The Books That Changed My Life: Part One

I'm currently reading a work called The Book That Changed My Life, a compilation of essays written by famous authors, which tell about the books that changed their lives. Jack Prelutsky writes about how A Child's Garden of Verses got him interested in poetry. Jacquelyn Mitchard was so enchanted by A Tree Grows in Brooklyn that she named her daughter after the novel's protagonist, Francie Nolan. And Michael Stern waxes poetic about the wonders of the old Sears Catalogue.

This got me to thinking about the book that changed my life. There were many to choose from, but it was very difficult for me to think of that one. So I started thinking about my favorite books of all time. That made the search a little easier. And I soon realized that there was one book that I always came back to, that I always mentioned in any favorite book list. However, I will publicly admit that I wasn't so enchanted with this book when I first became aware of it.

I received Anne of Green Gables as a present for my 11th birthday. At the time, the original Anne of Green Gables miniseries was on the air, all over PBS, and was hugely popular among girls in my age group--well, most girls. I refused to watch the miniseries; it was so girly, and as a tomboy, I HATED lots of girly things. I especially hated period works and historical fiction. I remember reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond in the fourth grade and hating every minute of it. At the time I was really into the Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Teens books, fluffy reads about girls my age. I was also seriously into science; my favorite book at the time was the Golden Books guide to rocks and minerals, which featured the most gorgeous illustrations I had ever seen.

Out of respect for the friend who gave me a copy of Anne of Green Gables, I started to read it. Well, I tried to read it, Lord did I try. I couldn't get beyond the chapter where Marilla doesn't even say hello to Anne before deciding to send her back to the orphanage--simply because she was a girl.

I was already living my own adolescent drama. I didn't need to read about it. I know what you're thinking--didn't the Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins series have their own supposed adolescent drama? Yeah, but I knew that all the problems would be resolved at the end of the book, much like my favorite sitcom at the time, Full House. I was well aware that problems couldn't be solved in half an hour in real life, which is one of the reasons why I used Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins to escape. Marilla Cuthbert was the antithesis of all of these happily-ever-after stories, and was all too real for me.

Plus, the book was too girly for me--all of those long dresses, lace, and updos. And it was old fashioned--no tv or radio, and lots of talk about things with "little scope for imagination."

I put the book away, but kept it. It lay on my bookshelf until the summer before I was a high school freshman. I took it with me on our annual vacation to Long Beach Island; I was older, and not as much of a tomboy, and thought I'd give the book another try.

I couldn't put it down and finished it in half a day.

I saw a lot of Anne in my eleven-year-old self. She really wanted to be something that she wasn't; she didn't want her red hair, but wanted it to be a "raven's hair black". So she did something about it--she bought some hair dye from an Italian salesman that promised that raven's hair black she so craved. And the result? Hair that was more parrot's green than raven's hair black.

As an eleven-year-old, I myself wanted to be something I wasn't. I wanted to be a child actress in Hollywood, playing all sorts of roles on TV, playing characters that weren't like me at all. I craved escape from my hometown, escape from my family, escape from my school--but mostly, escape from myself. And try as I could, I could never escape from being who I was--an eleven-year-old girl, with brown eyes and dark, curly hair, living in a Connecticut suburb full of eleven-year-old girls with blue eyes and straight, blonde hair.

As Anne matured, so did I. In my early teens, one of my favorite parts about the novel was that Anne was able to keep her grades at the top of her class, but also keep her friends. No one regarded her as a nerd, and I really liked that. I wanted to have what Anne had: intelligence, and popularity. I had the intelligence as a kid, but never the popularity. I stayed on the fringes throughout my schooling. Anne gave me hope that it was okay for a girl to be intelligent.

After that summer, I saved my babysitting money for trips to the mall, where I would dart immediately to the bookstore and buy the next books in the Anne series, and read them all with great relish. One I finished reading about Anne, I moved on to more Lucy Maud Montgomery books, among them, Emily of New Moon, The Story Girl, Kilmeny of the Orchard, and Pat of Silver Bush. All of the protagonists in these books were orphans like Anne. While I also enjoyed these works, none of them had the spirit, verve, or heart of any of the books in the Anne series. The Anne series developed characters you could really relate to, characters whom the reader had a special relationship with. I had trouble relating to the characters in Lucy Maud Montgomery's other books; they just didn't have the spunk or personality that Anne Shirley did.

This year is the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables. While I have no plans to head up to Prince Edward Island this year, I do plan to reread the Anne series to mark the occasion.

As for my original copy of the book, I recently gave it to a ten-year-old girl at my church. (I received a three-volume set as a Christmas gift when I was a freshman in high school). This little girl reminded me of myself as a ten-year-old: full of spunk and energy. I thought that this book would be perfect for her. I hope she grows to love it as much as I have...even if she waits a few years to read it.

Another childhood icon lost

To me, Jim McKay WAS the Olympics. For as long as I can remember, I was glued to the TV whenever the Olympics and Jim McKay were on. And my parents didn't mind; they figured that the Olympics only came around once every four years, so what harm could it do? When the Olympic broadcasts moved to NBC, it just wasn't the same without Jim McKay.

He was also the Wide World of Sports, a program that my father never failed to miss. Many a Saturday afternoon was spent watching this program with dear old dad.

