Archive for September, 2009

Last Tuesday I was able to preview a new movie called Bright Star. I was unfamiliar with the movie, only knowing that it was about Keats. I knew the basic story of his life and his death at an early age, but nothing about the premise of the movie, which covered the years before his death when he wrote most of his famous works and also had a relationship with a woman, Fanny Braun.

John Keats died at the age of 25, before his poetry reached popularity. His poetry is defined as part of the Romantic movement, which also includes poets like Lord Byron and Shelley. I shared a part of one of his poems last week–you can see that his poetry is very vivid and beautiful, filled with sensual imagery.

I thought the movie did his poetry justice, following the tone and feel of one of his poems. It was very beautiful, filled with symbolical allegory and just generally gorgeous scenery and landscaping. The characters of Fanny Braun and John Keats were emotional, the actors well-crafted in the art. I would have to argue that this movie, while a tale of Keats, was more the tale of Fanny. She was the clear main character, and the audience followed her life and her powerful feelings.

I would recommend this movie for any lover of poetry of any kind, or for someone that loves a beautiful period movie. I especially enjoyed Fanny’s dresses throughout the film (she apparently was some sort of amateur fashionista). Any contestant on Project Runway would die for her fashions, I’m sure!

See the movie. Love the story. Feel the emotions and sense Keats’ poetry. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Even though my books-to-read pile is very high, I am still very excited about several new books coming out in October. Including:

• The Maze Runner by James Dashner, October 6th (first in a trilogy)
• Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, September 29th (Loved The Time Traveler’s Wife, hoping this is as good!)
• Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, October 6th (droolworthy excited)
• Fire (prequel to Graceling) by Kristin Cashore, October 5th (really regretting that I loaned a friend Graceling because I am dying to read it again!)
• ArchEnemy (The Looking Glass Wars) by Frank Beddor, October 15th (great series on an alternate view of Alice in Wonderland)
• The Van Alen Legacy (4th book in the Blue Bloods series) by Melissa De La Cruz (like Gossip Girl but everyone is a vampire – fantastic!)

I’m not sure how I’m going to keep up with all of these great books, plus the ones I currently have, but I will try! I definitely have some catching up to do, and a lot of discussing to begin!

As a preview for this Sunday’s poetry post, I wanted to share a poem by John Keats. This Sunday I will be writing about Keats’ poetry, and the new movie about his fated romance with Fanny Braun, Bright Star, which I saw this evening.

MY heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
’Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,
But being too happy in thine happiness,-
That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees,
In some melodious plot
Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.

Excerpt from Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

Check the blog this Sunday for my thoughts on the movie and his poetry!

So I have approximately 575 books (and you wonder why I have a blog about books? I’m obsessed!). I use Delicious Library software to keep them organized. I had to do something–I found myself buying copies of books I already owned, but forgot that I owned!

If you’d like to take a look at what books I own, go visit my shelf! You can click the link here, or check out the link on the side of the page under “Explore”. I’ll make sure to keep my shelf updated as I purchase new books. I am also hoping to add some sort of book widget to my sidebar to keep up with my book reviews, etc.

I am approaching my 4th week of grad school and I can’t even believe it! I am still feeling just as excited about it as I was the first week. The past 2 weeks were very busy–I had a lot of reading and a lot of lectures to listen to. Now that the classes have begun, we’re now working on assignments and exercises, and of course, tons of discussions. I finally feel like I am beginning to grasp some of the more difficult concepts I have come across. It seems like in both my classes it is divided between those who work in libraries right now and those who do not. I don’t, and I do see a difference when others talk about their experiences in libraries.

I can’t say that the difference is causing me to suffer. I appreciate that the professors of all my classes understand that there are a lot of students that don’t work in libraries, and that these concepts are extremely new to us. The topics in my classes are explained well, and the exercises and lectures are relevant and fun.

So far, everything is going great and I’m loving it!

SUPER EXCITED NEWS!

One of my favorite books, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, is becoming a movie! See here and here for more information. Best news? It will be adapted by Caroline Thompson, who wrote Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I am anticipating that they are going to get this book right and make it as awesome as it deserves. Go here to read more about Marr’s thoughts on the whole thing.

Wicked Lovely is a paranormal romance novel starring Ash, a normal high school girl that can see faeries. It was followed up with Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity (which I wrote about here) with the 4th book, Radiant Shadows to be published next year.

I also read that they are making Aprilynne Pike’s Wings into a movie, starring Miley Cyrus. I haven’t read this one yet, but it is on my list!

I will keep you posted on any more film news on this and other awesome teen novels!

