Emily and Einstein

I love this silly book:

Lee, Linda F. Emily and Einstein. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2011.

Moments before he is about to break his wife's heart by telling her he wants a divorce, Sandy Portman gets hit by a car and turns into a dog. His widow Emily, a smart young woman in the publishing industry, is left with nothing because he had already written her out of his will without her knowledge. In the form of a dog, Sandy must help Emily get her life back on track before he is allowed to enter heaven.

This book is loaded with stock characters and it will probably be made into a Lifetime movie. If I were director I'd cast Reese Witherspoon as Emily the young widow, Rob Lowe as Sandy the heartbreaker, Meryl Streep as Emily's mean boss, Jane Fonda as Emily's snobby mother-in-law, Adrian Grenier as the bachelor next door, and Jake as the dog.

Jake

October is National Pizza Month

Although I'm not a big fan of the food, I do like these books about pizza:

Barbour, Karen. Little Nino's Pizzeria. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987.

I love Karen Barbour's artwork. She also illustrated the covers of Armistead Maupin's series, Tales of the City.

Khalsa, Dayal K. How Pizza Came to Queens. New York: C.N. Potter Publishers, 1989

How Pizza Came to Queens was a big hit at the Queens Public Library where I had my very first job as a children's librarian. The book has its flaws, but the title is simply irresistible.

Steig, William. Pete's a Pizza. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins Publishers, 1998.

Pete's in a bad mood. Just when he's about to go out and play ball with his friends, it decides to rain. Pete's dad thinks it might cheer Pete up to be made into a pizza. This silly story of filial cannibalism was written and illustrated by Shrek! creator William Steig. The Weston Woods short film version is a hoot, too. Chevy Chase is the narrator.

'Tis the season

Here are some great books about the winter holidays:

Christmas in New York by Chuck Fischer

Fischer, Chuck. Christmas in New York: A Pop-Up Book. New York: Bulfinch Press, 2005.

Buy this beautifully crafted pop-up book for your favorite New Yorker.

Rosen, Michael J., and Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson.
Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Christmas.
San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992.

Elijah's Angel is about the friendship between a young Jewish boy and an elderly African-American folk artist. Considering the subject matter, the story is surprisingly sap-free and believable.

Demi. The Legend of Saint Nicholas. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2003.

I love that Demi doesn't worry about being politically correct. The author writes freely about religion and manages not to come across as preachy. This book is probably best suited for older readers as it includes some gory details about how St. Nicholas brought three children back to life after they had been murdered and marinated.

Demi. Mary. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2006.

This book is gentler than Demi's Saint Nicholas, but the writing style is a bit lofty for young readers. No matter. As with most of Demi's works, the pictures are what really counts.


And on the lighter side . . .

Seuss. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York: Random House, 1957.

Who doesn't love this Seuss classic? My favorite part is when the Grinch tries to disguise his dog as a reindeer.

Soto, Gary, and Ed Martinez. Too Many Tamales. New York: Putnam, 1992.

Personally, I don't think there's any such thing as too many tamales. I even like the frozen Goya ones.

Katz, Karen. My First Kwanzaa. New York: H. Holt, 2003.

This simple picture book is perfect for a preschool storytime program.

Kimmel, Eric A., and Trina Schart Hyman. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.
New York: Holiday House, 1989.

I love a good Hershel story. (There are also some good ones in Shari Lewis's One-Minute Jewish Stories.)

Three Quick Picks

The Neighbor

This is the best suspense novel I have ever read.

Gardner, Lisa. The Neighbor. New York: Bantam Books, 2009.

Basketball Jones

Basketball Jones is the last book E. Lynn Harris wrote before he passed away. It's a fast-paced, glamorous story about love, betrayal, and basketball. Not for the homophobic.

Harris, E. Lynn. Basketball Jones. New York: Doubleday, 2009.

The Late, Lamented Molly Maxx

This entertaining page turner is part mystery, part ghost story, and part New York City chick lit.

Koslow, Sally. The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009.

Lenny Bruce on Judaism

Bruce, Lenny. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People: An Autobiography. Chicago: Playboy Press, 1965.

" . . . if you live in New York or any other big city, you are Jewish. It doesn't matter even if you're Catholic; if you live in New York you are Jewish . . . Italians are all Jews."
--Lenny Bruce

Since I live in Boca Raton, and Boca Raton is known as The Sixth Borough, I guess you could say I'm Jewish. I'm also Italian-American and Catholic.

One time when I was waiting in line at Walgreens, I overheard the person behind me griping about how "the damn, cheap-ass Jews take over Boca every winter." I turned around and asked loudly, "What did you say?????" The person in front of me said, "Are you Jewish?" I boldly answered, "Yes." Someone else in line said, "Do you know where I can buy a yahrzeit candle around here?" I answered "Publix, aisle three near the gefilte fish."

