What do you mean, "Not all essays are boring"?

     Essays are an unpopular form of writing--probably because we've all been forced to write them in school. And, mostly because my own essays were dead boring, I thought all essays would be, including published works.
     It's not true! Through Regent University, I took a class called "The Art of the Essay." It changed my entire perspective on the genre. Essays can be absolute firecrackers! Observational or funny. Witty, tragic, thoughtful! Where can we find these masterful works? Read on to find out. This semester, I also realized some major benefits of learning the art of the essay. What are these benefits? And, last of all, how can we begin to craft our own unique writing voices and riveting techniques? 
     I'm sure we all remember writing essays like "What I did over Summer vacation" and "An Embarrassing Experience." Boring. BORING! But that's not how it has to be. William James said essays were "The Moral Equivalent of War."
     In class, I learned about non-academic essays (have you ever heard of such a thing? I hadn't!), and how different they look from the average school slop. They can be treatises, but they can also be stories. Memoirs, to be specific. All the essays I read this semester came from an anthology called The Best American Essays of the Century, with Joyce Carol Oates and edited by Robert Atwan. They blew my mind! Then, even better than reading powerful essays, we learned to write them as well! I had to share this with my blog readers, of course! ;)
     Why might you want to write an essay like this? There are a few reasons. For one, it is a polished, powerful form of journaling. You can keep records of important moments in your life by writing them into memoir essays. The second reason is that we never really understand life events unless we explain them. Author and philosopher Dorothy L. Sayers says it like this, "You only experience a thing when you can express it--however haltingly--to your own mind" (85). We have to work it out for ourselves. Sayers also explains that this type of expression changes a person so that "he no longer feels himself battered passively by the impact of external events" (86). I'm going to keep up this fabulous excercise.
     Nobody likes to be judged, and yet people like to judge. This conundrum, which applies very much to me (sadly), was the subject of a creative non-fiction essay I recently wrote. If you would like to read it, click here.

Christy Dares You #4

     Pick an essay from the late 19th Century or early 20th. My recommendation? "How it Feels to be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston (click here to read it for free). To read other essays of this awesome genre for free, click here.

     Then, write an essay in the style of the author you read. Notice the level of vocabulary, the length of the sentences, the types of sensory details and images. It's hard--but push yourself. Organize. Polish. You'll be happy with the result. If you would like to exchange your work with me, I'd love to partner in critiques with you!

Works Cited

     For those searching for a Christian worldview concerning literature, I highly recommend the essay cited below as a conservative source (you can order it from the library):

"Sayers, Dorothy L. "Towards A Christian Esthetic." The Whimsical Christian. New York:    

     Macmillan, 1979. Print."

Upcoming Library Events: Interior Designing Class & Book Sale

    
     Have I got goodies for YOU today! I'll explain at the end why this week's post is early. Let's start with the good stuff!

Free Interior Design Class @ Library

     Do ever wonder how to color your walls/accessories/appliances/shelving so they look cooridnated?Thinking about summer renovations, maybe? On Wednesday, May 9th, the library will be hosting a FREE class on how to color your house! And I don't mean with crayons! Interior designer Robert Boccabella will lead the class. I know my decorating skills are--erm--less than "great," so I'm excited to hear from the expert. This class will start at 6PM and run until 7:30PM.

Book Sale @ Library

     Paperbacks for $.50, Hardcovers for $1.00! And they have good stuff--at previous sales, I've found Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, ALL the Harry Potters and tons of other great reads. I've used several for gifts, too, because they *looked* brand new. All for a dollar or under. This sale will happen on Saturday May 19th, FROM 10am-4pm, put on by the Friends of the Library (<3 them! seriously!). Come support our library by practically stealing great books, with a happy conscience!

Why The Post is Early This Week

     Keviste and I are heading out to see a wedding (a sort-of wedding, actually--lovely couple--Congrats Kyle and Hope Forti!) and stay a few days in Monterey and Carmel. So. Early post!

