Henry Huggins' dynamic with his friend Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby, as well as his determination to finally have a bike of his own, is the central theme Henry Huggins' dynamic with his friend Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby, as well as his determination to finally have a bike of his own, is the central theme of Henry's second book, Henry and Beezus.
Henry is envious of his neighbor Scooter McCarthy's bicycle. His parents aren't able to buy him one, so the ever-enterprising Henry is determined to save up money for one. Be it selling bulk gumballs he finds abandoned in the bushes on Klickitat Street, or proving to Scooter that he can handle Scooter's paper route to earn the money for a bicycle, Henry will earn the money for the bicycle so he can ride it in the parade.
There's the bike auction at the police department and Beezus trying to help Henry, the time Henry ate dog food, and a prize at the market grand opening that contribute to Henry's misadventures along the way to his ultimate goal.
I never read any of the Henry Huggins books as a kid, with the exception of his first book. And even that I vaguely remember. That said, I really enjoyed this story, and how it depicts Beezus as more than Ramona's sister. Ramona does make appearances in this book, and is a long way from the little girl with the big imagination. Beezus is referred to as sensible by the narrator, which is something said often once her sister's stories are told. As for Henry, his schemes toward earning money for his bike are enterprising and humorous.
The dialogue in Henry and Beezus reminds me of watching the black-and-white Dennis The Menace sitcom as a kid - very much of the time. Despite that, Henry is a realistic, convincing, and fun character. His personality is well-developed. Beverly Cleary always knew how to depict the children in his stories as three-dimensional and relatable to her audience. Henry and Beezus captures growing up beautifully, the start of things to come for the characters in Cleary's world of Klickitat Street.
This one gets high praise from me. I'll definitely be reading more of Henry's stories at some point! ...more
I dreaded this moment, ever since I found out two years ago that there was, in fact, one more story for Ramona Quimby. It came out when I was in high I dreaded this moment, ever since I found out two years ago that there was, in fact, one more story for Ramona Quimby. It came out when I was in high school in 1999, and considering that I stopped reading the books in 1994, teenage me wasn't seeking the stories out.
Beverly Cleary's "Merry Sunshine" of a girl, the "girl who could not wait, takes her bow in the eighth story of her series, "Ramona's World." Forty-four years after her series began, it was ending, keeping Ramona an eternal child, despite the generations that followed her journeys through childhood and grew up before her story was over. I myself wasn't quite grown up by the time this happened, but I wasn't reading children's literature at that point. So imagine my surprise, in my mid-30s, when I found out there was an eighth book! I was excited - it was two years ago, and I was starting my re-read of the series all over again, almost thirty years after I started. I have always loved Ramona, and couldn't wait to see what happened next for her!
Ramona is moving onto fourth grade, and new challenges for our protagonist - there's spelling, conquering the rings on the playground (and building up the best calluses!), Ramona's new sister Roberta, trying to be nice to Susan, and a sudden little crush on Yard Ape. Ramona also winds up making a new best friend, Daisy Kidd, who takes on the world with our protagonist. And there is that big momentous step toward being a teenager - the double digit birthday!
I loved this story! It is amazing how a child whose story started in the 1950s could continue to be relevant in the 1990s, but Beverly Cleary managed to make it work. Even fifteen years after Ramona's last story, it still only seems like a matter of weeks in between stories. There is no mention of current technology or anything that would make any of Ramona's stories sound dated, aside from words and expressions. This story is timeless, funny, and relatable, as all of Ramona's stories have been. My world is brighter - and my heart fuller - knowing that Ramona has been a part of my reading life. Knowing that Beverly Cleary chose retirement upon concluding Ramona's story is a great way to end a career of telling stories about "kids like us." What an incredible legacy to leave for readers for many years to come!
Like the rest of this series, "Ramona's World" gets a high recommendation from me!...more
Big changes are coming for the Quimby family in book lucky number seven of the "Ramona Quimby" series!
Ramona had grown tired of spending time after scBig changes are coming for the Quimby family in book lucky number seven of the "Ramona Quimby" series!
Ramona had grown tired of spending time after school in the care of her friend Howie Kemp's grandmother, having to mind Willa Jean and getting in trouble for whatever the younger girl does. Those hours are made worse by the arrival of Howie's Uncle Hobart, who has returned from his time in the oil fields of Saudi Arabia. He drives Ramona nuts with his constant singing of "Ramona" (Ramona, I hear the mission bells above Ramona, They're ringing out our song of love). After getting in trouble for another one of Willa Jean's wrongdoings, Mr. and Mrs. Quimby decide to allow Beezus and Ramona to stay home by themselves, citing that Mrs. Kemp could spend time with the visiting Hobart. This change seems to suit the girls well, with a minor scrape when Ramona calls Beezus "pizzaface," which upsets the self-conscious Beezus. However, the two reconcile when they arrive home one of the afternoons, and find their elderly cat Picky-Picky has died. The girls handle burying their cat, and their mature act results in the girls being able to stay home by themselves everyday after school.
"Check up" phone calls from Aunt Bea, Mr. Quimby's job prospects, and the tightening of Mrs. Quimby's clothing waistbands give the Quimby girls suspicions that there is a baby on the way, which turns out to be truth. Changes are even coming for Aunt Bea, who has been seeing her old high school friend...Uncle Hobart, and wedding planning has begun for them!