Now that I will be blogging regularly again, I wanted to revive my weekly themed posts. So today, I’d like to again talk about some of my favorite poetry, and this week I’ll be discussing the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. I first learned of this poet while reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. In this beautiful novel, which I discussed here, Sam introduced Grace to this German poet. I researched Rilke on the Internet, and here is one of my favorite poems:

Love Song
How can I keep my soul in me, so that
it doesn’t touch your soul? How can I raise
it high enough, past you, to other things?
I would like to shelter it, among remote
lost objects, in some dark and silent place
that doesn’t resonate when your depths resound.
Yet everything that touches us, me and you,
takes us together like a violin’s bow,
which draws one voice out of two seperate strings.
Upon what instrument are we two spanned?
And what musician holds us in his hand?
Oh sweetest song.

Rilke was a German poet in the late 19th and early 20th century. His poems have been translated in to many languages, and I think that part of the beauty of his poetry is the translation–the slight unhinged wording that is used as a result of these words being translated into English. His words are simple, yet powerful with feeling.

His poetry is very lyrical, haunting, intense (which is, I’m sure, why Stiefvater chose to use it for Shiver). “How can I keep my soul in me, so that it doesn’t touch your soul?” he asks, in Love Song. What does this line mean to you? To me, its a yearning of the heart, someone that can’t contain their love for someone else, so that the person’s heart and soul is threatening to break out of their core, reaching out to touch that other person.

These are the type of beautiful words that resonate with people with all ages, especially young people (like myself) and teenagers. Feelings are amplified, thoughts and words are big. Every word glues something together or cuts it apart.

This is the type of beauty that I would like to show in my life, the words I would love to write, but since they have already been written, I can appreciate them and smile at their amazing vivacity.

Tonight was the second episode of Glee, the fall premiere for this 1st season. Are you watching? Why not? Why do you love it? Why do you hate it?

I like to think of it as a cute, fun show. It’s got its issues: typecasting, gender and racial stereotypes, over-the-top moments (although, I do suppose that fits into the show’s premise). But it definitely has its charm and lovableness. I particularly enjoy the guidance counselor Emma for her irrational fear of germs, dirtiness, etc. And her unrequited crush on the Spanish teacher/Glee club advisor. And other awesome quirks!

And there’s the students. While the show does play to typical stereotypes, I do relate to some of the characters, as I imagine teen viewers would as well: there’s Rachel, the amazing lead singer of the Glee club, loads of talent, lots of insecurities. Unfortunately I find the guy they recruited for the Glee club, I can’t even remember his name, the quarterback, lacking in character thus far, but I hope that will improve as the show goes on.

I think this show will be around for awhile, and I hope that despite it’s cheery/gimmicky facade it will examine some of the important issues that do plague teens today, as I can bet this will be a popular show with that age group! Let’s keep watching and I’ll keep reviewing!

Have you ever heard of Book Divas? It’s this great online community/weblog/everything for young adult and college aged readers. And they give out books, lots and lots of books! Why are they my new BFF? Well, I just found out I won a copy of Justine Larbalestier‘s new book, Liar, from them! Woohoo! I am very excited to read this book. If you read young adult lit blogs, you know the controversy behind this book.

A few months ago, the cover for Liar was released, and the ensuing blogosphere reaction was intense and amazing! Liar is told from the point of view of an African American teen that lies about everything, literally, but yet the cover of this soon-to-be-released novel featured a white teen. People were upset. The author was upset. Word spread like wildfire and people spoke out. Everyone talked about the publishing business and how this was not the first in a long line of atrocities it had committed against people of color.

Thankfully, the publisher decided to change the cover, which now features a young African American woman. But this isn’t the end of the debate–many people in publishing and outside still feel that covers with white people on them sell better. Is that true? Maybe so, but that doesn’t make it right. And this is definitely not the fault of just people in the business. We readers are at fault as well, if we just judge a book by its cover.

I definitely encourage everyone to read outside of their race, their gender, their age, and really–read outside everything you have ever known. Isn’t that the point of fiction and being able to read? To imagine new things, to become a new person, to feel what it’s like in another person’s shoes?

Later this month, Book Divas will be hosting an online discussion about Liar, and I encourage everyone to check it out, whether or not you have read the book yet. And definitely look for my review of it in the next month!

Today is International Literacy Day (September 8), and as a future library professional this is of course an issue near and dear to my heart. Why is literacy important? UNESCO answers this question beautifully:

“Literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. Educational opportunities depend on literacy.

Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.”

–http://www.unesco.org/en/literacy/literacy-important/

One of my main goals for the next year, and for my future profession, is to be actively involved in promoting literacy in my hometown. Right now I am looking for opportunities where I can tutor children and teens in reading, and also any other volunteer opportunities, such as at libraries or other nonprofits, where I will be able to donate my time to this cause.

I encourage everyone reading to be thankful that they have had the opportunity to grow up in a nation where learning to read is mandatory and accessible. This is still not so everywhere in our world, and even some places in the US are affected by low literacy rates.

What can you do to promote literacy on this day and in the future? Blog about this and spread the word. Encourage your family, your children, your friends’ children, to read. Join organizations in your community that encourage reading. And support your public library!