M is for ... My Milk (Toof)

This is the most adorable blog. Ever. I've been a follower for the past year and ickle and Lardee are pretty much my heroes. They have the most amusing adventures and Inhae does an amazing job making/shooting/creating the stories.

Started on March 18, 2009, Inhae has a fairly large fanbase and over 50 stories about ickle and Lardee. Here's her first post. Lardee was introduced on May 18, 2009. Come say hi!These are some of my favourites: 1, 2, 3, & 4.

What's your favourite ickly & Lardee story?

P is for ... (Julio Noboa) Polanco

Identity

Let them be as flowers,

always watered, fed, guarded, admired,

but harnessed to a plot of dirt.

I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed,

clinging on cliffs, like an eagle

wind-wavering above high, jagged rocks.

To have broken through the surface of stone,

to live, to feel exposed to the madness

of the vast, eternal sky.

To be swayed by the breezes of an ancient sea,

carrying my soul, my seed, beyond the mountains

of time

or into the abyss of the bizarre.

I'd rather be unseen, and if

then shunned by everyone,

than to be a pleasant-smelling flower,

growing in clusters in the fertile valley,

where they're praised, handled, and plucked

by greedy, human hands.

I'd rather smell of musty, green stench

than of sweet, fragrant lilac.

If I could stand alone, strong and free,

I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed.

P is for ... (Tamora) Pierce

New month, new letter, and finally a new post! Life's gotten crazy busy lately, especially since I'm attempting to finish up my AP course for Art. Our school got Photoshop (!!!), so I've been doing a bunch of stuff on that. Once it's all finished, I'll post some up for you guys to see!

Tamora Pierce is my hero. I've read almost every single one of her books, and keep re-reading them when the feeling strikes. I've written about how much I love her works at my livejournal account over and over again.

For those who don't know, Tamora Pierce is a brilliant fantasy writer. Song of the Lioness, Protector of the Small, The Circle Opens, Tricksters, Circle of Magic, Immortals, and Beka Cooper are all series that she's written.

The world of Tortall (where all these books take place) is tangible. The histories and the geography and the people, the customs, they're believeable and real and human. Her characters are flawed, but strong within their flaws. They're relateable. I've been in love with them one moment and angry at them the next, sympathetic in turn.

Her series are all linked, and reading all of them tightens the web that she's woven with her books. You don't need to read each of them, but you want to, because you want to know what happens to each of them, why they are the way they are.

What's your favourite Tamora Pierce book?

A is for ... Anne (Hathaway)- (Carol) Ann (Duffy)

Anne Hathaway

'Item I gyve unto my wife my second best bed'
(from Shakespeare's will)

The bed we loved in was a spinning world
of forests, castles, torchlight, clifftops, seas
where we would dive for pearls. My lover’s words
were shooting stars which fell to earth as kisses
on these lips; my body now a softer rhyme
to his, now echo, assonance; his touch
a verb dancing in the centre of a noun.
Some nights, I dreamed he’d written me, the bed
a page beneath his writer’s hands. Romance
and drama played by touch, by scent, by taste.
In the other bed, the best, our guests dozed on,
dribbling their prose. My living laughing love -
I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head
as he held me upon that next best bed.

The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy is an anthology full of outstanding poems but my favourite will always be Anne Hathaway.

A is for ... (The Danger of the Single Story)- (Chimamanda) Adichie

If you hadn't already worked out by now that I'm a big fan of Chimamanda Adichie's work from my post on her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, then I'm a terrible fan. She's arguably one of my favourite authors if not my favourite author. I admire her as both a writer and speaker. So today, instead of raving about her books and short stories (which are beyond amazing), I've decided to share a speech she made as part of the TED talks series, The Danger of a Single Story.

The single story creates stereotypes. And the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.

A is for ... (Hans Christian) Andersen

Thank goodness for Google. Otherwise I probably would have sat here wondering what the hell to post, since, you know, I haven't posted in ages (again). Today they're celebrating Hans Christian Andersen's 205th birthday!

Anyone who knows about fairytales knows Andersens' name. The author of over 150 stories, it's no wonder he's so renowned. Among his most famous stories are: The Princess & the Pea, The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Suit, The Ugly Duckling, The Little Match Girl, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, The Wild Swans, and The Marsh King's Daughter.

My favourite Andersen story would have to be "The Wild Swans". There's a book that I read ages ago that was a re-telling of the story called Singer. I tried googling it for you to see, but unfortunately, couldn't. Anyways, it's a beautiful book and led me to look for the original story. I was not disappointed.

