Book report

Looking back I can see that there is one part of this blog that has taken a serious blow by my schedule: What I'm Reading and What I'm watching. Although for a while there I was just re-reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld books and Neil Gaiman and simply not watching anything, but as always, I branched out again. So, perhaps you'll find something among my literary travels to interest you while I highlight just a few of what I've read and seen lately.

What I'm Reading:

The Rabbi's Cat - Devik ordered this fascinating graphic novel for the upstairs collection (Go, Devik! I've been pestering her about more graphic books upstairs) and then recommended that I read it. I'm glad she did.

Taking place in Algeria in the 30's, young Zlabya and her father, the rabbi, have a few pets. A cat that doesn't speak and a bird who speaks all the time. When the cat eats the parrot, the cat develops the ability to speak, but all he does is lie. While the clever, cynical tale of the Rabbi's cat is quite entertaining, the book works on several other levels; it deals with sadness, stifling traditions, culture clashes, obedience, father-daughter relationships, all influenced by Jewish theological exegesis and rabbinical commentary. While there are parts that are very funny, there is an underlying bitterness throughout the story. Halfway through the book it took quite an interesting turn. The cat speaks the name of God and loses his own ability to speak, and is forced to express himself through "meow" again. At this point the book stops being so much about him and more about the humans around him.

I found this one entertaining and thought provoking. The art is fabulous, typical of Sfar's style (I have his Little Vampire books in the YA graphic collection); my one complaint is that it would have been easier to read if the panels were larger. There is so much text and so much art crammed into such tiny boxes that reading was a challenge.

The King in the Window - Not many children's books have the ability to be a fun, entertaining adventure story, a critique on french culture, and an in-depth look at the purpose and practical use of rhetoric and logic as a study (not only quoting Racine and Moliere, but introducing them as characters). Yet this book does it all. And quite nicely, also managing to tie in quantum multiverse theory, modern computer lifestyles, cultural depression, and Alice in Wonderland. Surprisingly, it all makes sense. It all follows logic. It all involves thinking. Because this is a smart book. This is written for very smart, open-minded children or adults who enjoy children's books, much like Madeline L'Engle's books. It's refreshing to see such a wildly original fantasy that just shines among all the Harry Potter knock-offs currently in vogue.

Colors Insulting to Nature - A friend told me about this book, then she said something to the affect of "after you read you're going to want to tell the older teens to read it." And I just kind of nodded and didn't answer, because let's face it, I tend to nod and not answer or agree and do whatever I'm going to do anyway. So, I read it, and now I've chosen to recommend this funny, tragic, bildungsroman.

This dark comedy follows Liza Normal from a tragic and embarrasing audition for a commercial through a darkly funny life that serves as a commentary America's unhealthy obsession with celebrity and the darker side of fame. The only thing I really found distracting with the book were the author's Dave Egger's-like asides to the reader; I could've done without those. And for once, in these dark, modern fairy-tales I rather liked the ending to this book!

Alright, now I'm running out of time, so....

What I'm watching:

Mirrormask - Mirrormask - Mirrormask!! It's like a chant, really. This movie is beautiful. It is funny. It is thought-provoking. This is not a lazy film that lets you zone while mindlessly entertaining you. This is a strange, surreal, imaginative fantasy that draws you in and compells you to follow along, engaged, in the characters and their story. This is a family film. Not the kind of family film that you can plop your spawn in front of and not have them exposed to ideas. Rather the kind of film that everyone in the family can watch, enjoy, and come away with a unique understanding of. This film's story was written by Neil Gaiman (genius!), which might also explain a bit of my enthusiastic gushing, but still..... The actors are also spectacular, the young lead actress is simply amazing.

It's now on DVD. Watch it!! I mean it. Watch it! Most of the time I ignore such special features as the ego-inflating "director commentary", but I admit, I actually watched and listened to the movie with the commentary of Dave McKean (also brilliant) and Neil Gaiman, and I was interested and entertained by their on-going conversation about the film. I also loved the special "making of" featurette. It's all good, really.

