Queen Kelley

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Twilight series. I sighed with romantic glee as I read about Edward—his beauty, humility, and chivalry. I saw myself in some of Bella’s longings, in the way she let love take precedence over friendship, in her unhindered focus on the desire of her heart. I also saw myself in Bella’s friends, who questioned her devotion to such a strange and possibly dangerous boy and felt hurt by her withdrawal from them. The fifteen-year-old girl I used to be remembers these things well.

Though time and distance make me a bit more objective about certain situations, I will never completely lose sight of my teen self. My feelings raged so powerfully that I could barely contain them—frustration with my parents versus my deep love for them, powerful romantic love versus the ache of a broken heart, a desperate need for my friends versus a desire to be alone. If Stephenie Meyer does anything well in these books, it’s the way she portrays the roller coaster of the teenage heart. In reviewing the first film adaptation of the novel, NPR’s Kenneth Turan says, ”…the film of Twilight…treats those high-pressure high school emotions with unwavering, uncompromising seriousness; Laurence Olivier essaying Shakespeare didn’t approach his material with more reverence than is on display here.” He’s right. Meyer never pokes fun at the emotions, hopes, dreams, and yearnings of young people. That’s what struck me most about her books. (Well, right behind my head-over-heels fantasy love for a certain 104-year-old vampire, which was later challenged by my intrigue over the 16-year-old werewolf in book 2.)

The book series, translated into more than a dozen languages, has sold millions of copies and garnered mostly positive reviews. (See “Booksellers Find Life After Harry.”) Overall, I’ve viewed it positively as well. Recently, though, someone proposed the idea that maybe teen girls are taking away something unhealthy from these books. It’s all well and good for a grownup to read them with perspective, but what are they saying to young women?

What do you think, girls? Do these books/films inspire you to gravitate toward the “bad” boys? Do they support the idea that pining away for the one you love is acceptable when you’re 17? Are they suggesting that such powerful love and desire are okay when you’re still in high school? Do they make you seriously consider finding the love of your life and getting married right out of high school, not to mention pregnant? What do you think of Edward’s morals? Is he truly concerned with treating Bella respectfully, or does his inherent danger as a vampire outweigh his care? What do you think of Jacob’s words of caution to Bella? Is he right to insist that she takes Edward way too seriously, or do you think he simply wants her for himself and tries to make Edward less attractive?

I want to hear from you, Twilight fans! I’m especially interested in what teens and young adults have to say, but I also welcome comments from those like me who are decidedly NOT teens. Let the discussion begin!

WARNING: SPOILERS GALORE

After waiting far too long for a delayed release, I’ve seen it twice, and I’m hoping for a third viewing in a few weeks. Yes, it was that good. Here’s what I liked and what I didn’t like about the long-awaited film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:

What I liked:
- The three main actors. Emma, Dan, and Rupert have portrayed Hermione, Harry, and Ron for nearly ten years now. Watching them grow, both physically and as actors, is a treat. Increasingly over the span of six films, the chemistry between them radiates from the screen. In this one more than any other, each actor seems completely at home in his or her role.

- The adults. As always, an outstanding lineup of British actors portrays the roles of professors and Death Eaters, and they’re all brilliant. Three stood out in this film: Gambon as Dumbledore, simultaneously communicating confidence and uncertainty; Rickman as Snape, whose delivery of his lines is perfectly chilling and yet indicative of his inner conflict; and Broadbent as Slughorn, expertly showing us both his nervous guilt over a secret from his past and his greedy delight over various “collected” students.

- The teen angst and romance. The actors obviously had a blast portraying the ups and downs of teenage emotions. Jessie Cave was hysterical as Ron’s love interest Lavender Brown. Hermione’s jealousy was palpable, as was Ron’s smug attitude. Harry’s side glances at Ginny were amusing, as were Cormac’s revolting advances toward Hermione. The scene between Hermione and Harry after Ron kisses Lavender is touching and wholly believable.

- The Weasley Burrow. It’s always fun to walk through the Weasley’s magical home, with its impossible staircases and passages. I enjoyed seeing Arthur’s shed full of “Muggle artifacts.”