And now, a farewell article to Jim McKay, courtesy of Sports Illustrated online.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/06/07/obit.mckay.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Summer reading!

I originally started this blog last summer, as a way of posting critiques of the various books that I have read. Last summer I read 28 books. As summer officially approaches, I'm starting to think about the books I may read this summer.

This year I'm thinking about revisiting the books that I had to read for my Honors English class during my sophomore year of high school. Out of all of the English courses I took during my schooling, this was the year filled with the books that I enjoyed the most, books that have stayed with me for more than fifteen years. We started off the year with a mythology unit, and we read various Greek and Roman myths. I still have the anthology that we used for this unit. We then progressed to The Odyssey, which remains one of my favorite stories, even though I haven't read it in years. After we finished The Odyssey, we moved on to Wuthering Heights, then The Catcher in the Rye, Flowers for Algernon, and, finally, A Separate Peace.

I really can't think of any occurring themes that link all of these books together, since this English class was a survey of different genres of literature, with a lot of grammar thrown in. I give mad props to my English teacher for helping me master English grammar and for teaching me to write a good research paper. Mrs. Juda, if you ever read this, THANK YOU!!

I took two of Mrs. Juda's classes my senior year. During the first semester I took English Literature, where we read Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, and one of Shakespeare's plays. (Sadly, I can't remember which one we read, but I want to say it was Hamlet. Oh, I just remembered--we read Macbeth sophomore year as well). During the second semester I took American Literature, where we read a lot of Thoreau and Emerson. I became very interested in the transcendentalist movement as a result of this course. Sadly, I don't remember reading any novels in American lit; as a second-semester senior, my focus was on counting down the days before graduation and going to college.

Last year I bought The Canterbury Tales at my favorite used book store. If I have the opportunity, I plan to re-read it this summer. We only read a handful of the Canterbury Tales; since I attended a Catholic high school, there were some tales that weren't appropriate for us to read. (Ironic, considering that The Catcher in the Rye was--and in some places, is still--a banned book).

However, before I read any of those glorious novels, I need to get through The Devil in the White City. That's the latest book that my book club is reading, and at last check, no one has started it yet! Guess I'll have to start cracking soon...

In the meantime, here's some more books I want to read this summer:

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
Teacher Man, by Frank McCourt
The Brooklyn Follies, by Paul Auster
Lake Wobegon Days, by Garrison Keillor
The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant
Blackberry Wine, by Joanne Harris
In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson
The Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson
Neither Here Nor There, by Bill Bryson

And there are a few more, but that's for another post. I'm currently reading an anthology of essays about "the book that changed my life", and that's one I plan to re-read this summer. The next time I write, I shall post about this wonderful work that has affected my life so dearly.

The Wisdom of Big Bird

Over the past few years, we have lost some treasured childhood icons: Mister Rogers. Captain Kangaroo. (And for those of us raised on The Carol Burnett Show, Harvey Korman). Yet one childhood icon continues to touch us all through his work on Sesame Street: Muppeteer Caroll Spinney, or, as he is otherwise known, Big Bird.

In 2003, Spinney published The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers. This tome isn't really a memoir, nor is it a straight collection of anecdotes from the Sesame Street set. Spinney groups his memories in a series of life sessions, which serve as the chapter titles. You will find such chapters as "Listen to Yourself", "Listen to Your Cabbie", and "Don't Let Your Feathers Get Ruffled."

The chapter "Don't Let Your Feathers Get Ruffled" addresses the growing popularity of Elmo, that little red monster that has captured the hearts of millions of 21st century preschoolers. Notice how I say 21st century preschoolers. As a 20th century preschooler, for me, Big Bird remains the one true symbol, the core, the heart, the epitome of Sesame Street. I will admit that Elmo has grown on me, but I just can't stand how, in today's marketing age, where EVERYTHING has an endorsement, so many things are Elmo-driven. (Today, in K-Mart, I saw a Hannah Montana DVD player and a Hannah Montana iPod docking station. But that's another post for another day).

Spinney writes about the Big Bird-to-Elmo transition in a very professional, respectful manner: "The Bird was still in almost every episode of the show, but there was a new kid in town. I had to get used to sharing the attention, both in terms of my characters, and myself." (p. 125) "Sharing and cooperation, getting along with others, and recognizing one another's strengths are some of our most important social messages, after all. I think there is enough room on Sesame Street for everyone." (p. 126)

You won't find any juicy behind-the-scenes gossip in The Wisdom of Big Bird. The closest thing that this book comes to such dish is when Spinney describes the making of the special Big Bird in China, and writes about its director, Jon Stone, a major force in getting Sesame Street on the air: "...for some reason that I've never been sure of, he went through periods of not liking me at all. So, while I knew the choice of Jon Stone would make it a difficult trip, I also knew that it would result in a very good show." (p. 87)

Two portions of the book almost reduced me to tears. The first portion was when Spinney wrote about the death of Will Lee, the actor who portrayed Mr. Hooper. You know how there are those who remember exactly where they were when JFK was assassinated? I remember where I was when the episode with Mr. Hooper's death aired: it was the day after Thanksgiving, I was 7 or 8 years old, and I was at my aunt and uncle's house. I had a lot of trouble watching that episode, as I'm sure other kids my age did at the time. Spinney confirms that there wasn't much acting during the scene where the adults tell Big Bird of Mr. Hooper's death; it was all honest, raw emotion that the actors felt upon the death of a family member.