I first read "Ramona Forever" in third grade, around the time that I first read all of the other books in the "Ramona" series. Released in 1984, this was (at the time) the last book in the series, taking place several months after the events of "Ramona Quimby, Age 8." Several episodes of the "Ramona" TV series from 1988, "Goodbye Hello," "The Perfect Day," and "Siblingitis," take their storylines directly from this book. Fittingly, the last episode of the series, "Siblingitis," takes its plot directly from the final chapter of this book. Like all of the other books in the series up to this point, I love this story and how the trials and tribulations of "growing up Ramona" are so real world and relatable. That aspect, along with the humor of the plots and wanting to see what Ramona does next, always was the appeal of these stories. No matter when the stories take place (Ramona's story started almost thirty years before this novel!), the family and every scrape Ramona gets into stay relevant.
Imagine my surprise a few years ago, when I found out there was yet one more book in the series. You'd think Ramona "winning at growing up" would be it, but no, there is one more opportunity for Ramona's fans to see what happens to her next. It would take fifteen years to find out, but it happened.
I highly recommend this story, and I look forward to the next! ...more
Mitchell and Amy Huff are fraternal twins, who, like any fraternal opposite sex twins, have nothing in common. Amy is a good reader, but multiplicatioMitchell and Amy Huff are fraternal twins, who, like any fraternal opposite sex twins, have nothing in common. Amy is a good reader, but multiplication is the bane of her existence. Mitch is good at math and building things, but reading his not his strong suit. The duo are beginning fourth grade, and finally have something in common - the school bully, Alan Hibbler, who hides his insecurities through his bullying behaviors. Can Amy and Mitch overcome their weaknesses AND their common enemy?
I read all of the Ramona Quimby books between 3rd and 5th grades (up to Ramona Forever), as well as the Ralph S. Mouse series, Ellen Tebbits, and Dear Mr. Henshaw, but managed to completely overlook a story about fraternal twins. This is a topic I can completely relate to being a fraternal twin (with a brother). Beverly Cleary nailed the dynamic of same-age siblings who have nothing in common - my brother and I couldn't possibly be any more different, but we did deal with common annoying kids in elementary school, especially when we were the same age as the Huff twins.
I found myself identifying with Amy, especially being lousy at multiplication - I got hung up on long division in sixth grade! I can definitely see some of my own brother in Mitchell, and the little moments where the two of us got along good.
This story was truly a slice-of-everyday-life that makes Cleary's stories so good. I highly recommend "Mitch and Amy," because even when you aren't a twin, the struggle of siblings is always real!
As Mitch said in his book report, "read the book!"...more
It's not easy being eight, and it's definitely not easy being Ramona Quimby!
Ramona is now eight years old, preparing for her first day of third grade It's not easy being eight, and it's definitely not easy being Ramona Quimby!
Ramona is now eight years old, preparing for her first day of third grade at a new school, which means the great new adventure of riding the school bus. There's new kids, new sandals that make a most interesting sound, and even a new eraser for good luck. Ramona isn't the only one with changes - her sister Beezus is now in junior high school, and Mr. Quimby is starting college, studying to be a teacher, while working at the grocery store's frozen food warehouse part-time. There's also the introduction of Sustained Silent Reading (or DEAR - Drop Everything and Read), "selling a book," and Ramona's "job" of having to be nice to Willa Jean Kemp no matter what.
Of course, with all the excitement of third grade comes all the trials and tribulations that come with being Ramona - worrying that her teacher thinks she's a nuisance, that one annoying classmate, and a few most embarrassing moments.
I first read "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" when I myself was in third grade (and probably two more times between then and fifth grade). I can't say I relate to smashing an egg on my forehead or getting sick in the classroom - that happened in my thirties in a movie theater from food poisoning, but I definitely remembered the moment in this book when that happened.
Several episodes of the TV series based on the books come from chapters in this book - "Squeakerfoot" has elements of the "musical shoes" Ramona wears, along with the egg smashing. "Ramona The Patient" combines elements of "Supernuisance" and "The Patient" (with some minor changes and additions), and "Rainy Sunday" is pretty much word-for-word the chapter in the book, with a minor addition to the plot.
The book, and the TV show episodes that came from it, are cute and hold up well to time. 1981 be darned, the book mentions some things that would make sense if you're into nostalgia, or grew up during that time, but otherwise, nothing seems dated, and nothing is changed with the editions to bring them to the present. My original copy was from the early 1990s, but my current copy is from the mid-2000s. There are no changes aside from artwork, and I love that. Beverly Cleary knew how to capture the trials and tribulations of being a child, no matter when they grew up. For a child she had been capturing in literature since the 1950s, the only thing that changed was time, and not the child or her experiences.
As Ramona said "I can't believe I read the whole thing!", but at least I enjoyed this book!...more
More adventures abound for a "Merry Sunshine" of a girl, in the fifth book in her series.
"Ramona and Her Mother" begins at the start of the new year, More adventures abound for a "Merry Sunshine" of a girl, in the fifth book in her series.
"Ramona and Her Mother" begins at the start of the new year, as the family is preparing for a New Year's brunch with neighbors to celebrate Mr. Quimby's new job at a supermarket, which he is set to start the next day. After the brunch ends disastrously with annoying (in Ramona' eyes) Willa Jean Kemp scattering a whole box of Kleenex about the house, the neighbors draw comparisons of Willa Jean to Ramona at that age. The comparisons, in Ramona's eyes, are unfavorable, and she strives throughout the book to be her "mother's girl," that Mrs. Quimby "could never get along without," as is said about her big sister Beezus. Of course, the attempts to be her "mother's girl" - bonding through sewing, enjoying brand new pajamas, and even getting a cute haircut - all get the Ramona touch, which is always equal parts humorous and catastrophic.
