I just read DUSTIN GRUBBS - ONE MAN SHOW by John J. Bonk (in one or two sittings). I really, really liked it. Whenever I pick up something set in the theatre, I’m always a bit wary because frankly, I think most writers who do this rely on their experience from middle school. Bonk is a professional actor though and it shows in the details. It was laugh-out-loud funny too. I think any kid would like this (oh, and it’s MG, which is usually not my favorite), but if you’ve got any reluctant readers (boys especially), try giving them this one.

Rather than try to write over the next two months while I have a lot going on, I’m turning my writing time over to reading. I’ll try to keep up with it here and let you know if I come across anything interesting. Right now I’m reading Deb Calletti’s WILD ROSES and I’m finding it WAY interesting. More on it later once I’ve finished though.

cheers,
Joelle

The American people have spoken and O.J. Simpson’s book and TV special are CANCELED. Yaaaaaay!!!!

There is a lot of upheaval in my life right now (nothing bad, just lots of “if this happens then that happens and that happens but not this or that thing, but then we have to do that” etc.) so I am combating it by hiding in the bed with books because there’s nothing I can do about any of it but wait for the results. And no, I’m not pregnant, although that last sentence sounded a lot like it!

I’m going to go read now. I have Deb Caletti’s new book Wild Roses. Well, let me rephrase that because it came out in 2005. It’s new to our library!

I’m too lazy to write much about all the books I’ve read over the last month while I’ve been away, so here’s a list. Do with it what you will.

THE DAVINCI CODE – ummm…whatever…pretty good stuff for a long plane ride, but yeah…whatever…40 million copies??? Oooookay.

BAD GIRLS and BEST FRIENDS – Jacqueline Wilson, British MG. JW is a very popular Brit writer judging by the way store shelves sag under the weight of her many books. I enjoyed these, but I will pass them on.

CRANFORD REVISITED – by John Rowe Townsend. The book he gave me when I was there, which I love, love, love.

IN THE PLACE OF FALLEN LEAVES – by Tim Pears. Eloquent, lyrical, interesting. Adult fiction. Long.

It doesn’t look like I’ve read much lately, but a couple of these were really long. I’ve got some new Brit YA I’m looking forward to, but I have to read library books first because they’re due soon. I usually read my own books when I travel, so next time I’m on the road, I’ll read those.

Hi, All.

Well, I’ve been away for a bit, but I have something cool to post. The reason I’ve been gone is because I’ve been to England to visit friends. For those of you who were reading this LJ last month, you will know that I was on a John Rowe Townsend reading binge and I am about to reveal why. The reason is because on my trip to England I went to Cambridge and had lunch with John and his partner and author, Jill Paton Walsh!

John and I have been corresponding for fifteen years but we’d never met in person. On a lovely, sunny Friday morning I took the train from London to Cambridge and they gave me lunch in their charming house on the canal. We talked books, writing, travel, and architecture. Well, I may have talked, I’m not too sure because I was under a haze of jetlag, but it was still really nice.

After our lunch they took me to King’s College and gave me a tour of the chapel. Jill is really knowledgeable about architecture and told me all about it while we looked around. John and Jill are so smart that I felt a bit like a naïve child, but it was lovely all the same. They told me wonderful stories and Jill gave me some writing tips over lunch too. Anyway, it was a dream come true for me to finally meet them and I look forward to seeing them again and taking my husband along to meet them as well. If you ever get the chance to hear either of them speak, don’t miss it. And of course, you know how highly I think of John’s writing. I also think Jill’s a wonderful writer too and if you haven’t read her books, do pick them up as well. My favorite is THE DOLPHIN CROSSING.

I do have a photo of the three of us, but my camera is new and I’m not sure how to download it where I want it on my computer so I can post it. I might figure it out though!