What's your favourite Andersen story? Let us know in the comments! =D

A is for ... Anis (Mojgani)

After a few months of being plagued by that feeling of fatigue that is the result of not strenuous activities but just plan old tired of life fatigue, a friend sent me to a link to Anis Mojgani's performance at The Seattle Grand Slam 2006 and let's just say I haven't looked back since then. He is passionate, brimming with words and creativity; he makes poetry exciting, new and fresh and moving. He moves me in that way Nina Simone moves me which when you consider my love for Nina Simone's is saying something. He is intense and each of his poems asks more from you, asks to you be something, to dig yourself out of your fatigue and "rock the fuck out".

So if you've had a terrible week or day or month or even year just listen to him and hopefully he will make you feel better if only for a minute.

H is for ... (Calvin) & Hobbes

Obviously I am terrible at this. As in, so terribly horrible at looking and making sure I post on Mondays and Thursdays that it's Tuesdays and Fridays. -fails-

However! I bring to you one of my favourite characters of all time. My dad (as per usual) is the one who introduced Calvin & Hobbes into my life. As long as I can remember he's had the comic books on his shelves, both at home and in his office at whatever school he's taught at. Then there were the photocopies of his favourite ones pinned to the bulletin boards.

I would have to say that Calvin & Hobbes were my first foray into comics, of any sort. Written and drawn by Bill Watterson, the comic first appeared on November 18, 1985 and ended on December 31, 1995. Calvin stays as a troublesome, imaginative, sarcastic, and grey hair inducing six year old, and Hobbes is his equally troublesome stuffed tiger.

Not only is he troublesome, he's an exact replica of every little boy I've ever known/met/etc. And his sidekick, the slightly more grown-up part of the duo, Hobbes. They're the epitome of childhood. =D

H is for ... Half (of a Yellow Sun)

Excuse me while I paraphrase Mr. Knightley's sentiment: If I loved Half of a Yellow Sun (by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) any less, I might be able to talk about it more.

I sometimes wonder if I will one day be able to tell anyone why I love this book as much as I do. I think it has something to do with Adichie's writing that feels altogether confident, something to do with the story she told that was altogether very human and very human, a story that called on history which I find has always made the best book.

But more importantly, my love for Half of a Yellow Sun has something to do with the fact that Adichie did for me what Alice Walker and Toni Morrison and Chinua Achebe and Maya Angelou did for countless young black women before me: she convinced me that young women like could be in books and that even I could write a book about what I wanted to tell and someone out there could read it. Half of Yellow Sun also gave me an inspirational woman(Adichie herself) to look up to and for that alone, I'm grateful.

S is for ... Shel Silverstein

Silverstein's was the poetry that I first learned and loved and memorized ("Alligator Pie") and the copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends that sits on my shelf has been used and abused and loved since I was in grade three or four.

Though, doing a quick Wikipedia search have shown me that, not only is he an amazing poet, but he was also part of the group Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (which ended up just being shortened to Dr. Hook). Anyone ever heard the song "The Cover of the Rolling Stone"? If not, here, you might recognize it:

Another one of their well known songs is "Slyvia's Mother".

He also wrote songs for Johnny Cash ("A Boy Named Sue", "25 Minutes To Go"), Irish Rovers ("The Unicorn"), B0bby Bare ("The Mermaid", "The Winner", "Rosie's Good Eats Cafe"), and was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his song "I'm Checkin' Out" for the movie Postcards from the Edge.

Silverstein also did all the cartooning in his books, which led him to be able to be picky about how his books came out. He would choose the paper, the binding, the print, everything, for his book. Making sure that how the book was made reflected the contents of the book. None of his books are softcovers as he didn't want his work diminished in any way.

On top of all of that, Shel was also a playwright, writing over ten short plays which have been performed many times by several companies in different forms.

It's no secret that Shel Silverstein has been loved by millions of people of all ages. His unique writing style, drawing style, and the combination of things that he accomplished in his life are a pull people can't resist.

S is for ... Season of Migration to the North

I am currently reading 'Season of Migration to the North' by Tayeb Salih. Any one who knows me knows that I have a soft spot for modern classics as well as books that are set in African countries. So when I found 'Season of Migration to the North', I thought Christmas had come early.