     Next week will be special. On top of the long-promised writing tip, I will be posting one of my favorite essays from class last semester. It's a creative non-fiction essay (so, a story based on a memory, with a thesis weaved in) in which I contemplate the meaning of judgment.
     See you then, friends!

Teens' Top Ten Competition

     A certain competition is gearing up for the annual excitement: Teens' Top Ten!     Do you want to know what teens are reading these days? No, no don't cringe! We got Twilight out of our system way back in 2009 (at least, according to Teens' Top Ten standards). Yeah--we're all new-fangled. If you are a teen, or a parent who wants to find books for your teen, this may be of interest to you.
     So, what is Teens' Top Ten? It's a popularity contest for Young Adult novels (once in a while, adult fiction wins as well). The winners are compiled onto a yearly "best of" list. Now, this is very different from your typical high school popularity contests, or "best hair" contests. It's about the favorite books of America's teenagers. The point is to find what teens like to read, and show them how to find more of it. It's to show teens that reading is fun. Here's how it works:
     In APRIL (Is it really April already? Goodness). YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) releases a list of 25 books most popular books of the year, as nominated by teen readers. Then the real reading happens. Teens cross the country look at this list. Many times, they will have read at least one book on the list; the other listed books interest them simply by proximate association. Through word of mouth, these books spread across the teen (and, *ahem* adult) populations. In August and September, teens between the ages of 12 &18 vote on their two favorites. YALSA announces the Top Ten winners during Teen Read Week, which is Oct. 14-20th this year. To check out the list of present nominees, past winners, and other information, click here. Short synopses of each nominee are provided as well. I recommend reading these --they're very helpful! YALSA is a very liberal organization. Some of the books reflect interesting opinions, at times. Living and learning in this world necessitates extra care! I'll post about these books as I read them, if you care for my opinion.That's my naggy warning for the week!
     As many of you probably know, I volunteer at the library. I work on teen programs with Amy Patton, one of those lovely librarians. For the last two years, our library has hosted announcement parties for the TTT winners. It's one of my favorite events! Cookies, soda and best books. Can a party get any better than that? Here's last year's announcement video for TTT! (P.S. The sound does not immediately turn on. Click the megaphone symbol).


     Usually, not all of them are my taste, but I always love others. And you know what rocks this year? The Scorpio Races, the book I raved about on last week's post, is one of the nominated titles! I SO wish I could vote! But any teens reading this right now can get in on the action. See if your favorite reads are favorites across America. Some past TTT winners that I loved: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Fire by Kirsten Cashore, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (c'mon, you knew The Hunger Games would make the cut! :)
     Next Week I'll be posting about a free library event on Interior Design! Be excited. It's going to be rad. I know it's been awhile since I've posted a writing tip. There's been so much going on, I haven't had space! Soon though. Promise.
     Have a great week, Scribblers and Book Bandits!

Book Review: The Scorpio Races

source

     Great books transport us to different worlds, worlds we just know exist. Finding a book like this feels like a gift. Allow me to introduce you to an award-winning book which flew me over thousands of miles of blue choppy waves, and plopped me on a horse for a beautiful, blustery, dangerous ride: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

For the readers:

     Kate "Puck" Connolly makes history on her tiny island home by signing up for the the Scorpio Races. Girls just don't do this--boys only. Until now.
     Every November, horse riders race in the dangerous runs hoping to win the prize money. However,  these are no ordinary horses, but the speed-demon water horses called capaill uisce, drawn from Celtic mythology. They eat meat. Any meat. Human meat.
     So, not only is Puck a girl, but she rides an ordinary horse in the races made for magical, legendary beasts. Why would she do such a thing? She has her reasons...and they made me want to shake her and hug her at the same time!
     Four time champion Sean Kendrick will race again this year--but the stakes are higher than ever. And they were already pretty high. You know....life or death.
     Who will win? Only one can. The catch for me, as a reader, was that I wanted both to win! By the end, I knew them and loved them both.
     The adventure draw is obvious--the emotional draw is more subtle. The island of Thisby has a way of drawing sea-lovers together, despite their purposeful seclusion. Puck's feisty humor and temper kept me laughing, while Sean's bravery made me braver. I saw with new eyes--their eyes--and only the best books can accomplish this!

