The Book Stacks

Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name!

The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then it’s your turn to come up with book titles containing the same word, without duplication (yes, that includes my titles.) I would also like the author, but that is just so I can find the book if I want to read it.

The current challenge: I challenge you all to reach 25 titles containing the weekly word by midnight Friday, (with no more than 10 titles commented per person and not including *my* titles in the total.)

My forfeit? I think for this first challenge, I’ll offer up one of my favourite poems that I’ve written: “Coffee Shop Poet Wannabe�? Ah, but that’s not all. I have in my possession a story I wrote in second grade that I am willing to type up - errors and all - and post here along with my poem if you can reach the goal.

If you don’t reach the goal, we’ll try again next week. If you reach the goal, I’ll have a brand new challenge for you next Monday along with a new forfeit (I’ll think of something really good).

(If you’re feeling pouty about the five titles per person limit, why not get a friend to come and comment as well? The more, the merrier.)

Today’s Word is:

Queen

I Say:

Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
Red Queen’s Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
The Kings and Queens of England and Scotland by Plantagenet Somerset Fry

You Say: …

A Book By Any Other Name, Queen of Sorcery, David Eddings, Red Queen’s Daughter, Jacqueline Kolosov, Arrows of the Queen, Mercedes Lackey, Queen of the Damned, Anne Rice, The Kings and Queens of England and Scotland, Plantagenet Somerset Fry

It’s that time again! Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name!

The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then it’s your turn to come up with book titles containing the same word, without duplication (yes, that includes my titles.) I would also like the author, but that is just so I can find the book if I want to read it.

Last week we didn’t make the goal, so…

The current challenge: I challenge you all to reach 25 titles containing the weekly word by this time Friday, (with no more than 5 titles commented per person and not including *my* titles in the total.)

My forfeit? I think for this first challenge, I’ll offer up one of my favourite poems that I’ve written: “Coffee Shop Poet Wannabe�? Ah, but that’s not all. I have in my possession a story I wrote in second grade that I am willing to type up - errors and all - and post here along with my poem if you can reach the goal.

If you don’t reach the goal, we’ll try again next week. If you reach the goal, I’ll have a brand new challenge for you next Monday along with a new forfeit (I’ll think of something really good).

(If you’re feeling pouty about the five titles per person limit, why not get a friend to come and comment as well? The more, the merrier.)

Today’s Word is:

Water

I Say:

Blood on the Water by P. N. Elrod
Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod
The Color of Water by James McBride
Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle

You Say: …

A Book By Any Other Name, Blood on the Water, P. N. Elrod, Something in the Water, Charlotte MacLeod, The Color of Water, James McBride, Like Water For Chocolate, Laura Esquivel, Many Waters, Madeleine L’Engle

Well, folks, this is it. Among other things, you have until midnight (Pacific Time) tonight for your last chance to make me write the poem that is the forfeit for A Book By Any Other Name. Last call for everything, really.

I started this blog a year ago, back when 451 Press was just starting out. It seems to me that there were about 20 of us in the beginning. I applied for a music blogging position, and casually mentioned that they obviously needed book bloggers. Surprise! Look what they offered me. I wasn’t too sure that I could do it, but I was glad to prove myself wrong. Now, one year later, I find that I am a professional blogger who is soon to be blogging for my day job, too. I have really enjoyed our conversations here. A special thank you goes out to Keith, who was my very first commenter. Comments are the life blood of blogs. They help you know that you’re not talking to a vacuum. So, thanks to all of you who have commented. You’ve made me feel welcome here. And that’s just cool.

I don’t know what else to say, really. I’ve enjoyed the Favorite Books and Reading Spots, the links and the book suggestions. Be sure to give JM a warm welcome when she starts next week. She was one of the other folks that started when I did, so I’ve had a year to read her blogs. She will do a fabulous job. (When she publishes a book, I’ll be glad to write a guest review so that she doesn’t have to write it and review it.) Be sure to stop by and check out my other blogs: Watching Doctor Who, Silliness.org, and the blog for the Fremont Main Library once it appears in a month or so (Library Time.)

As one of my best friends always says: Peace, Love and Other Indoor Sports (like Table Tennis) to you.
-Elisa

Thursday 13 #10
Today is my birthday, and I have officially been blogging here for a year. Yes, indeed. It seems like forever and no time at all, somehow. In the interest of having a little fun this week in order to honor this auspicious occasion, I have chosen Romances for my topic. And anyway, since I am handing this blog over to my good friend JM as of Sunday, this is my last chance to cover this topic for a Thursday Thirteen.