- The Felix Felicis scenes. Dan’s portrayal of Harry after he drinks “liquid luck” and follows its lead to discover Slughorn’s secret is excellent. The change in Harry is immediately evident: he’s confident, smug, and brash. His interactions with Slughorn are hilarious.

- The memories of Tom Riddle. The two actors who played Tom were spot-on—creepy, arrogant, confident, chilling. I truly believed those youngsters would grow up to be Voldemort.

- The cave scene. Both frightening and heartbreaking, the scene in the cave is well done. Dumbledore’s struggle to drink the potion and uncover the suspected horcrux was horrifying to watch, and I felt Harry’s urgency and agony as he forced his beloved headmaster to swallow until the liquid was gone.

- Draco’s inner battle. Tom Felton did a fine job of showing Draco’s conflict over doing what the Dark Lord required of him and being true to himself. For the first time, I was able to feel sorry for Draco, and that’s saying something.

- The scene at the tower and the pursuit. It wasn’t long enough, but it was superbly acted by all—Bellatrix’s madness, Draco’s struggle, Snape’s reluctant intervention, Dumbledore’s convincing pleas, and a wide-eyed Harry watching it all from below. Then came Harry’s anger as he chased Snape and charged him to fight back, effectively communicating both rage and grief over what he had witnessed.

- The tribute to Dumbledore. It wasn’t what I expected, but the raised wands that blotted out the Dark Mark in the sky, the genuine tears over the immense loss, and Harry slumped over Dumbledore were incredibly moving.

What I didn’t like:
- The attack on the Burrow. Like a few other unnecessary added scenes that took time from more important segments of the film, I thought this contrived attack was melodramatic and unbelievable. Enough said.

- The reaction to Dumbledore’s death. I noted above that the wand-raising was moving, but I still needed more closure to the loss of such a fascinating individual. Aragog the spider got a funeral. Why didn’t Dumbledore? I hope the seventh film offers a bit more reaction. It would be a fitting way to open part one of the Deathly Hallows.

- Ginny’s interactions with Harry. I’ve always enjoyed Bonnie Wright’s portrayal of Ginny, but it strikes me that she really hasn’t had much of a role thus far. In this film, when she needed to step up and prove herself a powerful force in Harry’s life, one strong enough to attract him to her, I think she fell a bit short. She’s a lovely girl, but I didn’t feel that she communicated Ginny’s fiery passion. At all.

- The omission of Tom’s family history. I thought we needed more of Tom Riddle’s background to understand the last two films. As my friend Monica said, Harry’s certainly going to need his friends’ help to find the remaining Horcruxes since he missed so many essential memories about Tom.

- The length of the climax and the absence of the battle. It’s been long enough since I read the book that I can’t fully remember the climactic events at the end of it. Even so, the confrontation on the tower and the following brief interaction between Harry and Snape, though brilliantly acted, weren’t quite enough for me. I knew something was missing, and I needed more.

Overall reaction:
Fabulous adaptation of the sixth part of Harry’s story, even with its glaring additions/omissions. Strongly acted, beautifully scored, and powerfully moving. How long until November 2010?

I like lists, both making them and reading them. When I get to the end, I feel like I’ve accomplished something. For today’s list, I thought about sharing what with you. Then I figured why is a lot more interesting. So here’s my list of why, part 1.

1. Why I prefer reading and writing children’s literature. By children’s, I mean anything from picture books to teen fiction. I’ll admit I haven’t read much adult fiction, so my opinion is definitely biased. From the few pieces I’ve read, though, I have to say that children’s literature seems to offer more imagination, hope, and freedom to dream. Whether it’s fantasy, coming-of-age, or some other kind of tale, I’m completely pulled into books about or directed toward young people. In the best of these books, the characters are palpable, the life lessons subtle, the humor abundant, and the endings nearly always hopeful, if not necessarily happy. I enjoy writing for this age group for similar reasons. I’ve found that I don’t need explicit descriptions of sexual encounters to sense passion between individuals. I don’t need long, drawn-out, brutal death scenes to appreciate depth of loss. I don’t need excessive profanity to understand the fire behind a character’s words. The bottom line is that I simply think children’s literature is more fun and fulfilling to read. With limited reading time, I go with what I love.

