PANTS!

My impatience has been somewhat rewarded--I finished Louise Rennison's newest Georgia Nicolson book, Stop in the Name of Pants! Let me begin by saying, I love the title. (And perhaps too like a 15 year old girl I like to say Pants randomly in conversations.) I always welcome new Georgia books because I'm always a bit curious about what sort of muck she'll get herself into this time. Well she's pretty much stepped in it this time. She very obviously is attracted to Dave the Laugh (ok, ok, obvious for the rest of us) and should clearly be with him, but would rather be prancing about with Masimo, the Luuuuurve God. She really needs to learn that it's more important to be with someone you're really comfortable with rather than someone who is gorgeous to everyone else. However poorly I presented it, Georgia should be with Dave. Leave Robbie & Wet Lindsay to themselves, and Masimo should find another girl (though he is very keen on her).
It felt like not much happened in this one (they go so quickly) and I feel that has been the trend for the last couple of books. I won't stop reading them because they are such fantastically fun reads. But for what the books present not much happens at all. Entertaining, definitely, but not worth a purchase. Check it out from your library.
I'm on to Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne and enjoying that thus far. This is a poor rambly post but I'm slightly distracted.
Keep reading.
yours,
the Savage Librarian.

The Little Lady

You know, there are certain 'endearments' and 'pet names' I find kind of demeaning. Little Lady is one of them, but remarkably, Hester Browne's character Mel turns it into a whole job.
Melissa bounces from temp job to temp job and is trying to find some permanent use for her organizing abilities and skills. She gets caught up in something a bit tawdry and as naive as she is, she doesn't realize it's bad thing until the bad thing starts to happen. So. Being the proper and intrepid British Miss she is, she starts her own business, the Little Lady Agency in which Melissa transforms into Honey Blennerhesket, a flirtatious, easy going, life of the party young woman who will clean up bachelors ("Homme Improvement"), buy presents for mothers, girlfriends, and families of bewildered men, as well as pose as a date for those who don't want the fuss of an actual relationship. Mel's own family situation is somewhat nightmarish and owes her father (an MP) a fairly substantial sum so is working to pay it back. Her younger sister is getting married. Her mother is essentially her father's secretary and treats her not so grandly. Mel gets into her own trouble when she starts to fall for one of her clients and begins blurring the lines between work and her actual life and even wonders if perhaps the one for her may be her flatmate.
A quick, fun read, The Little Lady Agency is a good light summer read, chick lit with a little bit of brains and a boost to our self-esteem. I've picked up the second book, Little Lady, Big Apple which I'll read as soon as I finish Stop in the Name of Pants! (Yes, it finally came in and I'm already half way through it. It shouldn't take me more than a couple of days at the most.) It's pretty neat (and annoying) when one book leads to the next and you get caught up in a character's life and are eager to read the next one ....
Keep reading and in the meantime I remain your wrapped in a book Savage librarian.

The Dark Knight

I seem to get rather caught up in my books, but I saw The Dark Knight on Sunday. It is excellent. I certainly think Heath Ledger did an excellent job, but as for it being award worthy, I think I agree with my friend, who said he would have to check out the competition first to see if the performance truly was. There was more of Christian Bale as Batman and as Bruce (with Alfred) and less of him being playboy Bruce Wayne, which I kind of like, because playboy Bruce Wayne can be a little annoying (but the gravelly voiced Batman gets a bit annoying; must be only to me). Michael Caine is an excellent Alfred and did quite well again; Morgan Freeman had a fantastic line and delivered it so deliciously well that it made his little screen time worth it; Aaron Eckhart is good as Harvey Dent, the White Knight; Gary Oldman as Detective Gordon I think was better this time than in Batman Begins; and Maggie Gyllenhaal made an interesting Rachel Dawes. I highly recommend the film. It's well done (yay for Chicago landmarks!), though it moves a little slowly. It doesn't drag, but you can feel the length of the movie, if that makes any sense.
Right. Did see another dvd, but eh, not so great: My Mom's New Boyfriend. Good for Antonio Banderas, Selma Blair, and Colins Hanks, but forget Jim Carrey's annoying sound, listen to Meg Ryan's screeching in that movie. It made me want to stab my ears so I wouldn't have to listen to her. Oh, and the guy who played Keith Mars on Veronica Mars had a very funny bit part and was almost worth the screeching. Definitely check it out from your local library, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as renting it (unless you have a slight obsession with Colin Hanks. Not that I would know anything about having a slight obsession with Colin Hanks).
I remain, the tired Savage Librarian.

