Continuing the agony

So, is writing a story supposed to be as agonizing as it is for me? Am I alone on this one? Does anybody else experience this? I'm not talking about writer's block - I'm talking about the simple, lazy at my core, I'd-rather-listen-to-music-on-Pandora-than-write-this-story type of agony. When I actually muster the discipline to sit down and begin to write, the lines flow and the story develops rather quickly. Some are amazed that I pen as quickly as I do. I, on the other hand, am constantly wondering if it's any good, no matter how fast or how slow I write!

Yesterday was a day of some discipline, so I have uploaded a few more pages to the story. Check it out here: Samuel's Umbrella. Please let me know what you think - and if you think there is any hope. Please, be brutally honest. I'm not interested in wasting my time on something that I'm ultimately not any good at. If there are seeds of potential, then let me know that too.

OK, writing this blog has given me some renewed discipline - I'm off to write a little more!! Wish me luck!

BookSprouting Review: The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper

The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper

Illustrated by Gabi Swiatowska

Reading Level: Preschool-2nd grade

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published: March 2007

Estimated Price: 16.95 USD

I hate to give away too much about the plot of a book but The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper is about...the golden rule! The story consists of a sweet dialog between a young boy and his grandfather after they see the rule graffitied across a wall. My favorite part is when the grandfather explains the different ways the golden rule is described in religions from Christianity to Buddhism. Gabi Swiatowska's illustration are beautiful and add an almost dream-like quality to the innocence of the text. Empathy, respect, and general consideration for the well-being of others is encouraged in this sweet and simple story. Scenarios ask the reader to consider how one should treat a new child at school and whether wars would exist if we all lived by the golden rule, making this a perfect tool to teach a vital lesson. After all, as the book explains, it all starts with us!

4 out of 5 sprouts

No One is Safe!

BookSprouting Review: Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson

Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson

Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

Reading Level: Baby-preschool

Comb binding, 40 pages

Published: July 2007

Estimated Price: 16.99 USD

There's not much I can say about Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson. The book is sweet as icing but as dense as sponge cake. Plot: Grandpa wishes to bake Grandma the largest cake ever for her birthday. Why? To show his love. Final result? Town party. It's fun to see the large quantity of ingredients that are needed for this feat and the batter that must be mixed and baked in the back of a pick-up truck, but I'm not sure how many times it will be read with each time keeping the humor and interest of the listener. The illustrations are amusing and perhaps 'take the cake' in this book. Found in the back pages is a recipe to make your very own 'whopper cake' guaranteed to fit in your oven. A nice touch I admit, but not enough for me to recommend this book.

2 out of 5 sprouts

BookSprouting Review: The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff by Ben Galbraith

The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff by Ben Galbraith

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Paperback, 32 pages

Published: March 2007

Estimated Price: $9.99 USD

The classic tale, Three Billy Goats Gruff, is given a smart update in this story of three grumpy, greedy, and grouchy fishing brothers who are responsible for capturing all the fish in a bay and polluting its waters. Naturally, the neighboring villagers are angered, as is the giant whale who calls the bay home.

While the ending of Ben Galbraith’s story may be a little dark, his work reminds me of some of Roald Dahl’s best: as in Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, horrible and selfish characters get their come-uppance.The author also manages to weave into the narrative an environmentally friendly message.

Alongside some of the most visually appealing and creative illustrations I’ve seen in a children’s book – the artwork is a blended collage of paintings and sketches layered with scanned images - tiny fish implore the reader in speech bubbles to recycle and think of the environment.

More of Galbraith's fantastic artwork can be found at his website

4 out of 5 sprouts

Better the Second Time Around?

“Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God’s image; but he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself…”

–John Milton

After failing to pre-order my Harry Potter book and therefore receive some kind of groundbreaking discount, I was forced to run to the bookstore down the block and pick up a copy off the shelf. I know I wasn’t at the midnight release, but I assure you, I’m a loyal fan. The 20% off sticker on the cover had me thinking I wasn’t losing out too much on the crazy online deals, but my glance to the back of the book had me cringing; how could any book be $45 CAN?! I know books are pricier up North than in the States, but $45?! It reminded me why I love used bookstores and lucky for me, the popularity of used books according to Publisher's Weekly makes it look like I won't have to buy new (and expensive) books too often!

Spurred by Amazon’s choice to sell used trade books in 2004, Book Industry Study Group commissioned a study finding that “used trade books had grown into a significant market, with sales estimated at $589 million in 2004.”

Still, after finding my go-to used bookstore out of business, I have to wonder, are they sure about the success of used books? They are, of course, just not about the used books in that quaint little store on the corner with the many dusty shelves and the lazy cats lolling about in the aisles (there’s actually a shop like that here in Montreal!) The competition has gone online. The article notes that “having no online presence can be fatal in the used book market. Jackie Smith is co-owner of Acres of Books in Long Beach, Calif., which her husband's grandfather opened in 1934. Though the company stocks 800,000 titles, it does not sell online and sales have been soft. Between competition from the Web and high rent, Smith said, she is watching the traditional used book business die.”

That’s a sad idea to this particular reader. The internet is great for many things, but there’s nothing like going into your favorite little bookstore to have a chat with the owner who can recommend you something he thinks you would like. That humanity lost in the tradition of books frightens me.

Read the whole Publisher's Weekly article here

And donate your used children's books to a worthy cause!

BookSprouting Review: Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published: December 2005

Estimated Price: $16.99 USD

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor will be adored by any child who loves the game of dress-up. Nancy lives in a flamboyant and "fancy" world of her own creation where things like lace socks are a must in order to play soccer well. Frustrated with her own family's lack of originality, she gives them lessons on how to be "fancy" like her. The family gets into the spirit of dress-up and make-believe and they all decide to go out and celebrate. An embarrassing moment for Nancy brings this little girl down to earth and back to the fact that her family is still her plain, old family and that that fact is okay with her. Although a sweet and fanciful frolic of a book, I still prefer a story with good lessons and this one just doesn't cut it for me. It pushes materialism a little too much and promotes originality through one's possessions, a fact I wouldn't love to teach to my own child. Still, the illustrations are fun and frilly and it teaches some "fancy" alternatives to "plain" adjectives. Although I turn up my idealistic nose to what this book says, as a young girl, I would have enjoyed it!

2 out of 5 sprouts