Serenity - I don't think I mentioned this one here before. This sci-fi gem is from a series called Firefly that at first I didn't think much of broadcasted on the Sci-Fi channel (before we tossed cable). To summarize the series: space cowboys. I watched a few and decided the series had some nice parts but was ultimately forgettable. Then Jay and I rented the movie and changed our mind. The movie is pretty darn good. So, now we've re-rented Firefly and, after watching the series in its entirety, I can say that it's a fairly good series. I enjoy it. I don't think I'll be one of the obsessive fans (not when I have Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett), but I do recommend the film. You can easily watch it without having followed the series - plenty of trips to the Dept. of BackStory.

And now I've got to go to work. The book fair is being packed up today and shipped off tomorrow. Unfortunately, they didn't do as well this year as last year's sale. But, they did get nearly the entire grant ($1000), so the major expenses of their trip is covered and all the extra money raised is going towards manga that they're buying for the library collection. It's nice to be on the "funds essentially raised" side of a huge travel project.

I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.

Yesterday was fabulous.

In every sense of the word: “fabulous”.

Really.

I had to work in the morning; with the book fair going I couldn’t very well leave it to poor Jake or Paige to cover my desk and take money/make change/answer questions about the book fair, and run a Clifford story time program, so I worked. However, that meant that I was at the library to take a rather cool call from a woman for whom I had found a book and she wanted to tell me it changed her life, and she wanted to personally thank me. Go me! So, I’m feeling awesome and loving my job, and people are great. I had two teens playing Clifford (both excellently, I’d like to add), people showed up for the afternoon program – it was all good.

Then I get out of work, go home, shower, change, and am off to the theater to get ready for the show. That’s right; last night was The Vagina Monologues. I should mention, I left the library a bit late after closing yesterday because I was writing my opening speech for the show (it’s always good to do that at least a few hours before curtain…right, remember the other night when I was procrastinating on the internet….). So, really it was going from one thing right to the next, kind of like how all the rehearsals went, but anyway… So, I go to the theater and begin getting ready for the show, putting the names with the headshots, and then remembering all the stuff I forgot (my speech, the CD with the opening and intermission music, the blanket for the stage, the extra script, pretty much everything I was supposed to bring) and the fact that Jay wasn’t home for me to get a hold of him so I needed to find the stuff elsewhere. Mildly panicked phone calls were made, and everything was found. Luckily everything else fell in place. I got it all ready, then Cody did my hair (so cool – up yet down, frame my face yet out of it, pulled out the purple – just excellent-cool!), then Larisa did my make-up (yeah, I know, I’m not one of the main actresses, but no one was there, and damnit, I wanted a little pampering!).

Then after warm-ups, herding of actresses, water, chair-counts, boa fixing, and so on, I had to give a pre-show pep talk to the cast. I pointed out that the audience was here and already loving them (with a name like “The Vagina Monologues” you aren’t going to have a lot of people showing up without a clue what they’re getting in to – they already know and they want to see you do it), that they were beautiful and fabulous and representing very worthy causes in our community. By the way, the show sold out the day before the performance; we were selling “standing only” tickets to a waitlist of (at one point over 80 people) at the end (WAHOOOOOOO!)

Then the show started.

It’s one thing to be in the audience watching and reacting; it’s another thing to be involved in the heart of a production that an audience is watching and overwhelmingly loves; they laughed – they got all the jokes!! All the things I was encouraging the actresses to do that seemed silly or fell flat in rehearsal translated to the audience and they laughed and they enjoyed it, there was the pain of some monologues balanced with the humor and heart of others. That isn’t to say it was everyone’s cup of tea – I noticed some empty seats after the intermission, and one guy apparently stormed out after 5 minutes of act I – he ranted at Jay about not expecting “that kind of smut”. Jay pointed out that “with a name like ‘The Vagina Monologues’ what were you expecting?” And he ranted more then Jay helped him locate the way out of the theater. One of the actresses joked that perhaps it was not the kind of smut he was hoping for (I like that thought!).