"Ramona and Her Mother" was my introduction to the world of Ramona Quimby, given to me for Christmas in third grade (1991). I was immediately captivated by the story of a little girl who I felt looked like me (brown hair and bangs always felt so plain!), whose big imagination always had a way of getting her in trouble, which was unlike me. Out of order (which is the natural course of my life, apparently), I read the rest of the series released until that point immediately after reading this book. I am aware of having re-read it at least twice before fifth grade, and this would make the fourth time I've read it, almost thirty years later. As a "grown up," which is what Ramona would think of me, I love the story. I never feel like the misadventures of a spirited little girl living on Klickitat Street ever get old. The books never need updating - the story stays perfectly in 1979, and with the benefit of age, I now understand the references better than I did as a nine-year-old.
The TV series "Ramona," which aired in the late 1980s, actually takes several excerpts from this book (as well as "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" and "Ramona Forever") for three episodes, "Ramona's Bad Day" (the bluing incident/crock pot disaster/parent argument), "New Pajamas," and "The Great Hair Argument" - each with minor changes, but sticking faithfully with the dialogue and the source material.
Obvious easiness aside, this story is a fun read, and I found myself finishing it pretty much in one reading. I'm pretty sure that was the case on at least one of my read-throughs of the series. I still love it, and yes, I highly recommend it.
I'm definitely looking forward to the continuing the series, even though I know what will happen next. :-)...more
I first read "Ramona and Her Father" in third grade (1991-1992), and re-read it sometime the following school year, in fourth grade. Ramona's series wI first read "Ramona and Her Father" in third grade (1991-1992), and re-read it sometime the following school year, in fourth grade. Ramona's series was among the other Beverly Cleary books I read during intermediate school, and are among my favorite children's stories.
In "Ramona and Her Father," (beginning with Ramona starting second grade) the Quimby family must endure Mr. Quimby's job loss, and the stresses and changes that come with it - Mrs. Quimby going to work full time in a different doctor's office, "scrimping and saving," and second-grader Ramona wanting to be famous like the kids in commercials eating hamburgers, as well as butter that makes crowns appear on their heads. Of course, anything Ramona is inspired to do usually ends with up with comedic results. All of this leads up to the church Christmas nativity pageant, and some good news for the Quimby family.
Coincidentally, my father bought this book for me when we were in the book store at one of the local malls - I believe I got this one at a local bookstore, Friar Tuck, rather than my usual haunt, B. Dalton, at the other mall. Usually, I bought books with my allowance, Christmas/birthday money, or on occasion, my mom would buy me books, but my dad bought them for me once in a while if he followed me into the bookstore. I just always found it funny that this was the one he bought.
As with the other books in Ramona's series, I love this story. The mischief Ramona gets into, all for the sake of hoping to make enough money to make her family's stresses go away, her scheming to get an amazing costume for the Christmas pageant, and the relationship with her father, which is stressed by Ramona insisting her dad quit smoking, and bonded by working on the biggest picture. I've always embraced the creative side of Ramona, as I could easily relate to that side of her personality. The scheming side, however, can be a bit much. But she's clearly determined, gotta give her credit for her efforts, no matter how disastrous.
One of the redeeming qualities about the Ramona Quimby series is that despite re-publishing over the years - the ebook edition I currently own is from 2008; my original copy was the 1982 version - there are no updates made to the stories. Technology, dialogue updates, nothing is changed to reflect the times. I love that - the story I read as a nine-year-old is the exact same story I just read as a 38-year-old. All of Cleary's books have remained in the time they were originally published, with no modernization made. This not only appeals to my nostalgic side, but to the purist in me, who doesn't want to see changes to my favorite childhood stories. This story remains perfectly in 1977, and even though some of it was over my head in 1992, I get the references in 2021.
Next up in the series is the dynamic of Ramona's relationship with her mother, with the scheming and misadventures you'd expect from "the girl who couldn't wait."...more
I normally don't read recommended books from ads on Facebook, but when I was sitting poolside in Las Vegas on my honeymoon last summer, I saw an adverI normally don't read recommended books from ads on Facebook, but when I was sitting poolside in Las Vegas on my honeymoon last summer, I saw an advertisement for this book and decided to give it a shot.
Apparently Facebook thinks I'm lovelorn, when I changed my relationship status to "married" only days earlier. :-D
Annie Cassidy is a lovelorn freelance writer, fueled by her wanting of the perfect romantic comedy relationship. She lives in her parents' house with her Uncle Don (who has cared for her since her mother passed away), is surrounded by the geekiness of her uncle's Dungeons and Dragons nights, watches copious amounts of cliche 1990s romantic comedies, and spends time at the local coffee shop.
Annie's uncle's former college roommate is in Columbus, Ohio to film a romantic comedy, and Don gets her a job on the movie set. Annie's world is turned upside down when she meets the handsome but (as she sees him) obnoxious Drew Danforth. All she wants is the perfect relationship with a Tom Hanks-type of guy. Could Drew be The One...or will Annie have to live through her romantic comedy world to find The One?