The other tear jerking moment occurred as Spinney wrote about his boss, the late Jim Henson. As a rabid Muppet fan, Jim Henson's death was devastating for me. I was a freshman in high school, and it was the same day that Sammy Davis Jr. had died. (Talk about losing your childhood icons!) Spinney remembers Henson fondly, not just as a boss, but as a friend. Not only was Jim Henson the man who helped further his career, he was also responsible for Spinney meeting his wife. (Spinney's wife worked at CTW when they met).

Caroll Spinney writes with modesty, gentleness, and humility--something that is rare in many show business professionals these days. However, he is very aware of Big Bird's status as an American pop culture icon, but writes about it in a "gee, I can't believe it happened to me" attitude, which is refreshing.

I recently learned that there has been another Muppeteer apprenticing Caroll Spinney in the event that he can no longer perform Big Bird--and that this apprentice has gradually been assuming more of the Big Bird role. Given Spinney's age--he's 75 as of this writing--that is not surprising. However, the potential loss of yet another childhood icon is almost too much for me to bear.

The Bookkitten's iPod Playlist, Week of June 1st

We approach the half-way point of 2008 with this playlist:

1. "Hooked on a Feeling," Blue Swede
2. "California," Phantom Planet
3. "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen
4. "It's My Life," No Doubt
5. "Celebrate Me Home," Kenny Loggins
6. "Superstar," Sheryl Crow
7. "These Are Days," 10,000 Maniacs
8. "Over the Wall," Debbie Gibson
9. "Summer in the City," The Lovin' Spoonful
10. "Cornography," Brad Paisley
11. "Can't Fight the Moonlight," LeAnn Rimes
12. "This is My Life," Phil Vassar
13. "Brick," Ben Folds Five
14. "Get Down Tonight," KC and the Sunshine Band

More Steve Kluger goodness!

Shortly after I finished Almost Like Being in Love, I re-read Steve Kluger's first novel, which I read at the beginning of last summer. Last Days of Summer is, like its successor, written in the epistolary format, told through letters, matchbook covers, Western Union telegrams, and newspaper articles.

The novel begins in 1940. The New York Giants are playing at the Polo Grounds. Hitler's power is rising in Germany. And Joey Margolis, a twelve-year-old Jewish boy, moves to an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn after his parents' divorce. He lives in an apartment with his mother and Aunt Carrie. He and his best friend, a twelve-year-old Japanese boy named Craig Nakamura, are subject to many beatings from the neighborhood kids. Joey's father won't spend time with his son, but has plenty of time to take his new wife to Monte Carlo. The lack of attention from his father is what leads Joey to "a life of crime," at one point resulting in a stay in Juvenile Hall after urinating in the Central Park reservoir.

Joey starts to search for a father figure, and finds one in the temperamental, hard-living, fast-talking third baseman for the Giants, Charlie Banks. He starts writing letters to Charlie, claiming a variety of diseases such as malaria, in order to get his attention. Charlie doesn't fall for this, yet he still responds to Joey's letters. In spite of the rocky start, the two eventually develop a warm relationship. One summer, Joey becomes the bat boy for the Giants. Charlie stands up for Joey at his bar mitzvah when his biological father won't. Joey even helps Charlie romance one of the most popular female singers of the time, Hazel MacKay.

Under Charlie's guidance, Joey matures. He gradually stops getting into trouble, and learns to stand up for himself. Joey is still troubled, however, by some other issues of the day, namely the beginnings of World War II. And two thirds of the way into the novel, the war plays a crucial role.

If anyone has ever had a surrogate parent in their lives, or any other adult that they otherwise looked up to during their youth, Last Days of Summer is the perfect novel. If anything, I loved this novel for the clever storytelling. I really admire Steve Kluger's creativity in the epistolary novel--and that alone is reason enough to read it.

R.I.P. Harvey Korman

Last night we lost one of the funniest comedians ever. I grew up watching Carol Burnett and Friends at my grandmother's house, and loved every single second of that wonderful show. Every time I caught it in reruns I would always remember the time I had with my grandmother.
It was especially worth it to watch, if only to see Harvey crack up every time he had a sketch with Tim Conway.

Also, who can forget Harvey as "HEDLEY Lamarr!" in that Mel Brooks classic, Blazing Saddles.

In tribute, here is what is arguably in the top 5 of the best Carol Burnett Show skits ever.

Rest in peace, Harvey. You will be missed.

Procrastination

I have a lot of chores to do in preparation for my parents' visit tomorrow, so I am procrastinating. I was reading an issue of my old high school's newspaper, and it has one of those random questionnaires that you get on E-mail every now and then. So here are the questions, and my own personal answers:

1. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I don't believe in keeping secrets from people. I'm an open book with most people. I wear my heart on my sleeve.

2. If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be, and why?
Michelle Duggar. I'd like to know what it's like to have 17 kids in one household (and there's one on the way!)

3. If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you want to be stranded with, and why?
Tyler Florence. We'd eat well, and he's easy on the eyes.