Oh yeah, my speech seemed to go well enough. I was absolutely parched and my teeth were sticking to my lips, but I spoke well enough – I think.

And the lights during the show were spectacular! One audience member noticed the use of color and light and told me that she applauded us for it – thank you, Ira for making the show look incredible!!!

Anyway, skip to the end (and a loooong standing ovation), the cast calls me on stage and Jan makes a speech about working with me that makes me want to cry –about being laid-back and funny, and it was just so sweet – and I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the cast along with Heidi and Jeanie (I got the best speech, IMHO!! :0). Then I left with the cast off-stage, and the walk through the audience was long, and people were stopping me, and hugging me, and thanking me! It was amazing. Jay stopped me in the lobby, which turned into a receiving line of sorts as a couple of other cast people were there, and the audience would filter out and tell me something about their experience watching the show – how they felt, what they thought, something that it reminded them of, and so on.

It was a bit overwhelming. I felt like last night I did something bigger than myself. I was able to see first-hand the response from the audience. To hear from them and share their feelings and thoughts was more than I had anticipated.

And the cast! They were so sweet; over the course of actually leaving the theater (Jay and Bill are going back to clean up tomorrow morning) and the cast-party at Oona’s, most of the cast caught up with me individually, and I was hugged and thanked, and appreciated. The cast party was a blast. Vinnie the Vet was providing the live music and he was excellent – as always (and doesn’t mind when I sing along, which is good)! The food was nice, Oona was great, and all in all, it was a nice night.

Finally 1:30-ish, Jeanie, Bill, Jay, and I left Oona’s to head home. And now, I’m reeling from a day of being appreciated and loved by a lot of people in one evening. It’s not that I’m intentionally stand-offish really, I just wasn’t raised in an environment where people hugged, my childhood was not full of the warm fuzzies that Allegra benefits from, so as an adult I’ve decided that it’s something I was missing out on and have been consciously trying to change – I’ve come along way, and last night was like being in some sort of immersion therapy. Everybody hugged and kissed and shared and talked, and in my own quiet way I was able to participate more than I ever would have before, and I enjoyed it.

So, yeah, great show. But I’m glad that it’s over now and all of the things I’ve been saying I would get back to doing after the show are suddenly all piled up waiting for me to do. I don’t think I’m going to direct this again. Activist theater is such a different ball game than entertaining theater, and I think that the next V-Day event in Bellows Falls needs to have a new director and a new feel to the show to keep it fresh – I’m not sure we’re a large enough community to support an annual showing of the Monologues; perhaps every other year with lots of changes from show to show. That’s just some thoughts though, nothing in stone, it’s all still being discussed and nothing is decided. I would certainly help, but probably focusing just on producing the show.

Regardless, last night was excellent and I’m glad I was part of it.

I poke badgers with spoons

Yes, yes happy valentines day, chocolate penguins ( yay Burdick's!!), a dozen roses (yay, Jay!!), and a school full of kids fresh from the Valentine's Day classroom parties, hopped up on sugar, twitching around the library. Yup, gotta love the holidays. I guess.

So, it's a bit before ten now and I'm awake, and kind of wired (ok, perhaps eating three chocolate penguins was not my best move), and as I'm finding all of these excellent fun links that I'm planning on blogging later. I though, 'oh what the hell', and am speeding things up by blogging them now. Why am I doing this, you might wonder, instead of something productive? Well, I decided that the universe has been sending me signals to take a break and goof off. I thought I should listen (i.e., I'm procrastinating. I'm sure none of you can relate).

Plus, guess what time it is! It's time for the annual Teen Advisory Council Book Fair!! YAYAAY....we ended up not being able to get the Curious George costume, so we're Clifford again. And this year, profits go towards the anime group's trip to Anime Boston in May (a lot less people - hell, at this point, it's going to be a small group, ticket money is due by Saturday if they're going at all), but three days long, so most of the fund-raising is paying for 2 nights at a hotel in Boston, food, and basic transportation (the T).

