Goes

These books are not really meant to go together. When she was sixteen years old, Miles Franklin wrote My Brilliant Career, A NOVEL, but was plagued for years by people who believed that this book was an autobiography. Some people continued to insist it was, or even misrepresent it as such even after being personally informed by Miles Franklin that the book was a novel. Finally, Miles Franklin withdrew My Brilliant Career from publication, and in the fifties, wrote My Career Goes Bung as a response to those who continued to believe that My Brilliant Career was an autobiography. My Career Goes Bung is a parody of the literary world, not a sequel to My Brilliant Career, and frankly, if you read it immediately after, it will probably spoil the magic of My Brilliant Career for you.

That said, here is my review of My Brilliant Career:

The is a beautiful and startling book. Written by Miles Franklin in 1901, when she was just sixteen, it is the story of a young girl, Sybylla Melvyn, trying to live her own life in Possum Gully, Australia. She doesn't want to marry, and repeat her mother's life. She'd like to travel, but she has no money. She's bright, but her prospects for college are non-existent. More than anything, she would like to be an artist, but not because she has a passion for any particular artistic expression; she just likes her imagined idea of an artist's lifestyle.

She has a brief respite when she goes to live with her grandmother, and meets Harold Beecham, who becomes her best friend. She also gets to know her Aunt Helen, "neither maid, nor widow, nor wife," who cautions her of the dangers of marrying for love. Sybylla wonders why she should marry at all. If she had a fortune, she declares, she would give it gladly to someone she loved, but "the word wife finished [her] up."

Life has tougher things in store for Sybylla, but she is a survivor, and she begins to write. She masters metaphor: "If the souls of our lives were voiced in music, there are some that none but a great organ could express, others the clash of a full orchestra, a few...the...exquisite sadness of a violin..., and mine could be told with a couple of nails in a rusty tin pot."

Maybe she writes because of what she knows, or maybe she has insight because she writes, but Sybylla, from Possum Gully, to genteel Caddagat and Five-Bob Downs, to the muddy M'Swat farm, and back to Possum Gully, knows classism, demagoguery, democracy, socialism, feminism, and cynicism.

Sybylla is a joy to know. I can't recommend this book more.

It's hard to believe that this novel was written by a young woman in her teens. it's even harder to believe that it was written in the late nineteenth century. So much for Victorian attitudes... Sybylla rages against her parents, shuns marriage in favor of a career, sees classism and injustice as it truly is, and at one point questions the exuistence of God. The result is an entertaining story. Sybylla is a worthy literary sister to Anne of Green Gables, or the March sisters. The story has a little less of the innocence to it, but all of the charm. The description of 1890's Australia are vivid, as are all the people Sybylla meets (and those great Australian geographic names.)

Try and find a copy of this book... and then demand it go back into print! You won't regret reading this, and you'll enjoy it wholeheartedly. (Beware, My career Goes Bung is not a "true" sequel, and can easily be skipped without missing anything.)

Nate the Great, the youngest detective to ever deliver tough guy lines, is summoned to his newest case by his next door neighbor, Oliver. Oliver is something of a pest because he follows people. It doesn't matter who they are or where they're going, if they catch Oliver's eye he will follow them. He's followed Nate the Great around on a lot of the cases Nate has been given to find things his friends have lost. Oliver's problem sets Nate on his first night case as a detective. Someone is stealing from Oliver's garbage can and dumping the rest all over the place. Reluctantly, Nate the Great takes the case and is followed by Oliver. Along the way, Nate finds out what Rosamond's four cats will eat. It is a very long list, and not at all what Nate needs to know. Researching the case also leads Nate to the local library to study nocturnal animals. However, the real culprit who is stealing Oliver's garbage is a major surprise!

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress.