Reign vs. Rule

I finished Sovereign Ladies: The Six Reigning Queens of England by Maureen Waller on Monday. It is a very good book. I know I usually don't begin with such a simplistic statement, but I'm still a little awed by Waller's writing. It's a history book, and as much as I love history and usually slog through history books, Waller's writing style is incredibly easy to read and moves the book along a nice pace. To finish a history book in a week? That's rare for me (especially as this one is some 500 pages). Waller's discussions of Mary I, Mary II, and Anne I found particularly interesting as I don't think I knew as much about them as I do about Elizabeth I, Victoria, and Elizabeth II (which to be honest is a whole heck of a lot). I don't know if in my study of the periods I never really thought about women's roles before or Waller just pointed it out nicely for me, but she took into account that these women were raised and trained a certain way, and had to deal with being women in powerful positions at times when normal (for lack of better term) women had no power (Elizabeth II excluded). Mary I, Waller points out, was basing her idea of rule on the stories of Ferdinand and Isabella, her grandparents, and how Isabella retained rule of her lands but shared power with Ferdinand. Perhaps these stories were simply fond memories her mother, Katherine of Aragon, had, but they had quite an effect upon Mary, who was looking for some aspect of her life to go well and happily and thought marriage would be it. Mary II was content to obey her husband, William of Orange, in whatever he decided to do (William is an oddity as he reigned after his wife died, whereas Philip II did not, and after William, not of the Queens' consorts have been given the title of King; George of Denmark, Anne's husband, even though she did fight for the King title for him; Prince Albert, Victoria's husband, and Prince Philip, Elizabeth II's husband). I'll go and on about this book and the random little nuggets of knowledge I learned from it if I don't contain myself. Waller poses a question in the epilogue of whether or not there will be a monarch after Elizabeth II; will the British people decide they've really just had enough and dissolve the monarchy? What a time that will be. She also seems to think that Elizabeth II is going to beat Victoria's reign of 64 years. (This has been a small guess of mine for years and at 56 years she's getting closer.)
I've gotten a good third of the way through The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne. Melissa needs a job and ends up creating an agency for poor London shlubs who can't seem to dress themselves nicely or get any kind of girl. She attempts to help them out (as a different person of course). It's a nice fluffy read so far and I'm liking, I admit, I'm liking this chick lit. I'll see how it ends though because I have an idea of how it should end in my head and I'm beginning to think that's not the direction the story is going.
Until I finish that one and can give you a proper review, I remain your Savage Librarian.
PS--Still no Stop in the Name of Pants! It's driving me crazy!