4. What words of wisdom do you live by?
Carol Burnett once said, "A lot of comedy is tragedy plus time." I believe in finding the humor in any situation. I don't know how I could live without a sense of humor.

5. What are three things that you cannot live without?
Laughter, music, and my books!

6. Who or what always makes you laugh?
My friends, because we know how to push each other's buttons and harass each other.

7. What annoys you the most?
People who don't take responsibility for their own actions.

8. What would be the first thing you would do if you won 10 million dollars?
Pay all my debts--credit card, mortgage, and student loans.

9. What would be your personal theme song?
"The Glory of Love," Bette Midler

10. What would your first action as President of the United States be?
I would have to do two things first--bring our troops home and lower gas prices!

11. What movie could you watch over and over again, and why?
Any Christopher Guest movie. I love satire.

12. If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
Stop the insanity! Love, don't hate!

13. If you could ask God any one question, what would it be?
What do you have in store for me five years from now?

14. If you could have only one food for the rest of your life (assuming that this strange situation would not affect your health), which food would you choose?
Pasta. Glorious pasta.

15. If you could hear what someone was thinking for a day, who would you choose, and why?
Paris Hilton. I'd like to know what it's like to be that rich and own such expensive dresses that are only worn once.

16. What is your greatest ambition in life?
To be happy and have no regrets.

17. Who is your hero, and why?
My second grade teacher. She was the first adult, other than my parents, to really see the potential in me, both academically and personally.

18. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Sydney, Australia. I've heard so many stories about the land Down Under that I am really curious about what it's like.

19. If you could manage any professional sports team, what would you choose?
The Carolina Hurricanes, so I can bring 'em back to Hartford, and we'd have the Whalers back again.

20. What would be the title of your autobiography?
The Gospel According to Kitten.

21. What magazine do you always look forward to getting in the mail?
Allure. I am a sucker for makeup and skin care products.

22. What random fact are you most proud to know?
I know so many random facts, it's hard to choose one. Let's just say people hate playing Trivial Pursuit with me. :)

Away for a while...

I will be away for the next few days. I'm going to be busy with work and family commitments. I will post when the mood strikes, and if I'm not too tired. I know I promised Memorial Day pics; those are forthcoming.

Until then, dear readers, amuse yourselves with the archive. Yeah, I know it's not much, but I've blogged at least 4 or 5 times more in 2008 than I did in 2007 (I really don't feel like doing math right now, the brain is tired). Feel free to leave a comment or two.

See y'all soon...

Kitten

Three books in three days!!!

This makes me a very happy bookkitten, indeed! Let me tell you about my 3rd read: Almost Like Being in Love, by Steve Kluger, who is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Yes, I know, I have stated in my profile that I am not a fan of romance--but this is a Steve Kluger novel!!!! I just love the guy's way of storytelling. He doesn't write a story in a beginning to end essay format, no!! He writes using multiple formats. For example, in the same chapter, you can find the story unfolding through checklists, E-mails, newspaper clippings, customer comment cards, and even court documents. Occassionally the characters pop up and write narratives to fill in some gaps, but the frequent changes in format is what keeps the story moving along and exciting.

The story starts unfolding at a fictional Tarrytown, New York prep school in 1978. Travis is a senior in love with Broadway, Barbra Streisand, and Brigadoon. (Brigadoon will play a major underlying role in the story; if you are familiar with the musical, you'll recognize the title of the story is also the title of one of its signature songs). Craig, also a senior, is the campus jock, a champion quarterback and dyed-in-the-wool Red Sox fan. Both meet while working as crew members for the school musical, Brigadoon, and very rapidly fall in love. Three months later, by graduation, the duo has sublet an apartment in a Manhattan brownstone, started working for a record shop, and begun planning for the rest of their life together.

Then college intervenes. Travis attends USC, and Craig winds up at Harvard. They lose touch shortly after they start freshman year.

Fast forward twenty years. Craig is a successful attorney living with his partner in Saratoga Springs. Travis is an American history professor at USC. Travis hasn't quite gotten over Craig, and one day, while on a date with the school's hunky associate librarian, hears the tune "Almost Like Being in Love" for the first time in twenty years.

At that moment, he decides to put his life on hold and search for Craig.

With not many leads, Travis suddenly remembers that Craig's mother is a doctor in St. Louis, finds her name, and calls her. Not much comes out of that one phone call, so Travis decides to hitchhike to St. Louis, fake appendicitis, and make an appointment to see Craig's mother.

This is when he learns that Craig's mother is an OB-GYN.

Undeterred, Travis sneaks into Craig's mother's office while the cleaning crew is there (and past the security guard) and raids her Rolodex to get Craig's contact information. Long story short, after he is jailed for trespassing and then bailed out, he and his new waitress friend decide to make a cross-country trip to Saratoga Springs to find Craig.

Meanwhile, in Saratoga Springs, Craig has a successful law partnership with his best friend, Charleen, from his Harvard days. His partner, Clayton, owns a successful hardware store. Clay is a little possessive about Craig and won't let him do anything that is attributed to his passion: civil rights and politics. Naturally, when Craig decides to run for office, Clay blows a gasket.

