Sew 80's

I keep meaning to post updates of the craft and sewing projects I do, but then I find that it is too much effort to take pictures.  That trend comes to an end today, however as I have pictures of the sewing projects I did for an 80's themed benefit for the school I work at that I attended last weekend.  Enjoy!

I made this dress about a year ago.  Apparently teal and polkadots were popular during the 80's (although they are clearly eternally fashionable) so I wore it for the event.

I know from Pretty in Pink that ankle boots were popular in the 80's (all my knowledge of the 80's comes from John Hughes movies) but the only pair I could find in my last-minute, no-car shopping was khaki colored and clearly would not match my outfit.  However, they were on clearance, and so were several pairs of black, lacy tights.  So I bought both and cut up the tights to sew onto the boots so that they'd be black to go with the outfit.  Plus, according to the highly reliable sources I consulted on the internet, lace was a popular element of the 'new romantic' look that was popular during the 80's.  

I used left-over parts of the clearance tights to make these fingerless gloves.  I just cut out a section of the legs then cut three slits into the end and sewed the edges up to make fingers.  I cut a hole in the side for my thumb.  All this was done last-minute the morning of while continuing my research by watching 21 Jump Street.  It was a purely academic interest--as a student of library science I am committed to research.  It had absolutely nothing to do with how adorable Johnny Depp is in it.  

This picture isn't technically related to crafting, but it is related to books.  I got all dressed up to go see the new Jane Eyre movie because darnit all I'm a Charlotte Bronte geek and us geeks like to dress up for movies.  

I am particularly proud of my fancy hairdo, which can be seen here as I consult my tbr bookcase (yes I have an entire tbr bookcase--my stack is that big!)

I hope you enjoyed my crafting pictures.  Perhaps I'll get around to posting my other sewing projects someday.  Maybe I'll even get with it enough to take in-progress pictures.  Maybe I won't.  Either way I feel that this post was worth it just for the title.  Making a good bad pun is its own reward.  

Fortune of Carmen Navarro Review

Book talk: It all starts with a trip to the Quikmart for sandwiches.  Will sees the beautiful girl with the snake tattoo behind the counter and starts to flirt with her in his easy way.  But it's Ryan who she gives a rose to as they leave.  From that moment on Ryan can hardly think of anything else.  Will is usually the one to bend the rules, but soon straight-laced Cadet Captain Ryan is the one sneaking into clubs to see Carmen play and showing up for inspection with bags under his eyes.  Carmen likes this shy boy, but she refuses to be owned by anyone.  Carmen's grandmother taught her how to read her fortune in the cards so she can see her fate: romance, fortune, and treachery.

Rocks my socks: The story is told from four different view points, not only Carmen and Ryan but their best friends Will and Maggie as well.  Viewing these characters through the eyes of their best friends provides a perspective that grounds the novel and adds new layers to the characters.  They also provide more points of entry for the reader.  While most girls won't be able to identify readily with Carmen, many will be able to empathize with Maggie, for example.  There are quotes from the original novella interspersed throughout the story and one sums up why I enjoyed this novel best: "A man turns into a villain without realizing what is happening to him."  By having the perspective of not only Ryan but Will as well it is easy to understand him and feel sympathy for him.  Too many authors (and actors for that matter) fall into the trap of thinking that villains see themselves as such.  But most villains view themselves as the hero.  This is an important lesson to learn and goes far in helping to understand the world and the people in it.

Rocks in my socks: While Carmen and Ryan are complex characters Maggie and Will are a bit under-developed.  They seem mostly there just to act as foils and the story they're telling isn't really their own.  I can see why it was done this way, but they were my favorite characters so I wish there was a bit more meat to their parts of the story.

Every book its reader: I imagine fans of the opera would enjoy this retelling, although I'd warn purists away because it does make some major changes.  Knowledge of the opera and novella aren't necessary though, in fact I've never seen the opera or read the novella (although I bumped a filmed version of the opera to the top of my Netflix cue after finishing the book.)  I'd give it to anyone looking for a tragic romance or a study on the creation of  a villain. Grades 6 and up.

The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant

Buy it at your local independent book store or check it out from you local library

Eyre Affair Review

Book talk: In a universe where Baconians go door to door trying to convince people that Shakespeare was really just a front-man and four thousand people in London go by the name John Milton people take their literature very seriously.  So when criminal mastermind Acheon Hades starts kidnapping characters from original manuscripts, erasing them from every copy, there is a public outcry.  Literary Detective Thursday Next is on the case, but with governmental secrecy and red tape tying her up and an adversary who can control people's minds, the chances of her solving the case seem slimmer and slimmer.  But no matter how dangerous things get, Next can't give up--not when the stakes are the very existence of her favorite novel.

