UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY – Jodi Hilleshiem

Tonight Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games series, will be released.  Although it hasn’t quite enjoyed the notoriety of Harry Potter or Twilight, its fans are just as anxious for this final installment.  In fact bookstores and teachers are lamenting its Monday night release, fearing that die-hard fans will skip school Tuesday in order to read the continuing saga of Katniss, Peta, and the rest of the “tributes”. 

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games.” The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat’s sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place [from Amazon.com].

The first title in the trilogy is an absorbing page-turner; it was less gory than I feared it might be, and the characters are very well-drawn.  The descriptions of the arena make the ”game” come alive, with the story begging to be made into a movie (which in fact it will be, in 2011!).  I felt like Catching Fire, the 2nd in the series, was a rehash of the 1st one, but it does set the stage for a possible revolt and furthers the love triangle begun in the 1st book. 

I’m definitely looking forward to reading the finale, and hope it’s as exciting as its predecessors.  If you like survival reality shows, read this series for a gripping look at Collins’ grim, futuristic creation. 

Or on the lighter side, visit this website to create your own tribute name.  http://www.foreveryoungadult.com/2010/03/05/find-your-hunger-games-name/

Mine is “Tineless M. Swimivy” — a bit too similar-looking to spineless for my taste, but there you have it! 

Recently some of my family spent a weekend camping on my grandparents’ island, and 3 of us brought books along.  We each had to read a paragraph aloud to see which book sounded like the best island read.  Nicole was reading Eat, Pray, Love, Heather had Sizzling Sixteen, and I was attempting Middlesex.  We all agreed that my selection sounded the most interesting; however, I only made it to page 4 (there were lots of other things going on, like keeping an eye on the National Fish & Wildlife agents that were patrolling the waters during Country on the River).  Here are descriptions of the books, and Heather’s & Nicole’s takes on them:

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. 

Nicole’s comments about Eat, Pray, Love:  Hmm…Where to start. Well on the island I was reading through the Italy section of the book. It was funny and a good summer read. I like that it made me laugh out loud and was easy to pick up whenever I wanted to read. But, since getting home I am quite bored with the India section and have actually skipped it entirely. So I still want to finish and see the movie but have not been very motivated. Sad, because I was so excited to read it.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich.  Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . .The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky—the only question is . . . with whom?

Heather’s comments about Sizzling Sixteen:  Not enough Joe or Ranger, actually the book was really short. Evanovich is just looking for a quick buck now.

Nicole’s comments:  I was really disappointed in this book. Need way more Joe for me to be a big fan!

Middlesex  Jeffrey Eugenides’s novel opens “I was born twice: first, as a baby girl…in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy…in August of 1974.” Thus starts the epic tale of how Calliope Stephanides is transformed into Cal. Spanning three generations and two continents, the story winds from the small Greek village of Smyrna to the smoggy, crime-riddled streets of Detroit, past historical events, and through family secrets. The author’s eloquent writing captures the essence of Cal, a hermaphrodite, who sets out to discover himself by tracing the story of his family back to his grandparents [from Library Journal].

My comments about Middlesex:  Unfortunately, I don’t really have any so far seeing as I’m on about page 10!  But so far I’m enjoying this unique story and look forward to having the time to read some more of it. 

So there you have it:  comments from the 1st Walker Island Unofficial Book Club! 

Heather & Nicole's Island Reads

Today I read an article on plagiarism on one of my listservs:

Plagiarism Lines Blur for Students in Digital Age

By Trip Gabriel

Published: August 1, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/education/02cheat.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Has plagiarism become more prolific with the explosion of information freely available on the web?  When students copy & paste from the web without crediting the source, are they aware that this constitutes plagiarism, or is it usually an honest mistake?  These are a couple of questions that the article ponders, and judging by the comments (400+), they are ones that many schools are grappling with.

