Challengers

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When S and I were planning our wedding, we couldn’t decide on a first dance. We didn’t have a song that represented us, or signified a special moment or memory (well, we did have some, but they weren’t exactly slow songs). So, the music lover he is, S made me a mix CD of songs he thought would work, and I chose from them.

One of the songs was “Challengers” by The New Pornographers. He chose it specifically because of the following line:

“Whatever the mess you are, you’re mine, okay.”

This line was for me. I’m kind of a mess sometimes. Apparently I look really fine on the outside, but believe me, balancing a job and writing and, well, life, has its moments. I get frazzled. I talk to myself. I obsess over the smallest insignificant things. I’m moody. And I daydream constantly.

But here’s the thing – I’ve come to realize that this mess I am is perfect for writing. These things I daydream become scenes. These moments I obsess over become scenarios (loosely). These conversations I have in my head become dialogue. I’ve learned to channel my craziness into something. Granted, I’m still a mess often. I still forget to do the dishes. I still have random mood swings. But most of the idiosyncrasies S has become accustomed to I’ve learned to deal with.

Because in my head there are voices and there are characters just dying to come out. So I put my fingers on the keyboard and write them. I let their stories flow in ways they want. And sometimes they work, and sometimes they don’t, and sometimes I Just end up with rubbish. But I guess, at least in the case of TNWSY, sometimes they become characters other people want to read about, too. My mess became something real and tangible. And the coolest, weirdest, most exciting thing is that one day you’ll get to meet these characters, too. They’ll be real to you, too.

We didn’t end up going with “Challengers;” despite the line, it just wasn’t right. We, instead, used R.E.M.’s “At My Most Beautiful” which really is quite beautiful and perfect for us. But it’s not that moment – that first dance – that I think best showcases our marriage. It’s every day. It’s him accepting me for the mess I am. Like the song says, it’s finding ways to make one another smile. Even at our worst. Even at our best.

Graphic Novels

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A few months back, a mom came to the library with her young son (about fifth grade) in tow. She told me he hated reading. She wanted to fix that, but nothing seemed to grab his interest. So I asked him what he liked (cars? sports? ninjas?) and what some of his favorite movies were. He liked action and adventure, but just couldn’t get into reading. So I brought him to the kid-friendly graphic novels and gave him Stormbreaker, the Alex Rider adaptation.

His mom was a bit tentative at first – a graphic novel? really? – but was fine with it in the end. I explained how graphic novels are fantastic books to get kids into reading because they contain pictures, but aren’t picture books. The kids still read the text, but they don’t have to imagine what’s going on – it’s right there. And while the imagining part is (in my opinion) the best part of reading, this can get a kid into reading until they’re ready to lose the artwork. (Or, continue reading with the artwork – but I’ll get to that later.)

To my surprise (and complete delight) his mom came back a few weeks later and told me how much he’s enjoying the Alex Rider graphic novels, and how he wants more. I recommended a few other series, and was so happy with the update. I also gave her the non-graphic Alex Rider books, as well as Percy Jackson, in case he wanted to jump onboard there. And if he wasn’t ready? Well there are bunch more graphic novels to delve into. 

This has worked a few times since (other popular graphic novels): Smile, Babymouse, Big Nate, and, for a little older, BONE, Artemis Fowl, The Lightening Thief, and even the re-done Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew stories), and encouraged me to not only read those books, but look into YA/adult graphic novels, too. I was raised with Catwoman and X-Men comics, I delved into Sin City, Hush, and Sandman in college, and later Scott Pilgrim when the movie came out, but since then it’s been strictly books.

But you know what? There are some fantastic graphic novels out there! Much like my fiction, I stuck to contemporary (no superheroes, that is), and checked out the following books that I HIGHLY enjoyed:

  • Blankets by Craig Thompson (very long, very beautiful story about family, faith, and first love)
  • War at Ellsmere / Friends with Boys / Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong all by Faith Erin Hicks, with the later written by Prudence Shen. (Three awesome stories that taught me to love Hicks’ drawings. The first is about a girl’s first year at boarding school, and the chaos that ensues. The second follows a girl’s first year in high school as she makes friends and is haunted by a ghost. The third is about a gaggle of kids trying to win a robot battle, and the bonds formed when forced to work together.)
  • Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgaol (Another story of a girl being haunted by a ghost, and growing up.)
  • Drama by Raina Telgemeier (Drama happens both on and off-stage.)
  • Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (I’m pretty sure everyone knows this powerful story by now, but I’m happy I finally read it.)
  • Cardboard by Doug Tennapel (Cardboard monsters come alive!)

And you guys? I think i’m hooked. Many of these stories boiled down the high school/college experience with few words and beautiful drawings. The simplicity of the text is brought to life by beautiful drawings. And most of the time, the text is just as beautiful. I can’t wait to read more.

