Gettin my nails did

How technologically advanced am I, blogging while getting a pedicure (autocorrect on my phone wanted to change that to 'clogging,' which would actually be more exciting if I could clog and get a pedi simultaneously!)? Really, I thought my book was in my car, but I took my school bag out last night before heading to Brooke's. I really need to start working on the traveling with a book part of my life. Ideally I could link my phone and my kindle, because, let's be honest, I rarely am without my phone, but I am such a stickler for real books, I can't justify buying electronic copies of books I can simply borrow, from friends or the library.

Ohhhh the asian man just started rubbing that oil stuff into my legs and feet. Heaven, honestly. I can't really afford regular pedicures, and really, it is a splurge, but the place I go is only 20 bucks, and the time in the massaging chair is worth the 20 dollars alone. Lower back kneading? Foot massage? I can feel the stress just melting away.
Back to reality.

I am almost finished with Water for Elephants, and, no, I have no interest in seeing the film once finished. I'm a big read the book before seeing the movie person, and I'm pretty sure the only film I've seen where I never read the book was The Andromeda Strain (random, I know). I love the Harry Potter films, but on a separate level from the novels, which are infinitely better. I also even try and read books that tie into a television show (True Blood, for instance). And I say now I don't want to see the film, but I will probably watch it when it's free OnDemand or something like that. As much as I disliked the last few (aka all but the first) Twilight books, I did watch the film because it was on tv for free. I was painting my nails (interesting... is there a connection?) and knitting, so it was a random night, but I figured I'd give it a shot.
It was horrible.

Why do we even bother? Why do we need film adaptations, when many of them are disappointing? Well, besides the obvious 'so I can show them to my students when we finish the novels answer, what reasons do we have? Some films are wonderful, but like covers of songs, unless you are bringing something new and its fantastic, why bother?

According to sources -- okay, my 17 year old students -- there are talks of turning The Catcher in the Rye into a movie, I suppose since Salinger is dead (RIP you racist man... I love you) and can't complain. I think this is a terrible decision for a novel that has been relevant to teenagers for over 60 years. Kids already refuse to read, and Catcher is at least one that about half end up enjoying, but once they make a movie version, what motivation do they have to pick up the book?
Also, wouldn't it make a terrible movie? They would play up the prostitute scene, focus on the 'Fuck You' sections, and probably cut out anything where Holden gets off topic. Oh, wait. That's the entire novel.

They also said they had picked an actor to play Holden. Someone unknown? I asked, thinking that was the only reasonable route. No, no, Ms. Beck. Oh, no.

Justin Bieber.

Oh FUCK no. If this is true, I'm boycotting Hollywood forever (Holden would be proud). But honestly, the biebs? Who has probably avoided the angsty teenage years by becoming famous at 9, or whenever, and having an altogether lucky, blessed, easy life? How could someone bastardize a classic favorite in that way?

How do you feel about movie versions? The Time Traveler's Wife was hideous, that's for sure. Oh, and I suppose I saw The Notebook and never read the book but, really, who did read that book? Nicholas Sparks (and Justin Bieber) can suck it.

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Double Pneumonia

So I'm sitting in the doctors office (doctor's? Doctors'? Does the office belong to the doctors?) and the only thing I keep thinking is 'man I wish I'd brought a book.' But, alas, I left Water for Elephants on my desk at work, and instead decided to update my blog. Is it still a win?
You may be wondering why on earth I'm spending part of my afternoon in this stuffy, claustrophobic room that smells like rubbing alcohol and cotton. Well, I've had a cold for a little over a week, and it's simply not going away. I wouldn't normally care, but last time I wrote it off, it turned into double pneumonia which then turned into bronchitis. I don't think I have anything, really, but it's just getting frustrating that I've been doped up on sudafed and Tylenol all week, and my nose is still clogged, I'm still coughing up mucus, and I feel like crap. And I wish I had a book.

Update: ear infection and respiratory infection, easily cured. Some medication, lots of fluids, and rest. Guess I'll be reading at home after all. maybe I should go grab my book from work...

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You can call me the book whisperer

On my to do list for today? Update my blog! And in other exciting news, I've been reading! Because it's the end of the semester, two of my classes are sans seniors, which means I have 3 students in each class. That's right: 3 students. It's been fantastic so far; I've assigned them a film project (the first presentation is tomorrow) and some independent reading.

I decided to make the book requirements minimum, since my students just simply don't read, in order to make them more likely to pick something enjoyable or interesting. The book has to fit in with the themes of our class, and in Multicultural Lit, there are pretty universal themes. Does the book discuss identity? Perseverance? Is it about a cultural group, or people who don't fit in a cultural group? Okay, cool, that book is fine by me. Of my 6, 4 of them asked me for a suggestion, and after hearing their interests and what movies or books they like, I gave out the following selections:
American Born Chinese
Monster
Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging
Violet and Claire

Guess what? They all LOVE the book I offered. Mariah and Mark already finished their books, Emmie is almost done with hers, and Tyrell is a story all his own. He's reading 2 books, because he also wanted to read the 7th Harry Potter book. And even more than them liking the books they picked, they really enjoy the reading time in class. Having such a small group lets me discuss with them individually, which is so satisfying as a teacher.

The other part I love is that they wanted me to do independent reading along with them. So here I am, 115 pages into Water for Elephants, doing journal entries and sharing in class. We sit around in the comfy chairs and read, and when I tried to grade some papers the other day, they insisted I read. It's fantastic!