I admit to having a serious guilty pleasure for 1980s and 1990s romantic comedies. I've always liked "...When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle," and my personal favorite, "All of Me," which was a truly underappreciated gem from the mid-1980s (no, Tom Hanks is not in it). The plots of rom coms are always cliche and predictable, but they're escapist and perfect for when you're a romantic hopeful. I went through a time in my life where I was single and wanted a relationship "like the ones on TV" or "the ones in the movies." I love 90s sitcoms and to me, there was no greater aspiration than to be like Helen Chappel and find her Joe Hackett (if you've ever watched "Wings," you'll know what I'm talking about). 11-12 years ago, this was exactly what I wanted. I had online dating profiles, and all of them were a bust. It was probably not the right time, and even when I did get into a relationship in 2012 (that didn't last), it probably still wasn't the right time.
I could certainly relate to Annie in her wanting of the perfect guy (don't we all?), but "perfect" is more than looks - it's personality, actions, and yes, embracing quirks. Annie's bad luck date (the amazing Barry) is typical of a romantic comedy, but she does meet the right guy. I had that luck when I met my now-husband at a Stargate Convention in Chicago in 2015 (I had been there a few times, but the previous year, it was with my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend). The year I showed up single, James (whom I'd met through mutual friends in 2014, and started talking to as friends in the spring of 2015) flirted hard with me. I was apprehensive about getting into another relationship (another way I relate with Annie), but I took a chance. That's what life is - playing it safe is great, but I realized I could have made a huge mistake had I done that.
I had my meet cute, and everything led to marriage (I've been married for seven months). It all worked out in the end, though I don't think I was living in a rom com.
And yes, I did finally find my Joe Hackett. It took longer than I expected, but it happened.
As for "Waiting for Tom Hanks," it is as escapist as the romantic comedies Annie and her friend Chloe love - predictable but adorable, and with a great ending. If you watch enough of these movies, you'll know what happens. :-)
Beneath a town built on its wholesomeness and pep, lies mystery and secrets.
Riverdale: The Day Before tells the story of the television show's core cBeneath a town built on its wholesomeness and pep, lies mystery and secrets.
Riverdale: The Day Before tells the story of the television show's core characters (with each chapter from the points of view of FP "Jughead" Jones, Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, and Veronica Lodge) leading up to the day before the events of the television show's pilot episode "Chapter One: The River's Edge."
It's July 3rd, and Riverdale - The Town With Pep! - is preparing for Fourth of July. Jughead is going to be showing the campy 1996 summer blockbuster Independence Day at the dilapidated drive-in (a traditional summer treat for the town), Archie is preparing for a covert meetup with his music instructor, while hiding his secret from everyone in the guise of going to spend Fourth of July with Jughead, with whom a once-solid friendship had become strained, Betty is off in Los Angeles engaged in a journalism internship at Hello Giggles (which, as I've come to find out, is a real website), and Veronica is a New York heiress apparent/Vogue intern/rich "B" of a girl whose life is (as she believes it to be) perfect, if only for the growing unease around her in regard to her family.
Beneath all the facade of everything being perfect, things are about to change, both in Riverdale and in New York for our soon-to-be-transplanted-there character.
I started watching Riverdale in the spring, after a random decision (and nothing really to watch at the moment). I'd started watching the pilot on Netflix in the fall of 2017, and was intrigued, but never really went back to it. I'd finished the first season (which is my favorite of the three) in about a week, averaging 2 episodes a day for a short season. I was hooked, and considering that this is a show aimed at an audience 20 years younger than myself (I've never hidden the fact that I am in my mid-30s), I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting a show about modern teenagers could be (I felt out of touch as a teenager in the late 1990s, so you can imagine how I feel watching a teen-focused show in 2019). For me, the facade a squeaky-clean town giving way to a darker side beneath the surface intrigues me more than teen drama. The show is well-written, as was this book.
I love these types of prequels - knowing the unsaid things that happened right before what you did eventually see, and how all of the actions of individuals lead up to the series. We're treated to text messages that suggest rumblings of trouble, indications that the town with pep isn't as "peppy" as it is thought to be, and that some characters...aren't as squeaky clean as we think they are.
I'm looking forward to the fourth season (I finished the third a few weeks ago), despite the strangeness of the third season's storyline (a thinly-veiled "Dungeons and Dragons"-style game, but with more sinister consequences for the players, as well as the Heaven's Gate-type cult of The Farm - a little reference back to a newsworthy event during my teenage years, which was an interesting plot in the season). Likewise, I'm looking forward to the next book (the prologue is previewed at the end of this story).
If you like to know the story behind the characters leading up to the time you meet them in the television series, I highly recommend this book....more
Barbara MacLane's older sister Rosemary, all of eighteen and a college freshman with braces on her teeth, is getting married! As Rosemary dreams of thBarbara MacLane's older sister Rosemary, all of eighteen and a college freshman with braces on her teeth, is getting married! As Rosemary dreams of the perfect life, and the MacLane family plan the perfect wedding, Barbara dreams about the big day and all its excitement. Will she want to get married young, or will Barbara want to live a completely different life.
There's two boys who seemingly like Barbara (shy, not-so-confident Tootie, and brash, handsome, cookie loving Bill), lots of wedding gifts for Rosemary, dressmaking, and all kinds of excitement for the MacLanes in the brief time they have to plan Rosemary's wedding.
I had never heard of "Sister of the Bride" prior to recently re-reading the first three Ramona Quimby books (an ongoing reading project of mine - an attempt to recapture a bit of personal nostalgia), and since I just got married last month, I wanted to see Beverly Cleary's take on a woman marrying, aside from through Ramona's observations of her Aunt Bea getting married in "Ramona Forever."