Best game of Pong. Ever.

Best Microsoft ad. Ever. (Of course they've never used it)

Super funny, yet rather inappropriate song. Yeah, I laughed. What about it?

I spy fun! Can you spot the 15 wolves hiding in this picture? I mean 14, yeah, 14 (sheesh, should have read it first)

"All Your Base Are Belong to Us" set to Calvin and Hobbes......why, yes, you're right. It is wrong. Plain wrong.

A fun little mouse game.

Go on. Poke the Penguin. Pooooooke it...keep poking. Whoa! What was that? Ok, poke it again. See if what happens.

Oh yeah, and don't press the big red button.

This was kind of funny. At first. Then I started thinking of the pain and permanent damage. I couldn't actually finish it, and apparently some of my gasps were a bit much. But, ack!!! I hope never to be in any of these videos.

Make sand art on the internet. Nifty!

Did you know that people photocopying their butts is the cause of 23% of all copier errors worldwide? Yeah, I didn't either. And I don't know if it's true, and I don't feel like looking it up. You can find more stuff like that here.

And, well, that about does it. I've managed to tire myself of the internet for an evening. Back again later with more. Include the ton of books I've read since the last time I did a review. Oh man....that may end up being a huge post by itself.

A response plus a little extra

This started out as a comment to Leah's latest post, but as I kept going, and going, and going I thought I better not put it there and instead turned it into a little posty of my own right here.

I found it interesting to read your (Leah's) reaction to seeing The Vagina Monologues. The play is overloading, you're right. It's worth remembering what the purpose of these productions is: to raise awareness and money for programs that address women and girls in crisis. To shine light on places that don't usually get discussed - if a culture can't say the word, how can they effectively deal with what's being done to them?

I'm with you on the whole 'what part I could perform?' question, which is why I'm directing. :) Even though I can't really directly relate through experience to most of the monologues I'm coming at it from the point of view that I don't really want to see a lot of that stuff happening. A Jewish actress in my cast equated our performance with the Seder (I apologize if I offend, I liked the beauty of her analogy), pointing out that, like a Seder, we're each taking a turn to read a piece from a script to witness for women, to be women, celebreate women, and remember.

Each production of the show is so different. Mine is not really in-your-face compared to most of the productions that I've seen of this. I'm looking for the humor, spirit, and hope vs. the despairing victim and overwhelming anger (not to say there isn't anger and pain, but that I chose to handle it carefully and shoot for balance).

Plus, you're right - who really spends that much time thinking about their gentials? I mean, I have had few great conversations with girlfriends, but whoa - the show is clearly V-Centric from the get-go. I'm not sure about hands...I totally have a thing for eyes, but really, it's all pretty spectacular, and I think all of us are much more than the sum of our parts.

Anyway, it's like what I wrote in my "Director's Note" for the program for my show:

"Tonight's performance is being staged as a reading during which we will witness with the actresses several aspects of womanhood. While no one play could ever encapsulate the entire experience of being a woman for all women, this production offers a glimpse into several lives and examples that are all too often put away, hidden, and not discussed. By bringing them out into the open and shining light into some of these dark and often scary places we hope that someday we may put an end to the violence, shame, and oppression that exist for many women. Additionally, just as this play does not cover all experiences for women, it does not represent all men; to assume that all men are violent and cruel does a disservice to our fathers, sons, and husbands, and can create a dangerious self-fulfilling prophecy."

So, I'm glad you saw it. It seems to have left you with some emotional and intellectual cud to chew on - it's what art is supposed to do. I'm also with you on the fact that I'm really glad that when I finish rehearsals, when I finish this play, I get to go to my nice (if also messy!) home, with a fabulous husband (go geeks!) and cool daughter - a home where I'm loved and respected.

Now, for links and internet of general fun!