As usual, Majorie Weinman Sharmat writes a sharp and smartly told tale. Nate the Great is one of the best fictional heroes to ever come about for young readers and pre-readers. Reading one of the Nate the Great books to a pre-reader is a fantastic privilege. The first-person, clipped dialogue is pure pleasure for the reader willing to do "voices." Annie and her dog Fang were absent from this adventure and long-time readers will miss them, but Oliver and Rosamond are there, as well as the usual stumbling blocks Nate encounters. And pancakes-lots and lots of pancakes. The author's clues are there, though, and many alert readers will figure out the solution to the garbage-snatching mystery one step ahead of Nate, which is the best place to figure those things out. Marc Simont's artwork is simple and elegant as always, adding to the enjoyment.

Young readers will enjoy the whole Nate the Great series because the tales are told in a familiar fashion and involve a solid cast of characters that return book after book. These books are also some of the best to choose for read-alouds to pre-readers or for the last story before bedtime because they can be read in just a few moments. The Nate the Great mysteries are fun and addictive for both parent and child.

Nate the Great is a cool detective who solves lots of mysteries. In this story he is trying to find out who is dumping Oliver's trash. We liked it when Nate the Great went undercover to solve the case. The best part was when Nate runs into a "Stinky Surprise"! We think this is a great book for all second graders.

I have to agree with the prior reviewer: why is this book out of print? Although I never spent any serious time at the doctor's, my sister came down with serious pneumonia as a child and this book really helped steady her for the experiences ahead. While I'm sure there are other books out there with similar motivation, this book was special (being R. Scarry)...

Why was this book taken out of print?! We need a book similar to this one for our Head Start children. Many of them have not had very much experience with doctor visits, and this book would be helpful in preparing them for our doctor checkups . The pictures are colorful and the familiar animal characters are entertaining as well as informative. END

Finally - a comprehensive analysis and history of one of the most important children's books! If you think you know Pinocchio, think again. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is THE exhaustive study of the great literary puppet. From Carlo Collodi's (pen name for Carlo Lorenzini) original late 19th century tale to its many 20th and 21st century spin-offs, from the original's illustrations to its inspired copies, to Disney's version and beyond, Pinocchio Goes Postmodern enlightens with its expansive chronicling of the fabled Pinocchio story in its myriad manifestations.

Wunderlich and Morrissey are, in my estimation, the world's preeminent Pinocchio scholars. (Hollywood and Global Cinema take note: If you are going to tackle a celluloid rendition of this tale - animated or otherwise - you need this team aboard as consultants.) The former is a professor of sociology at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, the latter, a professor of English at SUNY Plattsburgh. Wunderlich had already written a Pinocchio Bibliography before tackling this endeavor. Morrissey has written at least one Pinocchio-inspired play. Both have written many articles and given many talks on the subject for over twenty years. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern benefits from these scholars, not only because of their seemingly exhaustive knowledge about Collodi, Pinocchio and their literary children but because they are able to approach the material from both sociological and literary vantage points.

The text provides an overview of creator Collodi's life and work prior to Pinocchio, as well as a publication history of the original. Later chapters expand on the publication history of Pinocchio and trace the manner in which Collodi's story has been re-told, appropriated, outright stolen, bastardized, rescued and recovered by a plethora of storytellers. The best of these amalgamations capture the true spirit of the original tale and continue to make it both a learning experience in the context of amusing storytelling. The best of the Pinocchio spin-offs also continue to focus on the growth of the "I-ness" (to borrow Robert Coover's terminology from his adult sequel, Pinocchio In Venice) within the principal character. In spite of its detractors and countless rip-off artists, Collodi's original Pinocchio tale is a beautiful children's bildungsroman that does not shirk from strong lessons. The novel emphasizes that the so-called "real world" can be a cruel and dangerous place. You can get lost in it but it. And it can change you for better or worse. How we cope in the midst of harsh lessons and times of peril often speaks loads about us because these are often the moments that transform us into stronger human beings and give us a better understanding of ourselves. Indeed, Collodi's Pinocchio remains, in its own way, one of the most important of existentialist tracts.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Wunderlich and Morrissey's text, however, is not its incredible thoroughness regarding its core subject matter, but its attempt to rescue the original story from obscurity and reacquaint contemporary readers to the power and messages imbedded there. Disney probably did the most damage in terms of turning Pinocchio into a cutesy children's tale. (Moreover, the sociological and moral lessons imbedded in the Disney version are skewed. For example, nobody is economically destitute in the Disney (World) view and if you disobey your parents and guardian angels - even if they look like crickets - you're going to wind up a demon-like, gambling, heathen. Period.) Although Collodi probably kept adults in mind as he was penning his book, his text is unquestionably first and foremost a children's story. The author made sure his story remained focused on depicting sincere versions of the tough trails - and trials - children must travel on their journey to adulthood. Why there have been countless watered down retellings of the story may best be summed up by an overview of our postmodern culture: our obsession with keeping things light and easy, our manic infatuation with consumerism, our attempt to turn life into one long visit to Pleasure Island. Most damaging of all, perhaps, is a turning away from the importance of cultivating an intimate knowledge and ongoing study of the self. Self-study is not narcissistic behavior, but necessary in order to gain authenticity in a largely inauthentic and superficial world.

Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is not only a fun book to read, it's a tremendous reference tool that belongs in the library (public and private) of anyone concerned with the history of great children's literature and great texts in general. Wunderlich and Morrissey present their material in an accessible, friendly style. Their knowledge of and enthusiasm for their subject matter will make you want to keep turning the pages as quickly as you can read them - and then race to go re-read Collodi's original Pinocchio and re-discovery its joys and wonders.

Because of the dumbing down of the Pinocchio story in the U.S. since the late 1930's, augmented by the continuing dominance of the Disney version, modern American readers, child and adult, are missing out on an important reading experience popularly enjoyed during the first four decades of the 20th century. The Wunderlich/Morrisey book describes and analyzes the former richness and ubiquity, and the subsequent adulteration, of the original Pinocchio version in America.

This book belongs in the library of every academic institution where literary and cultural studies are important. It should also be accessible in public libraries to enable parents and teachers to discover, or rediscover, a rollicking and many-layered story to share with children.

This candid adventure story of Margo's introduction to and immersion in a sailing world reveals a life as it should be lived - with joy. Margo's upbeat personality keeps her one step ahead of defeat. It is a tale of places visited and skills hard won.
Women contemplating following her man into an unconventional life should read this book to learn how to make it work. Men should read this book to see how their decisions affect the lady who shares their world.

To me Margo is a kindred spirit to "The Little Engine That Could". By simply reading her book, this "chicken" became encouraged and downright impatient to burst out of the confinement of my land-locked life and eager to venture forth to explore both nearby and far-off, exotic places. Hers is a story with a positive outcome that you just don't hear often enough. Anyone, especially women, who could use some encouragement at a difficult time of life can gain inspiration and hope from her story. I am presently reading it for the second time.

I truly enjoyed this story. My first Nan Ryan book but not my last. Widowed Princess Marlena goes to America to raise money for her country. She takes ill and is replaced by a woman who could be her twin that works in a saloon as an actress/singer. The actress is wanted for theft and that's where Virgil Black comes in. He's assigned to bring her to jail. He spots the redhead and takes her with him even though she tells him time and again that she is a Princess. Sparks fly as they travel by horse to the final destination. This book has to have one of the best endings I have ever read.

A wonderful story of mistaken identity and true love. The carachters in this book are so real you feel as if you are part of the story. A truly exceptional romance. I couldn't put it down. Read it in one day, taking it with me to catch a few pages whenever I could. A charming love story. Princess Marlena or "Red" as Virgil Black, Captian of the Texas Rangers calls her is out of her pampered lifestyle and loving and hating every minute of it. The sparks fly and sizzle with passion. A must read for devoted happy ending readers.

This book should be considered required reading for any parents sending kids off to college. Funny and poignant, it articulately deals with the difficulty of reconciling the pain of loss with the pride of sending your child off into the world. The love that Ms. Jones has for her children shines through like a beacon, reassuring us that even though giving your kids up to the growing pains of burgeoning adulthood feels almost impossible, wiht patience and communication relationships can become even stronger. I highly recommend it for parents--or kids--who want to understand each other a little better.

