Well and Truly Bound - Thoughts on The Night Circus

While there are those who read more - and those who are more well-read, most of you know that books are as much my life's blood as hoppy beverages.  I am not a book snob by any means (though if I am reading Dickens, the End Times must be near) because most every book offers something - something beautiful, thoughtful, amazing, profound, silly, laughable, horrific, twisted, pandemonious - 

or just lovely.

I love to read words and phrases and sentences.  I love how a writer can put an image into my head that will be so unlike the image in anothers.  I love the ways in which people pen words that evoke specific emotion (surprise, horror, love, guilt, lust, envy) without ever saying it.  It is a talent that I long to possess and one I try to cultivate in my students.  Instead of saying that the attic was mysterious, it is so much more engaging to present the squeak of the stairs, the flutter of startled wings, the mist that is really cobwebs, and the glint off the lock on a mother's hope chest -  beckoning.

I find little pieces in most every book I read.  Yes - even Twilight  - because those pages and pages of nothing but the names of the months broke my heart because it happened to me.  It is why I also laughed so much at it's National Lampoon pardoy Nightlight which I have quoted in other notes.

The book I am reading now, that I have already posted several times about and am ready to tattoo every part of my body in - is like that.  The Night Circus has reviews that run the gamut - horrible!  NO ACTON!  Beautiful - the words heal you!  I embrace the beautiful reviews because it is - achingly beautiful with thoughts and images.  

It is a book about a duel between two young "manipulators of reality."  Magician is too gaudy a words and illusionist is not strong enough.  It is also a love story, but not the kind we read now with quick attraction and palpable lust and a third person who becomes fodder of a choice (thought all of those things are mildly present).  It is a love story of images and how we come to know those we love and offer them their own hopes and dreams in a way that shows him or her "I SEE you."

But I digress.  This book is MY love story - not for my husband or family - but mine.  If you would care to read my love story, it can be found on pages 343 to 352 of this magical book.

In these pages, Marco's time with Celia begins and ends with books.  Here is just the beginning:

       "Should I close my eyes?" Celia asks playfully..."Watch," he whispers in her ear.

       The striped canvas sides of teh tent stiffen, the soft surfact hardening as the fabric changes to paper.  Words appear over the walls, typeset letters overlapping handwritten text.  Celia can make out snatches of Shakespearean sonnets and fragments of hymns to Greek goddesses as the poetry fills the tent.  It covers the walls and the ceiling and spreads out over the floor.

__

Now  of course, there are pages of different images from Marco to Celia - but to me, being surrounded by the beauty of living words - creating images after image before my very eyes - is my personal idea of heaven.  Don't get me wrong, I like other writing very much too.  There is actually very little I don't like, but these pages of THIS book make my heart ache to live and breathe books day after day and why I can't seem to piece myself back together after reading a few particular works.  

There you have it.  I might often portray a tawdry harlot when I speak about my love life, but the truth is all a person ever needed to woo me was words.  

BINGO!

Will this be the last book challenge?  Probably not, but some of you know how much I love a good game of Bingo.  This challenge is hosted by Retreat by Random House, and you can check it out here.

I'll try to be true to it and not crossover, but then again.  I might.

This is going to be fun.  Next year, I might make my own BINGO card.  I'll keep track of my progress below.  Please join me!

B2 - A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.

I1 - Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I3 - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  This could actually fall under a couple of BINGO spots!

Living Dangerously

"There are worse crimes than burning books.  One of them is not reading them." Joseph Brodsky (at least, that is to whom the internet attributes the quote)

The last challenge I shall post is a perpetual one.  Read more banned and challenged books.

When I was little and felt that I had read every YA book in our tiny children's section of our library, I would turn into a miniature 007 to gain access to the ADULT section of the library.

Pretending to peruse Island of the Blue Dolphins for the hundredth time, I would mark the sentinel eyes of the children's librarian.  As soon as toddlers teasingly began to tear books off the shelves,  I would make a dash for the door.  There, hidden in shadows, I would wait for a parton to check out a stack of books.  With the main librarian thus entwined in stamping and sorting by size to make the books easier to carry, I would dart behind the dividing wall, covertly slide past the card catalog, and stow away in the stacks of Stephen King.  Once I had found whatever treasure I deemed worthy of losing my library card for, I sandwiched the treasured tome between my Scott O'Dell's and my Judy Blume's and walked right up to the check-out counter.