And we all lived happily ever after.

Three Quick Picks

The Neighbor

This is the best suspense novel I have ever read.

Gardner, Lisa. The Neighbor. New York: Bantam Books, 2009.

Basketball Jones

Basketball Jones is the last book E. Lynn Harris wrote before he passed away. It's a fast-paced, glamorous story about love, betrayal, and basketball. Not for the homophobic.

Harris, E. Lynn. Basketball Jones. New York: Doubleday, 2009.

The Late, Lamented Molly Maxx

This entertaining page turner is part mystery, part ghost story, and part New York City chick lit.

Koslow, Sally. The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009.

Reading in NYC

Long train commutes are one reason why Queens, Brooklyn, and New York Public Libraries have such high circulation rates. Here is a wonderful New York Times article about reading on the subway: nytimes.com.

Torres, L. (1993). Subway sparrow. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

And speaking of New York, here is an old post about my escapades in the big city:
roxxyandjake.blogspot.com.

This book hits a little too close to home for me.

Sands, Stella. Behind the Mask: A True Story of Obsession. New York: St. Martin's True Crime, 2009.

This true crime story is about a coworker of mine from Queens Library named Bill Coday who brutally murdered two of his ex-girlfriends. He was a really charming guy, and most of the librarians had crushes on him. It's hard to believe from his more recent photos, but he used to be quite a looker. (I guess they don't let you work out in solitary.) I hung out with him a few times and he was trying to get me to transfer to his branch library in Corona Heights. Thank God I didn't.

Please say a prayer for the victims' families. It must be extremely painful for them to hear about the release of this book. While I believe in freedom of the press, I know from personal experience that it is almost unbearable when a family tragedy becomes fodder for news stories.

Bill committed suicide about a year ago while he was on death row. Perhaps we should say a prayer for his family, too. Even though it's not their fault, they must feel horribly ashamed.

I like these two books

Koslow, Sally. The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009.
This entertaining page turner is part mystery, part ghost story, and part New York City chick lit.

Harper, Charise Mericle. Fashion Kitty. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 2005.

If you like Babymouse and Amelia Rules, you will love Fashion Kitty. This graphic novel for kids is the cat's pajamas.

We all shine a light

This illustrated songbook would make a great baby shower gift. It's way more original than Goodnight Moon.

Bryan, Ashley. Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007. Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award.

Bartone, Elisa, and Ted Lewin. Peppe the Lamplighter. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1993.
A Caldecott Honor Book.

A young boy helps support his family by lighting the streetlamps of Little Italy. (Little-known fact: Illustrator Ted Lewin used to be a professional wrestler.)

Selden, George. The Cricket in Times Square. New York: Ariel Books, 1960. A Newbery Honor Book.

A displaced country cricket from Connecticut brings beautiful music to a New York City subway station.

Mandy Patinkin

Last night my friend Jill and I went to see Mandy Patinkin in concert at Miami's Arsht Center. I wasn't all that familiar with his work, but I never turn down a free concert ticket. (Jill won them from a radio contest.)

Patinkin, Mandy, and Paul Gemignani. Dress Casual. New York: CBS Records, Inc, 1990.

The guy has an AMAZING voice. He's right up there with Caruso, Caputo, and Pavarotti. It's hard to believe that he is in his mid-50's--his voice is liquid. He hits notes that are too high for some prepubescent choir boys. To hear for yourself, visit mandypatinkin.org.

Like most one-man shows, Mandy's performance was pretty intense. He talked about growing up in Chicago, friends he lost to AIDS, and the melancholia he experienced while studying at New York City's Julliard School. (My grandma went there, too!)

Rodgers, Richard, and Oscar Hammerstein. Carousel Song Album. London: Williamson Music, 1956.

He performed an amazing rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Soliloquy, and he talked about how Carousel was the first play he ever performed in when he was a young teenager. (Me, too, but I was just a chorus girl.)

Carousel, 1982.

My favorite part of the show was when Mandy sang a medley of Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, and Gershwin tunes in Yiddish.

ps. Here's John Raitt's rendition of Soliloquey. Mandy Patinkin's is better, but you gotta love Bonnie Raitt's dad.

More city stories

Here are a few more great books about life in the Big City:

Christmas in New York by Chuck Fischer

Fischer, Chuck. Christmas in New York: A Pop-Up Book. New York: Bulfinch Press, 2005.

City Chicken by Arthur Dorros and Henry Cole

Dorros, Arthur, and Henry Cole. City Chicken. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2003.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Blume, Judy, and Roy Doty. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. New York: Dutton, 1972.

Chicken and Cat by Sara Varon

Varon, Sara. Chicken and Cat. New York: Scholastic Press, 2006.