Romances. Some people devour them, others call them “brain candy” and dismiss the entire genre. I generally find myself somewhere in the middle. I’ll admit that my favorite sub-genre is “Damsel in Distress” which isn’t very modern of me. Perhaps it has something to do with my love of good Old-Fashioned Melodrama. (The kind with the booing and the hissing. That sort of melodrama.) So here is a list of 13 Romances That I Have Enjoyed. I would like to note here that I have enjoyed many more romances than this small list, but a lot of mine seem to still be in boxes. I’d love to get recommendations (especially in my favorite sub-genre) if you have some to offer.

1. The Littlest Cowboy by Maggie Shayne - This book is the first in the Texas Brand series. Yes, I have read the entire series. I have a weakness for series that go through and marry a family off, one by one. This book really sucked me in. Maybe it was the baby. Or, it could have been the wildly diverse family. It doesn’t matter. And yes. There was a bit of Damsel in Distress in this one.
2. Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer - This was the second Heyer that I read. I have a friend who is a big fan, you see, so I was given a list to read. Yes, it is a Regency. She sort of originated the genre, didn’t she?
3. Miranda’s Viking by Maggie Shayne - Oh. I want to read this one again. What happens when a frozen Viking found by archaeologists thaws out and wakes up? Well, when Maggie Shayne is the author, the answer is romance. I’ve read this one several times.
4. Thunder & Roses by Mary Jo Putney - This is the first in a fabulous Regency series called “The Fallen Angels”. It has it all. Danger, romance, scandal, and colliding worlds. Oh, and it has a historical note at the end as well. I love well researched books.
5. Out-Of-This-World Marriage by Maggie Shayne - This is another of Maggie Shayne’s romances with a bit of fantasy in it. Infamous in my family for being the romance that my Father read and enjoyed, my Mum and I both have copies. This is rare, as both of us have limited space for books. Woman from another planet comes to Earth. Romance and the usual government entanglements ensue.
6. An Angel for Emily by Jude Deveraux - What happens when a guardian angel falls for a mortal under his protection? Hopefully, the answer is true love. A “fish out of water” story, among other themes.
7. A Husband in Time by Maggie Shayne - Part of a series written by a bunch of different authors, but can, in my series obsessed opinion, be read alone. Another Maggie Shayne fantasy romance. This time including time travel, and boys who who have always wanted brothers.
8. The Rake by Mary Jo Putney - Only tangentially related to her Fallen Angels series, this Regency involves a Rake and a woman who is hiding from her past. Will alcohol destroy any chances that they have?
9. Jennifer’s Outlaw by Karen Anders - Stranger comes to town, intervenes in an argument, and is nearly killed in retaliation. Can Jennifer and Corey defeat their personal demons and find happiness? This book takes place nowish in a small ranching town.
10. Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney - This is my favorite book of the Fallen Angels Regency series. It follows Lord Robert Andreville (better known as Robin) upon his return home from the war, where he was a spy against Napoleon. He’s been gone a while. When he happens upon a young woman determined to walk to London, what can he do but make sure that she arrives safely? He thinks it will keep him distracted, but this trip won’t be as easy as it sounds. (Yes, Robin is my favorite hero of the series. He’s dangerous and a bit broody.)
11. Annie’s Hero by Maggie Shayne - Normally, I don’t like stories of reunited lovers. There tends to be too much baggage. This one is the exception.
12. Lady of Skye by Patricia Cabot - A Victorian-era story that takes place in Scotland that includes a new Town Doctor and the old Town Doctor’s daughter with a passion for medicine against a Cholera epidemic. Love manages.
13. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer - My favorite Heyer. Let’s just say that it’s best to avoid assumptions and leave it at that.

Thursday Thirteen, Romances, The Littlest Cowboy, Maggie Shayne, Friday’s Child, Georgette Heyer, Miranda’s Viking, Thunder & Roses, Mary Jo Putney, Out-Of-This-World Marriage, An Angel for Emily, Jude Deveraux, Husband in Time, The Rake, Jennifer’s Outlaw, Karen Anders, Angel Rogue, Annie’s Hero, Lady of Skye, Patricia Cabot, The Unknown Ajax

As this will be my last Book to Film post for this site, I’ve decided to go out with a proper update. So, here is the October update on the current status of the film projects that have been mentioned here up to this point (and weren’t already out on DVD as of the last update.) I hope that the list continues to be useful for you. Also, if you have any news about an upcoming film adaptation, please comment and let us know.