As all of this is going on, Craig and Charleen are working on a child custody case with a minor league baseball player in Utica named Jody. Jody likes Charleen, but Charleen resists his advances...at first.

Finally, Travis DOES make it to Saratoga Springs and meets up with Clay. Travis is determined to hate him at first...but ends up liking him!!

OK, with all of these situations in the pot, is anyone getting confused yet?

I won't spoil the end for anyone. Kluger certainly has a way of keeping his readers in suspense, which is why I had trouble putting this book down. Who will end up with who at the end? I can't tell you! You're just going to have to read the book!

NYAH! (Sorry, just had to throw that in). :)

Summer in the City

"Do you remember the best summer of your life?"

This was printed on the page before the title page of Marjorie Hart's charming memoir, Summer at Tiffany. In Ms. Hart's case, the best summer of her life was the summer of 1945, when she and her best friend, Marty, traveled from their Kappa sorority home at Iowa State to Manhattan in search of a job at a department store. After being turned down by such stores at Lord and Taylor and Bergdorf Goodman, the girls set their sights on Tiffany and Co. Thanks to the aid of an "important business reference" from Marty's father (that's to say, a VERY rich man who is a VIP customer at Tiffany's), the girls land jobs as pages and become the first women to ever work the sales floor at Tiffany's. (Back in those days, men worked the sales floor, but most of the men were off to war).

Hart writes with such an innocence and thrill--omygosh, I'm working at Tiffany's!--that you feel like you're right there with her. I must admit I was envious as she described the Bonwit Teller shirt dresses, shaded in Tiffany's trademark aqua, that she and Marty had to wear each day. She writes about the thrill of seeing Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli stop by on their honeymoon and recalls how happy Ms. Garland was to be there with her new husband. She writes about modeling earrings for the heir to the Woolworth fortune. She writes about her lessons in sniffing brandy, a lesson that a salesman in the china department taught her--on a luxe table setting in the china department--just as Charles Tiffany himself stops by for a visit. She writes about lunching at the Automat each day, carefully monitoring her budget so that they could pay the rent.

In between the innocent thrills of a twenty something Iowan discovering the big city for the first time, there are some serious moments. World War II is never far from Hart's mind, as she writes about her romance with a midshipman. She also writes about the excitement of being in Times Square on VJ day--the crowds, the confetti, and the joy that overflowed from everyone. She recalls the memory of a cousin who perished over the Pacific and its effect on her family.

Summer at Tiffany is a light read, but fortunately not too fluffy. Hart does a good job of balancing the thrills of discovering New York City with the seriousness and tragedy of World War II. I managed to finish the book in two hours and didn't put it down once. One of the reasons why I liked it so much was that it was a warm tribute to a New York City that once was--glamorous, a lot more innocent--and a New York City that, sadly, will never be again.

Somehow, this seemed to be a very fitting read for Memorial Day.

The Bookkitten's iPod Playlist: Week of May 25th

Last week I made a playlist exclusive to Memorial Day. Today, however, was a day to put the iPod on shuffle, and decided to let iTunes create the playlist for me. There are some real goodies on this one:

1. "Love Song," Sara Bareilles
2. "Friends," Bette Midler
3. "Won't Go Home Without You," Maroon 5
4. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," Vicki Lawrence
5. "You Get What You Give," New Radicals
6. "Back to Black," Amy Winehouse
7. "She Will Be Loved," Maroon 5
8. "Home," Michael Buble
9. "Manic Monday," the Bangles
10. "Pleasant Valley Sunday," the Monkees
11. "Sway," Michael Buble
12. "Should've Been the One," Debbie Gibson
13. (I Just) Died in Your Arms," Cutting Crew
14. "So Far Away," Carole King
15. "But You Know I Love You," Bill Anderson
16. "Song Sung Blue," Neil Diamond
17. "Sunday Morning," Maroon 5
18. "That Was Then, This Is Now," the Monkees
19. "Bamboleo," the Gypsy Kings
20. "Good Times," Chic
21. "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)," Aretha Franklin
22. "Amazing Grace," Bill Anderson

Dude, where's my posse?

Today was a beautiful, beautiful day--absolutely perfect as far as Memorial Day weekends go. I got my parade in, and it was lovely and moving and quintessential Americana. I even finished my light, fluffy read and it was quite enjoyable indeed. I put the iPod on shuffle earlier today and came up with the best playlist in a long time--which, of course, I will post very soon.

I am feeling relaxed, chill, content--the first time in a loooooong time I've allowed myself to feel this way. And I'm not about to give up that feeling, either. Maybe it's because the book I just read was so good. I started reading it last night, picked it up after the parade this afternoon, and finished it twenty minutes ago.

When a book absorbs me for that long, I literally get transported to the setting of the book. And what better place to be transported to than Paris?

A Town Like Paris starts off in a somewhat cliched manner. Bryce Corbett, our hero, is an Aussie ex-pat working for Sky News in London. He is having trouble recovering from the end of a nine-year relationship with his high school sweetie. He hates London, and hates his job.

So what is a man in his late twenties to do when he is disgruntled with life? He fakes portions of his resume, sends it to a company based in Paris, and gets called for an interview. What was intended to be an all-expenses-paid jaunt to the City of Light just for the sake of skipping work for a day unexpectedly leads to an offer, followed by a move to Paris.