2. Why Harry Potter is an obsession of mine. My infatuation with all things Harry Potter ebbs and flows with the book and movie releases. Recently, I’ve rewatched movies 3 and 4 and will soon watch 5 to get ready for the release of 6 next month. Of course, the books trump the movies any day, but time constraints don’t allow me to reread them in the way I’d like. As for Harry, there’s something incredibly moving about witnessing him transform from a small, awkward, and unaware young wizard into a force that defeats the wizarding world’s greatest enemy. Perhaps most fascinating is that he doesn’t actually evolve all that much. While his perspective on life and death and good and evil greatly matures, he is still Harry at the end of the series—awkward, slightly unsure, not at all self-glorifying. There are things to complain about regarding some of Rowling’s logic and lack of editing, but overall the series is powerful, captivating, and enduring. I look forward to reading the books with my kids in a few years. (As for the religious controversy over the books, I say it all comes back to Glenda’s question in The Wizard of Oz: “Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?” Clearly, Harry is good, as hard as it is to be good in a world where evil is so tantalizing.)

3. Why I put my kids to bed at 8:00 every night. Plain and simple, they need the sleep, and the King and I need the time to ourselves. Additionally, my children wake up by 6:30 nearly every morning, regardless of when they go to bed, so why not get them down early and extend the night for everyone? Although you can never be certain of a family’s reasoning, I still cringe when I’m at a grocery store at 9:00 pm and see small children gallivanting around with their parents. Put them to bed already!

4. Why I believe in God. Science intrigues me. The more I learn about our amazing universe, the more I feel certain that there is a Higher Power behind it all. I simply can’t accept the fact that everything, from the enormity of the sun that sustains our life to the tiniest particles that make up our cells, randomly exploded into being. As for the particulars of how, when, why, and exactly what, most days I’m content to discover those things as God chooses to reveal them. I know many intelligent, logical, reasonable people disagree with this belief in a Supreme Force. But I believe. I’ve found that I can’t do otherwise.

5. Why I’m a Baptist. I’d like to say it’s because I admire Baptist principles like freedom of interpretation, separation of church and state, priesthood of the believer, autonomy of the local church, etc. Those are indeed lofty principles when applied to the way one worships God. To be honest, though, I’m a Baptist because I was born into it. Who knows how it would be otherwise. I might just as easily be a Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic, some other religion, or not a believer at all. I’d like to think I’d be attracted to the Baptist faith as an outsider, but my particular denomination of Christianity has a poor reputation these days. However, being mature enough now to explore other groups, I choose to remain a Baptist mostly because of the historic principles listed above.

6. Why I give money to childhood cancer research/support organizations. Everyone needs a cause—a place to direct his or her money, time, and passion. For the King and me, it’s childhood cancer groups. Our main inspiration appears occasionally on my blog. A little girl with a big story, Catie Marie Wilkins battled medulloblastoma (aggressive brain tumor) for nearly four years. She passed on at age four in January 2007, just a week before her younger sister’s birth. I still follow the family’s journey, which Catie’s mother Jenny writes beautifully on her blog. What these children face is beyond horrifying. What their parents endure is unimaginable. The strength they all exhibit is breathtaking. The King and I are committed to caring for these kids and their families as much as we can, and hopefully we can increase our support and involvement as our own children mature.

7. Why symmetry drives me crazy. My husband is an engineer. For his work, symmetry is essential and even at times a life-and-death matter. However, he brings this into the home. The rugs must be completely straight, the pictures perfectly aligned, the colors mirror images of each other. We laugh about it because my instinct is to bump things slightly askew, to scatter the colors, to break the reflection. It makes life more interesting and unpredictable. Of course, John would say just the opposite.

8. Why I wear my seatbelt and switch off lights. It’s my dad. From the time we were small, he insisted that we buckle up while riding, and this was before seatbelt use was the law or even popular. Luckily, the habit stuck with me even through my teen years, when many of my friends considered seatbelts annoying and uncool. Now I have the law on my side, so I will accept no excuses from my own kids. As a Georgia Power engineer, my dad also nagged about us leaving lights on in unused rooms. At this point, I probably use more energy than I conserve because I flip off the lights even when I leave a room only for a few minutes. Thanks, Daddy. (:

9. Why I care about the Earth. I have a hard time understanding why anyone, especially those who believe in God, think caring for the Earth is some liberal, new age way to live. For me, it merely makes sense. When I think about the technological advances that have consumed our world in the past century, our progress blows my mind. Accompanying our advances in America is, unfortunately, a tendency to produce more waste that takes years to decompose (if it ever does), to collect material possessions in excess of anything anyone would ever need, to use our resources as if they are limitless (they’re not), and to disregard the fact that people across the sea still can’t count on clean water, much less electricity to power their lives. Why any Christian would think it’s not important to care for the Earth is totally beyond me. I can’t do it all, but I’ll do my best to recycle, reuse, and choose my food and products carefully in this little corner where I live.

