Breaking News: Lancelot was NOT a hottie

First of all, it turns out that I really know very little about the Arthurian legends. Here are some things I've learned from The Once and Future King: 1. It's spelled Merlyn. 2. It's spelled Guenever.
3. Lancelot is considered quite ugly. 4. This is not the authoritative volume of all things Arthurian. There is actually a series of books by Sir Thomas Malory collectively called Le Morte d'Arthur (I've just ordered the first book so get ready for that in the future) which were referenced more than once in The Once and Future King. This was a beautifully written book and had me so caught up that I actually missed my stop on the train...twice. It's full of damsels in distress, knights in glittering armor, love beyond measure, and above all chivalry. There's a reason that many consider this book to be the best fantasy novel ever written.


You know how websites recommend items to you based on earlier purchases? Well, as you know I have a fondness for children's literature especially German-to-English translations. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that the next book I'm reading was originally written in German and has been (thankfully) translated to English. Have any of you heard of The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear (Zamonia #1) by Walter Moers? Neither had I but apparently it's what would happen if J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends), and Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) had a baby. I'm 53 pages in and I can confirm that this is indeed the case. I can't wait to review this for you guys!!


I hope the weather isn't tamping down your enthusiasm for reading. What are you guys reading right now? Any recommendations for me?

A++ children's literature

I have a lot to say about The One and Only Ivan so get ready. Firstly, I'd like to thank Katherine Applegate for getting it. She understands the importance of children's literature and how it can fundamentally change the life of a child when they find the "right" book. I bet that this book would be just exactly right for a lot of children (and adults if they gave it a shot). As frequent readers of the blog will know, I am passionate about cultivating lifelong learners and lovers of reading. It is heartening to see this passion take the form of an excellent book for children. Secondly, I had no idea that the seed of this story was based off of a true tale. There really was a gorilla that lived in a shopping mall for almost 3 decades. (Just typing those words makes me ill.) Of course, the rest was fictionalized as the story is narrated by Ivan and it would be impossible to know what he was actually thinking and/or feeling during and after his captivity. Thirdly, I appreciated that the back of the book included Applegate's Newbery Medal acceptance speech. She touched on the importance of allowing children to read books that might make them sad or angry. For some reason, parents are always wary of allowing their children to experience any kind of negative emotions in literature. Do they truly believe that kids have no concept of pain, fear, or sadness? Wouldn't it be better if they read about it and discussed it with their parents afterward in a safe and loving environment? What if by reading a book that made them think and question the world around them they became more well-rounded human beings? In conclusion, don't censor your child's reading. If they want to read a comic book, let them. If they want to read a series with a gazillion books in it, let them. If they want to read Little Women, let them. And if they want to read this book, read it with them.

Many, many moons ago I read a book which blew my mind. The name of this book was The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and it told the story of the women from the Arthurian legends and in particular Morgaine. Until I had read this book, I hadn't really given a whole lot of thought to the story of Arthur, his knights, or Merlin. After I read it, I kinda wanted to go on an epic quest with only females by my side. Since then, I've learned a wee bit more about these mythical men (thanks Merlin!) but I think it's time I read the book that started it all. That's right. It's time for The Once and Future King by T.H. White.