Our hero then moves to an apartment in the Marais, complete with tacky 1970's furniture and 1870's orange fabric lining the walls. When he first moves in, Corbett experiences culture shock and has trouble figuring out his way through such French customs as the "ticket restaurants", that is, the eight-Euro allowance that some employers provide for their staff to have lunch at a restaurant. Corbett marvels at how his company won't let him eat lunch at a desk, but actually makes him take an hour--a WHOLE hour--to eat a good meal at a restaurant.

At first, Corbett is very lonely in his new surroundings, and starts to question the wisdom of his move. Then the "Paris Posse", a group of ex-pats of various nationalities, enters the picture, and the book really takes off. As I read the anecdotes of the group's adventures, from their gatherings at their favorite bar, Le Connetable, to members of the group forming a band, I felt like I was reliving my college days. See, I was in a posse of my own, and we always celebrated birthdays, holidays, and just plain celebrated, together. We were a tight circle, my posse and I.

However, our little circle is not the same anymore. There have been breakups and new couplings. Some members have moved far away. Others are busy with their children. And a couple of them have just drifted apart. I guess that's a part of maturity, not having to rely on your posse as much as you get older.

And this is what happens as the book continues--Corbett gets older, and realizes he doesn't want to be 40 and dancing in clubs, trying to recapture his youth. He meets, and falls in love with, a showgirl from the Lido, one of Paris's most legendary nightclubs. I was hoping for some more backstage stories from the Lido--one chapter is devoted to them--but they aren't all that exciting. In fact, the book slows down a little once his relationship with "the Showgirl" develops. That's not to say that it's terrible; it's not. I just really felt like I was recapturing my youth as I read the stories about going to Cannes and weekend trips to Ibiza.

Earlier in the novel, Corbett said that his goal was "to suck the marrow out of life." If this book is any indication, it looks like he did just that. I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to see what other adventures he got into, but then I didn't put it down because I want to see how he managed to woo the Showgirl. Hey, if a guy can date a showgirl from the Lido, I don't know what sucking the marrow out of life is.

I must admit that I was partial to this novel because I myself lived in Paris for a short while. OK, it was a semester abroad, but it was long enough that I formed my own "Paris Posse" and I remain very good friends with two of those posse members. I felt as if I was walking those Paris streets again, Corbett's descriptions were so vivid and spot-on.

And now, as this second day of my three-day weekend draws to a close, I am left to choose another book to read. After all, this is the unofficial start of summer, and the official start of my major book reading season. I'm looking for another light read. I think I'll go to my bookcase this time and select something I haven't read yet. Or maybe I'll reread an old favorite. I have a few possibilities in mind; I'll let you know what they are!

The Bookkitten's iPod Playlist: The New British Invasion

Over the past two years, I've noticed more British singers on American radio than at the beginning of the decade. Last year I created a playlist with some of these new singers, and I recently updated it with a new singer I found. I realize I have the same singers over and over again, but I really enjoy the retro sound that their work has to offer. Enjoy!

1. "Grace Kelly," Mika
2. "Everything's Just Wonderful," Lily Allen
3. "Girl They Won't Believe It," Joss Stone
4. "Love Today," Mika
5. "Rehab," Amy Winehouse
6. "Warwick Avenue," Duffy
7. "Me & Mr. Jones," Amy Winehouse
8. "Fell in Love with a Boy," Joss Stone
9. "Back to Black," Amy Winehouse
10. "Alfie," Lily Allen
11. "Wake Up Alone," Amy Winehouse
12. "Mercy," Duffy
13. "Nan You're a Window Shopper," Lily Allen
14. "Tell Me Bout It," Joss Stone
15. "Tears Dry on Their Own," Amy Winehouse
16. "Smile," Lily Allen
17. "Rockferry," Duffy
18. "You Know I'm No Good," Amy Winehouse
19. "Lollipop," Mika
20. "LDN," Lily Allen

On the Radio

Last week I wrote about my love for radio. Here are a few more great radio stations I have loved throughout my life (and I can now listen to whenever I want, thanks to internet webstreams!)

WCBS 880 AM: The way news radio was, is now, and ever shall be. I listen to this on the drive to work whenever I can get a descent signal (which, in my area of Connecticut, is not always easy). This is the station I listen to at work; news radio keeps me productive and informed.

WCBS 101.1 FM: I am soooooo glad this is back. I used to listen to this station whenever I drove down to Long Island to visit an old friend from college. This is the only station we listened to whenever we drove around the Island. Every time I listen to this station, I can't help but remember my dear, long lost friend.

WALK 97.5: This was one of the stations I constantly listened to in college, and still listen to today when I'm driving.

WEBE 108: One of my other favorite radio stations from college.

STAR 99.9: Yet another great station from my college days...

Country 92.5: The only country music station in Connecticut. I can only imagine the revolt that may occur if this station changes formats someday...

Kittens, what are your favorite radio stations?

