The Beautiful Ones by Prince

Prince was a musical genius.  There is no denying it, and there is no debating it.  If you plan to, unfriend me/delete me/stop reading.  Prince joined musical genres, styles, and instrumentation like no one before him, and I don't think we ever will again.  In addition to his own work, he wrote hundreds of songs for others vocalists and produced numerous albums of his own and others'.  Prince came from humble beginnings--a child of divorce with full and half-siblings in Minnesota. It's hard to believe a regular kid from Minneapolis would become a legend.  But he most definitely did.  

I have always loved Prince's music--from the 80s through his death in 2016.  So when the opportunity arose to add this posthumously published memoir to our collection, I jumped on it.  And being that I get to unpack the boxes, well, I grabbed it first. 

*Stops review, climbs up on soapbox, taps mic*

People tell me kids don't need to learn to read or write in cursive anymore.  WRONG.  Yes, there are transcribed versions of our founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, and later documents like the Gettysburg Address.  However, there is value in being able to read our history as written--seeing where penmanship changes due to stress or movement.  And how exactly are you supposed to sign a check or your driver's license?  Furthermore...

IF YOU CANNOT READ CURSIVE, YOU CANNOT READ THIS BOOK.

*Steps off soapbox, reminds friends who are elementary teachers to teach it anyway*

That's right, many of the letters, notes, and lyrics are in Prince's original handwriting, and that is in cursive.

I cried a lot reading this.  For many songwriters, the source is pain.  And there is a lot of it. Physical and mental.

Prince announced the memoir just weeks before his overdose.  I am grateful his estate allowed his co-writer to continue the work and publish it as per Prince's wishes.

 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Well, here we are again.  WHHS is closed for two days for contact tracing and testing due to a positive case of Covid.  I'm on tech support.  I had 58 emails already (it was 10 when I started writing this; I opened my laptop at 6).

This was the September Book Club selection.  However, with all the crazy going on right now, we've elected to push the meeting to October.  This was chosen by Ms. Marcella, and she will moderate. 

I have to say I struggled with this.  I tend to struggle with non-fiction that does not hold my interest.  While the topic is timely (racial social justice), there were A LOT of names, dates, and places.  All of them are in the South, and I did not have much as a frame of reference for where things were happening geographically.  In addition, some of the first names of the convicted prisoners were the same, which was confusing. 

It's not that I didn't like the book.  It is important work, and clearly still a reality for Black and Brown communities.  I simply struggled with the writing.  If I were to recommend it, it would be in excerpts.  As this is a memoir in a way, I would say students interested in social justice or appellate law would do well in reading it.

Stay safe out there.

All opinions expressed on this blog and its video version are solely those of Mrs. W. 

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

 I'm typing this inside the Library.  Things have changed rapidly in a few days.  We are officially welcoming Ms. Fanelli, Mr. Fallon, and Mr. Pistone as roommates! The QR codes are made for sign-in to be touchless.  A new video of the space will be made once we get ourselves settled.  It will be different to say the least!

So on to today's review.  I was in a conference session with Ben Philippe this summer on comedy in YA.  This was the same session I heard about Midnight and Rayne.  I had HOPED this would be more amusing.  

Unfortunately I did not find this to be all that funny.  I smiled a few times, but I was definitely not rolling around laughing.  I don't like to "genderify" books, but this is definitely a boy-ish book.  And maybe because I'm a cis-gendered female, I just couldn't get into it.  I've been teaching teenage boys 19 years, and I am a Mom to one.  Maybe that's enough locker room smell for one lady.     

I won't be recording this review as it just dawned on me our school desktops do not have webcams!  And I'm far back in the line for a new laptop.  Alas...

I'll be adding this to the collection early next week along with all the other new books. 

 

Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Our return to school is rapidly approaching!  It seems we will be going back half-days, five days a week.  The Library will still be open during study hall, but sign in will be QR code rather than laptop.  I moved the tables and chairs to be 6 feet apart. We will have some new roommates this year.  Ms. Eburg, a new English teacher, will be taking the Conference Room where Mrs. Pazsak was. Five different teachers will rotate through with their Academic Labs.  I also heard Mr. Pistone will have a class or two in our space, but that's not definite yet.  Ms. Deninger and the English Department's Book Closet will be in our back room temporarily.  A full house!  

So, today's review.  This was recommended to me by Amazon.  I've been on a supernatural/witch kick as of late, so I'm guessing that's where this came from.  This was...interesting.  Think The Giver and Gathering Blue meets The Grace Year, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Crucible.

Which is my problem with it.  Nothing was really original.  Readable for sure.  Even enjoyable.  But I wasn't shook the way I was reading Gathering Blue or The Grace Year.  I'm finding originality lacking in some new books, as evidenced by my last THREE reviews.  Is it my own fault for reading similar books?  Perhaps.  Which is why my next is completely out of the genres I've been stuck in (The Field Guide to the North American Teenager).  The book that'll follow is the book club selection Just Mercy.  Unrelated, I suggested Tigers, Not Daughters for October, and I will moderate. 

