Nov 28, 2007
Earlier this year I wrote about one of the more controversial aspects of my job. I hear you snickering now. “Maggie works in a high school library. What, did she forget to initial a hall pass? Mis-shelve a book? Eat a banana under the No Food or Drink in the Library sign?” Yes to all of the above, actually, but I’m talking again about discarding books. Every year we select the poor waif-books that will find a home in a dumpster. Last school year we weeded through the social studies section, removing books that were worn beyond repair, hadn’t been checked out in twenty years—or ever—, had inaccurate information. There have been a few more presidents since FDR, for example, so The Complete Book of the American Presidents had to go.
This year, however, we’re discarding fiction, and I trembled to my chubby toes as I stamped “Discard” on Christie, Buck, Austen, Cather. Some of the volumes literally fell apart in my hands, and we do have newer, improved editions to replace the classics. But a great many, mostly paperbacks, had outdated covers, topics, excessive Scotch tape and graffiti. Ironically, those books which were once loved as much as the Velveteen Rabbit are now repulsive, victims of their popularity. Their condition and content no longer appeal to modern teens. It got me thinking.
Every author writes for a scrap of immortality. There’s good reason for “Never put it in writing.” The pen truly is mightier than the sword. Words live forever as long as there are readers to read them. Those of us who aspire to publication hope to move a future audience to tears, laughter and the parting of their $6.99. But someday, even if our talents and luck combine to produce a shiny pink or purple paperback (maybe even with a sexy stepback!), our baby will be tossed away by somebody just like me.
What do you do with your old books? What images do you like on your covers? I rescued this handsome edition of Wuthering Heights (circa 1959, I’m guessing), last checked out in 1995. I think the cover artist had a little “inspiration” from John Singer Sargent’s Madame X. S/he’s changed her dress and given Madame a nose job, but the resemblance is unmistakable. When the original portrait was first exhibited, it was considered so shocking that Sargent was asked to withdraw it. It destroyed Madame Gautreau’s reputation, and Sargent became persona non grata in Paris. For more information, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Madame_X
Nov 25, 2007
The Spice Girls are touring again. Their concerts are, unbelievably, selling out. For those of you who don’t know, they were a manufactured band in the nineties, kind of like the female Monkees. Like the Monkees, they managed to rise above their faux origins. Little girls across the world were dancing and singing, “I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha.” Huh?
Here’s a scene from their 1997 movie, Spice World.
Spice Girls: We’re the Spice Girls, yes indeed. Just Girl Power is all we need. We know how we got this far… Ginger Spice: Strength and courage and a Wonderbra! Spice Girls: Would this work with only one? Baby: Just with me I have no fun. Spice Girls: Would this work with only two? Scary Spice: We need more for what we do. Spice Girls: Would this work with only three? Sporty: Three’s a crowd, bad company. Spice Girls: Would this work with only four? Posh: No way, girl, we need one more! Spice Girls: Listen up, take my advice – we need five for the power of Spice. Give it up, give it out, take a stand, scream and shout! One, two, three, four, five – Spice Girls!
Here’s the Robinson five, taken a month and a half ago on my birthday. Sadie’s a bit young and out-of-it, but her mom and evil aunties will teach her all they know about zigazigging and everything else. They are what I’m thankful for, and what I really really want.
So tell me what you want, what you really really want? Where do you get your Girl Power?
Thanks to everyone who gave thanks, giving and thanksgiving! All your poetry was prize-worthy. Hope you had as much fun writing as I did reading. RevMelinda said “Not only do you have a beautiful blog, but you have the best commenters in the blogosphere!” and I couldn’t agree more. Special thanks to Haven Rich. Terrio, you’re November’s winner! Please send your snailmail address to maggierobinson8@yahoo.com
Nov 18, 2007
I shall leave it to others to be thoughtful about the holiday, although I do know how very lucky I am every day of the year. But I used to teach acrostic poetry as an elementary school teacher, and silliness has soundly trumped seriousness this post. So here is my THANKS for romance.
T empting
H eated
A ching
N aughty
K isses
S atisfy.
Now comes the GIVING part. Your turn. You can pick THANKS, too (GIVING is way harder! Or do the whole THANKSGIVING if you really want to impress. *g*). Enter as many times as you like. It doesn’t have to be a sentence, or even make sense. One random poet will get November’s prizes. Winner and new post Sunday, November 25.
Have a wonderful holiday with those you love.
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder
Nov 15, 2007
I eat off the most popular china pattern in the world: Blue Willow. I’ve always loved the rich color and elaborate design, and knew there was a famous legend depicted. Now that I know exactly what it is, my appetite may never be the same.
There are a couple of versions, but basically, a young noblewoman and her father’s secretary fall in love and run off together. Eventually they are found and roasted alive in a fire. Somehow they get turned into birds, which is supposed to make everything all right. I don’t think so. I’ve always been annoyed with Romeo and Juliet, and this is just more of the same doomed love crap.
When I was younger, I enjoyed star-crossed lovers, Heathcliff pining for Cathy, et al. I carried a torch for a lost love for years until my husband charmed the pants off me. Oh, you know what I mean. Now I want that guaranteed happily-ever-after in my books and movies. No Anna Karenina throwing herself under the train or Edna wading into the water in The Awakening. No suffering. No way.What’s the story on your china? What unhappily-ever-after book has stuck with you?
Nov 12, 2007
You may not have noticed, but there’s a list to the right called “Books I’ve Loved Lately,” BILL for short. Topping it right now is Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill, a laugh-out-loud slice of the London life of a thirty-something mother of three boys. Lucy Sweeney is meant to be a very imperfect heroine—and I did find it almost too annoying that she constantly lost credit cards and keys, ran out of gas in a car that should have been condemned as a heath hazard, and more than fantasized about Sexy Domesticated Dad, a parent at her sons’ school. She was a walking disaster. I wanted to scream, “Do some laundry! Make a list! Stop dithering!” But the pros of the book far outweighed the cons. What parent cannot identify with the thrill of finding Luke Skywalker’s inch-long light saber after months of searching? What married couple’s romantic rendezvous hasn’t been interrupted by a terrorizing toddler? The supporting characters in the book each have key roles to play, and I spent much of the night snorting with laughter (and gagging once) as Lucy mismanages her life.
I read a lot, but put very, very few books in the BILL category. Books that land there don’t have to be perfect (see above), but they must have an indescribable something. There. That’s clear as mud. What book is on your BILL list?
Earlier this year I wrote about one of the more controversial aspects of my job. I hear you snickering now. “Maggie works in a high school library. What, did she forget to initial a hall pass? Mis-shelve a book? Eat a banana under the No Food or Drink in the Library sign?” Yes to all of the above, actually, but I’m talking again about discarding books. Every year we select the poor waif-books that will find a home in a dumpster. Last school year we weeded through the social studies section, removing books that were worn beyond repair, hadn’t been checked out in twenty years—or ever—, had inaccurate information. There have been a few more presidents since FDR, for example, so The Complete Book of the American Presidents had to go.