Despite the obvious tones of 1960s middle class life, as well as the dialogue, I loved this story. Barbara's aspirations to be both like Rosemary (marrying young, and to the right guy) while wanting to carve a separate path (thinking she is both ready and not ready for marriage, or the wanting of college and a career before marriage) definitely resonates with every teenager coming of age. It doesn't matter when the story takes place, this type of thinking is every teenager/young adult ever.
My wedding planning was neither this fast - I got engaged in February 2018, and was married on June 15, 2019, so I had quite a bit of time to plan! - nor did I have a reception like the one described in the book. I think that was the only thing I was expecting - a different type of reception than the one Rosemary actually has. But those closing moments didn't detract at all from the rest of the story.
If you're getting married - or the sibling of someone getting married - heck, if you're already married, I highly recommend "Sister of the Bride." Some of the ideals, descriptions, and dialogue are dated, but weddings, my friends, are timeless stories....more
Ramona has a chance to show the world she's more than just a pest in the third book of her series.
"Ramona the Brave" begins during the summer after KiRamona has a chance to show the world she's more than just a pest in the third book of her series.
"Ramona the Brave" begins during the summer after Kindergarten, in the weeks leading up to the beginning of first grade. Ramona knows she is no longer a "Kindergarten baby," and is determined to show she is so much more than Beezus's little sister, or even a little kid. In fact, she is determined to show her bravery in any situation, whether it be encountering an imaginary gorilla, the construction worker-made hole in the house (and later the new bedroom that covers up that hole in the wall), a neighborhood dog...or first grade.
The promise of a new, extra bedroom means that the Quimby girls each call dibs on the new additional space, and the compromise that they will each get to use this new room on six-month intervals (with Ramona getting it first due to always getting hand-me-downs). Aside from that, Ramona's mother has begun working at a pediatrician's office, she has an adversary in Susan (with the boing-boing curls from "Ramona the Pest"), and Beezus hates her nickname, since the boys refer to her as "Jesus Beezus!". Being six years old is alot, but Ramona navigates her way through it with her own style and imagination leading the way.
I first read Ramona the Brave in fourth grade, and like the two previous stories, remembered major details of this book, including the hole in the house, and "Jesus Beezus," which got a giggle out of adult me. The illustrations in the version I read (the 2006 edition) are adorable. I originally read an earlier edition (I think the 1990 Avon version), but I like the illustrations in the newer versions better - gives a story a more modern look without altering the original wording, which keeps the nostalgia intact while appealing to a younger generation...or the adults who loved the story the first time around.
It's close to Mother's Day in Stoneybrook, and the babysitters want to do something special for their moms. But what can they do?
Kristy comes up with It's close to Mother's Day in Stoneybrook, and the babysitters want to do something special for their moms. But what can they do?
Kristy comes up with a solution (aka "Her Next Great Idea"), which expands upon giving their Mothers a special day...by giving the mothers of their babysitting charges a special surprise day! And speaking of surprises...The Thomas/Brewer household is curious as to why Kristy's mom and Watson are so secretive...and why they are talking about babies.
I decided to read this because of Mother's Day last week (I originally read it in elementary school), and like the other books in the series, I'm always surprised at how much I remember from my original reads of the series. The only detail I forgot this time around was the addition of a new character. I won't give away any details.
**spoiler alert** Ramona Quimby is ready for Kindergarten, but is Kindergarten ready for her?
Ramona The Pest was released in 1968, thirteen years aft**spoiler alert** Ramona Quimby is ready for Kindergarten, but is Kindergarten ready for her?
Ramona The Pest was released in 1968, thirteen years after Beezus and Ramona, and despite being Ramona's second book, was the first to focus on her almost. Beezus, who played a more prominent role in the first book, takes on a very minor role in the book.
"Ramona The Pest" takes place about a year after the events of Ramona's series debut, "Beezus and Ramona". It's the beginning of a new school year, and Ramona will be going to Glenwood School along with all the bigger kids on her block, but in the Kindergarten building during the morning session. There's all kinds of new adventures for Ramona to engage in - seat work, writing letters of the alphabet, Show and Tell, Gray Duck...and the bounciest curls on the bossiest girl in her class.
Ramona is in a hurry to grow up, but also determined to live in her moment and impress the heck out of her teacher, Miss Binney. This, however, only seems to cause even bigger problems for Ramona. And then there was the one day Ramona's penchant for trouble finding her really catches up to her...
Will Ramona be a Kindergarten Dropout?
I loved this story, perhaps moreso than "Beezus and Ramona." Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed that story, but the shift in perspective is what I love most. As a literary character, I've always loved Ramona. I also love how much of this book I remembered, despite not having read it since 4th grade. The part about "Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel" ("when does he go the bathroom?") is classic - I remembered it immediately!!! I love Ramona's persistence to do all the things Beezus gets to do in school, but how this persistence tends to backfire on her.
The animation in this version of the story (I originally read the 1990 version, this time around, I read the 2006 version) is super cute, as it always was. You want Ramona's imagination to persevere, and for her to find her way without trouble finding her!
Highly recommend, even for adults looking to re-read the series!...more
Ramona's adventures kick off in her first book, told from the point of view of a third person perspective, but seeing through the eyes of her big sistRamona's adventures kick off in her first book, told from the point of view of a third person perspective, but seeing through the eyes of her big sister, Beatrice - er, Beezus - Quimby.
