. Just...don't.
-
may I suggest the Adventure books, by Willard Price?
OMG yes!
Man, I couldn't wait to be 15 so I could travel the world catching animals. In some ways the comedown from this was even worse than when I didn't get my flying car in the year 2000.
Also: Three Investigators. Mmmm, tasty tasty white bread.
-
Wait, giving your chocolate away in the face of an oncoming snowstorm equals prescience how?
I did need this post, having previously had NOTHING inspiring on my to-read list. Except Vana Manasiadis' new book, and even that is going to be delayed by importing issues (in other words: I need to get my mum to send it to me).
Meanwhile I skulk around the house, noting that our book collection seems to break down into 85% ones I've read a zillion times and 15% ones I refuse to read ever ever ever. I don't think a list would be necessary in order to tell the difference. Better would be a list of books I've given people. Books you've read are just a bit of extra weight on the way to/from the library. Duplicate gifts make one feel a bit stoopid.