My mother may have glanced at my selection once or twice, but never did she say that I could not read a book that I had chosen.  Even when I would wake screaming in the middle of the night because Something Wicked This Way Comes had certainly parked itself underneath my bed or couldn't go to sleep because Cujo was in the closet - EVEN when I asked those "hard girl questions" because Carrie's mother was bat-sh** crazy, my mother never said, "You know, honey, maybe you should stick with Beezus and Ramona."

And so I read.  I devoured books.  I still do, and I would like to thank my family for not telling me what I couldn't read, but discussing what I had read.

With that in mind, I would like to find out more about books that have been challenged and banned for one reason ar another.  The only caveat I am making to my personal challenge is the "witchcraft" reason because most all of the books I read have a paranormal slant.  Other than that, any other reason for banning a book will be on my mind when I pick one up.

The first two on my list?  Brave New World by Aldous Huxley because it has some "negative activity" and Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky because it deals with *ack* teenage sex.

Check back periodically to see my progress or follow me on Goodreads!

1.  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2013 Series Challenge

Since I am already reading firsts and seconds, I might as well go whole hog.  Book Stacks on Deck is hosting this challenge, and you should join.  I am!  Read more about the challenge HERE

I am shooting for The Obsessive with 16+ books in a series (not the same series necessarily - but not counting the firsts and seconds).

Check back for my progress here or follow me on Goodreads!

1.  A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin.  Two more to go!

2013 Seconds Challenge

Here's another nifty challenge hosted by Darlene - Seconds in a series.  Not time it takes to read them.  You should sign up too!  Learn more about the challenge HERE .

This is my sign up post for this challenge, and I am going for A Full Plate - 20 or more books that are the second in a series.  Check back here to see my progress!

1.  Rebel Heart Dust Lands #2 by Moira Young     (Team Nero!)
2.  Leviathan (The Fallen Book 2) by Thomas E. Sniegoski  (Books 1 & 2 were together and reviews are the same.)
3.  Son of the Shadows (Sevenwaters Book 2) by Juliett Marillier
4.  A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin

2013 Reading Challenge: Firsts in a Series

Darlene over at booknook has several challenges up and running and links to more.  This is my sign-up post for the Firsts in a Series, and you should too!

Since I have read several firsts, I am only aiming for Series Lover - 10 book that are first in a series.  Check back to this post for my progress!

1.  Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix  (January First)
2. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier (January fourth)
3. The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski
4. Foundling by D. M. Cornish
5.  Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.  At least - I am HOPING this is the first in a series!
6.  A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
7.  Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden
8.  Legend by Marie Lu
9.  The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
10.  A Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
11.  The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

      As my partner-in-(school)crime continues to write, blog, and write some more, I feel that twinge of jealousy.  I was hoping that this place would be our FAMILY archives to creative awesomeness, but it seems I might be the only one who loves to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, or blotchy pen to cocktail napkin...whatever is handy.  Maybe Sarah would give it a go.  She is my daughter (The MizRizSchyck's daughter for those of you that follow me on Twitter or Facebook), and she has a writer's voice that rivals mine.  I say rival because we have yet to have the ultimate throw down.  I think it may be on the horizon though.

     Are you up for it Sarah?  Huh?  Are you, punk?  Thrown down the challenge my dear, and let's get this party started.

     In any case, I may just take over this particular blog as a way to reduce the stress of, well - me.  Not only am I a legend in my own mind, but that legend often has to take a back seat to playing Mama, Teacher, sometimes wife but more often NAG, and general friend to is either a grand help or one Pear Cider away from being good for anything besides joining you for a wild rumpus.

     With that, let the wild rumpus begin.  Sarah - if you are out there, scanning the skies for your signal, here it is.  Commissioner Gordon has lit up the night.  Come and join the battle.  Throw down the gauntlet and pick you battle.  The challenge is on.