A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer

I have to admit that I got this after hearing Mr. Pelzer on a radio show. It was part of an anti-domestic violence week. This book is written in simple language from the point of view of an 8/9 year old. And it’s a painful read but it’s something that everyone should read if only to bring them out of their shell and realize the amount of pain that can be inflicted on a child. Scapegoating is a strange psychological condition and it’s documented quite well in A Child Called “It.” If anyone knows about any studies on scapegoating, I would be interested knowing how many of the scapegoated kids are the oldest in the family. I have to admit that this book is one of several on Mr. Pelzer’s life and I’m hoping that the questions of what happened to his mother: (did she ever get help?) and what happened to the other kids when he was taken away? are answered in the other books. I wouldn’t recommend reading this book straight though. Take breaks, go read happy thought books in between. If I hadn’t, I would have had nightmares and been depressed. I did end up hugging my kids after I finished it though.

How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward

It’s not often that a coming of age novel centers on a character in her 30’s but Caroline in How to Be Lost is the main lost soul in How to Be Lost. It seems that all the main characters are lost in some way whether they know it or not. As Madeline says, “When Ellie disappeared we all put our lives on hold.” Let’s just say I’ve read some better coming of age novels and better sister novels too. However, it was on the reader’s favorites shelf at the library so someone must have liked it. Maybe I resent it because in the end, Mother was right and I have my own issues with that. I wouldn’t call this one a waste of time and I am glad I read it. I just happen to have read better books too.

The Unauthorized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket by Lemony Snicket with a forward by Daniel Handler

I loved the Lemony Snicket books from Mr. Poe's first cough. But then, in my bedroom, I have a portrait of Mr. Baudelaire - the author of Fleurs du Mal - done by his good friend Manet, who also frequently sketched the Baudelaire children. I'm constantly amazed how many people don't understand that a lot of what the books contain is analogy - a word meaning referring to something the reader should be familiar with which isn't described in the book but puts the situation in context if you, dear reader, are familiar with it - but I really shouldn't be surprised. Most people don't read anything except what they were assigned in school. The Unauthorized Autobiography makes it clear that one of the purposes is to introduce children to other authors and to the enjoyment of reading in general. I loved the picture of the sailors and it made me curious about the authors that I didn't know.
But that is part of the purpose of the Lemony Snicket books as I understand them, to make children ask questions and to search for knowledge. Not everything can be found in Google (although I do plan to Google a few of the things that I'm not familiar with but I'm sure they mean something. )
By the way, the flap of the dust cover is a Very Funny Directive. But it is necessary. For example, I was at the NOT Lemony Snicket book signing and had at least 2 - meaning more than one- adult take me to task for bringing an "Unauthorized" Autobiography to an "Authorized" event. (Although how an event can be "Authorized" if the "Author" does not appear is still questionable.) But back to the subject... I stood my ground, I looked those people straight in the chest (I would have had to look up to look them in the eye, unless it was tattooed on their ankles like Olaf's) and I asked - "Who writes an AUTObiography?" One adult huffed at me and stalked off dragging her daughter behind - I wonder if they were the ones who spilled the Gatorade on me (and more importantly was the Gatorade somehow related to the Gator that paralyzed Mr. Snicket preventing him from making the event). The other adult started to laugh and asked if they had any of the books for sale at the event.
I know that I should not recommend such a dreadful book to the nice people reading my blog, especially young people but I will acknowledge that it has helped to make sense of Lemony Snicket's world.

Book Lust Journal by Nancy Pearl

I ran into King's English Bookshop today to see if they had any extra stamped Lemony Snicket books. (They didn't - Publisher's restrictions). As I walked in, I spotted a beautiful pocket sized book by Nancy Pearl.
I loved the first page and the concept. I'll admit that I agree with Nancy - "I would give almost anything to go back to being a kid and having a blank notebook in which I would write down the author and title of each book as I finished reading it."
I'll admit that I started writing down titles and authors this year but some months I just didn't find the time to record everything.
As Nancy says "What treasures have I lost track of, all for the want of a notebook and the self-discipline to write it all down?"

Since I know I would misplace a paper notebook (as I have several times - I'm still missing the hot pink book my Grandma bought to teach me her "secret" canning recipes). I decided the safest place is online.

Unfortunately, Book Lust was already taken.