Alatriste: Appeared in US theaters 22 December 2006. No Region 1 DVD yet.
Artemis Fowl: Not on the IMDB, but the rumours persist.
Atlas Shrugged: Announced. Now listed as: “Back in development with Vadim Perelman.” Release 2008?
Atonement: Due in US Theaters 7 December 2007 (limited release).
Beowulf: In post-production. Due in US theaters on 16 November 2007.
Blood Ties: Currently playing on Fridays on the Lifetime Channel in the US.
The Boggart: In Development. US Theatrical release sometime in 2009.
Born to Rock: Announced with a release date sometime in 2007…no update yet.
The Bourne Ultimatum: Appeared in US Theaters 3 August 2007. No DVD yet.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: Currently filming. US release date - 16 May 2008.
The City of Ember: Currently Filming. Due in US theaters 10 October 2008.
The Cry of the Icemark: In development. Release date sometime in 2008.
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising: Currently in US theaters.
Deal Breaker: Announced with a release date sometime in 2008.
The Doubtful Guest: In Development. US Theatrical release sometime in 2009.
The Dresden Files: Season one is on DVD.
The Giver: In pre-production with 2009 release date.
The Golden Compass: In post-production. Current US release date - 7 December 2007
Gossip Girl: Currently on television.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Appeared in theaters 11 July 2007. No DVD yet.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Currently filming with a US release date of 21 November 2008.
Inkheart: In post-production. Due in US Theaters on 19 September 2008.
The Jane Austen Book Club: Currently in US theaters.
The Lightning Thief: In Development. US Theatrical release sometime in 2009.
The Kite Runner: Due in US theaters on 14 December 2007 (limited release).
The Lovely Bones: In pre-production with a 2008 release date.
The Martian Child: Due in US theaters on 2 November 2007.
Monster Blood Tattoo: In Development. US Theatrical release sometime in 2010.
Nancy Drew: Not yet out on DVD.
The Nanny Diaries: Appeared in theaters 24 August 2007. No DVD yet.
Nim’s Island: Currently filming. Due in US theaters on 4 April 2008.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2:In Post-production. Due in US Theaters on 8 August 2008
A Spell for Chameleon: Still listed as “announced�? with a theoretical release date of 2008.
The Spiderwick Chronicles: In post-production. Due in US theaters on 15 February 2008.
Stardust: Appeared in theaters 10 August 2007. No DVD yet.
The Tale of Despereaux: In post-production. Due in US Theaters on 19 December 2008.
Teen Idol: Announced with a release date sometime in 2008.
Tintin: In Development. US Theatrical release sometime in 2009.
True Blood (Sookie Stackhouse books): Appearing on HBO sometime in the Fall of 2007.
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep: Due in US theaters on 25 December 2007.

Alatriste, Artemis Fowl, Atlas Shrugged, Atonement, Beowulf, Blood Ties, The Boggart, Born to Rock, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Chronicles of Narnia, The City of Ember, The Cry of the Icemark, The Seeker: The Dark is Rising, Deal Breaker, The Doubtful Guest, The Dresden Files, The Giver, The Golden Compass, Gossip Girl, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Inkheart, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Lightning Thief, The Kite Runner, The Lovely Bones, The Martian Child, Monster Blood Tattoo, Nancy Drew, The Nanny Diaries, Nim’s Island, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, A Spell for Chameleon, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Stardust, The Tale of Despereaux, Teen Idol, Tintin, True Blood, Sookie Stackhouse, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday List. This is my last list of this sort (for this blog, anyway), so I thought that a bit of Douglas Adams would be appropriate. Once I get my library’s blog off of the ground (which should be some time in November *fingers crossed*) I’ll let JM know so that she can pass along the info. Thanks for all of your participation during Banned Book Week. It amazing how many books have been banned or challenged, and often it’s not the book you would expect.

Right then, on to the usual stuff:

Reminders: This is your last chance to send me submissions for “Favorite Reading Spots. So why not send me yours? Where do you prefer to read?

My version of The Monday Game (a.k.a. A Book By Any Other Name) ends this week, whether we reach the goal or not. Don’t miss your last chance to make me write that poem. I’m told that JM is planning on continuing the game, so don’t worry. But I expect that the prize will change.

