tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post3485433878907819131..comments2024-03-27T19:03:23.094-04:00Comments on The Armchair Squid: 12 Books in 12 Months: A Classic Work of Children's LiteratureThe Armchair Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-45519622264303767812013-03-14T18:32:21.463-04:002013-03-14T18:32:21.463-04:00So glad you finished the book! I think your final...So glad you finished the book! I think your final quote is quite funny indeed.<br /><br />I've never read Harriett. It sounds like fun.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-61850832301294275222013-03-14T18:18:31.459-04:002013-03-14T18:18:31.459-04:00Okay. I have finished my selection for the 'Cl...Okay. I have finished my selection for the 'Classic Work of Children's Literature.'<br /><br />It was difficult to read Louise Fitzhugh's 'Harriet the Spy' without my writer glasses on. In part, this is because, having for the last five years learned much about trending in reader tastes, I wonder if this quiet, tender piece of fiction would have stood a chance trying to squeeze onto the scene in the second decade of the 21st century. <br /><br />I didn't read it all in one go, or even over the course of several consecutive days. Though a slim tome, in length perfectly appropriate for its intended audience, the cadence of the book was markedly locked in its own time. Dad comes home to relax with a martini; a beloved governess marries and, upon her departure, insists that Harriet exhibit the sort of stoicism perhaps more encouraged prior to the touchy-feely hippie generation that got an entire culture more in touch with their feelings; when the bottom drops out of Harriet's world at school, she visits a therapist in a brownstone -- who seems, at intervals, amusingly intimidated by her.<br /><br />The book's central conflict -- that of Harriet's friends discovering the awful (honest) things she wrote about them in her notebook and then turning on her -- taught me much about the modern mind, my own included. The pacing cropping out of this simplistic and delayed tension was very weak. Were it a magnet, it would not hold four paces from the shut book on the night stand. I honestly only read it all the way through because of my commitment to your Challenge.<br /><br />Now, on to what I loved about the book: the character of Sport, the character of Ole Golly and the passages excerpted from Harriet's notebook -- written in first person. To write an 11-year old in third person maintained a distinct, adult irony throughout and kept me from losing myself in what could have been the messy, rich, authentic inner world of a child. I found myself sometimes (often) glazing over the 3rd-person narration and perking up when the signature 'all-caps' blocks of text signified a portion of Harriet's notebook. <br /><br />My greatest sympathies were with Sport, though I also bore a marked interest in the wholly eccentric Harrison Withers. I yearned for the return of Ole Golly, alas, it came only in the form of a somewhat stern letter, which made me imagine how this would influence all of Harriet's intimate relationships throughout her life. The character of Harriet, however, did not seem too bothered by it.<br /><br />A few favorite passages:<br /><br />'I HAVE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT BEING THINGS SINCE TRYING TO BE AN ONION. I HAVE TRIED TO BE A BENCH IN THE PARK, AN OLD SWEATER, A CAT AND MY MUG IN THE BATHROOM. I THINK I DID THE MUG BEST BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT IT I FELT IT LOOKING BACK AT ME AND I FELT LIKE WE WERE TWO MUGS LOOKING AT EACH OTHER. I WONDER IF GRASS TALKS.'<br /><br />(The answer is, yes, my dear Harriet.)<br /><br />'IS OLE GOLLY RIGHT? IS IT TERRIBLE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT? I WANT TO BE A WRITER AND I'LL BE FINKED IF I'LL BE UNHAPPY WHEN I AM.'<br /><br />(Quite.)<br /><br />And, finally:<br /><br />(Sport:) "Writers don't care what they eat. They just care what you think of them."Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-1843121009507911202013-03-10T14:30:08.629-04:002013-03-10T14:30:08.629-04:00I have actually read a lot more books since I star...I have actually read a lot more books since I started blogging. There is, for me, no better fuel for writing than a good book.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-46622010293254709512013-03-10T13:53:38.121-04:002013-03-10T13:53:38.121-04:00I still haven't finished 'Harriet.' On...I still haven't finished 'Harriet.' Only read another 50 or so pages at the very beginning of the week. Fiction is either devour or eventually peter off into unfinished, for me. This challenge is goading me to try to finish, though. So that's good.Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-78172543256656860582013-03-03T12:39:44.166-05:002013-03-03T12:39:44.166-05:00I'll be right over to check it out!I'll be right over to check it out!The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-15763048910104827172013-03-03T12:01:26.563-05:002013-03-03T12:01:26.563-05:00Only 100 pages into 'Harriet.' Reading has...Only 100 pages into 'Harriet.' Reading has been slow-going this week as I have spent much more time writing. <br /><br />Sign-ups for the first haiku collaboration are 'live.'Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-58576186765815586962013-02-24T11:25:45.991-05:002013-02-24T11:25:45.991-05:00I'd be delighted to do a Year 2 for 12 books. ...I'd be delighted to do a Year 2 for 12 books. I think, however, that I'd be more encouraged if at least one other person managed to finish the first one. As such, I appreciate your efforts very much.