My friends send me the best books

[lunabee34]

Minders of Make-Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children's Literature by Leonard S. Marcus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is absolutely delightful. I knew nothing about the formation of children's books as a genre, and this is really informative and interesting.

Almost all of the movers and shakers are women which is really gratifying to read about (even if it's maddening to see the ways in which sexism hampered their careers and denied many of them the money and the respect awarded to their male counterparts in publishing and editing).

The book kind of peters out at the end, but it's got to stop somewhere, and it's pretty comprehensive up until the early 80s.

Definitely recommended.



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Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I absolutely love this book.

At first I wasn't sold on Felix. I thought he's one of those guys who thinks he's a genius and has an overinflated sense of himself (and he does have that problem, a little), but he quickly endears himself to me, and I spend the whole book rooting for him.

This is for anyone who believes in the transformative power of literature, who enjoys The Tempest, and who can understand the desire for revenge.

It is also deeply sad in places as Felix has lost his wife and daughter, and his grief for his daughter is so hard to read at times. The end of this book hurts so beautifully; it couldn't really end any other way if you are familiar with the play, and it's perfect.

Also, it's funny. Atwood can be so so funny.



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Comments

[chelseagirl]

I loved Hag-Seed, but I adore The Tempest and used to teach it regularly at a previous job.

[lunabee34]

I've only taught it once, but it was a good experience, and I enjoyed reading the play. Have you seen the Taymor genderbent version? If so, did you like it?

[chelseagirl]

Yes. I have the DVD and I like it very much. Helen Mirren totally carries it off. Though Patrick Stewart is my favorite Prospero -- I saw him in the role twice, one in New York at the Public Theater (with Aunjanue Ellis, Hippolyta on Lovecraft Country, as Ariel -- a casting that worked super-well) and once in Stratford with the RSC.

[lunabee34]

Oh, I am so jealous. They both sound like wonderful productions.

I have seen so very little theater. It's pretty much all been college productions of stuff (which sometimes are quite good to be fair) but nothing with famous people.

[chelseagirl]

Considering I live in NYC, I've seen less than you might think. It's gotten so expensive, and since I've been married I've actually gone less -- M isn't that interested, and I only occasionally organize myself to go with a friend or alone.

[lunabee34]

*nods nods*

I get that. I don't think I'd want to go alone, and I have been surprised by how expensive tickets to some things can be. It would definitely be a splurge.