The list of items I am currently reading:

The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference by Writer’s Digest Books - Not to self: add this to your birthday list.

Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott - I’m reading along at Fiction Scribe. I’m still behind, but I’m working on it.

Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern - I’m still on chapter one. I need to get some more of this read.

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley - My mail spot is organized and my sink is clean more often.

Doctor Who: Creatures and Demons by Justin Richards - I should be finishing this one tonight.

Mental_Floss (Sept./Oct. ‘07) - I love this magazine. Nearly done.

Oh, hey! I would like to remind you all that The Book Stacks is up for a Blogger’s Choice Award, so if you would be so kind as to pop along and vote for me, I’d be much obliged…and so would JM.

Tuesday List, The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference, Writer’s Digest Books, Bird by Bird, Ann Lamott, Organizing from the Inside Out, Julie Morgenstern, Sink Reflections, Marla Cilley, Doctor Who: Creatures and Demons, Justin Richards, Mental_Floss, The Book Stacks, Blogger’s Choice Award

Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name!

Before I begin this week, I have an announcement to make. This will be my last week with The Books Stacks. I will have been blogging here a year on Thursday (which is also my birthday) and it now looks like I will be blogging for my library (at some point in the not too distance future.) I expect to cover much of the same sorts of things on that blog. So, in an effort to avoid duplication, and because maintaining four blogs is really difficult for me to do with a full time job, I am turning this blog over to the fabulous JM on Sunday. You may know her from - Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and YouTube Digger (and if you don’t, you should stop by and check out her blogs.)

Anyway, I know that she will take good care of my baby. And this is your last week to reach the goal and make me write that poem. I think that JM will continue the game, but I don’t know what her choice for the prize might be. Good luck!

The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then it’s your turn to come up with book titles containing the same word, without duplication (yes, that includes my titles.) I would also like the author, but that is just so I can find the book if I want to read it.

The current challenge: I challenge you all to reach 53 titles containing the weekly word by Midnight Pacific Time this Friday, (with no more than 10 titles commented per person and not including *my* titles in the total.) As we are now in the second series of this game, I offer you a brand new forfeit. If you all get together enough folks and titles to reach the current goal, I will write a poem about that word and post it Saturday. What word will it be? The challenge will remain in effect until I have to post a poem, after which I will issue a new challenge. Good Luck! (Oh, and if you manage to come up with more than ten titles, why not get a friend to come and post them for you? The more, the merrier, and it looks great on my stats.)

Today’s Word is: Rain

I Say:

Rain of Gold by Víctor E. Villaseñor
The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander Mccall Smith
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema
The Rainmaker by John Grisham
After the Rain by Norma Fox Mazer

You Say: …

A Book By Any Other Name, Rain of Gold, Víctor E. Villaseñor, The Right Attitude to Rain, Alexander Mccall Smith, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, Verna Aardema, The Rainmaker, John Grisham, After the Rain, Norma Fox Mazer

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell was the most banned book of 2006 according to the ALA. Now, I can see why some folks may not like this cute story about a couple of male chinstrap penguins who hatch an egg and raise the chick together, but if they don’t like it, they don’t have to read it. That will not, however, change the fact that the book is based on a true story. A true story with a very high “awwww” factor, in my not so humble opinion. Yes, Roy, Silo, and Tango are real penguins that live in New York’s Central Park Zoo. I wonder how long penguins live. I’d like to visit this zoo (which was mentioned in Meg Cabot’s Princess Dairies by the way) and I’m not sure how long it will be before I can make it out there.

Henry Cole, the illustrator for this book, did an excellent job making each page visually interesting. Many of the pages have the same basic colors, so it must have been quite the challenge for him to add enough movement and body language among the penguins to accomplish this. The faces he drew for the penguins are very expressive, as you can see from the cover. The penguins do not speak for themselves in this book. The reader must rely on narration and the illustrations to understand what is going on. The authors do just as good a job with their end of things as the illustrator does with his. Apart from being a cute story, this book has teaches tolerance for non-traditional families and I feel that it does it well.

To sum up: This controversial book tells its story in a way that should be easy enough for anyone to understand. It is well written and entertainingly illustrated. Read it. Tell your friends about it. Annoy the folks who try to keep it from you.