This is the coolest knit scarf pattern I've seen in a while. You bet I'll be making this bad boy.

The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny....and a bloodstained Mr. Rogers? NOOOOO!!! This infectious little song also features a giant, villainous, Transformer taking out Batman and Chuck Norris. It's cute, it's funny, and it won't get out of my head!!!

Night of the Living Dead reenacted by bunnies in 30-seconds. Naaaaah.

Kitty bowling! It's all about the flailing legs. It might also be the *meeeeOW!*

A Gilmore Girls feud??!?

Question: What is a bastard?

I don't know if I'm ready for a boss with that kind of honesty.

Bunny Suicides. Oh, what the hell.

I know, it's not Halloween...and this is the second Halloween-ish link in this post......but have I ever been one to really wait?

Yes!! When Computers fight back! (Ok, by now a few of you may remember some of these links from a particular night at my computer after D&D).

Speaking of D&D!!!! Those spiffy D&Ders got a grant of $500 for more books and 5 sets of dice that will live at the library for them to use!

Plus, the Japanese Culture Club got a $1000 grant towards their trip to AnimeBoston. However, the really inexpensive hotel rooms are disappearing, so I'm worried that they're going to need to do massive fund-raising to cover the rest just for lodging, food, and travel expenses.

Zombie pin-ups! Beauty and BRAAAAAAAIINNSSS!

What could follow that? Why cute, cuddly, baby animals (and if I've done my job well, and you've come this far, you're wondering whether or not you should click on this link? Perhaps something horrible will pop out? Hmmmmm, curious?)

Why hello, Thursday.

You should visit Somniloquism - you'll be glad you did as Joel Esler is brilliant.

Next Saturday is the show!! I'd probably be a lot more nervous if I didn't have such an amazing cast - I'm feeling quite confident and excited about the upcoming show. C'mon, you know the one I'm talking about...the "V" one. Actually, one of the actresses told us last night that several of the posters she had put up had been taken down - not replaced with something else, just taken down. If this is all the resistance we're going to face than I am perfectly happy with that! Apparently it's the productions being done on the Catholic College campuses that are facing the most organized resistance to V-Day events (which is not suprising).

Otherwise, it's all pretty darn good right now.

Alright, Bill Nye - way to go, congratulations!

Welcome to HomestarRunner - how did I manage to miss this one till now?

With a name like Improbable Research it has got to be good.

Oh the possibilities...

Cute, real cute. Actually, geeks do make the best mates, in my opinion.

The various stains you see on the ground are actually pieces of this kid's face and internal fluids. However, this neat little moving picture is clever enough in its own potentially painful way.

What are you trying to say?

So, what have I been up to? Well, if you guessed 'puking my guts' out you win the slightly soggy toaster, because despite insanely obsessing over hand-washing I managed to contract the stomach flu that is going around (and had to miss Jess dm'ing my group, something I would have loved to witness). However I am now better - much, much, much better. I was even back at work today with normal energy having a fabulous time (it was a nice change from when I tried to come in on Monday and realized partway through the day what a mistake THAT was).

I've also made a decision: I am going to continue as Girl Scout Service Unit Manager until summer, and then I'm resigning. The truth is I can do all of the stuff that needs to be done, I have fabulous ideas and the know-how to execute them, I understand it all well enough to recognize that I am failing miserably in nearly every way because I'm lacking the one thing to really make it all work: time (and energy). So, now I'm going to be looking for a replacement, someone who has the time to really do it all, and do it well - or at least do the basics well. I feel pretty good about this choice. It sucks recognizing that I've messed up something I should have excelled at, and understanding why - but now that I've made the decision, I'm feeling pretty good about getting it all to a point where I can hand it off to someone else and then back away. Plus, if I take on a smaller role (like PR - something I excel at) I can do a lot more good then holding everything back as I am now. So, a couple of deep breaths while I plunge ahead and get things tied up and kept up until summer and then I can relax.

