The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls
Anton DiSclafani. Riverhead, $27.95 (400p) ISBN 978-1-59448-640-1
From Publishers Weekly:
The setup for this debut novel is delectable: it’s 1930, the country is tumbling into depression, and 15-year-old Thea has done something bad enough to get her sent from Florida to an elite year-round “camp” in North Carolina where, at least at first, the effects of the economy are kept at bay while affluent Southern girls become “ladies.” DiSclafani, who grew up around horses, is at her best when recreating the intuition and strength of girls in the saddle. Otherwise Thea’s narration feels flattened by history and the characters she encounters never achieve dimensionality. The build toward the revelation of Thea’s crime is drawn out, sapping the reveal of drama, but the account of Thea’s emerging sexuality provides meaningful reflections on the potency of teenage desire. Here too, however, DiSclafani seems distanced from her characters, relying on declarations such as “I was not weak,” “I was angry,” and “I was glum” when exploring the tension of conflicting feelings. Though there are many twists and turns, the prose numbs the pleasure of reading about even the most forbidden of Thea’s trysts. Agent: Dorian Karchmar, WME Entertainment. (June)
I hate all crocodiles, except for one.
Loveable Lyle was first spotted lounging in a bathtub. The Primms have moved into their new Upper East Side brownstone. Mrs Primm hears strange noises from the bathroom and makes the horrifying discovery in the tub. The Primms are horrified but quickly fall in love with the charming and talented reptile. Lyle is very good at double dutch, ice-skating and enjoys watching construction projects. He is kind and sensitive. Lyle and Mrs. Primm are out shopping at a department store and run into Hector P. Valenti -”star of stage and screen !” Signor Valenti and Lyle break into their old act, much to the delight of the store’s customers. Unfortunately, the store is owned by the dastardly “Mr. Grumps”, who is not a fan of Lyle. Mr. Grumps is furious at the showboating in his store! Mr. Grumps has Lyle sent to the city zoo. Signor Valenti breaks him out with the hope of taking their old act back on the road. Lyle wants to see his beloved brownstone one more time before they leave. As they approach the house, they see Mr. Grumps’ house on fire and Lyle rushes in to save Mr. Grumps and his beloved cat Loretta. Mr. Grumps has a change of heart and all ends well. The drawings of Lyle with his craggly smile are FREAKING CUTE.
Bernard Waber, the author of “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,” died at his Long Island home after a long illness at the age of 91. Waber debuted as an author in 1962 with “The House on East 88th Street,” which introduced readers to Lyle. Lyle’s story continued in “Lyle Finds His Mother,” “Lyle and the Birthday Party”. He also wrote some non-Lyle books, but Lyle is his most beloved. Waber’s final book, “Lyle Walks the Dog,” was a 2010 collaboration with his daughter, Paulis.
Waber’s “warmth, energy, artfulness, elegance, and abiding respect for children were epitomized in his books,” Houghton’s senior vice president and publisher of books for young readers, Betsy Groban, said in a statement.
In the age-old battle between book and bath, humans have tried many things: the reading tray, the deftly balance towel, the take-your-chances method. An eight-year-old girl genius has solved this conundrum, inventing a simple yet ingenious technique for safeguarding books from falling into the bubbles by suspending the book from the wall. All the device needs is a $4 suction cup from the plumbing aisle at your favorite hardware store. Now if she can invent something similar for the iPad.
by kara on April 25, 2013
The George W Bush $250 million library, on the campus of Southern Methodist University -a school attended by the likes of former first lady Laura Bush, actor Powers Boothe, and Kourtney Kardashian - was formally dedicated Thursday in a ribbon cutting ceremony.
George Bush bathed in the admiration of a friendly crowd and choked up as he finished speaking and wiped tears from his eyes after sitting down.
George W Bush basked in warm praise from President Barack Obama and three fellow former US presidents as Bush’s library was dedicated in a ceremony that emphasized his resolute response to terrorism while skirting controversies such as his decision to invade Iraq.
The Houston Texas library “Think Tank” is the staging ground for efforts at burnishing George Bush’s legacy, including a policy center that will explore and promote his ideas.
Other exhibits: The Florida 2000 Butterfly Ballot, as well as a living diorama (caged) of the Supreme Court Justices that decided “The Decider” would be the winner. Also, a solid gold copy of “My Pet Goat” in a glass case, (when Cheney dies, he will be stuffed and placed in an even larger glass case), he gun used by Dick Cheney to shoot Harry Whittington, as well as pieces of Mr. Whittington’s face, an interactive display showing what exposure to white phosphorus does to the human body and prosthetic limbs
“There was a time in my life when I wasn’t likely to be found in a library, much less found one!” Bush (left) joked.
by kara on April 25, 2013
Am I required to write something about the fucking Geroge W Bush library? Because I really don’t want to.
by kara on April 22, 2013
Children’s book author E.L. Konigsburg, died at 83 in Falls Church, VA.
The first book I read of hers was her first book: ”Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth.” It’s about the friendship of two girls, Elizabeth and Jennifer, one of whom claims to be a witch. “A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver” taught me all about Eleanor of Aquitaine and multiple perspective story telling.
Konigsburg’s most famous book is “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”, which she wrote in 1967. It’s about a couple of Greenwich-residing, grammar-school-aged siblings, Claudia and Jamie Kincaid. Claudia is tired of the injustices and monotony in her life. She is the oldest child and the only girl therefore subject to many injustice. She is bored. Bored with being “straight-A’s Claudia Kincaid”, bored with arguing about whose turn it is to choose the Sunday night television show, bored of the monotony of everything. So, Claudia forgoes her hot-fudge sundae indulgences for weeks to finance a getaway plan. She forages in the garbage for train passes and pores over the good old AAA tour guide. [click to continue…]
by kara on April 11, 2013