And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole

Ah, the lure of the Forbidden. Generally all that happens when you challenge a book is that you make other folks curious, and then they want to read it. And then, chances are, someone will want to make a movie out of it. Which will, of course, make folks curious about the book again. Especially if you insist on protesting the film. All that does is provide free marketing. So, really, if you don’t like a book, that’s just fine. Don’t read it. The moment you try to stop others from reading it too, your attempts are just going to have the opposite effect from what you want.

Seriously. It’s like telling me not to touch something. I have never outgrown the childish need to come running over and say “I’m not touching it” while waving my hands really close to whatever the item is. Anyway, here is a list of Thirteen Banned or Challenged books that I have read. What Forbidden Literature have you perused? If you need a little memory jog, check out ALA’s Banned Books Site.

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Liked it)
2. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling (Loved them)
3. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Depressed me)
4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (It was okay)
5. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Liked it)
6. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (Loved it)
7. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (Liked it)
8. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (Liked it)
9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Liked it more than I expected to)
10. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Loved it)
11. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (Depressed me)
12. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein (Loved it)
13. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney (Liked it)

Be sure to check out the Thursday 13 over at Write Anyway. It is all about Freedom this week. (I should know…I’m guest posting there while JM is away.)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl, A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle, In the Night Kitchen, Maurice Sendak, Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton, Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes, A Light in the Attic, Shel Silverstein, The Face on the Milk Carton, Caroline Cooney

Did you know:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was banned in China (1931) for portraying animals and humans on the same level.

Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl because it is a “real downer.”

Gulliver’s Travels was denounced as wicked and obscene in Ireland (1726).

James and the Giant Peach has been challenged at the Pederson Elementary School in Altoona, Wis. (1991) and at the Morton Elementary School library in Brooksville, Fla. (1992) because the book contains the word “ass” and “promotes” the use of drugs (tobacco, snuff) and whiskey.

Le Morte D’Arthur was challenged as required reading at the Pulaski County High School in Somerset, Ky. (1997) because it is “junk.”

The Lorax was challenged in the Laytonville, Calif. Unified School District (1989) because it “criminalizes the foresting industry.”

Where the Sidewalk Ends was challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wis. school libraries (1986) because the book “suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents.”

Where’s Waldo? was removed from the Springs Public School library in East Hampton, N.Y. (1993) because there is a tiny drawing of a woman lying on the beach wearing a bikini bottom but no top.

Harry Potter tops the list of the most challenged books of the 21st century.

Celebrate your freedom, and remember to join me tomorrow to talk about your favorite banned books.

Information sources: The Forbidden Library & ALA

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Gulliver’s Travels, James and the Giant Peach, Le Morte D’Arthur, The Lorax, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Where’s Waldo?, Harry Potter

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday List. It’s Banned Books week! Join with me to celebrate freedom by reading something that people have tried to stop folks from reading. Celebrate your Intellectual Freedom!

This week I am reading a book that one of my friends lost when someone close to her burned it. For the record, I would have never even known that The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference existed if her book had not been destroyed. So if you are out there reading this, book burner (which I doubt, but stranger things have happened) know that you have not achieved your aim. In fact, you have only encouraged us to seek out this book and read it ourselves. For my part, I think that this book will be really helpful if I ever get the time to do more writing. I am putting it on my birthday list.

On Thursday, I will be posting a list of 13 Banned or Challenged books that I have read. Which of the books you have read fall into this category? The American Library Association has lists of books that have been challenged if you would like to start a reading list. For example: The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 and The 10 Most Challenged Books of 2006.

Right then, on to the usual stuff:

Reminders: I am still accepting submissions for “Favorite Reading Spots,” with or without photos, at this time. So why not send me yours?

The Monday Game (a.k.a. A Book By Any Other Name) has begun anew. The goal is currently 53, and the forfeit is now a poem. Stop by and check it out!

My current list:

The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference by Writer’s Digest Books - I’m learning all kinds of neat stuff.

Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott - I’m reading along at Fiction Scribe. I’m still behind. Serves me right for getting sick.

Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern - I’m still on chapter one.

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley - So far my kitchen sink is clean and I’m working on the bathroom.

Doctor Who: Creatures and Demons by Justin Richards - I’m on the last page. Yay!

Mental_Floss (Sept./Oct. ‘07) - I love this magazine. Not much left to go.

Real Simple (April 2007) - My mother subscribes and passes them along to me when she’s done. 2 pages to go.