10. Why I take a break from reading to read. The King simply shakes his head at me when, after a couple of hours of nightly editing, I crawl into bed to open a book and read for a few minutes. Let me assure you that there is an enormous difference in reading  someone’s writing in order to correct it and reading someone’s writing in order to enter another world. There is nothing—not movies, not vacations, sometimes not even time with friends—like sneaking away into the world created by a fiction author. I’m so thankful for books and only wish I had more time to read them.

To be continued….

I love going to the movies. Before I choose a film to watch on the big screen, I check reviews. Yes, I’m one of those annoying people who says, “That got terrible reviews. The critics hated it!” or “The reviews were good. Most of the critics seemed to like it.” Then I’ll go a step further and shell out my hard-earned bucks ($8.00 a ticket!) for the ones the “professional movie watchers” like. Recently, though, I’ve only gone to the theater for movies I know I’ll enjoy, at least a little. Here are my thoughts on the last three I saw on the big screen:

1. Inkheart. This film is based on author Cornelia Funke’s brilliant trilogy (Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath) about a girl whose father can read characters out of (and, unfortunately, can read people into) books. The novels are lengthy, fully developed sagas packed with fascinating characters, suspense, life and death, and even romance. Translating the first book into a film seemed to me a daunting task. It turns out the critics were right about this one. Though the cast, including Brendan Fraser as the father Mortimer Folchart and Paul Bettany as Dustfinger (a character Mo reads out of a book), was well chosen and talented, the script fell flat. Full of cliches and special effects, the movie completely doused the passion in the novel, and the ending was terribly redone. I don’t want to see it again, and I’d like to ask the filmmakers to kindly leave my favorite books alone.

2. Star Trek. Unfortunately, I missed the Star Trek ship when it took off sometime in the late 1960s. I remember seeing bits and pieces of the entertaining/somewhat hokey TV show as my parents watched it. They moved on to the later series, meeting characters like Data and Wesley Crusher and Captain Picard. I did not. At first, I felt indifferent about this movie, but after its release, when the critics gave it rave reviews and many of my friends agreed with them, I decided to see it. It was, in a word, awesome. My sketchy Star Trek memory served me well as I recognized the young characters—Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Chekov, Uhura, Sulu. This film, which reveals the origins of the initial Enterprise crew, tells the story from a new perspective that leaves previous films unaffected. The clever writers and director can now build a series that hopefully won’t alienate lifelong fans. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It made me laugh and it made me think.

3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I didn’t like this movie as much as I wanted to. My mother read the comic book series and enjoyed the first two X-Men films, which tell stories about mutant humans who are mistreated because of their strange powers. Neither of us appreciated the third, The Last Stand, which heaped on the special effects at the cost of the story’s soul. Wolverine, the first film in what will supposedly be a new series, did the same. Even the presence of Hugh Jackman couldn’t compensate for the shallow story, hollow character development, and over-the-top special effects. The movie lacked intelligence. I felt played to as an audience member. Sure, it was fun to watch, but overall a disappointment. And you know what? The critics agreed.

Maybe these mysterious critics have some benefit after all. Or am I simply influenced by them so that I go into a film biased? Either way, I still love going to the movies.

Butterfly looks forward to our nightly book reading. Of course, we read at other times of the day too, but without fail, we close each evening by reading three books together. Over the past few months, our selections at the library have grown wordier. The King opened one of Butterfly’s choices last night, gasped at the pages and pages of words, and promptly informed her that it was a “daytime” book. I’ve done the same thing, but it is meaningful to me that my little girl loves reading as much as I do. I can only hope that her taste for books increases as she learns to decipher the letters for herself. Oh, what worlds that gift can reveal!