In other news: Vagina Monologue rehearsals are going, and they are going so well!! I mean, I had a few bumps in the beginning (don't all productions?), but it's all coming together and it is going to be absolutely spectacular!! We're taking sponsorships now to help fund the show's expenses, and we're figuring out all of the details, but it is going to be simply amazing. Really. The cast is excellent - women of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, ages, and acting experience from one woman who has performed professionally across the nation, on tv, and in various high profile events, to women who have never done anything but are inspired to be a part of this, and everything in between. It's all represented. And the work that is being done...locally when I've talked about it, I've emphasized that while Vagina is in the title and the center of the play, Violence is also there - and that's what the core of the production is about, talking about the violence, the treatment - taking it from a shameful, dirty, vulgar thing that some think should be hidden into something that can be openly talked about, can be dealt with, can be ended.

So, there is the art show: On the Subject of Women, that Nancy/Making the Most of I is running, and that looks to be amazing. Then the production, which I know will be incredible! And once all of our expenses are paid, then 90% of the profits are being divided between The Women's Crisis Center, New Beginnings: A Support Network for Women, and Making the Most of I. 10% of the profits are going to the V-Day International Spotlight Campaign for Comfort Women.

'What is a Comfort Woman?' you might ask?

The euphemism ‘comfort women’ was coined by imperial Japan to refer to young females of various ethnic and national backgrounds who were forced to offer sexual services to the Japanese troops during the Asia/Pacific Wars between 1932 and 1945. Some were minors sold into ‘comfort stations,’ others were deceptively recruited by middlemen, and still more were detained and forcibly abducted. Estimates of the number of ‘comfort women’ range between 50,000 to 200,000. In the early 1990s, nearly a half a century after the end of WWII, Korean victims of Japan’s military sexual slavery, followed by other survivors in China, Taiwan, North Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Timor L’Este, broke their silence and began to call for justice and reparations for the unanswered war crimes. Despite years of protests, including the weekly demonstrations held by survivors in South Korea in front of the Japanese embassy for the past 13 years, the Japanese government still denies legal responsibility. Now, the aging survivors are dying off one by one without any type of redress, formal apology, or historical acknowledgment by a government that stole their freedom and power for so many years. You can read some testimonies of the Comfort Women here (Warning: These accounts are VERY disturbing).

So, the show will be February 18th, 7:30 pm at the Bellows Falls Opera House (WAHOO!!), tickets are $15 general / $10 students and seniors ( and you can buy advance tickets in town at Bulls Eye Music and the Booksellers) and there ends my plug for today.

And now for links of fun and goodness.

DARKCRYSTAL2DARKCRYSTAL2DARKCRYSTAL2DARKCRYSTAL2 I can live with that sequel.

Someone came in to show me Megatokyo, and I thanked them because I had forgotten about it and about how much I really like it.

Fascinating, creative, funny, and possibly posted before, but maybe not.

I love, love, love this puzzle game. I've actually purchased the game (I've had it for awhile, but I just rediscovered it). A small warning: there's something addictive about these puzzles...for me anyway. You can get a free version that will let you do only so much. Snood!

What I'm reading:

Well, books 7, 8, and 9 of Fruits Basket came in. And they're here! With me! Muahahahaha!!!

Otherwise, I've been too ill to actually read much.

What I'm watching:

However watching stuff takes very little effort on my part. In fact it seems to happen if I just sit in one place long enough. However, if I don't have the energy to get up and choose what to watch I find myself subjected to the decisions of others. I only tried to claw my eyes out once (Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie....I think my family is out to get me); luckily I lacked the energy to follow through because things got much better!

Allegra is following up on her newly found love of Mr. Bean. So, she and Jay went to the video store and came back with the Fawlty Towers collection (woot!), Rowan Atkinson live (oh, I laughed, luckily there was only one sketch that I really would not have wanted Allegra to see or hear, but I don't she knows what ANY of those phrases mean), The Thin Blue Line, and And Now for Something Completely Different.

Jay only threatened Gladiator once (evil, evil...).