Author in Review: Lois Lowry

I was just on Amazon taking a look at what all Lois Lowry has written. She's kind of freakin' awesome as a writer of kids' books. My more freedom-loving readers will especially enjoy her Giver:

In the "ideal" world into which Jonas was born, everybody has sensibly agreed that well-matched married couples will raise exactly two offspring, one boy and one girl. These children's adolescent sexual impulses will be stifled with specially prescribed drugs; at age 12 they will receive an appropriate career assignment, sensibly chosen by the community's Elders. This is a world in which the old live in group homes and are "released"--to great celebration--at the proper time; the few infants who do not develop according to schedule are also "released," but with no fanfare. Lowry's development of this civilization is so deft that her readers, like the community's citizens, will be easily seduced by the chimera of this ordered, pain-free society.

Yup, it's a fucked up world. Surprisingly, this book was required reading for some of the fifth grade classes for which I substituted back in Tucson. You'd not think that the system would want to point so awesome a mirror at itself, but maybe they didn't understand what they were doing.

Anyway, as I was perusing Amazon, I discovered that Lois Lowry had also written Autumn Street. I got this book for my eighth birthday, and dude -- it was just all fucked up. It was a story about a little white girl who makes friends with the family cook's black grandson and just follows them through their 1950's childhood. Their happy times come to a smashing end when the boy's throat is slit by the crazy man who lives at the end of the street and the little girl gets pneumonia and her dad comes home from the Korean War injured and, and . . .

What the hell! Do not give this book to your 8-year-old to read.

My second Lois Lowry book was a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It features some teenagers and their mom who, courtesy of some voodoun magic, are now immortal. They survive by the mom marrying wealthy men, killing them, and living off their money for a while. It ends with the oldest teenager deciding he can't live like this anymore (plus he's really bored), and he drives his car into a tree at 119 mph with his mom in the passenger seat. The End.

Okay, a bit better, but again with the depression. Apparently, Lois Lowry frowns on the happy endings.

I haven't bought anymore of her books, and I'm a little scared to do so. But you should go read her now. She's pretty good.

I really like online quizzes that purport to tell you something about yourself based on your taste in art, books, insects, or whatever. They always tell me nice things. It's a happy little ego boost on a Sunday night.

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Simple, Progressive, and Sensual

29 Ukiyo-e, 4 Islamic, 5 Impressionist, -30 Cubist, -31 Abstract and 25 Renaissance!

Ukiyo-e (浮世絵, Ukiyo-e), "pictures of the floating world", is a genre of Japaneseand paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries. it mostly featured landscapes, historic tales, theatre, and pleasure. Ukiyo is a rather impetuous urban culture that has bloomed in popularity. Although the Japanese were more strict and had many prohibitions it did not affect the rising merchant class and therefore became a floating art form that did not bind itself to the normal ideals of society.

People that chose Ukiyo-e art tend to be more simplistic yet elegant. They don't care much about new style but are comfortable in creating their own. They like the idea of living for the moment and enjoy giving and receiving pleasure. They may be more agreeable than other people and do not like to argue. They do not mind following traditions but are not afraid to move forward to experience other ideas in life. They tend to enjoy nature and the outdoors. They do not mind being more adventurous in their sexual experiences. They enjoy being popular and like being noticed. They have their own unique style of dress and of presenting themselves. They may also tend to be more business oriented or at the very least interested in money making adventures. They might make good entrepreneurs. They are progressive and adaptable.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Lily of the City

I am the only person I know who has managed on more than one occasion to draw blood while doing laundry. Clearly, I am meant for better things than this senseless daily toil. This is a sign that I was meant to have servants and slaves and so on to take care of these things.

Well, peasants? Hop to it! If it's meant to be, then you really have no choice but to go along with it.

Am I the only person left who does not like kettle chips? They are tough, and they crunch very loudly when you are in an otherwise quiet environment, and they just aren't as great as they think they are. Stupid chips.