The time to write reviews for all of these turned up missing somewhere in the jumble of wrapping paper, noisemakers, and new years resolutions.  I tend to keep roughly five books going at any given time from my need to start something new every five seconds (I’m a better sower than tender), AND from valuing diversity in my life.  Instead of reviews, here’s the book list of what I’m up to:

A Critical History of Children’s Literature

Tara and Aunt Kim found this little gem perched on top of this hidden shelf on the upper floor of the Greenville, Ohio library.  They started renovating the old castle with private funds and gave away excess books (donations encouraged) for anyone who stopped by.  Among them sat two Grisham novels, The Lord of the Flies, and a new copy of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style (Lord knows I need a new one).  Next to all of this – A Critical History of Children’s Literature.  I’m not even sure if that Amazon link’s the right one, but if it is, man oh man you need that in your library.  ATTENTION KIDDIE LIT AUTHORS:  This book starts with the beginning of history (for the English anyway) and follows the ancient faerie myths all the way up to the sixties going through everything from Pilgrim’s Progress to Wonderland, Narnia and George MacDonald. As a writer and graphite (is there another term for an american inkling?), the information changed my entire view of how kids read books. It’s a must-have for writers, teachers, parents, and eccentrics.

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places

I’m stealing this.  What I mean is, I’m borrowing every single imaginary place that came into existence before Lewis and Tolkien came along.  How will that work?  Dunno yet, still working out the kinks, but my inner-Danny-Ocean’s on the prowl, taking notes, names, and numbers (or publishing dates as the case may be).  Meanwhile, you can find me in a Starbucks, flipping through this tome.  If I’m absent from Starbucks, it’s because I’ve built yet another fire in my over-sized, over-heating fireplace, and I’m sitting in front of it with a springer spaniel at my feet.

Emma

In the DVD version of me rooting on the literary greats, Jane Austen might make an appearance in the deleted scenes.  Unreasonable as it is, I’ve yet to get swept up in the whole victorian-era-woman-suffers-angst-from-victorian-era-courtship.  Gimme Jack Handy with a pickaxe and a lumberjack beard long before any of that.  But, thanks to the Kindle, I’ve made it through progressive chapters.  I think it’s the pages.  My ADD kicks in, and I feel like I should be doing something – turning pages for instance.  The kindle makes that possible every twenty lines or so. If I finish this puppy before the year’s out, I’ll count it a win for the home team.  Smile like you mean it, Jane:

That’s better.

Honorable mentions:

Miracles by C.S. Lewis
Surprised by Joy also Lewis