Rocks my socks: I absolutely love the universe created for this novel.  Radical surrealists riot in the streets and people have pet dodos.  The local theatre plays Richard III every Friday and cast members are chosen from the audience, who dress up for the production and have call backs for lines like it's Rocky Horror Picture Show or something.  I want to attend this production of Richard III!  I am thoroughly convinced now that if people dressed up to go to Shakespeare plays like they did for Rocky it would be a far better world.  There are also excerpts from fake books and newspaper clippings at the beginning of each chapter and I always love those kind of extra details.

Rocks in my socks: The story wasn't actually very compelling and even the characters weren't particularly endearing or well developed.  While the details of the universe were unique and pleasantly surprising the plot was pretty predictable.  This didn't bother me too much though because I believe it was meant to be.  For example early on in the novel the characters complain about how Jane Eyre doesn't end up with Mr. Rochester.  It's pretty easy for anyone who knows the real ending of Jane Eyre to predict what ends up happening, and the target audience of the novel is definitely people who are privy to this information.

Every book its reader: The appeal of this book is in its world-building and its literary references.  It's a gimicky novel and I can accept that and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I know that that type of novel isn't for everyone.  If you're looking for a typical whodunit mystery or a fast-paced thriller or a complex character study, move along.  But if you enjoy the absurd and clever allusions, then this is the book for you.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Buy it at your local independent book store or check it out at your local library

Milo Review

Book talk: Milo has become pretty good at moving.  So when he moves to his 5th house in 13 years he knows the drill of being a new kid and is hoping just to make it through the year alive.  There are some good things about his new school, like the gorgeous Summer Goodman and his new friend Marshall aka One-Eyed Jack.  But there are also some set backs, like the fact that Summer Goodman doesn't even know he exists while his loser neighbor Hillary keep putting notes in his locker.  Sometimes Milo just wishes he could turn invisible, even though Marshall insists that laser vision or teleportation are far better superpowers.  It doesn't matter because Milo doesn't have any superpower, although he certainly could use one.  At school he's failing math, at home there's nothing but silence, and he can't even finish an entire special Booger Breath Freezie.  But with Marshall and the friends he makes along the way, perhaps he can make it through the year alive after all.

Rocks my socks: Milo spends the novel coming to terms with his mother's death and working through issues of identity and trying to fit in but despite the heavy subject matter the novel is full of humor and a light-hearted charm that made it easy and fun to read.  The book is illustrated by the author with cartoon-like drawings throughout and there are other add-ons like lists Milo makes or comic pages showing certain scenes that give the book the feeling of a journal where Milo is putting down his thoughts as he struggles to sort through his feelings.

Rocks in my socks: The narrative felt a bit over-simplified at times, even considering the target audience.    The characters other than Milo are not very developed and some characters that I feel should play a stronger part in the story, like Milo's sister, are rarely mentioned.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to fourth to seventh graders looking for a humorous school story.  This will have particular appeal to those who enjoy journal-style books with cartoons in them like the Amelia or Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.  The narrative is, as I said, pretty simple so it would be good for kids who aren't very strong readers.  Kids who appreciate the humor of Milo and Marshall trying to drink the "Booger Breath" flavored Freezie will enjoy this novel.

Milo Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

Buy it at your local independent book store or check it out from your local library

Clockwork Angel Review

Book talk: After Tessa Gray buries her aunt in America, she sets off for Queen Victoria's England and the only family she has left.  But when she steps off the ship instead of her brother, she finds two ladies who introduce themselves as the Dark Sisters.  They imprison her and teach her how to use powers she didn't even know she had.  Soon she's pulled into the dark world of the Downworlders where she meets creatures she thought only existed in novels.  As she dines with angels, attends a vampire party, and runs for her life from clockwork creatures, she can't help but wonder at who she's become and the strange new world she's entered.  But as everything she thought she knew is shattered she realizes that come what may, she can never turn back.

Rocks my socks: The novel stars a spunky heroine with a passion for literature who finds surprising strength within her as she encounters vampires and all manner of magical creatures.  What's not to love?  It even comes complete with a brooding misunderstood romantic interest with a checkered past, which I know I shouldn't enjoy as much as I do, but at least he's only fictional.  And isn't indulging in feelings and actions that would be harmful in real life part of what fiction is for?  I need my poor romantic choices catharsis to get it out of my system, or at least that's how I justify it to myself.  I started this novel Sunday afternoon when I should have been writing a paper for grad school but the power went out so I picked it up to pass the time until the internet came back on.  Then the internet came back on and I clearly had to finish the chapter first, and then read just one more, and one more until it was 1am and I had finished the novel but my paper wasn't even started.  Curse you Cassandra Clare and your compelling narrative--you've set my whole week back!  I couldn't help myself though, the novel was just the perfect balance of world-building and mystery and adventure and romance, each more engrossing than the last.

Rocks in my socks: The author seems to have basically taken every trope that's popular in teen literature and put it in a blender.  I fee like this should annoy me, but then again there's a reason why the Victorian era and vampires are so popular and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love them too.  The prose isn't particularly inspired and there's not as much meat and philosophical ponderings as I usually like in my novels, but I was far too busy wondering what was going to happen next to care.