One quote from the article: “Now we have a whole generation of students who’ve grown up with information that just seems to be hanging out there in cyberspace and doesn’t seem to have an author,” said Teresa Fishman, director of the Center for Academic Integrity at Clemson University. “It’s possible to believe this information is just out there for anyone to take.”  And Sarah Wilensky, a senior at Indiana University, feels that ”the main reason it occurs… is because students leave high school unprepared for the intellectual rigors of college writing.  If you’re taught how to closely read sources and synthesize them into your own original argument in middle and high school, you’re not going to be tempted to plagiarize in college, and you certainly won’t do so unknowingly,” she said.

Professors, have you seen plagiarism increase with the increase of digital information?  What, if anything, do you do to help students avoid it?  Do you see it as simply being unaware that attrition must be given, even though “information is just out there for anyone to take”, as Fishman stated, or is it deliberate?  

Students, are there courses you have taken in high school or college that explain what constitutes plagiarism, and has this knowledge transferred over to sources that you are obtaining from the web, or do you see it as a murky area?  Here on Fayette campus we have writing consultants during the school year to help answer your questions.  Or you can visit their website at  http://uiu.edu/resources/tutoring/writing.html. 

Any comments on the article or plagiarism in general?

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I love young adult books.  I find that often they’re just as well-written–if not better–than a lot of adult bestsellers.  And, to quote Micah Mertes of the Lincoln Journal Star,  ”YA cuts to the heart of the story. Fewer digressions, allusions, meta-literary naval-gazing. Just a story with characters you care about”.  To read Mertes’ full story, visit http://journalstar.com/entertainment/arts-and-culture/books/article_4d9b34e2-5a1f-11df-aa6a-001cc4c002e0.html (while you’re there check out StillPhoenix’s comments about the Twilight series, and suggestions of authors to read).

I just finished reading Gary Paulsen’s Woods Runner, nominated for this year’s Iowa Teen Award.  This is the story of 13-year-old Samuel, a boy at home in the wilderness surrounding his family’s settlement in frontier Pennsylvania.  When the Revolutionary War intrudes on their peaceful life, Samuel must strike out alone, relying only on the skills he has taught himself.  Coming face to face with the realities and cruelty of war, he gains a sister as he encounters both merciless soldiers and heroic rebels & civilians in his quest to find his parents.  A mixture of both fiction and non-fiction (historical notes follow each chapter), this story offers a gripping look at the war. 

Paulsen is an author whose YA books normally have adult appeal as well–at least I’ve always enjoyed them.  My favorites include Hatchet  — On his way to visit his recently divorced father in the Canadian mountains, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only survivor when the single-engine plane crashes. His body battered, his clothes in shreds, Brian must now stay alive in the boundless Canadian wilderness.

and Nightjohn — He had escaped north to freedom, but he came back–came back to teach reading. Knowing that the penalty for reading is dismemberment Nightjohn still retumed to slavery to teach others how to read.  And twelve-year-old Sarny is willing to take the risk to learn. 

Here are ten of my favorite YA books which also have adult appeal (I’m not including the Harry Potter or Twilight series because unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of those! :

• Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
• Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
• Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (I’m anxiously awaiting the final book in the trilogy, coming out Aug. 24!) 
• The Land by Mildred D. Taylor
• A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
• Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (A book EVERYONE should read!)
• Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Let me know if you’ve read any of these, and what you thought.  Or, if you’re looking for a good read, give one of them a try.  Have a good weekend and check back next week for some of my favorites for younger readers!

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Try to say that title 3 times fast!  I loved this book–the characters, the setting, the literary mentions, and especially the understated humor.  We come to see the island of Guernsey & its wonderful inhabitatants primarily through their letters and communications.  Because of this format, it makes for a fast read, and an interesting one at that–it is always enlightening to see new views of a war.  I was impressed by how adept the author (an ex-librarian!) was at individualizing a full cast of characters and letting their voices speak for themselves; especially impressive considering this was Shaffer’s first book. 

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

A couple weeks ago I visited a public library in the area–I wanted to get a few books to read to my nephew while he was here for the weekend.  Once again I was reminded of some of the things I love about libraries: browsing the stacks, the peaceful environment, and of course, the air conditioning!  Libraries aren’t always quiet places, though; when I worked at the public library, things could get pretty crazy, especially on program days.  This week my sister took my nephew to a “Snakes Alive” program at the Prairie du Chien Library.  As you can see by the picture, Will doesn’t share my phobia of snakes!  And he LOVES going to libraries, especially “Hi’s” library (my sister Heather is the director of the Waterville Public Library), and even makes it all the way down to “Nut’s” library occasionally. 