I find that giving book suggestions, like recommending films or music, is tricky ground. You want to offer something worthwhile, taking the other person into consideration, but it's also easy to get caught up in something you just simply love. Most book suggestions I've given have been positively received, so, boom, there you go. I'm the book whisperer.

Water for Elephants, on the other hand, was recommended to me. By everyone I know who reads. Yeah, it took me a while, but I love it so far! (Still in the middle of Memoirs of a Geisha and Grendel).

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Shakespeare got to get paid...

Here is the great debate; I am assigning independent reading to my juniors in Multicultural Literature because on Friday the seniors leave and I have 3 weeks left with the rest of them.  That means in two classes I will have 6 students, 3 in each.  This also means that they either have to read a book I have read, or I have to read the book they are reading because they will be required to do a variety of activities regarding the book.  Now, I know I set my list in October, but I think I may have to be willing to change or add books if I have to read something new in order to keep up with my students.

In other news, I am nearing the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, 5 months after I started it.  Sheesh.  This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and since I should be completely caught up on grading since my last day with seniors is Friday, I’m hoping to spend most of the weekend relaxing and reading down the shore.  Well, if the weather holds, that is.  If so, I should be able to completely finish Handmaid and possibly Memoirs of a Geisha.  If I can do that, I feel like I’m on a better track to accomplishing the goal I set out to accomplish.  And if I plan on reading Atlas Shrugged on the cruise this summer, I’m sure my cousin, Jennifer, will keep on me because apparently she just loves that novel.  Peer pressure is a strong suggestor.

I am looking forward to the selections my students make for their independent reading.  I’m using this as a time for them to pick something that interests them, because these kids just don’t find reading enjoyable.  And why should they?  Our world is so instantaneous and attention grabbing and image image image, a book doesn’t hold the same weight it did before technology advanced so much.  Hopefully they will pick something enjoyable and maybe, just maybe, read something else when they are finished.  A girl can dream, no? 

Side note: my shirt for today?  “Shakespeare got to get paid, son.”  My classes response? “You would, Ms. Beck.  You would.” And they are right.  I would.

I will miss some of those little bastards, really, I will.

I actually read something!

Stop the presses!  I actually partook in the adventure this blog set out to be!

I awoke this morning at 9am to my alarm going off.  Having gone to bed at a reasonable time for the Saturday night post-prom (note: I was not an attendee, but a chaperone.  Yeah, how old does that make you feel?) around 1am.  Somehow though, I do not feel well and would like to sleep more.  Unfortunately, I had plans for a coffee date with Dan at 930, but luckily we both wanted more sleeping time.  Unfortunately, I had about 4 cups of water before bed the night before, and unfortunately almost peed my pants running to the bathroom as soon as my alarm went off.  Unfortunately, I am REALLY awful at falling back asleep once I get moving (sidenote: Red Sox score! 2-0 in the 4th).

So I decided to make the most of it.  Also, I didn't feel like rolling over to grab my TV remote.  So I read The Handmaid's Tale for about an hour before rolling out of bed to go to Caribou.  I'm ALMOST done with the book.  Honestly, months and months later, I am ALMOST done.  Best part was Dan was running late, so I sat at an outdoor table and read more of Memoirs of a Geisha while I waited for him.  I've got 2 books going at once, and hopefully I won't get them too confused.

Here is the last unfortunately for this post (I swear): Memoirs of a Geisha has just been in my backseat for a while now, since I brought it with me somewhere to read while I killed time (doctor's appointment, maybe?) and when Anthony's friend, Chris, was in my backseat a few days ago, he had picked it up to comment.  And he removed my bookmark.

I know, I know, everyone out there is thinking WHAT???? How could he?  What is wrong with this boy?  Why did you let him in your car?  He better not ever ride in the car again!  And I'm right there with you.  Chris, you are banned from my car forever.  But I realized maybe I hadn't made it clear that what I was using for a bookmark was, in fact, a bookmark.  Normally I remove the book jacket from hardcover books, and with the exception of my Harry Potter books (which I own ALL in hardcover) I normally prefer paperback.  I can bend them and they're less awkward, but this copy happens to be hardcover and the cover is well designed and made out of a fabulous material, so I was using the flap as a page marker.  Standard decision, right?  Once you get past the halfway point, page-wise, you switch the other other flap?  Isn't that what most people do?

Anyway, I had to spend some time trying to find my place, and then proceeded to complain to Anthony about it on skype when I got home.  He did not feel my pain.  Non-reading a-holes.  It did make me think, though...

Does anyone really own and use a legit bookmark?  I own a few, and several are actually very nice (I have a cute rope one with a metal "L" on one end, but the rope is too short to really mark a full page) but I always end up either folding down the page -- I'm not one who is worried about the conditions of my page corners -- or grabbing a random scrap of paper and shoving it into the pages, often losing it the next time I open the book. 

There is also nothing more interesting to me than borrowing a book from someone and finding the page-marker they've used; most of the time, it's a ticket stub from some flight my Dad was on for work, and in my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird I still have his ticket stub from some flight to Phoenix from years ago.  I couldn't bring myself to throw it away or use anything else.  Even when I taught the novel last year I used his ticket stub to mark our placement in class.

My favorite page-marker?  Probably random photos, and, in a pinch, I once used a napkin.  I HATE losing my place in books.