3 of 6

In my slow going goal this year of reading all 6 Austen novels, I've just reached my half way point. I finished Sense and Sensibility over the weekend and I'm amazed at how fast it went. For some reason the first couple times I tried to read it, I simply could not get through it. I didn't eventually read it all the way through once and was fairly determined not to read it again. But if I'm going to read them, I've got to read all of them. Something about this book has risen in my estimation, or for some reason I have more patience with it than I have had previously. I like the story, particularly Elinor and the situation she finds herself in, and it was less painful than anticipated. There are parts in the book that are not in the movie version Emma Thompson was in, and it was nice to have those tiny fresh reminders that movies indeed are definitely not the books. Elinor forgave Willoughby awfully easily in my mind; I do not forgive easily when it comes to people hurting my family or my close friends. Elinor is supposed to pity him because he has no money or was too spendy with it in the past? He put himself in this whole. Granted, he won't be happy in his marriage, but as Marianne reflects, if he had married her and had no money, he would not have necessarily been happy either. The Middletons and Mrs Jenkins are most certainly nosy and entertaining to read about (I certainly wouldn't want to spend a great deal of time in company with people continuously prying into my private life). I used to steer people away from Sense and Sensibility because I had such a difficult time reading it, but I think that perhaps I will amend my status on this Austen novel.
The remaining three I have to read are: Mansfield Park, Persuasion, and Pride and Prejudice. I have read each of these at least twice before (P&P I've read every year since 1998) and am only debating on which novel I should end. Persuasion is slowly becoming quite a favorite with me; is it possibly it could overtake P&P? I am not yet certain. Though there is something about Anne Elliott I identify with perhaps more than Elizabeth Bennet. Friends have placed me as a Jane Bennet in regards to the Bennet sisters, and I see that as accurate. But Anne--! I identify with Anne, especially as I am someone who holds on to affection even when it appears there's no chance of it succeeding. As does Jane Bennet, come to think of it, and Elinor Dashwood to an extent. Picking up on a pattern?
Still waiting for Stop in the Name of Pants! In the meantime I've picked up a gigantically daunting history book, Sovereing Ladies: The Six Reigning Queens of England by Maureen Waller and while it is a subject I knew I would enjoy, I have to say that I am most impressed with the writing style. As much as I love history, I have a difficult time getting through history books they're usually written in such a dry, dull style (I am sorry to pain history writers, but in my limited experience it's true, and I usually dig my heels in and get through the books because the topics themselves are fascinating) but Waller tells a story and she tells it well. I'm getting through it at a surprising pace for myself and certainly am enjoying. Only on Queen Elizabeth I thus far. Waller brings up many good points about Mary I without absolving her of blame. Before I get too far however, I'll finish the book first.
Steeped in reading, I remain, your Savage Librarian.

Royal Stories Flourish

I have a combination of materials to discuss this morning, 2 dvds and 2 books (I've sped through them). Let's start with the movies:
I watched Wallis & Edward earlier this week, starring Joely Richardson (of Nip/Tuck) as Wallis Simpson. Most accounts I've heard or read or seen of the Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson story paint Mrs. Simpson in a most unflattering light. (I have not heard/read/seen many versions of the story, though I do own Edward VIII's book, A King's Story, which I have yet to read.) This film was interesting because it showed a very tender, loving relationship between Edward and Mrs. Simpson, she being more concerned with his happiness than herself. Edward VIII is painted as needy and slightly controlling as well as very very stubborn. She continues to tell Edward VIII not to give up his birthright for her, that they don't need to be married, that she'll leave the country, anything to help him focus on his duty as King. Edward VIII will not be deterred. He wants her as a wife and is willing to abdicate to get her. Which is precisely what occurred. Most of the stories paint Mrs. Simpson as being the one who forced Edward VIII to abdicate, that it was entirely her fault, that her influence caused him to quit the throne, to support Nazis, etc, etc. But Wallis & Edward portrays Edward as the more forceful character in the relationship. It was definitely an interesting film and pretty good. I recommend.
I know this is a loose connection to royalty, but the next film out on dvd is Persepolis (it talks a little bit about the Iranian royalty--yes, that's my flimsy connection). Based on Marjane Satrapi's two graphic novels, Persepolis and Persepolis 2, the film tells her story of growing up in Iran during the revolution and war. The film is beautiful, staying true to the tone and story of the books (well, definitely the first book, I haven't read the second one yet), is touching and funny, heartbreaking and angering. Marji is close to her parents and grandmother and it must have been a confusing time to grow up, revolutions, the danger faced by family members who oppose the government, the slow tightening restrictions placed on women in Iran. Her parents eventually send her to Vienna, to get her out of the country. Vienna is not the place for Marji and she spends a miserable time there, only to return to her family and Iran. She struggles to make it work in that country, where her family is, where she bases her identity. But disagreeing with much of what is happening in the country (as well as having had a taste of what was happening elsewhere in the world) make it difficult for Marji to find herself at home. A brilliant film. I highly recommend.
On to the books! Finished Yxta Maya Murray's The King's Gold, the second in the Red Lion series, taking place 2 years after The Queen Jade. Once I got a bit beyond the odd way Lola gets involved with this adventure. A man shows up at Lola's bookshop, waving a letter from about 1554 at her, from Antonio Medici who claims to have taken some of Montezuma's gold back to Italy. He is writing the letter to his nephew Cosimo, whom Antonio has little affection for. In the letter, he challenges Cosimo to follow the clues in 4 cities to find this vast trove of gold. Lola, being Lola, simply can't resist. The mystery man is actually Marco Moreno, the son of Colonel Moreno, one of the men chasing after Lola, Erik, and Yolanda in Guatemala. Marco is ... not a nice man. Charming, certainly. Intelligent, definitely. Dangerous, without a doubt. And yet Lola goes with him and his two bodyguards, Domenic and Blasej (big beefy intimidating guys), to Italy to decipher this strange letter, to determine if it is authentic and if she could somehow possibly help find Montezuma's gold. Forget the fact that she and Erik are getting married in two weeks. Minor details. Lola arrives in Florence with Marco, wanting to be there, knowing who Marco is and what he intends to do to her and her family should she not help him. And it's definitely not nice. Erik, concerned by Lola's crazy rambling text-messages she managed to send to him before Domenico broke her phone, jumps on a plane to Florence himself and meets her where she and Marco have gone to authetincate the letter. Erik gets caught up in the mystery (and the threats) and the five of them start to the first city, the first clue. Perilous traps have been laid by Antonio for his nephew Cosimo, and danger is in every step of the way. It wouldn't be a Red Lion book if the whole family wasn't around, so of course, Yolanda shows up to help Lola track, and Juana and Manuel show up because they like adventure. Nothing is quite straightforward in Murray's novels, so the treasure that awaits them at the end is not entirely what was expected. Definitely good and there's a lead in to the next novel which hopefully won't be too long in the writing.
Finally, I got around to reading The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, the book I was so triumphant in finding for one of my patrons about Queen Elizabeth II walking her dogs. The Queen falls in love with reading in this novella ("One has always read," she says), and her duties fall a little to the wayside. She would much rather be reading (wouldn't we all). She tries to discuss her new found passion with visiting heads of state as well as asking people in the crowds what they're reading. It stumps them all. She determines that reading is too passive and that one must write, but she must now determine what it is she's going to write. An interesting short read. Passable.
I've started Sense & Sensibility (book 3 of my Austen year) and keep thinking it might go faster than it has in the past (for some reason I had such a difficult time getting through this book--before I read it all the way through, I must have started it at least twice). I'm only about 20 pages in, so it could be too early to say. I started this one because I'm waiting for Louise Rennison's Stop in the Name of Pants! to come in at the library. I must know what's happened with Georgia! Dave the Laugh, Massimo, AND Robbie?? What's a girl to do?? And her titles really do suit me; I laugh at them all the time.
As I continue to wait (impatiently), I shall remain your Savage Librarian.