Have you visited your local library lately?  Lots of them are currently having summer reading programs which are great fun for kids & adults alike.  Or go to check out the newest bestsellers, magazines, or DVDs.  Support your libraries–visit one today!

Something a bit different today:  I love to cook, and even better, I love it when my daughter cooks!  She is amazing, frequently coming up with her own recipes.  But this week she came across a recipe in one of my magazines, and decided to give it a try.  She found the recipe in All You, a magazine I enjoy because the tips, recipes, and articles are down-to-earth, and there are always good coupons. 

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

• 1 3-lb boneless pork shoulder, skin & excess fat removed
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
• 2 cups bottled barbecue sauce (our favorite is Famous Dave’s!)
• 2 Tbs. mustard
• 2 Tbs. honey
• 1 Tbs. soy sauce
• Salt & Pepper

1. Trim pork of excess fat.  Place pork in slow cooker, and add broth or water.  Cover & cook on low until very tender, about 8 hours.  Remove meat and let cool.
2. When meat is cool enough to handle, pull it into thin shreds, removing all fat and gristle.  Skim excess fat from liquid in slow cooker.
3. Return pulled pork to slow cooker and stir in barbecue sauce, mustard, honey, and soy sauce.  Season with salt & pepper.  Cover and cook for 1 hour on low. 

And that’s all there is to it!  I’m happy to report it turned out great….I loved the flavors.  Full disclosure: the recipe actually calls for onions, but I avoid onions at all costs.  Also, she left the soy sauce out. 

So when you’re looking for something easy to prepare, pop some pork in the crockpot in the morning before you leave for work, finish it up when you get home, and you’ve got a sandwich that’s full of great summer taste!

I realized that lately I’ve been reading mainly books by women authors, or ones with female protagonists.  So in searching for books that might appeal to men, I came across “100 Must-Read Books: The Essential Man’s Library” put out by the Art of Manliness website http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/14/100-must-read-books-the-essential-mans-library/. 

Although I was looking for more recent titles and authors, this was an interesting list.  I’ve never been much of a classics reader (sacrilege for a librarian, I know ), but I probably have read about 10 of the books mentioned.  There are many, such as Catcher in the Rye and 1984, I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t read (unless it was in high school and I have no memory of it!).  So I thought, hey, it’s a nice long weekend, and the authors of the site make most of the books sound interesting, and actually readable.  Maybe I could start with The Count of Monte Cristo since I saw the movie and really enjoyed it.  This is what they had to say about the book:

The ultimate tale of betrayal and revenge, and perhaps one of the best stories of all time. Edmund Dantes, who shortly after being promoted to captain of his ship, and just days before his marriage to his beloved fiance Mercedes, is brutally betrayed by those he trusts, arrested for treason and consequently taken to a prison on an island off the French coast. The story goes on to tell of his life after escape from prison, his finding the greatest treasure in all the world, and re-entering the society as a wealthy, educated and sophisticated Count. [Removed because of spoiler alert]. It is a great novel that you most likely won’t be able to put down until you have it finished, even if you have already seen the movie.

“Perhaps one of the best stories of all time?  Yes, that sounds like a great choice for the weekend.”  Unfortunately when I pulled the hefty tome from the shelf I realized I may have bit off more than I could chew.  I was looking at a whopping 1,365 pages!  Chances are you may have to wait a month or two (or 3 or 4) to find out what I think of the book vs. the movie version of the Count.  In the meantime, I think I MAY be able to get through A Separate Peace, which at 186 pages is a lot more realistic for my attention span.

Take a look at the Manly site, and let me know which ones you have read and enjoyed.  Which ones would you say are must-reads?

Have a great 4th of July weekend everyone!