Every book its reader:  I can see this novel being popular with the ever-growing Twilight set, although it is of far better quality.  It has a similar feeling of doomed romance and fantasy with an added dash of adventure and a lead who actually has a personality.  I'm not sure I'd call the novel steampunk because it has more of a focus on magic than science, but there are enough similarities that I think fans of steampunk would enjoy it.  Really anyone looking for a good urban fantasy adventure/romance will enjoy this.  There's nothing terribly explicit in it, but I'd say at least 6th grade and up.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Buy it from your local independent book store or check it out at your local library

The Grand Tour Review

******This is a review of a sequel, and as such has contains spoilers for the first book*************



Book talk: After everything they've been through Cecy and Kate are excited to get away from England for their honeymoon trip around Europe.  But if they were expecting a leisurely vacation with the occasional sightseeing outing they were sorely mistaken.  It all begins when a mysterious woman shows up with vial of what seems like perfume.  Before long they're chasing missing coronation regalia all over Europe in a desperate attempt to prevent a new Napoleon from rising to power.  At least they get to do so in the latest Paris fashions--there are some honeymoon traditions that are just too important to shirk.

Rocks my socks: I do love the characters and I enjoyed seeing their story continued.  It also benefits from the same interesting alternate timeline as the first novel with the added excitement of a European tour and Paris shopping trips.  The book contains a description of a knitting system they use to pass coded messages to one another and having recently learned how to knit myself I found this to be very interesting.

Rocks in my socks: Because Cecy and Kate are together they don't need to write letters to each other.  They try to imitate the style of the first book by having it told through excerpts of Kate's diary and a deposition of Cecy's, but it's missing that authentic feeling from the first novel achieved by the fact that it really was two authors writing letters back and forth.  It reads much like a regular first person narrative.  I've never given a deposition, but I've kept diaries for years and my entries sound nothing like those found in this novel, and not just because I have no magical powers (or exciting adventures for that matter).  On the one hand I liked the fact that the novel surrounds two happily married couples because so few novels do.  On the other hand there's a reason why novels usually don't feature happily married couples in the lead.  It's certainly desirable in real life, but not terribly engaging in fiction.  That's why the phrase "happily ever after" became so popular--so authors didn't have to bore their audience with that stuff.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of the first book.  It's another light-hearted fantasy with fashion, magic, romance, and adventure, with the emphasis on the first two this time around.

The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

Buy it at your local independent book store or check it out at your local library.

Because of Mr. Terupt Review

Book talk: There's a new 5th grade teacher at Snow Hill School.  Peter thinks that means he'll be able to get away with more.  Jessica is new to the school as well.  Luke is eager to show off during Mr. Terupt's new lessons, even if they seem a bit crazy.  Alexia thinks the new teacher is cool at first, but starts to hate him when he talks to her about her behavior.  Jeffrey doesn't care who his teacher is--school will awful no matter what.  Danielle loves the new teacher, even if her grandmother doesn't understand why.  Anna is nervous because Mr. Terupt actually calls on her instead of letting her stay invisible.  They all find out before long that this teacher and this school year are going to be different, but when class spins out of control all their lives are changed forever.

Rocks my socks: The story of a fresh-faced new teacher making a difference appeals to me for obvious reasons.  I also enjoy the way the story is told from the perspective of seven different kids in the class.  It's hard to have that many narrators without slipping into caricature but Buyea pulls it off pretty well.  I think it would be good for kids to read a book told from that many perspectives.  In addition to learning about how many sides an event can have, they can read the story based on an affinity with one character and then hear from other characters that they may never otherwise choose to read about.  Each character's story arc also has its own moral and I found them to be good life lessons.

Rocks in my socks:  In some ways I feel like this story is written for teachers more than kids, although eventually

*******SPOILER ALERT************

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The teacher is horribly injured and falls into a coma and the book seems to imply that it's the teacher's fault because of his crazy new methods.  It's funny because at first it feels very much like everything a new teacher would want to hear about how by trying new things and experimenting you can really change kids lives and then suddenly he's in a coma and I couldn't help but think well if that's the result of progressive teaching count me out. I also found the fact that the teacher is portrayed as having absolutely no family or friends outside of school to visit him in the hospital an odd choice.  Kids already think we have no lives outside of school, we really don't need to encourage them in this.  Even the love interest is the teacher across the hall.  As long as we're in spoiler zone I'll throw in a complaint about how neatly the ending is tied up.  Happy endings are one thing but having eight separate stories (if you include Mr. Terupt) with every loose end not only tied but double-knotted is another.

********END SPOILER ALERT*********

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Every book its reader: I'd give it to 4th grade and up looking for a school story.  A particularly good choice for winter break reading.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Buy it at your local independent book store or check it out from your local library