Nine-year-old Beatrice - excuse me, Beezus - Quimby's constant source of annoyance is her four-year-old sister, Ramona. Through the perils of picking out the perfect library book, to the wanting to be creative enough to create a painting that gets placed in the center of the art room wall at her painting class, just wanting to be able to have a friend over without interference, helping organize an impromptu party, and the celebration of her birthday, Beezus just wants one thing - her little sister to not drive her completely nuts!
I first read "Beezus and Ramona" in third grade (I read the 1990 edition, the version I've just finished is the 2006 edition), given to me by a classmate who had finished reading it and wanted me to have it. When she moved away after third grade, I read the book a few more times. It was a nice gesture from a nice friend. I started reading Beverly Cleary's books earlier that school year - my first was "Ramona and Her Mother." I read all of them between third and fifth grade, with the exception of "Ramona's World," as it didn't come out until I was 16 years old. Since I'd read two of the books depicting Ramona as a seven-year-old prior to reading "Beezus and Ramona," it was unusual to read a story about her as a four-year-old.
As an adult picking this book up for the first time in quite a few years, I'm actually quite surprised at how bratty Ramona really was as a toddler. Locking Ribsy (Henry Huggins' dog - remember them?) in the bathroom, putting her doll Bendix in the oven (I actually remembered that part as soon as Beezus read "Hansel and Gretel" to Ramona), planning a party without permission, eating all the apples in the basement (well, taking a bite and discarding them), impeding on Beezus's art class, and ruining library books and birthday cakes, this kid probably deserved more than just ignoring her to teach her a lesson. I'm surprised at how progressive Ramona's punishments were (not engaging her when she is misbehaving, and sending to her room for bigger negative behaviors), for having taken place in the 1950s. However, I'm aware that as a children's book, mentioning spanking might be too harsh.
I like that despite the cover changes over the many editions published over many years, the story itself isn't modernized. And, for me, it works just as well in 2019 - antiquated words and dialogue aside - as it did in 1991 when I first read it, and as it did before and after that. As a 36-year-old reading it again for the first time in about 25 years, it is still as cute and funny as I remember it. I love that Beezus is given some renewed hope that she doesn't have to always like her sister, even though she'll always love her (despite what Beezus thinks!).
Who knows, perhaps they'll get along someday? We can hope so much.
My take: Highly recommended for both new readers unfamiliar with Beverly Cleary's work, as well as nostalgic readers looking to revisit novels of their youth. ...more
When I was in either third or fourth grade (memory doesn't serve), I was intrigued by "Kristy and the Secret of Susan." What is autism, I wondered? I When I was in either third or fourth grade (memory doesn't serve), I was intrigued by "Kristy and the Secret of Susan." What is autism, I wondered? I didn't know anyone who lived with it (it isn't a curse, affliction, or epidemic - people do LIVE and THRIVE with it!), but the description on the back of the book made it something I wanted to read (plus, it was "The Baby-Sitters Club"!). I found the story fascinating as a kid, and I still find it interesting now, even knowing the progress that differently-abled individuals have made since this book was first published in early 1990.
Kristy takes on a month-long babysitting job for the Felder family's daughter, eight-year-old Susan, who lives with autism. Her talent for the piano, memorization of the calendar and music, and perfect pitch classify her as a savant. Susan is between schools, as her parents wait for her spot at a new residential school with a music program to open up. Kristy, always the determined sort, wants to prove to the Felders that Susan doesn't need to be away at a school, but at home, and that she could progress in the type of environment that includes her family.
In the "B-Side" story, new neighbors from Australia, The Hobarts, move in across the street from Claudia (and Mallory is smitten by the oldest brother, Ben), and face difficulties adjusting to life in the United States.
The lesson "Kristy and the Secret of Susan" aims for is acceptance and appreciation. Just because someone is different, whether it was in dress, culture, way of speaking, or doing a task, or even learning abilities, there is no need to make fun or take advantage of them. There was one particular part in the book where Kristy finds out that not everyone has the best intentions in regards to those who are different from them.
Some of the language used in the book is a tad offensive and dated, but in 1990, this was still commonplace. As a society, we've made progress with discussion on disabilities as a whole, but not everyone keeps up. Dialogue is always important, and despite those dated words, this book still teaches a valuable lesson.
April is Autism Appreciation Month, with April 2nd being Autism Appreciation Day. You're supposed to "Light it Blue," according to Autism Speaks. Unfortunately, I've heard more than a few disparaging things about Autism Speaks and their mission, so I've done "Red Instead" (thanks to a friend of mine) and taken to calling the month an "Appreciation" month, because it isn't about awareness anymore, it is about appreciation and understanding.
Autism is tricky - it runs the gamut of functioning levels, abilities, and inabilities. There's a reason it is called a "Spectrum Disorder" - there are people who are intellectually able (brilliant, even!), but can't express themselves in a way individuals who are neurotypical can. There are individuals who can't perform their normal activities of daily living, but have amazing talents that you or I don't have. There's speaking/expressive and sensory considerations as well. I've learned alot at my current job. If you'd asked me prior to 2010 to explain autism to you, I would have given a more general explanation. There is so much more. For instance, I had no idea that autism doesn't always mean intellectually disabled. They can run together, but that is not always the case.
