galadrielwatson

November 15, 2014

To the Sun and Sky With Jandy Nelson

I recently discovered the young adult novels of Jandy Nelson: The Sky Is Everywhere and the more recent I’ll Give You the Sun. And loved them.

The Sky Is Everywhere is the story of 17-year-old Lennie, whose sister recently died. Torn by grief, she’s drawn to her sister’s boyfriend. She’s also drawn to the new guy in town, a fellow musician. So which does she choose? Who is right for her? We travel with Lennie as she journeys toward healing.

I’ll Give You the Sun is the story of twins Jude and Noah. It alternates between Noah’s point of view at age 13 and Jude’s at age 16—a timespan in which their lives have flipped. It has much more of a mystery element to it than Sky does, as readers discover what happened and why the twins’ personalities seem to have switched places: from isolated and daredevil to daredevil and isolated.

Both explore similar elements: disjointed sibling relationships, betrayal, the search for forgiveness, the power of the arts, absent mothers, supportive grandmothers (even after death), and otherworldliness entwined in everyday life. Both were page-turners. Both had me reading as nonstop as life would allow to get to the end. Not that I wanted the end. I simply enjoyed being there.

While Sky was an entertaining read, though, Sun floored me. My reaction was wow. First, the why? element grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Second, the frank descriptions of Noah’s sexuality were so…frank.

And when I say frank, I mean frank. Are the scenes realistic? Without being a gay teenage boy, I’d say yes. Do they go too far for a young adult novel? Maybe. Either way, the author was brave to lay it all on the line, and it seems to be a gamble that’s paying off.

Sky also explores sexuality, but here I found the references to male body parts crass and unnecessary; they were where I cringed and moved on. And let’s just say I won’t be encouraging my nearly teenage daughter to read either of these books quite yet; they’re definitely for an older audience.

With an MFA in poetry and an MFA in writing for children and young adults, these were Nelson’s first young adult novels. I say bravo and look forward to more.

Have you read these books? What do you think?

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About the Author

Posted by Galadriel

Hi, I’m Galadriel: blogger, author, reader and resident of a quaint small town in the breathtaking West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

November 12, 2014

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My Thoughts on the Giller

One the same day as I received notice I didn’t win a short story contest I’d entered, six authors gathered in Toronto at the Giller Prize award ceremony. One walked away the winner.

In following the tweets posted during the ceremony, it seemed Miriam Toews’ All My Puny Sorrows was the popular favourite. It was, however, a debut novelist, Sean Michaels for Us Conductors, who received the $100,000 cheque.

In an age when we hear more laments than praise about the state of the publishing industry, and discussions about the paltry income of authors, it was lovely to see a room-full of men in black tie and women in jewels spending an evening praising literature. Although it wasn’t the Academy Awards, the ceremony was still afforded a Canadianesque, best of CBC treatment. And—let’s not forget—there was a full $100,000, plus $10,000 for each of the non-winners, on the table.

At the same time, though, in a humorous, self-deprecating way, the event highlighted everything that’s wrong with Canadian publishing. There was huge emphasis on the big pot of money: though someone as successful in a different career, say engineering, could pull in $100,000 every single year—not as a one-time, fingers-crossed, please, please, please prize.

And then there was Rick Mercer’s bid for laughs as he said some bookstores are actually thriving; in fact, he went into Chapters and bought lovely home decor. And Toews’ wish to spend potential winnings on a pair of Sorel boots, and Mercer’s comeback: “Dare to dream.”

On an interview on CBC’s Q the next day, Michaels reflected the sentiment by saying, “It takes a lot of work to keep your head above water, and certainly it takes a lot of work to keep your head above water for a long time.”

Beyond the thinly veiled bitterness, though, the event had meaning. A public appreciation for an art some of us feel compelled to do, no matter the challenges or earnings. A tackling of tough issues—from terrorism to the right to die—in a way that touches people’s hearts.

At one point, Mercer told the audience: “Buy the books.”

But the call doesn’t make me want to just buy the books of the winner and finalists. It makes me want to buy the books of the many authors who didn’t make the Giller, who never will, who may not even aspire to. Who in their own ways are answering to their art, prize-worthy or not, who must work non-writing jobs to survive, yet keep going. For not everyone will win a prize, and a prize isn’t the only indication of worth.

What did you think of the event?

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About the Author

Posted by Galadriel

November 8, 2014

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How I Became a Reader

Last Monday, One More Page asked, “How did you become a reader?”

I honestly can’t remember. There wasn’t one cause, wasn’t one turning point. There are snippets.

As a child, sleeping over at a friend’s house, a friend who read in bed without fail before turning out the light. I couldn’t understand the appeal. Why read?
Taking Jaws off my parents’ shelf before it was age-appropriate. I have no idea how far I got, but remember it impressed the adults.
Owning a book-and-record set (yes, record) of Alice in Wonderland. Looking at the illustrations as I listened to the story again and again.

And then there’s my name. How could I not love reading when I’m so tied to a book? If you’re not aware, Galadriel is a ruler of the elves in J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The heft of the books always intimidated me until I realized if I could easily read three separate similar-sized books, why couldn’t I read three that tie together? And so, in my early 20s, it was finally done.

Somehow those tidbits of experience linked together until I became the voracious reader I am now. I have learned to read in bed—in fact find it a necessity to do so. I carry a book with me always. I have a stack of unread books, yet still slip into libraries to take out more. When I’m in a bookstore, I find it difficult to walk out empty-handed. I give books as gifts, even to people who don’t adore reading, assuming that with the right book, they’ll one day see the light.

For books offer escape and information and promise. And as a writer, they’re necessary research: tools for learning what to do and what not to do. A literary foundation upon which I can blaze my own way.

How did you become a reader? What does reading mean to you?

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