J.K. Rowling is a TEASE!

So about a week ago, beloved author J.K. Rowling set up her own Twitter account. She had this to tweet:

What is she working on?! The long-awaited Harry Potter encyclopedia? Or a new novel? Only time will tell...

Florida State University Students to Get Free Textbooks

Now THIS is interesting...

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Florida state university officials have just announced a program called Orange Grove Texts Plus which aims to reduce or eliminate the cost of textbooks for students.

From the article:
Florida college students can get digital versions of some of those pricey textbooks for free. Students who really want a print version can order one custom-bound for between $30 and $50 — far cheaper than even many used textbooks.

The article goes on to say that there are currently 124 titles in the program, with more being added soon.

This is great news, and I'd like to see something like this done in New York - I know at least personally I don't even bother to buy my books from the campus bookstore anymore - it's just way too expensive. Instead, I just campusbooks.com, which compares the prices of online textbook vendors to find me the lowest price. This semester, I found a $50 book in good used condition for only $6. You won't get deals like that at our bookstore. And then sometimes, the store won't even buy your books back from you at the end of the semester because they're getting in a new edition.

So, what do you think? Would you like to see something similar to this instituted at Vassar?

Shoulda Seen It Coming

Stephenie Meyer fans, another reason to rejoice!

Comingsoon.net is reporting that The Host has been picked up by producers Nick Wechsler, Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz to be made into a full-length feature film!

This is sort of a no-brainer after the success of the Twilight films, but The Host is a very different book from those... I found myself unable to get into it until the last 200 pages, but now I can't wait for a sequel. It's a really deep inquiry into what it means to be human, something that's rather unexpected after the fantastical tweenie girl appeal of Twilight.

Meyer plans on making a whole series of "Host" books, so maybe this just means another multi-million dollar payout for the Mormon housewife and author.

What do you think of this move, Meyer fans??

"Twilight" Rising

I know there are more than a few Twilight fans on campus - Entertainment Weekly recently hailed Stephanie Myers as the next J.K. Rowling. Her latest book in the series was the one that knocked Deathly Hallows off the top spot. And the first book is about to become a major motion picture, to be released in December.

Today the trailer was released. Check it out!



Sprink

X

Just an awesome tidbit that I thought I'd share:

Exactly ten years ago today, May 2, 1998, Lord Voldemort was finally defeated by Harry Potter.

Sprink ;)

Words of Wisdom

This is a little feature I've decided I'm going to do, based on things I've read and ring true to me. Expect posts titled "Words of Wisdom" about once a week.

This week, the Words of Wisdom come from the book A Practical Handbook For the Boyfriend by Felicity Huffman and Patricia Wolff. I picked up this book back in May of '07 on a whim; I was shopping for my mom for Mother's Day and happened across it. When I saw who co-authored it (FELICITY HUFFMAN, Lynette on Desperate Housewives) I had to pick it up. This book contains many truths. However, the Words of Wisdom for the week is:

"A man's emotional checklist is pretty basic:

1. Am I hungry?

2. Am I sleepy?

3. Am I horny?

If he's content in all three areas, he's pretty much okay. A woman's emotional checklist reads more like a Russian novel. It's long, complicated, confusing, and you spend a lot of time trying to keep the characters straight."

xoxo
SPRiNKLES

Who Needs "Silence: A 13th Century French Romance" When You Have...

So lately I've been thinking a lot about children's literature (it probably has something to do with the fact that I've spent my spring break watching the Disney Channel) and how much I LOVE it. I could probably spend the rest of my life curled up in bed reading children's books and be eternally happy and immersed in disguised poignancy and all that.

A few of my favorites:
Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech (Bloomability is terrif too)
Jacob Have I Loved - Katherine Paterson (kicks Bridge to Terabithia's ass)
Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Louis Sachar (this book freaked me out - the thing with the rat?!)
The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster (the illustrations! The illustrations!)
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (I cried when she died. Really.)
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles - Julie Edwards, aka THE Julie Andrews (Julie Andrews wrote this. For real. I didn't know it was possible for me to love her more, but I do. I also had a really embarrassing moment in the 4th grade when I suggested that we read this for our next in-class book, but no one really took me seriously back then... possibly because I had just hit four feet and my glasses were still about half the size of my face)
Mr. Popper's Penguins - Richard and Florence Atwater (why, why, WHY was this the only book they wrote?!)
The BFG - Roald Dahl (okay, I would marry Roald Dahl. I have read every word this man has written.)
The Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White (or his other books. I just found out like, two weeks ago that E.B. White was "White" of "Strunk and White")
Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli (I wanted to be Stargirl. I haven't read the sequel, btw. I don't know how I feel about it.)
the Sammy Keyes mysteries - Wendelin Van Draanen (I also wanted to be Sammy Keyes. Seriously, it's Nancy Drew for the Vassar set. Scathing remarks, puzzling conundrums, and cute boys. Helloo!)
A Long Way from Chicago - Richard Peck
Frindle - Andrew Clements (who DOESN'T want to invent a word? Seriously!)
Baby - Patricia MacLachlan (this book introduced me to my favorite poem EVER, "Dirge Without Music" by VC's own Edna St. Vincent Millay... this poem is everywhere in my life; it's even on the wall of the Villard Room)
Anastasia Krupnik and all sequels - Lois Lowry

and my ALL TIME FAVORITE... not only my ALL TIME FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK but my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK:

A Summer to Die - Lois Lowry (please excuse the title, it is the most beautiful piece of literature I've ever read, and that includes you, Franz Kafka)

xx and I'm off to reread "Baby"
littleone