Rereading and Resting Your Hands

Tonight, we were talking about how readers re-read books they love over and over again- even chapter books.  I talked about how growing up, I read Charlotte's Web at least 15 times and the Ramona series over and over and how I've read the Trixie Belden books more times than I can count. Then I did the math (with Fran) to realize that I have read HP books on a minimum of 34 occasions*. This amazed him. I may now have bad-ass status to him.

Fran only knows Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (both book and film) so far, but he is still a huge Harry Potter fan.  As he grows older, we'll dole the books out year-by-year until he can't stand it anymore and plows through to the end.  (Hopefully, he will not fall into deep despair at the series being over like his mother...)

Then Fran and I had this conversation:
Fran: So, is the Harry Potter author writing any more Harry Potter books right now?
Mary: Well, I think she's busy doing other stuff.
Fran: But is she writing more Harry Potters now?
Mary: Hmm, I think she needs a rest from that.
Fran: You mean, like her hands?  She needs to rest her hands- and her wrists- from all that writing. (Nodded knowingly.)
Mary: Yes- I think that must be why.

So that must be it, people. J.K. Rowling is resting her hands.



*34 books read, not reading the series 34 times.  I do take time for basic hygiene!

March is Reading Month, Tip #26: Check Out the Movie Version!

Check out the Movie Version!

Get out the popcorn! One of my favorite things to do is to watch a movie and then compare it to the book (or kvetch how much better the book was...) There are great movies, great books, and great books that became movies.

Today we will discuss the latter. Some of my favorite movies from books are Babe, Charlotte's Web, Harry Potter (for older kids), Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz, and Ramona and Beezus.

Here's a great list of movies-from-books for grown-ups and kids alike. And another list with just kid movies-from-books. And here's a great place to check out the appropriateness of movies for different age groups.

So, get out the popcorn and the raisinets.  It's show-time!

Harry Potter Manifesto

Yesterday was the first day I have ever had where I hated Ann Arbor. In six years, this was the only day where I hated-hated-hated Ann Arbor. Yesterday, if I realized that if I lived in another town, I could be happy. Yesterday, I had to reconcile that I hated the very town-- and many of its ticket-holding inhabitants-- in which I lived.

Yesterday I was unable to get Harry Potter tickets for Friday night at a normal time. I am old, so I can't go to late movie at 10:45 since I will simply pay the ticket price for a nap at that hour; I can't stay awake after 10 pm! I cannot go to an early movie at 3:00pm since the school will get mad if I do not pick-up my first grader at 3:42.

Last night I smugly tried ordering tickets from my computer. I thought to myself how tricky it was to get movie tickets when we lived in New York City and how we had to order ahead with movie phone. How civilized it felt living in Michigan, with its plentiful movie tickets and unplanful patrons. And sometimes, it snows so much no one can even get to the movies. I chuckled and clicked.

Click. Click. I kept getting error messages. The first theater had a 7:30 show. Sold out. A 10:45 show. Too late. And sold out. They still had IMAX shows, but I have astigmatism and it gives me a headache. The second theater was sold out at 5,6, and 8. There was still a 9;30. I could do that- I hit click and send and it was sold out, too. I kept clicking and checking- no normal times were available on Friday evening.

At first, I blamed myself. How could I have left this to the last minute? What was I thinking? How irresponsible. I was filled with shame. But this shame soon turned to rage. I soon realized this wasn't my fault. I started clicking other towns. Tickets were still available in Jackson, and Brighton. Plymouth, Canton, and Novi, but these involved 20 minute car rides- each way. Unthinkable. It was only a problem in Ann Arbor.

And then I realized it wasn't my fault at all. It was my town. And now I was filled with hate for this town. This stupid town, with its students taking my movie seats. This stupid town with its unending love and devotion to the best story ever written about boy wizards in the last fifteen years. This god-forsaken place with its planful movie patrons. It sickened me to live here.

I then received a message from friends. They thought we could secure 7 pm IMAX tickets. I told them to act quickly. Seriously- stop *working* and get the tickets! (Jobs come and go- this is Harry Potter!) I took a deep breath and looked outside. It was sunny with blue skies. Ann Arbor does has beautiful mornings. I could do IMAX.

The IMAX tickets were sold out. The blue sky and clouds were mocking me. I had reconciled. I was flexible. I was going to pack some Advil on Friday and be a good sport at the IMAX. I sunk to the true depths of despair.

All morning I sat chained to my computer, sharing messages about ticket times and the limited options available. This wretched, wretched town had stolen my evening, my morning, and my innocence.

I am pleased to inform you that I am now ticketed- with friends- at 7:30 pm for Harry Potter. On Sunday. Sunday. I have to wait until Sunday and find a babysitter.

Oh, Ann Arbor and its smug, planful movie patrons.