My best friend's older brother (who passed away in 2016) was on the autism spectrum, but was not diagnosed until he was much older (he had an intellectual disability too). Unfortunately, because autism was not easily understood when I was coming of age (well, much less so than it is now, and it is still a mystery), it was easier to classify those with the traits of autism into a generalized group. I prefer not to use the word to describe it.
I highly recommend this book, especially when discussing disabilities (and all differences) to younger readers. This was the first time "The Baby-Sitters Club" tackled the topic of differently-abled individuals, but it wouldn't be the last - one of the later novels I read was about Dawn baby-sitting a young girl with Down Syndrome, and Claudia forming a bond with Shea Rodowsky, who has difficulty with learning before finding out he is dyslexic. I'm glad Ann M. Martin tackled these subjects in her stories - it is important to know that not everyone is cookie-cutter - we're all different, and those differences, talents, and abilities are to be celebrated.
Those of us who've played Oregon Trail on our home (or school) computers in the 80s and 90s know the struggle of making the trek from Independence, MiThose of us who've played Oregon Trail on our home (or school) computers in the 80s and 90s know the struggle of making the trek from Independence, Missouri to Willamette Valley, Oregon is not just about successfully crossing rivers and not running out of supplies, but also not dying of a broken leg.
I myself (and countless others, I'm sure) have seen this fate happen in their lifetime.
"...And Then You Die of Dysentery: Lessons in Adulting From the Oregon Trail" is a short, humorous look at that struggle from the point of view of a comedian who takes the applications of the game and applies it to the real world of adulting. Combining humorous tidbits and 8-bit graphics of a very late 2010s world set to the beat of the famous pioneer game, you start off taking selfies in Independence, Googling symptoms of a broken arm along the way (which, like that broken leg, you can die from), and every way you could possibly not make it to Oregon...before you actually do make it Oregon.
Short, sweet, and too the point, this is an amusing little story that those of us who've played the game could find the humor in. Did I like that the phrase "liberal snowflake" showed up in it? Not really, I think that is an overused phrase that even a more Conservative individual (like myself) finds offensive. But I love the 8-bit artwork and the other jokes, it really is a cute book about adulting for the generation that struggled with a wagon full of people to cross the Columbia River.
By the way, that's something I only managed to accomplish just recently. And only my two closest friends were sacrificed along the way. And my fiancee. My one friend's husband died early on.
It has been no secret for the last five or so years that I'm a fan of Chicago, though I've been listening to their music for at least the last 30 yearIt has been no secret for the last five or so years that I'm a fan of Chicago, though I've been listening to their music for at least the last 30 years. Since seeing them in concert in 2015, my interest in them only piqued, and I've obtained their albums, watched their concerts (thanks YouTube), and am even going to see them for a second time this coming April. Anything I can find to watch, listen to, or read, I've tried to do.
In early 2017, I saw the documentary Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago, and heard the story from humble beginnings to stardom, tragedy, struggles, infighting, and re-emerging back into fame. Quite a story for two hours, let me tell you. But it was their story. After seeing it, I found out that Danny Seraphine (Chicago's original drummer/founding member) had written a book about his life and times as Chicago's drummer, a spot he held from 1967 until 1990, when he was unceremoniously kicked out of the group. Of course, I was interested, but it was two years (and a backlog of books) before I could get to this one.
Street Player: My Chicago Story is Seraphine's story - from beginnings in New Little Italy to getting his start drumming, his colorful teenage life, and leaving behind an uncertain future created as a teenager to join several bands, all leading up to the one that became his life's work, and beyond that life, into the present.
It's quite a story, and Danny's telling of it is quite interesting. He's done a few things he is clearly not proud of, but what he is proud of is the legacy he helped pave as one of the founding members of Chicago. His story takes quite a few turns, but it never wavers in how interesting it is.
I loved Danny Seraphine's storytelling - he is quite colorful in his language and descriptions of his life and times. He doesn't hold anything back, and it makes for an interesting - and at times, intense - story of a man's rise from practicing drums in the basement to making a career out of drumming. His recent successes in business came out of his willingness to protect Chicago after what turned out to be years of exploitation by their early management (that story wasn't new to me - he talked about it in the documentary).
I highly recommend Street Player: My Chicago Story (the title is the infamous bomb of a song Seraphine wrote right at the death throes of disco) if you like music history, or are a fan of Chicago. This is a fun read.
Now, if Seraphine were to ever allow movie rights for his story, I'd be all for seeing that......more
I first read "A Christmas Memory" in my tenth grade Literature class (1998, and the same class that introduced me to "There Will Come Soft Rains"), riI first read "A Christmas Memory" in my tenth grade Literature class (1998, and the same class that introduced me to "There Will Come Soft Rains"), right around the holidays, and a year before reading "The Gift of the Magi" in my American Literature class. To date, it is the only Truman Capote story I have ever read.
Seven-year-old Buddy lives with relatives, but it is his older cousin (who nicknamed him "Buddy" after a childhood friend that died in the 1880s) that dotes on him the most, as she is the most childlike of the relatives in the home. The story tells of the winter that Buddy is seven years old, helping his "friend" make fruitcakes (it is fruitcake season, after all), and decorating the tree to look like a Baptist's window, all in preparation for Christmas. The story is told from the point of view of Buddy as an adult, looking back on that very special time, before "Those Who Know Better" decided education in a military school was a better option.
We all have that one special Christmas memory, where we participated in a special tradition, received a gift we'd never forget, or just some aspect of the season brings back a good memory. I have many great memories of Christmases past. For the author, the whole final Christmas season, not just a small aspect of it, was his favorite Christmas memory.