<br /><br />I like the haiku idea.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-35703027220611583792013-02-24T11:08:12.936-05:002013-02-24T11:08:12.936-05:00I think you should consider relaunching the 12 boo...I think you should consider relaunching the 12 books with new categories, like a second annual? I, too, like that you pick your own books and that, in doing so, people get exposed not only to books that may not have otherwise blooped up on their radar but get to know other participants based on their selections. You might also do a mix of old and new categories. <br /><br />I think I remember that your wife did books and authors for last year's A-Z, didn't she? A-Z might be the time to give people the heads up on the second iteration of the 12 in 12, if you decided to do something like that. I think sometimes a good idea doesn't do as well because of a couple of variables -- timing is one, getting the message sufficiently propagated another.<br /><br />I have an idea for another blog collaboration that I hope to initiate to fill the False Start void. I thought it might be a nice idea to do themed haikus. My working title for the effort is 'tiny harmonies.'Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-1576308350122369342013-02-24T07:56:50.591-05:002013-02-24T07:56:50.591-05:00I thought it might be Middle Grade but didn't ...I thought it might be Middle Grade but didn't want to assume.<br /><br />I like the idea of the challenge, too, though very few have finished it - so far, just me. I think it could work better if the social aspect were better coordinated on my part.<br /><br />One thing I have thought of trying is a bloghop book club. Whatever I do, I'd like for my wife to be involved but she's tricky. We ran a fairly successful book club when we lived in New York years ago but haven't really tried since. Part of the problem is that she doesn't like other people picking books for her. That's where the 12 in 12 idea started - each participant could still choose the books, within certain common parameters.<br /><br />As such, I wouldn't want a book club where everyone reads the same books. In fact, I think it might be more interesting if people get book ideas from each other. Perhaps a monthly bloghop in which everyone posts about the best book they read that month.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-21802355176040362952013-02-24T00:48:02.204-05:002013-02-24T00:48:02.204-05:00Middle Grade.
And I think the challenge is a trul...Middle Grade.<br /><br />And I think the challenge is a truly worthwhile idea. I need to check out some of the other partcipants' reviews when I get back home and have a bit more time.Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-15242933371045311172013-02-23T21:47:53.982-05:002013-02-23T21:47:53.982-05:00MG books?
Thanks for the support. I'm glad y...MG books?<br /><br />Thanks for the support. I'm glad you're enjoying the challenge!The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-13754965515646765662013-02-23T20:06:19.870-05:002013-02-23T20:06:19.870-05:00'Settling in to read A Swiftly Tilting Planet,...'Settling in to read A Swiftly Tilting Planet, I quickly realized that a big part of why I'm so particular about time travel stories is this very book.'<br /><br />This impresses me.<br /><br />Overall, the reviews/reactions you've written for the challenge that I've read have been very well done.<br /><br />I picked up HtS with a couple of other MG books this past week and may post a write-up to SC. If I do, I'll link your challenge again.Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-3730433447521283592013-02-23T14:58:27.298-05:002013-02-23T14:58:27.298-05:00Business first: "Harriet the Spy" defini...Business first: "Harriet the Spy" definitely qualifies.<br /><br />I'm really not sure of my age at first reading. It may even have been before my teens. I think I may have read it when I was sick, in fact - definitely a strange story if you're already feeling feverish.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-20052545604170274232013-02-23T14:10:19.509-05:002013-02-23T14:10:19.509-05:00Many Waters and An Acceptable Time are titles take...Many Waters and An Acceptable Time are titles taken from scripture. <br /><br />I loved this reaction/review to the book. There were a number of sentences I felt compelled to outtake and remark on but then sometimes feel like it's easy to get overwhelmy with specifics in a comment.<br /><br /><br />Choosing just one thing, though: <br /><br />'Perhaps as a young adolescent, the socio-political issues addressed in the book fueled my own developing social consciousness.'<br /><br />How old were you when you read the book? (I know you said early teens but do you remember if it was closer to 12-13 or 14-15? Having taught 7th, 8th and 9th grade English, I think there's a significant difference.) You may not remember, exactly, but perhaps if pressed, you might.<br /><br />Finally, the reason I popped over to this (excellent) post in the first place, is 'Harriet the Spy' considered a classic? :):)<br /><br />Okay, *one* other thing:<br /><br />'He reminds me more of Clarence, George Bailey's guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life: vulnerable, uncertain, yet unfailingly devoted.'<br /><br />Funny emotional squiggle in response. Lost capacity to articulate so I'll just say: ((~*~)) or well, actually, ))*~*((.Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.com