P.S. I listened to this book in my car (although I'll be reading soon), and the voice actors have awesome accents. Maggie's music is also integrated into the readings. It enthralled me. You can order the audiobook for free through the library and listen to it in your car!

For the writers:

Maggie with her book. Source.

     I've reviewed Maggie Stiefvater's books before, but only on Goodreads.com. I posted Races on the blog, though, because the craft is phenomenal. She reinvents language and description. Instead of writing, "He had a nasty black eye", she might write, "His eye seemed to be growing mold." Only hers word would be even better :)
     For a few days, the real world was just a fog, or a vacation, and the island cliffs of Thisby occupied my thoughts.  In other words, Puck offered me a sticky, sweet November cake, and Sean took me for a ride on his prized horse, and I sat on the beach for hours, watching riders gallop along the shore. I ordered this book so I could read and study its "real time" descriptions.

Below: A book trailer with illustrations and music by the author. She's way too cool, right? An author, artist, and musician! Check it out:

     If you're interested, you can read the prologue here for free. Every chapter of the book gripped me, but this prologue really dropped my jaw. Very intense. It introduces readers to a world in which legendary horses rear up from the sea foam and humans must watch their backs. It immediately connects the reader to Sean, explaining how he became an orphan when he was ten years old. So important, and so well-written! Enjoy!

     If you want to order this book from the library, I would hurry because it was just nominated for the Teens Top Ten competition, and the holds will skyrocket soon!

     Speaking of Teens Top Ten, I'll be posting about the nominations next week! *So totally excited* Talk to you then!

Final Week of YA: A Question of Quality

     What does that big Golden "P" thing stand for anyway? I'll give you a hint: it's not "parsnip." Keep reading for more hints...*dum-du-dum-dum-DUM*
     Today ends our mini-series on why YA (Young Adult) novels are worth reading! If you missed any of the previous three posts on this important topic, you can check them out by scrolling down the main page of my blog.
     It's not..."Pampers."
     Okay. "Quality" is the word of the day, here on Sweets &Beets. I've heard a rumor claiming that since YA fiction is easier to write, rejected authors (casualties of the "big leagues," a.k.a Adult Fiction) or newbies become YA authors. Which would make the quality of the genre...non-existent.
     It's not..."Peeta Mellark."
     We can debunk this myth is by noticing all the awards available for teen books. The website for the Young Adult Library Services Association sports a great list of these awards.
     It stands for..."Printz Award"! My favorite of the book awards is the Michael L. Printz Award. Yes, that's what the lovely golden seal is for. I love this award mostly because one of my newest favorite books very nearly won this year (The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, which I will be reviewing here next week!). These judges have good taste! The Printz Award "annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year" (ala.org).
     And we can't forget the Newberry Medal, of course. This one is for Children's books, but it has been awarded to several of my favorite YA novels, including The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, and A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle.
     If you want to know more about literary awards, check out YALSA's website through the link I provided.
     Every professionally published author has worked through blood, sweat and tears (often literally) to tear these books from their souls and bare them to us on paper. Ernest Hemmingway put it this way: "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a type writer and bleed." Authors are no sissies, no matter the genre.
    


                                               Christy Dares You #3
     Run to the closest library, book shop, or computer. Pick a book labeled "Young Adult" (or YA). Make sure it looks interesting. Maybe look for the Printz Award seal. Then read it. If you have trouble finding one you like, just ask. I'm always happy to give book recommendations!

     Happy reading!