Graphic novels – great for kids and adults.

We All Go A Little Crazy Sometimes

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A few months back, S and I bought our first house. It’s a lovely three bedroom house with walls and floors and everything else I can aptly call mine now. One of my favorite spaces is our back porch. It’s where I get the majority of my writing and reading done (even during hot Florida days).

Oftentimes, though, I find myself simply sitting outside and staring at our yard. At the trees beyond our yard. At the houses and neighborhoods and streets leading towards different areas, different lives. And I get lost in thought and when I’m brought back, I feel content.

Sometimes I try to replicate that feeling of drifting, and it…doesn’t go as well. So I sit there, and force myself to stare. And the following conversation usually takes place in my head:

Look at you, just relaxing. Isn’t this great? It’s great. You should feel at ease. Not a worry in the world. Look at the bird! He’s flying! See? Good job, Lauren, you’re observing. You’re not worried about deadlines or housework. Or dishes. I should probably wash the dishes. And clean the kitchen floor. No! You’re relaxing! Did my phone just ring? Oh, I should add that phone call to the next scene. I should write. I need to write. Oh, but there are only two more chapters to the book I’m reading. Did I order the next book club book for the library? Is relaxing done yet? 

This is why yoga and I usually don’t get along. When forced I’m not very good at being zen.

Loving Frenchie

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To go off my last post, there’s another book I was swept away by, but I’m giving it a post of its own. This may be because I adore the author and watched the book grow from sent-to-editor to publication. Yes, I’m being totally biased in my push for people to buy/borrow/just plain read this but, but at least I’m being honest about it, right?

Anyway.

Happy book birthday to Jenny Torres Sanchez’s DEATH, DICKINSON, AND THE DEMENTED LIFE OF FRENCHIE GARCIA!!!!

It is the summer after Frenchie Garcia’s senior year, and she can’t come to grips with the death of Andy Cooper. Her friends don’t know that she had a secret crush on her classmate, and they especially don’t know that she was with Andy right before he committed suicide. The only person who does know is Frenchie’s imaginary pal Em (a.k.a. Emily Dickinson), who she hangs out with at the cemetery down the street.

When Frenchie’s guilt and confusion come to a head, she decides there is only one way to truly figure out why Andy chose to be with her during his last hours.

To mimic Stefan for a second, this book’s got everything. A night of craziness. Graveyard secrets. Poetry. Swan boat theft.

(It also received a Kirkus starred review!)

Seriously, it’s a wonderful, wonderful book about a girl coming to grip with the fact that some people have more going on than what’s shown, some people have secrets no one knows, and sometimes no matter what you do, you cannot reach them. It’s about realizing some situations aren’t always black and white. That not every event has a perfect solution. And that sometimes you just need to accept the unknown.

Frenchie is one of those real characters that sticks with you. She’s not perfect, but she knows it. And I think readers will remember her for quite some time. Go read, and let me know what you think.

RTW: Swept Away

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This week’s Road Trip Wednesday asks: What’s been your most surprising read of the year so far—the book you weren’t sure about going in that really swept you off your feet?

Because I’m wordy, I’m going to answer with THREE books:

TRINKETS by Kirsten Smith

Moe (the outcast), Elodie (the innocent new girl in town), and Tabitha (the most popular girl in school), are polar opposites. But they all have one thing in common – they shoplift. They’re caught. This is the story of them meeting at a shoplifters anonymous group, and learning that each girl is more than meets the eye. I was surprised with how much I really, really liked this book. The chapters rotate back and forth, narrated by each girl (Moe in diary entries, Elodie in verse, Tabitha in first-person narrative), and it’s really wonderful seeing them grow and change. It’s real, it’s fun, it’s lovely, and I’d recommend it to anyone.

WINGER by Andrew Smith

Ryan Dean West is a 14-year-old junior in boarding school who’s in love with his best friend, Annie, and living in the “bad kids” dorm due to hacking into a cell phone. This year, he wants to prove himself. Winger is hilarious, heartwarming, perverted, and just…wonderful. It’s long, but I wanted it to be longer. You get so wrapped into the lives of all the characters that you feel like it’s your school and your friends. And the twist ending is completely, heartrendingly, earned. Loved it.

WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple

The premise of this book is fantastic – a mom, Bernadette, has disappeared. Her daughter compiled every e-mail, memo, letter from the days leading up to the disappearance, and that’s what you’re reading. You’re reading a woman’s struggle through her correspondence, through situations that she’s going through. The characters are beautifully brought to life, especially Bernadette who is absolutely hilarious, with her weird hatred of Seattle, her hidden past, her annoyance with neighbors. This received a 2013 Alex Award, and I can totally see why. Absolutely loved.