So are there any brave souls out there who attended the midnight opening of Eclipse, the 3rd in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series?  I have yet to attend one of the movies on opening day; the thought of those long lines and a packed theater just isn’t appealing.  But I admit I did do the midnight release of the final book, Breaking Dawn.  I was probably the only person in Barnes & Noble that night who fell asleep under a table.  Talk about a LONG night!  And we were there to buy the New Moon DVD the night it came out; unfortunately I somehow missed out on scooping up a special edition in the mad dash.  I don’t remember the particulars–being surrounded by crazed fans didn’t allow me to exactly think straight–but I think it had something to do with me being delayed by the birthday cake that was being served.  Luckily some salesman took pity and directed us to some copies in a previously undisclosed location.

So what is it about the books and movies that cause such obsession?  I’m not sure.  Are they great literature?  Of course not.  But any (well, most any) book that gets people excited about reading can’t be a bad thing.  Now I’m definitely not a “TwiMom” but it is nice that my daughter and I can and do enjoy them together.  One of the criticisms I’ve heard is that they’re going to give girls the wrong idea of what a relationship should be.  These books are about a normal girl who falls in love with a vampire, and whose best friend is a werewolf, being protected by these men in her life from other vampires who are relentless in their quest to kill her.  Not exactly based on reality. 

I’m anxious to see the latest installment; hopefully I’ll get to it  in the next few days.  I went to the last one with quite a few of my family members, and I won’t mention any names, but when Jacob took off his shirt the cousin next to me let out a big enough sigh to rival those of all the teenagers around us. I was a bit disappointed in the first one–I wasn’t a fan of the director.  The movie played more like a low-budget after-school special in some parts.  The second book was my least favorite (probably because Edward hardly appears in it), but I thought the direction of the movie was a definite improvement over the first.  I hear that the 3rd is filled with more action and special effects, in part to try to appeal to guys.  I will let you know what I think of it, and if you’ve seen it, or read the books, let me know what you thought!

Unfortunately none of the books I’ve been trying to read lately have really grabbed me.  There was one I was enjoying –the name escapes me right now– but unfortunately I packed it for a camping trip, and it seems to have disappeared.  So I thought this week I would share some of the books I read and really enjoyed during the last year or two.  Today’s is A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.  Published as a young adult novel, it’s an excellent example of why I love young adult literature, and one that will appeal to adults as well as teens. 

16-yr-old Mattie Gokey has big dreams but little hope of seeing them come true.  Desperate for money, she takes a job at the Glenmore, where hotel guest Grace Brown asks her to burn a bundle of secret letters.  But when Grace’s drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers the letters reveal the grim truth behind a murder.

Scott Turow said of A Northern Light: “A book that sweeps across the genre boundaries of murder mystery, romance, and historical fiction–resulting in an original novel that is both gripping and touching.”

Even though this tale of poverty, racism, and feminism takes place at the turn of the twentieth century, we can still relate to the characters today.  Unlike a lot of heroines who are too contrived, I found Mattie, the main character, to be wonderfully realistic in that she was intelligent and resourceful, but yet still had her flaws.  In fact, all of the characters have both their frustrating and redeeming qualities, and the reader is left to come to their own conclusions about them.  I don’t often take notes when reading, but there were several passages I marked in this book, for one reason or another:

• …madness isn’t like they tell it in books…when your mind goes, it’s not castles & cobwebs & silver candelabra.  It’s dirty sheets & sour milk & dog shit on the floor.

• Switchel is easier to drink than plain water when you are hot and thirsty.  Mixing a little vinegar, ginger, and maple syrup into the water helps it to digest.

• I did not wish to become a sneak, but sometimes one had no choice.  Especially when one was a girl and craved something sweet but couldn’t say why, and had to wait til no one was looking to wash a bucket of bloody rags, and had to say she was “under the weather” when she had cramps that could knock a moose over…she was fed up with sore bosoms and stained drawers and the fact that she couldn’t just live life in the open…

• Cripes, it wasn’t my fault.  What did he go and have 4 girls for?

• Why do writers make things sugary when life isn’t that way…Why don’t they tell how a pigpen looks after the sow’s eaten her children?  Or how it is for a girl when her baby won’t come out?  Or that cancer has a smell to it?

• I didn’t think how saying yes to him would mean no to all the other things I wanted.