In this story, Immanuelle is the mixed-race, illegitimate daughter of a suspected witch and poor man from an ostracized family.  Her mother was betrothed to The Prophet, a Pope-like figure leader of their village.  Her parents were burned at the stake.  Living under the care of her grandmother, the Dark Wood calls to her, and it appears her first menstrual period brings about a curse from the Witches of the Dark Wood.  The Prophet's Son, a secret disbeliever, tries to help her break the curses and plagues.  Immanuelle knows change is coming, and it comes with her power.

Like I said, readable and enjoyable.  Not original.

I'll be heading in tomorrow to hopefully process all these donated books from me!  My book order for this year has not been approved yet, so I do not know when or if we will get any new books (sad emoji)!

Please stay safe!

 

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven by Bella Forrest

 Hello all.  It seems we will definitely see each other in two weeks.  There will be many changes, not all of which I am a fan of, but let us evaluate how things go once they start.

Anyway.

Today's review is for my next book club selection.  A reminder this is only my 2nd book as a part of the group.  I am hosting the gathering, and Ms. Corrado (that's Mrs. Paredes's secretary) is moderating the discussion.  I believe she is who chose this novel.

Bella Forrest is a widely popular "author".  I put the term in quotes because I don't think she's a real person.  She has no biography, no back story, no social media presence outside publishing info.  I am leaning toward "Bella Forrest" actually being several ghost writers in an anonymous group.  The vast majority of "her" work is paranormal series in YA.  This is listed as book 1 in a new serial, that of Harley Merlin.  

In addition, I am thinking "her" works are based off fanfic ideas.  There are several Twilight and Harry Potter connections that are too coincidental to be oops or common threads.  I would also draw attention to the Skull and Bones (Yale) reference and how similar the Kid City in the novel is to the one in Middletown.  A CT-based writer?  

Plot-wise, this is base novel in that there is a LOT of description--this is X and her job is Y, this is A and his specialty is B.  Introductory stuff to lay a foundation.  In short, the long lost last descendant of Merlin was hidden at birth and now finds herself part of a secret society of witches and warlocks looking for another long lost witch out for world domination.  Where have we heard this before?  Yeahhhhhh.  Looking at you Voldie.

Decent enough, but I have no intention of picking up anything else in the series or anything else of "Ms. Forrest"'s.  

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

I hope you are all safe and well.  I spent two weekends in New Hampshire (masked and socially distanced), which was fantastic.  I finished this before we left for Loudon, and promptly forgot to do the review before we left for LinWood.  

I wanted to like this.  I really, really wanted to like this.  It is set in Fairview, which is really Fairfield, CT. But, unfortunately I found it too similar to a mix of Dark Places (seriously, the ending is wayyyyyyy too similar), My Sister's Grave, and One of Us is Lying or All Eyes on Her (perhaps if I hadn't just read All Eyes, I might feel differently?).  There were also some glaring geographical mistakes that someone from Southern CT would notice right away. 

Andie Bell was beautiful and popular.  5 years ago her AP student boyfriend Sal Singh (read: brown skin, different culture than most in town) killed her.  He then killed himself. 

Now Pip, a senior, has decided to complete her capstone project on media literacy (didn't I say that in the review for All Eyes?) using the Bell/Singh murder-suicide as a case study.  She breaks her privacy commitment and reaches out to the families (wouldn't that disqualify her anyway?), befriending Sal's brother.  

The two reinterview witnesses, read transcripts, look at photos, etc.  Everything that happened in Dark Places and My Sister's Grave.  By the time I got to the end I was rolling my eyes and the ridiculousness of the plot twist, since I'd already read it! Ugh. 

Would this be a good murder mystery had I not read the aforementioned books so recently?  I'm not sure.  My bias in reviewing might be clouding my judgement.  Also, this was actually published BEFORE All Eyes, I just read it after.  Well, find it on the new shelf when we go back and decide for yourself!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels

This is the 2nd review for today.  Again, my apologies.

The world lost a music legend this month with the passing of Charlie Daniels.  I have been a huge fan all my life, and have seen him and The Charlie Daniels Band perform live four times.  I recited "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" for a Halloween-themed oral lesson in one of my undergrad classes.

I've always found him to be so incredibly down to Earth, often meeting with fans before or after performances with little to no security.  He's been married only once, as in "til death do us part" and loves his horses.  While I may not agree with his religious views, he is strong in his faith and offers praise and thanks for all.

The meteoric rise of CDB after "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" often leaves out the story of a young man just trying to make it.  Taking on little gigs playing whatever the audience at that particular establishment wanted, is one reason the Band's music is so varying among genres.  Country, bluegrass, rock, gospel, rockabilly, folk, soul, and even pop blend in their music.  Through it all, Charlie reminds his readers he doesn't actually know how to play the fiddle or guitar.  He learned by doing, no lessons or formal training. 

For any of my teachers reading or listening to this review, make sure you read the acknowledgments.  For any of my kids, don't ever forget to thank the teachers who influenced you.  

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.