A couple of nights ago, I was doing the reading, and I pulled Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic from the shelf. I thought Butterfly and I had exhausted the contents months ago, but we discovered a few poems we hadn’t yet read. This was one of them:

Put Something In

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.*

“Shel knew my daughters,” I thought. The truth is that Shel knew children. He knew they like gross things, strange things, silly things, wild things. And he wrote poem after catchy poem about such things.

I don’t know about the kids who fill your life, but I know my girls draw crazy pictures (especially Butterfly), create nutty poetry, sing nonsense songs (especially Ladybug), and dance like loonies. They constantly “put something silly in the world.” Their sense of humor, their ability to see the “funny” in almost everything, delights and inspires me. They haven’t yet learned to add cynicism to their humor or tell cruel jokes. I wish they never would, for this innocent source of all our laughter is one of the best things about life with children.

*Image and poem text from Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1981).

Grrr. Just when I was getting excited about the latest Harry Potter movie (if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m a shameless fan), the studio goes and changes the release date from this November to next July. That’s right; we have to wait nearly a whole year for the release of this movie. Never mind that I got to see the totally enticing short trailer on the big screen last weekend when it aired before Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (a super chick flick, by the way). Never mind that it’s been more than a year since the final book release for the series. Never mind that Monica and I were already talking about planning our next Potter party to celebrate the film. An article on The Leaky Cauldron website explained the rubbish reasoning behind the change:

The press release says the reason for the move was two-fold: First, the studio says summer releases are better for “family tentpole” events, and second, they are still feeling the aftereffects of the writers’ strike and need the time to make sure the film reaches the widest audience possible.

Translation? “We want to milk this cash cow for all she’s worth!!!” And of course, who can blame them? They’re in the business to make millions, if not billions, of dollars, and J. K. Rowling’s imagination has significantly padded their wallets. They know postponing this film will in no way decrease the number of viewers. Admittedly, it might even increase that number.

Even so, grrr. It’s frustrating to have my anticipation stymied like this. All who are sympathetic to my grumbling, please comment and make me feel better.

As previously established on this blog, I’m no runner. One of my husband’s cousins is a runner, and she’s so dedicated she’s still running in her third trimester of pregnancy. She has my complete admiration, as by the time I entered my third trimester, I was struggling to walk along the flat roads around my neighborhood.

I’m starting to think I know some things about marathons, though (at least metaphorically). I’ve been in one for a few weeks now—ever since I agreed with Kevin that I could produce a complete first draft of my novel by Christmas. There’s the finish line, draped with colored lights and wreaths and bows, with carols playing in the background, and here I am, miles back and trying to keep a steady pace.

Some moments I write at a sprint, pounding the keys with my fingers the way a runner pounds pavement with feet. These moments happen most often when I’m in the company of my fellow writers. Maybe, when we all move alongside each other, our combined creative energy powers us along. Maybe we all need that particular window of time when we dedicate ourselves solely to talking about our work and then to actual, real-live writing.

Unfortunately, I spend many more moments bent at the waist, panting and sweating from the effort of trying to maneuver my packed schedule in order to fit the novel in somewhere. The finish line is up ahead, but there are days when I simply can’t write. I make no progress toward the goal.

How grateful I am that, even when most of my days the novel sits at the back of my mind, my writer friends continue to gather. They keep coming back to let me catch up, week after week. They encourage me, stretch my possibilities, and inspire me with their own creative endeavors.

Thanks, friends.

Monica and Robin let me know of two goodies from one of my favorite authors. The first is a handwritten card created for Waterstone’s, leading bookseller in the U.K. The company is holding a contest in which writers 18 and over can submit their own brief story. Those who win will be published alongside authors like Rowling, Doris Lessing, and Neil Gaiman in a “postcard” book scheduled for an August release. (No, I didn’t enter the contest. I like to think I’m creative, but I’m not THAT creative, and the deadline is June 19. However, any of my writing friends who read this and decide to go for it, good luck!) To read Rowling’s amusing story about Sirius and James, go to this link, click on “read our author’s stories,” then click on JK Rowling.