                                                                  Works Cited
"The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature", American Library Association, March 15, 2007.
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz (Accessed April 12, 2012)
Document ID: aca25793-55fb-ac44-456c-73450a57467d

The British, er, the Regulars, er, the Regulations Are Coming!

Edited from this source

    
     Breaking news! We'll finish up the YA mini-series next week. Library news has precedence.
In a previous post, I wrote about how California has entirely stopped funding its libraries. We all knew cuts would be made to the budget. Temporary funding from the county saved the Lake County branches from losing staff and other other things right away.
     Which was AWESOME of them, by the way! So grateful.
     However, that wasn't meant to be forever. Changes have arrived.
     These changes sucked the new book budget dry, as we know. Patrons and the "Friends of the Library" have valiantly donated lots of new reads. Well done on that front, everyone!
     Here's the next the big change:
     I actually think this was a smart change. If you've ever ordered a book from a different library, maybe you've wondered how the books are delivered to you free of charge. The state used to pay the delivery fee. Post-budget cuts, the county has been covering delivery costs. Now they're trying to minimize the number of trips made to deliver the books. Let's use a hypothetical to explain how this works.
     Say I order the book Cupcakes 'n More, and three libraries own a copy: Upper Lake, Sonoma County Library, and Fort Bragg Library. Upper Lake is one of four Lake County Library branches (including Lakeport, Middletown, and Redbud). In order to save money, the delivery system will now automatically sign me up for the Upper Lake copy. Pre-budget cuts, a copy would be randomly chosen based on availability.
     The pros of the new way: it saves money this way, because the book has a shorter distance to travel. The book(s) stays local.
     The cons of the new way: if four other members of the Lake County Library system requested Cupcakes 'n More before me, I have to wait for them to finish with it. They're each allowed 3 weeks to read the book. Add travel time, and I could be waiting 11 weeks or more (or less) for my book. What if I ordered the book for a party in 3 weeks? Well, that's just too bad!
     My Conclusion: Altogether, I think it's a smart way to save money; it's just unfortunate that the wait times could be longer.
     As always, go love your library! Have a good week, and we'll discuss the last YA topic next Friday: "Are all YA books poorly written?"

Week 3 of YA: All Fluff, No Fiber?

     Today, we'll tear into another myth: that Young Adult novels are "all fluff with no fiber." Since YA novels are often marketed to and read by teen girls, they often are considered "poorly disguised romance novels." It's not true.
     Okay, sometimes it's true. :) But that's too broad a judgment to pass on all of them.
     Realistic novels are are a good place to start. Last week I blogged about a book called Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, a book written to encourage sexually abused teens to talk to someone who can help them. I can't even really describe how important this is, and I'm sure you already know anyway. Sarah Dessen writes fiction for teen girls. Her characters deal with things like anorexia, negligence, abuse, and broken families. Her books often center on "finding self," which is huge for teenagers, especially girls. Another of my personal favorites is A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle. This one deals with cancer, death, life, love. Things teens wonder about. There are many examples of "issue books," which strategically tackle tough topics. For example Cut by Patricia McCormick.
     Some novels deal indirectly with these "big" issues through Fantasy stories. In both Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore, the protagonists live in societies that hate them for who they are. They have to deal with that hate and learn to live despite it. Overcoming prejudice. Bam.
     One last book, a YA historical novel: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak tells the tale of a girl who lived during WWII in Germany. She hides a Jew in her basement to save him from the Nazis. This story is narrated by Death. It...heavy. And brilliant. And awesome. A bestseller, and a Printz award winner (which I'll talk about next week!).
     A word on romance in teen fiction: yes, it's usually there. It's something teen girls are very interested in (no surprise there!). It's usually a subplot to heighten suspense.
     Authors use the "YA" genre as a platform to reach teenagers about real issues. Usually, YA authors looooove teens, and want to help them grow. They speak to them by crafting stories to entertain, to provoke thought, and, yes, to fall in love with.