Annie Cardi's Blog, page 100

The Science Behind That Old Book Smell

You know that delightful old book smell? Here's the chemical explanation behind the scent:

Chemistry and literature, together at last!

(via io9)

Links Galore

A few more links to round out Monday:

Three cheers to the winners of this year's Susan P. Bloom Children's Book Discovery Award!
No big surprise here: people who use e-readers like books in other formats, too.
The Hub looks at YA in the classroom. I think titles like these would be the perfect balance to more traditional choices.
Do starred reviews affect the Printz?
Share your thoughts and memories of Diana Wynne Jones novels at Bildungsroman.

Writing the First Five Pages

Adventures in YA & Children's Publishing is hosting a First Five Pages Workshop, where you can read the first five pages of someone's manuscript and offer them helpful suggestions for revision. They also share some good points to keep in mind when writing/reading the first five pages of a novel, such as:

"Are there enough grounding details to make the story feel real and alive? Is there enough introspection and connection to the main character? Too much? Is there enough dialogue? Too much?"

Those first five pages can be tough to write, so make sure to check out the full list.

Once in my writers group, someone mentioned that the first chapter of a novel teaches the reader how to approach the rest. What are you "teaching" your reader in those first five pages? Ideally, it should be similar in tone to the rest of the novel and touch on major characters/settings.

What are your tips for the first five pages?

Understanding, Not Fear

Brain Pickings has a great roundup of quotes from famous scientists about what science is. One of my favorites, by Marie Curie:

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."

A fantastic philosophy for life in general, and I think one writers should keep in mind as well. Part of writing and reading means opening your mind to other possibilities and ways of life, even if they're uncomfortable or scary. The more we understand, the better.

Friday Fifteen

Finally Friday! Time for the Friday Fifteen, in which I review fifteen books in fifteen words or less.

1. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Captivating historical fiction with character struggles set against the backdrop of a real murder case.

2. The Best Creative Nonfiction, Vol. 1 by Lee Gutkind

One of my favorite collections. Excellent essays from the people behind the journal Creative Nonfiction.

3. Let's Go Amsterdam 3rd Edition by Let's Go Inc.

Helped guide me through Amsterdam; lent it to another study abroader who didn't return it.

4. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

My first Shakespeare (7th grade). Have read it a couple times since, still really fun.

5. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

My dream as a kid. Minus the end.

6. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner

Gorgeously written, like any Faulkner novel. Plus it has an exclamation point.

7. The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Eerie YA novel about a girl in Antarctica with her unhinged uncle.

8. I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg

Surprisingly cute. Good as a gift for someone you like/love.

9. The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, & Issa ed. Robert Hass

Solid introduction to haiku, with good translations of major haiku poets.

10. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Victorian social hilarity and Wilde's witty wordplay. Try not to laugh.

11. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

More a series of linked short stories. Tan handles the mothers' voices and stories best.

12. Choosing Sides (Sweet Valley High Twins #4) by Francine Pascal

What happens when your awkward friend wants to be a cheerleader? Elizabeth finds out.

13. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson deftly handles Tyler's voice and high school social complexities. Nice depiction of desperation.

14. Wedding Etiquette Hell: The Bride's Bible to Avoiding Everlasting Damnation by Jeanne Hamilton

Sensible advice for crazy wedding situations. Made me feel a lot more sane.

15. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Adorable story about a gentle bull. Lovely art, too.

Books You Used to Love

Think about your favorite books. Now think about your favorite books from five years ago. Ten years ago. I'm sure some of these are the same, but are there any that you loved ten years ago but don't anymore? Any that you're embarrassed to have loved?

The Awl asks that very question of some writers/editors/book enthusiasts. Several people call out Ayn Rand (not surprising), a few mention On the Road (including John Green) and Raymond Carver, and some talk about their Stephen King phase. One of my favorite responses comes from Sadie Stein:

"Wow, that's tricky: I tend to kind of revel in the bad stuff I read, and I never had, like, an Ayn Rand phase! But! I did go through a period where I would covertly—but slavishly—read every book I could lay my hands on on how to be sexy/chic/mysterious/alluring like a French woman. This in turn led to the purchase of several very unflattering striped shirts and one of those stove-top espresso makers.

Oh, and I once came across a "Felicity" novelization in a thrift store, and devoured it. I wish there had been a hundred: it totally went into the summer she leaves Noel for Ben after season 1! Oddly, it also contained recipes."

Sadie, you could totally write a Friday Fifteen.

My other favorite comes from Maureen Corrigan:

"I've been wracking my brain, but honestly it's hard to suggest any without feeling disloyal. In fact, at the risk of sounding sentimental—oh, what the hell, I'll be sentimental—to dis those embarrassing young adult faves now feels like snickering at the friends I had in high school and college whom I've "outgrown." I loved them and needed them at the time and, for that, I'll always be grateful to them."

Amen to that. Books help make you who you are. If you read nothing but Sweet Valley High as a kid or if you thought you were the first person to understand Ayn Rand, that's okay. These books touched you and are part of your life as a reader. They helped you get to where you are now in your reading life. And that rocks.

Font Love

A little fun for your Friday: typographic matchmaking!

Designer Aura Seltzer has created Type Connection as her MFA thesis project. It lets you learn the design history of particular fonts and explore the potential connections between two different sets. A fun game, typographical design, and print history? Coolest thesis ever!

Get started here. Are you bold with your matches, or would you rather play it safe with similar styles?

Cave Boys and Girls

At A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy, Liz has great look at the Cave, a boy-focused reading area of one school's library. The topic of boys being reluctant readers isn't new, and while I think it's great that librarians are looking for ways to share books with boys, it's hard to get enthusiastic about an idea that makes girl readers feel unwelcome. As Liz says:

"I just wish that it was done in a way that did not exclude girls from an opportunity for ownership and empowerment; and did not do it in a way that says, "this is a boys area but girls are welcome, also." Because, personally, I find that not welcoming or equal. Labelling books as either "boy" or "girl" does a disservice to boys, girls, and books and limits rather than enhances reading opportunities."

I think the Cave would be more successful if it had the same elements–books about adventure or fantasy, funny books, cool decor–but didn't label anything as gendered. Why can't boys and girls both get excited about Eragon or Wimpy Kid? Even if more boys end up in that part of the library, there's no suggestion that it's where boys should by or where girls can't be. Shouldn't we be moving towards a society of readers that doesn't care if the main character or author of a book is male or female?

Links Galore

A few more links for the afternoon:

Jill overheard the cutest/most inspiring conversation. My new motto: you always play your best!
I'm going to be looking at members of my book club a bit more suspiciously now. Although our treats are so good the poison risk is worth it.
Anyone want to buy District 12?
Forward, preface, intro…there are a lot of ways to start your book before you start your book.
What are some good astronomy books for kids? Awesome blog Bad Astronomy is looking for your suggestions!

How a Book is Made

A beautiful video by Glen Milner about the making of a book with traditional printing methods.

It might sound silly, but I'm reminded of segments on Sesame Street that showed how things like crayons or peanut butter were made. This is more sophisticated, but it's still so cool to see the creation process of something you enjoy.

(via bookshelves of doom)