Cooking with Kitten: How to Make Pesto

In my last post I said that I made my own pesto. Here's how:

Ingredients:

• one or two bunches of fresh basil
• a handful of pine nuts or walnuts (either one will do; walnuts are cheaper and easier to find)
• a handful of good quality grated parmesan cheese
• extra virgin olive oil (for blog purposes I'll write EVOO, not to evoke Rachael Ray)

Directions:

• Loosely pack the basil in a food processor. Add the walnuts and parmesan and pulse until you get a finely chopped mix, verging on a paste.
• While the food processor is still running, SLOWLY add the EVOO in a THIN STREAM. Keep the food processor going until you've got a medium paste.
• You don't want your pesto to be too thick or too runny. You may want to stop the food processor a couple of times if you're not sure about consistency.

Making pesto takes practice. Trust me, I've had to throw batches away of it myself. If you're consistent, you'll make a fine pesto in no time.

Bon appetit!

Cooking with Kitten: Caprese Pasta Salad

Hello Kittens--

For the barbecue I'm attending today, I'm making one of my signature dishes--caprese pasta salad. It's a recipe I got from Rachael Ray and it is oh so tasty. I've gotten many compliments for this dish since I started making it. It is a super-easy recipe.

Here are the ingredients:

• juice and zest of one lemon
• one or two tubs of store-bought pesto (or you can make your own; I make my own)
• one or two pints of grape tomatoes
• one pound of medium sized pasta shells
• two tubs of bocconcini balls (little balls of fresh mozzarella found in the specialty cheese case of most grocery stores)
• one bunch of fresh basil

Directions:

• Zest your lemon into the bottom of a large glass bowl. After you've zested it, cut it in half and juice it. Squeeze the juice into the bottom of the bowl. Household hint: save the lemon halves and put them down your garbage disposal when you're done; they really do a great job of deodorizing it.
• Put the pesto at the bottom of the bowl and mix it with the lemon juice and zest.
• Meanwhile, put the pasta water on to boil. Once it comes to a rolling boil, salt your water. The salt will help flavor the pasta.
• Dump the shells into the water and cook until the pasta's al dente. You don't want your shells to be too mushy.
• When the pasta's ready, drain it into a colander and IMMEDIATELY pour COLD water over it. This will stop the cooking process. You want the pasta to be cold before you dump it into the bowl so that it'll prevent either cooking or melting of the other ingredients.
• Drain the pasta VERY well, so that you don't add any water to the bowl. I let the pasta drain and cool in the colander for another five minutes after I've poured the cold water on it.
• Once the pasta is cooled, dump it in the bowl and mix it with the pesto and lemon juice.
• After you've mixed the pasta with the pesto and lemon juice, add the tomatoes and mix well.
• Drain the bocconcini and add them to the salad. Slice each one in half if you wish to distribute the mozzarella more evenly throughout the salad. Mix thoroughly.
• Slice the fresh basil into thin strips, or use kitchen shears to cut it. (I use kitchen shears). Mix the basil into the salad.
• Serve immediately, or put plastic wrap over it and let it chill in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Light, fluffy read FOUND!!!!!

I know I said that I'd post in a couple of days, but this was too exciting for me to keep from you. See, I finally found the light, fluffy read that I was looking for!!! It's called A Town Like Paris and it seems promising. Here's the back cover summary:

"At the age of twenty-eight, Bryce Corbett was stuck in a dead-end job in London, nursing a broken heart and hungry for some kind--any kind--of change. On a whim he applied for a job in Paris, and before he knew it, found himself with a job offer in hand on his way to the City of Light."

OK, I know, this sounds like a cliched chick lit novel right now, but this is a MEMOIR WRITTEN BY A GUY!! This is what impressed me most. I kept reading:

"So begins Corbett's love affair with Paris--home of l'amour and la vie boheme--and he determines to make the city his own, no matter how many bottles of Bordeaux it takes. He rents an apartment in the trendy neighborhood of Le Marais, happily settles into the French work/life balance (six weeks of paid vacation), braves the local gym (neon spandex mandatory), and fumbles his way through more than a few awkward lessons in French love. From the smoky cafes to the glittering nightlife, Corbett samples everything his newfound culture has to offer, appearing on a French television game show, hobnobbing with celebrities at Cannes, and attempting to parse the amusing nuances behind French politics and why French women really don't get fat. Still, he remains an ex-pat at heart--until he finds himself falling in love with a Paris showgirl, a beauty whose sequin-clad high-kicks are the toast of the Champs Elysees, proving that in a town like Paris, you never know what will happen next..."

I was so excited to start reading this book, I began reading it in the checkout line. Within the first four pages Corbett bragged about how he faked his CV and got an interview in Paris. This looked promising so far--not like your ordinary, cliche-ridden chick lit book where the gal gets a broken heart, moves to another city, and reinvents herself. I HATE CHICK LIT!! I will write a post on my hatred of chick lit one day--I'll post it under "Kitten Rants" or some other creative title.

Anyhoo, back to reading! More reports on this book coming soon!

Kitten Confessions, Part Three

My name is Kitten, and I am a country music fan.

I know that doesn't seem like much of a confession, and I am really not embarrassed to admit it, but my friends would laugh their butts off if they found out that I loved country music. I will say that I am only very recently a fan; I started listening to one artist and one broadcast of the Opry, and now I can't stop listening.

You see, three of my closest friends sing in a classical music choir. Their repertoire has run the gamut from Porgy and Bess to various Magnificats to Carmina Burana. I myself used to sing with them in another choral ensemble, and I will always be grateful to have sung such incredible pieces of music. If anything, it helped me develop my love for classical music.