After leaving my 18 year old daughter at a college 9 hours away from home this fall, I didn't anticipate how hard it would be. I was excited for her to have this experience in a great college town. I was unprepared for how I would feel like I had lost a body part, how I had to keep reminding myself that she didn't die, she's just away at college. This book verbalized many of my exact feelings about this experience. It was very helpful to me and made me feel better. The daughter in the book reminded me of my own vegetarian, jewelry wearing, intelligent, independent daughter. I recommend this book to other parents going through this life passage.

An easy to read, good story about a man who brings his family up North to free them from their dependence on sharecropping profits to sustain life in the South.

An amazing story of a boy who overcomes many obstacles to help provide for his family. The story presents James' journey from Tennessee to Chicago where he establishes a factory job and selflessly sends half of his first paycheck to his father's landlord back home. Eventually he returns to the South to bring the entire family up North and finds them a place to permanently live. A story that is well written with a consistant style bestowing an easy read. After reading this elequently written biography, one feels a deep attachment to the Small Town Boy who came North.

A MUST FOR ALL HORSE LOVERS. HAVE A GOOD LAUGH AT READING THE HUMOUR SIDE OF HORSEMANSHIP, FANTASTIC PICTURES/WORDINGS. THIS AUTHOR IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT AT HIS OWN CREATION OF THESE LITTLE CREATURES, THIS BOOK IS A MUST-BUY FOR ALL AGES - YOU'LL NEVER GET TIRED OF IT. I LOVE THESE BOOKS EVEN SINCE I WAS INTRODUCED TO THEM WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, AND HAVE A COLLECTION OF THEM. LIKE I SAID YOU'LL NEVER TIRED OF THEM.

The ponies were cute and funny and I loved their expressions

This second collection of Peanuts strips, originally entitled "More Peanuts," features cartoons from 1952-1954. From a historical perspective these strips are particularly fascinating because they complete the first significant transformation in Peanuts. When the strip began Charlie Brown's main protagonists were Patty and Shermy. However, over the course of the first couple of years Snoopy started to emerge more and more, although he was still essentially a "real" dog, and the addition of baby Schroeder, who Charlie Brown introduces to a toy piano. This becomes crucial because it is with Schroeder that Schulz's sense of whimsy first starts to come through.

In "There Goes the Shutout" the Peanuts universe has its two most important additions, the Van Pelt siblings, Lucy and Linus. Lucy shows up with the announcement she has been expelled from nursery school, and we immediately know that somebody with a much harder edge has come into Charlie Brown's life. She is, after all, a fuss-budget, and her presence pushes Charlie Brown more in the direction of being the world's greatest loveable loser. At this point Linus replaces Schroeder as the baby of the bunch, which means at this point he has little to say. Ultimately, it is Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Linus who define the directions in which Peanuts could go.

In these strips Schulz also builds on the running gags he first established with Schroeder's piano. That continues as well, with references to the tenth measure of Sinding's Op. 32, No. 3, but we also have the Peanuts gang out on the baseball diamond for the first time (the team is actually ahead 83 to 79 and Charlie Brown suggests since it is Schroeder's ball he should take it and run for home). Still, it is the expansion of the roster of characters, giving Schulz better defined choices for any given gag (do you use Shermy or Shroeder? Lucy or Violet?), that allows him to further refine his humor. This is only the second collection of Peanuts strips, containing work done before most of us were born, but at this point we can clearly recognize the strip we all grew up reading every morning.

There Goes the Shutout is from the Classics Peanuts collection by Henry Holt & Co., and contains strips from the early 1950s. Snoopy had big ears and a pointy nose. Lucy is younger (we see her in her crib, and manipulating her parents) and is actually nice to Charlie Brown, although she beats him at checkers. Linus is too young to speak, but he goes "KLUNK" a lot. Violet has pigtails, although there is another character who looks like the Violet we know. It's fun to see the characters looking so young and playing so many games. I own 2 copies of this book, because the first one I got had about 1/4 of the pages from "The Cheshire Beagle" at the beginning (I did not buy it from amazon.com).