Even 100 years later, love triangles stay the same

In Rumors by Anna Godbersen, the second of the Luxe novels, Penelope Hayes, Diana Holland, and Elizabeth Holland are back for more. It's been two months since Elizabeth's 'death', and Diana is impatiently awaiting the moment she can see Henry Schoonmaker again. The seemingly perpetual playboy was forced into an engagement with Elizabeth by his father and her mother (the Hollands are in some financial difficulties). While keeping up appearances with Elizabeth, Henry fell in love with reckless, lively Diana. As Rumors opens, Henry is supposed to be in mourning for Elizabeth but is pining for Diana just as much as she is for him. He wants nothing more than to be with her, spend time with her, and yes, even marry her (the only girl he's met who could draw him into marriage, he's convinced). However when Henry reveals his passions to his friend Teddy, Henry is reminded of the strict rules society lays down that would certainly frown upon Henry marrying his dead fiance's sister (this sounds like a soap opera). The Hollands, their financial crisis not ending upon Elizabeth's death, are trying to keep afloat and their lives together and Mrs Holland has now pinned all her hopes on Diana for a rich catch (Henry is never thought of by Mrs Holland). Penelope is playing the virtuous changed young woman, Elizabeth's death having a profound effect upon her and trying to take up the role as the well behaved rising social sweetheart (even though Penelope knows Elizabeth's not dead and hates the person she's becoming). She has set her sight on Henry, remembering their lustful trysts of the previous summer, willing him to love her as she loves him. Elizabeth makes an ill-advised return to Manhattan in response to a slightly panicked telegram from Diana. Will travels with her and the rumors of Elizabeth perhaps not being dead at all abound in Manhattan. In the meantime, Diana and Henry give in to their passions and are quietly discovered. Penelope of course discovers this and gives Henry and ultimatum. I only have on real complaint with the book. I find the way that Godbersen keeps Elizabeth in Manhattan a terrible direction to take the story with her character (there are so many other options that would have left me much more satisfied as a reader), though admittedly, I will read the next book, if only to find how the Holland girls will get out of the messes they're in.
Just barely started The King's Gold by Yxta Maya Murray, the second in the Red Lion Series. An interesting opening thus far. I'm curious to find out how this one will work out. Until that's finished, I remain your Savage Librarian.