I am also a theater geek. I grew up exposed to so many theatrical opportunities. My parents used every opportunity they could to take us to a Broadway-style play or musical; I will never forget our first experience at the Goodspeed Opera House. I was very impressed with the building, although the musical didn't impress me much. (The life of Superman was not a great idea for a musical). Every summer, when my family vacationed on Long Beach Island, my parents would take me and my sister to a musical at the Surflight Theatre. The one year we didn't go was the year that our vacation coincided with the Surflight's production of "Gypsy", and my father was very uncomfortable with his two daughters watching a musical about a stripper. My sister eventually majored in drama at Ithaca College. I attended Fairfield University, and saw Les Miserables, The Lion King, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway. I miss the days when we'd go into the city in the wee hours, park ourselves at the TKTS booth, send someone out to get breakfast, and camp out until the booth opened.

To this day, my friends and I will frequently sing show tunes whenever we get together.

So where did this country music thing come from? Well, it all started when we first got cable when I was ten years old. Spike TV, in its first incarnation, was known as TNN, or The Nashville Network. I watched TNN all the time as a kid, and my favorite shows were Nashville Now and Fandango. Nashville Now was a prime time interview show with Ralph Emery, and occasionally he had this puppet on named Shotgun Red. (As a kid my favorite parts of the show were when Shotgun Red came on, since I am a huge Muppet fan.) And I loved Fandango because it was a game show, and I was obsessed with game shows. (See Kitten Confessions, Part One for more information on this).

I don't remember much about Fandango, except for Edgar the Talking Jukebox, and Bill Anderson, the country music singer-songwriter who hosted the show. Bill Anderson reminded me of a grandpa, which was important to me as a kid because both of my grandfathers died by the time I was eleven years old. One of the reasons I liked the show was that I felt like I could watch my grandpa every night. I realize that one cannot substitute a TV personality for a real life person, but fortunately I had parents who made sure I got away from the boob tube every once in a while.

So now, here we are, many years later, and one night I suddenly, without warning, remembered TNN; I honestly can't tell you why, but for a couple of weeks, I was really reminiscing about my childhood. Long story short, I googled TNN and found a couple of links to Bill Anderson, one of them being his official website. I did not realize that this man was such a prolific songwriter. I figured I would see if iTunes had a couple of his songs--and there were about ten albums worth (even though five were greatest hits compiliations). I downloaded a couple of songs, "A Lot of Things Different" and "Still".

Let me tell you, this man can write a song. It actually tells a clear story, from beginning to end. And contrary to what you may believe, not all country music songs are about heartbreak or alcohol. Country music songs tell stories with sophisticated lyrics, harmonies, and a respect for tradition.

One night I learned that the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts via webstream, and Bill Anderson was performing one night, so I listened to that broadcast and discovered another great singer-songwriter: Phil Vassar. He's not yet on the A-list of country music stars, but one day, I hope that he will be. This man can really write a song, too; he really knows how to tell a story. Just take a listen to "Just Another Day in Paradise" or "Six Pack Summer" for some good samples of his work.

I also love, love, LOVE the Dixie Chicks. Yes, I know they have their critics, but they are honest, open, and know how to write a good song. I have three of their albums, and that was even before I really got into country. So what that they said that they were ashamed that President Bush was from Texas--a lot of people share that sentiment right now!!

And finally, I am really enjoying Brad Paisley's music. Here is a man who not only appreciates traditional country music, but also has a GREAT sense of humor. Take a listen to "Online", "I'm Gonna Miss Her", and "Celebrity". If you want to hear some tracks that evoke traditional radio plays, listen to any of the tracks featuring the Kung Pao Buckaroos--George Jones, Bill Anderson, and Little Jimmy Dickens. And make absolutely sure, before this December, that you download "Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday". It is seriously the funniest holiday song you'll ever hear.

And speaking of holidays, I would like to wish you and yours a happy, safe Memorial Day 2008. I'll be back in a couple of days.

The Bookkitten's Memorial Day 2008 iPod Playlist

I know I posted a playlist earlier in the week, but any holiday weekend deserves a special one:

1. "Online," Brad Paisley
2. "Give it Away," Bill Anderson
3. "Valdosta, Georgia," Bill Anderson
4. "Ticks," Brad Paisley
5. "Sway," Michael Buble
6. "Wonder Woman", Super Heroes Invasion (the theme to the old 70s TV show)
7. "Six Pack Summer," Phil Vassar
8. "Pleasant Valley Sunday," the Monkees
9. "Old Town," the Corrs
10. "Smile," Lily Allen
11. "LDN," Lily Allen
12. "Summertime," DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
13. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," Michael Buble
14. "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)", Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
15. "Amazing Grace," Bill Anderson

Still a lot of country in the mix, with some old TV faves thrown in for the hell of it. And lots of songs that just say "summer" to me (and not just because the word "summer" is in the title.)

More good playlists to come as the weeks go by...I've got a great playlist dedicated to British singers that I'll post next week. I hope you like it as much as I do. And hopefully I'll have some parade pictures to share with you Sunday night.

In the meantime, I'm about to divulge some more kitten confessions...