Oh, hey! I would like to remind you all that The Book Stacks is up for a Blogger’s Choice Award, so if you would be so kind as to pop along and vote for me, I’d be much obliged.

Tuesday List, The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference, Writer’s Digest Books, Bird by Bird, Ann Lamott, Organizing from the Inside Out, Julie Morgenstern, Sink Reflections, Marla Cilley, Doctor Who: Creatures and Demons, Justin Richards, Mental_Floss, Real Simple, The Book Stacks, Blogger’s Choice Award

Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name!

The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then it’s your turn to come up with book titles containing the same word, without duplication (yes, that includes my titles.) I would also like the author, but that is just so I can find the book if I want to read it.

The current challenge: I challenge you all to reach 53 titles containing the weekly word by Midnight Pacific Time this Friday, (with no more than 10 titles commented per person and not including *my* titles in the total.) As we are now in the second series of this game, I offer you a brand new forfeit. If you all get together enough folks and titles to reach the current goal, I will write a poem about that word and post it Saturday. What word will it be? The challenge will remain in effect until I have to post a poem, after which I will issue a new challenge. Good Luck! (Oh, and if you manage to come up with more than ten titles, why not get a friend to come and post them for you? The more, the merrier, and it looks great on my stats.)

Today’s Word is: Red

I Say:

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Red Queen’s Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Red-Hot Monogamy: Making Your Marriage Sizzle by Bill Farrel and Pam Farrel
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

You Say: …

A Book By Any Other Name, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bridwell, Red Queen’s Daughter, Jacqueline Kolosov, Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls, Red-Hot Monogamy: Making Your Marriage Sizzle, Bill Farrel, Pam Farrel, The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane

Do you enjoy reading bestsellers? Have you ever thought about what might have been a bestselling book before your time? Just for fun, today I offer you a bit of trivia about a few books you might recognize. (source: Cader Books. As near as I can tell, these lists relate to numbers in the USA.)

The Crisis by Winston Churchill was number 1 on the Fiction best seller list in 1901. His book The Crossing was number 1 on the 1904 Fiction Best Seller list. In 1906, his book Coniston was also number 1 on the list. Quite the bestselling author, eh?

The Hound of the Baskervilles by A. Conan Doyle ranked number 7 on the 1902 Fiction best seller list.

The first three books on the 1902 list were: 1. The Virginian by Owen Wister, 2. Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch by Alice Caldwell Hegan, and 3. Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall by Charles Major. The following year, The Virginian came in at number 5, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch was number 6, and Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall didn’t make the list.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin placed 8th on the 1904 list.

At number 8 on the 1905 list was Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth. This same book placed 9th on the 1906 list.

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair was number 6 on the 1906 Fiction best seller list, which placed it above The House of Mirth, but below Winston Churchill’s latest blockbuster.

Oh, and just for fun, the wikipedia says (and I’m not sure how valid it is) that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has sold more copies than Lord of the Rings. An interesting fact, if it’s true.

The Crisis, Winston Churchill, The Crossing, The Hound of the Baskervilles, A. Conan Doyle, The Virginian, Owen Wister, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, Alice Caldwell Hegan, Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall, Charles Major, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin, Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, The Jungle, Upton Sinclair, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Lord of the Rings

Thursday 13 #8

Hello all! This week I offer you thirteen picture books that I love. It shouldn’t be too surprising to discover that I have reviewed every one of these books before. If you would like to know more about my opinions on each book that “I love this book” click on the book title, and it will take you to a review of the book. Yes. I love picture books and I really enjoy discovering new gems of the genre. Do you have any favorites to recommend? Do you agree with my selections? Please let me know.

1. Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
2. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
3. Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watts
4. The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Marianna Mayer
5. The Adventures of Cow by Cow (as told to Lori Korchek and photographed by Marshall Taylor.)
6. Sector 7 by David Wiesner
7. Mucky Moose by Jonathan Allen
8. Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall
9. The Moon Singer by Clyde Robert Bulla
10. Mars Needs Moms! by Berkeley Breathed
11. Art Dog by Thacher Hurd
12. Frederick by Leo Lionni
13. Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

Thursday 13

The film adaptation of Atonement by Ian McEwan has already arrived on the big screen in the UK, but it will also be arriving in the US (in limited release) on 7 December 2007. It is a story of tragic love, misunderstandings, and war. The trailer pretty much tells you everything else. Oh, and the film is rated R. Enjoy!

Atonement, Ian McEwan