Capote wrote "A Christmas Memory," as printed in Mademoiselle in December 1956, reprinted in 1963 for The Selected Writings of Truman Capote, a standalone edition in 1966, and assorted other anthologies and editions since then. It has been adapted for screen and stage several times (my Literature book's publication of the story had photos from the 1969 television adaptation), and a year before I read this, Hallmark Hall of Fame aired a movie version of the story. This story had two sequels, "The Thanksgiving Visitor" and "One Christmas," published in 1967 and 1983, respectively.
The saddest part of the story is that the young man, who continued to correspond with his beloved cousin after going to military school, sees through her correspondence the decline of the woman due to old age, and eventually, dementia. The final line of the story tells of her passing, but she is definitely someone he will never forget, memorializing her in describing a lost pair of kites hurrying for the heavens.
But he'll never forget making fruitcake or the special gift she gave him, especially her gift of love and friendship. And the kite....more
Della and Jim are a young couple on a modest income, living in a modest apartment. Della counts the $1.87 she has left, and decides that if she is goiDella and Jim are a young couple on a modest income, living in a modest apartment. Della counts the $1.87 she has left, and decides that if she is going to be able to get the gift she believes her husband should have (a fob for his pocket watch), then she needs to make a sacrifice. Likewise, Jim has this belief that if he is to be able to get a coveted item for Della, he must make a sacrifice. Neither one of them knows that the other has done this, but upon finding out, their love for each other grows deeper than the superficial love they seemed to have at the beginning of the story. By the end, both have grown and developed a deeper understanding of each other.
I first read "The Gift of the Magi" as a junior in high school (1999) around Christmas time in my American Literature class. I liked the story of a couple who willingly sacrifices what they believe is love (though it is material and superficial) to get something material and superficial for each other.
I was looking for a quick Christmas short story during some downtime a few days before Christmas, and this story did not disappoint in the least. It was as important and nice as it was when I first read it almost twenty years ago, and being in a relationship moving toward marriage (six months and counting!), it feels more important. If I were faced with a similar moral dilemma, I would not be as rash as Della in her decision, but I would try and figure things out to make Christmas less about material goods, and more about love. That, my friends, is the most important gift.
I highly recommend this story. :-) Merry Christmas!...more
"Baster" is the short story that was the basis of the 2010 movie "The Switch," and originally published in The New Yorker on June 17, 1996.
Wally Mars "Baster" is the short story that was the basis of the 2010 movie "The Switch," and originally published in The New Yorker on June 17, 1996.
Wally Mars tells the story of his longtime friend/ex-girlfriend, Tomasina who decides that she wants to have a baby despite her age (40) and marital status (single, never married, No relationship prospects). She goes about this by hosting a party to procure the chosen one's sperm in order to conceive her dream child.
I first saw "The Switch" in the movie theater in the summer of 2010 (I'm a huge Jason Bateman fan, have been for many years). This story leaves off fairly early in the film's plot, but if you've seen it, then you know what happens.
And that's where I will stop. This just might be my shortest summary yet.
I loved the movie, and had been trying to track down the story since I saw the film. Like a lot of things, it fell off my radar until last week, when I had been looking up a few short stories. I'm glad I finally found it, it was worth reading. My only wish was that it was longer, but hey keep them wanting more!
Our narrator (whom we find out is named Sammy), is working the cash register at the local A&P (for those not in the know, A&P was a grocery store baseOur narrator (whom we find out is named Sammy), is working the cash register at the local A&P (for those not in the know, A&P was a grocery store based in New York that operated in the United States and Canada from 1859 to 2015), when three girls come into the store. The young ladies make their presence known to our narrator, who describes the girls at length right down to their facial features, physical attributes, and even what they are wearing. Sammy observes them from his perch in the checkout line, parading through the store behind their leader as they look for a very specific food item, oblivious to the rest of the world (or, at least, the world inside A&P). The story is the observation of a nineteen-year-old young man, on the verge of manhood, and his seeming boredom with the routine nature of working and shopping at A&P.
I first read "A&P" in a Literature and writing class my freshman year of college. Since it was set in the 1960s, and this was 2001 (which seems like a whole other time), the idea of what the girls were wearing causing such a scene for the ones who weren't oblivious was actually quite funny. It helped that the story was already funny.
Sammy seems to be a young man not content to be ringing groceries up all day, unlike his co-worker Stokesie, who Sammy describes as believing he will be manager some day. I love the idea that Updike believes that in 1990 (the distant future!), A&P will be called "The Great Alexandrov and Petrooshki Tea Company" (the real name of A&P is The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company"). I didn't notice this in 2001, but this is an obvious nod to the times, since the story is set in the early 1960s, the beginning of the Cold War. Based on his observations alone, it is clear that Sammy is a cynic (possibly a romantic?), and that having this attitiude will benefit him in the future. He won't be content to rest on his laurels, nor is Sammy willing to conform. He sees A&P as conforming to a societal norm. His epiphany at the end is not one to miss.
"A&P" was first published by John Updike in The New Yorker on July 22, 1961, and later included in Updike's collection Pigeon Feathers. The story is as good as I remember it being 17 years ago as a 19-year-old college freshman. I found myself laughing at the descriptions of the girls the same way I did then. It was certainly a different time and place, which makes it even more entertaining to read.
If you need a quick read (honestly, the pdf I read from was six pages) and want a little light-hearted humor, check this one out. ...more
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