Sadly, I'm finding it difficult to get into the novel. There are moments when I find myself immersed in the little village on the edge of the Nile and then there are times when I am confused, finding it difficult to appreciate Salih's work. The English Literature student in me tells me the confusion I feel is the same confusion the narrator feels but I usually tell that side to shut up so I can try and enjoy the book.

I am terrible with reviews and it actually sounds like I dislike the novel, I don't. And if you want moments of exquisite straight to the point prose I highly recommend you read it.

S is for ... (William) Shakespeare

I'm sure I can hear the groans and moans of, "Are you kidding me?!" in the background because you're thinking of all the assignments pertaining to said man through your schooling lives. It seems like Shakespeare is like Uggs, Glee, or Jennifer Aniston's hair in Friends: you either love it or hate it.

I first got my real taste of Shakespeare five...no...seven years ago. I was Peaseblossom from a scene in A Midsummer Night's Dream. To be honest, I still have the script kicking around somewhere in my room. After that, it wasn't until grade nine (about three years later) that I encountered Shakespeare again. Then, it was in the form of Romeo + Juliet. Which, as much as it's also a love/hate piece, I grew addicted through the two movies we watched with it: >Romeo + Juliet and West-Side Story. After viewing the former, I promptly went out and bought it, of course. Then last year it was Macbeth, and this year it's Hamlet. Why schools have a love for the tragedies is beyond me...

What renewed my love in the famed playwright was two things: the movie Shakespeare in Love (go. watch. now.) and his beautiful writing.

Romeo [...] Unto the white-upturned wond'ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him,
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds,
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

The words and the way that Shakespeare plays with them just entrances me. Even as he's funny and serious and talking of love. And here be where I end my English nerd-ity.

S is for ... (Anne) Sexton

thief--
how did you crawl into,
crawl down alone
into the death I wanted so badly and for so long
-Sylvia's Death, Anne Sexton

The first poem I ever read by Anne Sexton was Sylvia's Death inspired and written for Sylvia Path after she committed suicide. I remember shuddering with emotion. There is something dark about the poem and overwhelmingly sad. It has a trace of bitterness, especially the stanza posted above. A few poems later, I soon realised sadness was a characteristic feature of Sexton's writing as a result of her ongoing battle with depression. But the sadness is not stifling, it isn't uncomfortable, it is understandable. Although, I wouldn't advice binging on her poetry.

For more of her poetry look no further than here. Amazon also sells a tape of Sexton reading some of her poetry.

S is for ... Salinger

If you've ever heard the song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel or read any "Banned Books List", you'll know about Salinger's most notable work, The Catcher in the Rye.

Written in 1951 and given rave reviews by papers such as The New York Times, who said that it was "an unusually brilliant first novel", and spent thirty weeks on the Best Seller's List. It was also banned in several countries, as well as several US schools for it's casual references to sex, prostitution, and swearing.

While Catcher is his most notable, Salinger wrote several other stories before he quit publishing in 1965. These pieces include: A Perfect Day for Bananafish, Nine Stories, Franny and Zooey, Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction, and the last published was Hapworth 16, 1924.

Salinger died of natural causes on January 27, 2010 and left behind a legacy of brilliant works and honest writing.

(info via wiki)

P.S. You can all see that Khy is new and will be posting with myself. We've started over, with a new layout, new way of posting, and new ideas. Let us know what you think!

S is for ... Saudade

Saudade was once described as "the love that remains" or "the love that stays" after someone is gone. Saudade is the recollection of feelings, experiences, places or events that once brought excitement, pleasure, well-being, which now triggers the senses and makes one live again. It can be described as an emptiness, like someone ( e.g., one's children, parents, sibling, grandparents, friends) or something (e.g., places, pets, things one used to do in childhood, or other activities performed in the past) that should be there in a particular moment is missing, and the individual feels this absence. In Portuguese, 'tenho saudades tuas', translated as 'I have Saudades of you' means 'I miss you', but carries a stronger tone.

(via wiki)

The first thing that came to me when I thought of an S somehow related to writing (Thursday will be the day dedicated to literature) was the word Portueguese(and Gaelic) word saudade. Saudade is definitely one of my favourite words, partly because it cannot be translated properly into English and partly because the emotion itself is such a heart wrenching emotion. I think we have all felt the emptiness that saudade aims to describe but failed to name it, failed to give it a word or anything more than the waving of arms in the air and a stare into the distance.

PS: I should probably introduce myself but alas I'm terrible at speaking about myself. We will simply call me Yielly's partner in crime and everything else you need to know will be shown by my posts. Already you know I like the word saudade :)