Impressive Pixar

I went to see WALL-E last night. Perhaps I should first admit that I continue to enjoy Disney animated films and probably will for the rest of my life. The film is fantastic, funny, heartfelt, with the just the slightest bit of preaching (very slight--we have to take care of the planet and we should get out from behind our electronic gadgets and see things). I have yet to be disappointed in the films Pixar produces (even the short films are wonderful) and look forward to what they do next.
WALL-E is left on Earth to clean up. The planets a mess and the people have all fled to a giant space cruise ship called the Axiom to await the planet being able to support life once more. (The ship has been built by the global corporation Buy N Large, which appears to have taken over most of the world, and its global CEO is played by Fred Willard!) It's been 700 years and WALL-E is the only robot left, and his companion is a cockroach. Enter EVE, who is dropped off and continues to scan the planet with WALL-E tagging along behind her. Just when she becomes less annoyed with WALL-E and more fascinated by him, she finds what she's looking for, which shuts her down. The ship that dropped her off picks her up and WALL-E, so fascinated with EVE, hitches a ride on the spaceship and ends up on the Axiom with her. On the ship are people who are have not left their little hover chairs for, well, the entirety of their lives, and lots of robots who do things for them. WALL-E, just as he did on Earth, gets in the way. Constantly. (And is very jealous when it appears EVE is flirting with another robot.) But it's impossible not to fall under this little guy's spell, awkward as he is, who even manages to save the day. Highly recommended for everyone.

Anne-ish

Finished Mable Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril, and Romance by Marthe Jocelyn yesterday. It was so nice to read a book in a day again. In 1901, Mable (14) moves to Sellerton, Ontario with her sister Viola (19), who will be the new teacher in town. They are boarding at the Goodhand family farm, consisting of Mr & Mrs as well as son Alfred, who is twenty years old. Mable tells her story by way of journal and a few letters received from her mother (written to both daughters) and her friend Hattie. Mable fancies herself a bit of a writer and creates this drama starring Helena who is first running off with the Scoundrel James, and then is abducted by Train Bandits, while her jealous older sister Myrtle tries to worm her way into their father's favor. Mable has a great imagination. She befriends Alfred's cousin Elizabeth, even though the two continue to battle as Spelling Bee team captains (Mable of the Cheerful Commas and Elizabeth of the Happy Hyphens). When I first began reading, Mable reminded me much of Anne Shirley, but as I continued in the book, with Mable meeting Mrs Rattle (who wears bloomers! Scandalous!) and getting involved (however peripherally) in Mrs. Rattle's suffragist movement and fight for fair working conditions at the area cheese factory, Mable began to question why Viola was only going to teach until she got married, why couldn't Viola teach as a married woman, why Mr Goodhand seems to think women are good only for work in the kitchen and the farm, why reading would be a 'waste of time' for women, and why, during the protest held by the women workers at the cheese factory would the owner not discuss terms with Mrs Rattle but when the male farmers approached him, the owner was willing to discuss (and change!) working conditions. Mable is torn between what is expected of her (to find a way to make money to help her mother until she is married) and speaking her spirited, opinionated mind (which gets her into trouble more than once). She's not all thought and philosophy, however, and does have fun with her classmates and friends. Definitely a fun, quick read for probably 4-5th graders, and recommended.
In other news, I've discovered that the final Princess Diaries book, Forever Princess, will be published in January of 2009. I can hardly wait! It's only six months, it's only six months ....
About to begin Rumors today, the second Luxe novel by Anna Godbersen. A few friends have already read it and I'm definitely looking forward to that one.
In between reads I remain, impatiently, your Savage Librarian.