Abuela by Arthur Dorros and Elisa Kleven

Dorros, Arthur, Elisa Kleven, and Sandra Marulanda Dorros. Abuela. New York: Puffin Unicorn, 1997.

And speaking of big cities . . .

Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline. New York: Viking Press, 1967.

Free Man in Paris is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs. Check out this video:

Joni's got Jaco Pastorius*, Pat Metheny, and Lyle Mays up there with her. Talk about an all-star band!

Mitchell, Joni. Shadows and Light. Los Angeles, Calif: Asylum, 2003.

Here's the original, studio version from Court and Spark:

Mitchell, Joni. Court and Spark. [Los Angeles, Calif.]: Asylum, 1980.

*Did you know that Jaco Pastorius was from Broward County? Next time you're in Florida, be sure to visit Jaco Pastorius Memorial Park in Oakland Park.

Moments of Pleasure

Kate Bush's Moments of Pleasure is one of my very favorite songs. It's from her 1993 album, The Red Shoes.

Bush, Kate. The Red Shoes. New York: Columbia, 1993.

I think these lines are especially beautiful:

On a balcony in New York
It's just started to snow
He meets us at the lift
Like Douglas Fairbanks
Waving his walking stick
But he isn't well at all
The buildings of New York
Look just like mountains through the snow

Here's the video:




Kate Bush is a very intriguing character. She was discovered by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour when she was only sixteen. She is probably most famous for her 1978 hit single, Wuthering Heights.

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. London: Thomas Cautley Newby, 1846.

To learn more about Kate Bush's career, I recommend reading this article by Holly Kruse. This bio from the official Kate Bush website is also very good.

Here is a review of Bush's latest album, Aerial: rollingstone.com. I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't listened to it yet. For the time being, I am quite content just to play Moments of Pleasure over and over and over again.

Visiting Queens

Seidler, Tor, and Brock Cole. Gully's Travels. [New York]: Michael Di Capua Books/Scholastic, 2008.

Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet, the Spy. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.

I am reading a wonderful children's novel, Gully's Travels by Tor Seidler with illustrations by Brock Cole. It's the story of a snooty Lhasa apso from Manhattan who suddenly finds himself stranded in Astoria, Queens. The story reminds me a bit of the scene in Harriet the Spy where the governess, Ole Golly, takes Harriet along on a day trip to Far Rockaway, Queens.

And speaking of Queens . . .

Although I was terribly homesick at the time, looking back, I realize that two of the most exciting chapters of my life took place in Queens.

When I worked for Pan Am, I shared a two bedroom apartment in Kew Gardens with four other flight attendants and a pilot. We had so much fun going into the City (AKA Manhattan) and using our Pan Am i.d. cards to get into clubs for free. (Yes, we were bridge & tunnel girls.)

My very first full-time job after grad school was at the Queens Library. I worked at a branch in Bayside, but I lived in Astoria with two wonderful roommates. I felt like a real city girl taking the subway to work each day.

Torres, L. (1993). Subway sparrow. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

City Kids

New York City is a great place for a family vacation. You can tour the NBC studios, ride a double-decker bus, see mummies and knights in shining armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, eat cannoli in Little Italy and taro cakes in Chinatown, catch a space show at the American Museum of Natural History, and for the best view in town--hitch a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry.

No matter what, you absolutely, positively must experience the bright lights of Times Square at night. (Don't worry. The peep shows have been replaced by Disney and M&M's.)

Picture Books:
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber
Peppe the Lamplighter by Elise Bartone and Ted Lewin
The Man Who Walked Across the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
Chapter books:
The Teddy Bear Habit by James Lincoln Collier
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

New York Stories

Anyone who has ever spent time in the Big Apple probably has a few good New York stories to tell. Here are three of mine:

*One time when I was window-shopping on Lexington Avenue, a shop owner invited me in for a free makeover. I let him have free reign, and I ended up looking like a Louise Brooks wannabe with really short bangs and pencil thin eyebrows.


*I was riding on the subway one morning, when two young men with Down’s syndrome got on and one sat next to me. His companion told him to come sit next to him, but he said, "I'm staying with her" and gave me a big hug. All the people around us laughed at his sweet gesture.


*I lost my wallet on the Q10 bus, and it was returned with all the money still in it.


If you like New York stories, you will love the book, HELEN LEVITT. It's a collection of the Helen Levitt’s street photography from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Most of the pictures are candid shots of children playing on the streets of New York. Maurice Sendak writes in a review: “Helen Levitt’s clear-eyed view of children’s street life is sympathetic and brutally honest. She takes children on their own terms and sees the extraordinary paradox of their lives, watching them duck and dive between total fantasy and hard reality.” Even the Great Depression couldn’t kill these kids’ spirits.

Phillips, Sandra S., and Maria Morris Hambourg. Helen Levitt.
San Francisco: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 1992.
ISBN: 0-918471-20-6