The other treat is an outstanding commencement speech Rowling recently delivered for Harvard graduates. She is funny (even throwing in Harry Potter tidbits now and then) eloquent, and, above all, thoughtful and bright. I encourage anyone to go to the link and listen to it or at least read the transcript, as it’s an important reminder to all of us about what we can learn from failure and the power of the human imagination. The most meaningful line to me is, “Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s minds, imagine themselves into other people’s places.” The significance of this ability cannot be overstated. When it comes to reaching out to others, serving others’ needs, and caring for others, the human ability to empathize is essential.

Monica sent me a link to my favorite website for Potter news, The Leaky Cauldron. Obviously, I don’t check this site much anymore, or I would have known the news before she emailed it. Thanks, Monica! What do my fellow Potter fans think about this news? Given the incredible depth of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the gravity of the subjects it addressed, I think a film in two parts will do it justice. Apparently, it will be a Lord of the Rings style filming–all at once, then released several months apart. Filming the two parts at once will give it continuity, which is essential especially when young, rapidly growing actors are involved. It will also bring greater flow to the whole.

On another note, I had forgotten that Half Blood Prince releases this fall! Yet another Potter debut to look forward to. My blog may have been quiet on the Potter front since the excitement from book 7 and movie 5 faded, but never fear. The multiple Potter posts shall return!

For the first time, after viewing several different versions (most notably the Mickey Mouse animated one), I read Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. [NOTE: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.] Imagine my surprise in finding that Jacob Marley is not, in fact, a tall, gangly, dog-like creature. Of course, like any great book that’s converted into a movie, the original offers much more detail and back story, like the fact that Scrooge attended boarding school and was rather ostracized by his peers. Oh, and he actually saw his own dead body lying in bed, decaying and abandoned. You won’t see that in any Disney version! The same themes are there, though. A reformed man vows to live life anew, considering each breath a gift to pay forward rather than a way to curse fellow human beings. (”Bah!”) Dickens is also quite humorous, sprinkling the entire work with funny lines.My favorite passage, in fact, is one that emphasizes the significance of a sense of humor:

It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that, while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.

I’ve known several people who live like this, and trust me, they’re a lot less stressed than the rest of us, no matter what comes their way. Judging from his writing, I think Dickens himself was probably a funny man.

Reading the “Why?” section of Cornelia Funke’s website, I found a couple of her answers that emphasize (and explain much better) some of my previous post.

Do you like to write about magic? I admit, as a reader I have always loved good fantasy. I think that fantasy is the oldest way of storytelling. Fairy tales, myths … I strongly believe that we sometimes understand reality far better if we disguise it, if we find pictures and images which describe sorrow, joy, fear, and other feelings we all share. The human mind often grasps a visual image better than an abstract or realistic description, and as a writer I love to work in a genre that doesn`t forbid my imagination to work unlimited. You could say that I enjoy being able to clad reality in different clothes. I often have the feeling that writing fantasy frees the unconscious and allows things to flood onto the paper, ideas I didn`t even know I could write about. Apart from all these quite philosophical thoughts, I love to imagine riding on dragons or meeting creatures I have never met before and make them feel real for my readers.
Can a good fantasy book be religious? I think fantasy is very often about religious beliefs or ideas. They are not always as Christian as C.S. Lewis’, but the beliefs of a writer on death and life, good and evil always also reflect his or her religious beliefs. Just make sure they never overshadow your story or try to indoctrinate your readers. That is disrespectful and will cripple your storytelling!  

If you’ve been reading my blog since the beginning, you won’t be surprised that I’ve read Philip Pullman’s controversial Dark Materials trilogy and–gasp!–enjoyed it. Fantasy is one of my favorite reading genres. Something in me loves the magic, the mystery, the fanciful creations, the vast expanse of numerous worlds other than the one we know. As a child, I snuggled next to my sister (my brother played busily with this toys on the floor), while Mama read to us from Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. I identified with Jess and Leslie as they imagined a mythical world in Paterson’s Bridge to Terebithia. Later, in college, I tackled Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and his The Hobbit. I also discovered Cooper’s Dark Is Rising series and embarked on the powerful journey that is Rowling’s Harry Potter. Since then, I’ve thrilled to Funke’s Inkheart and Inkdeath, Bray’s historical fiction/fantasy trilogy that begins with A Great and Terrible Beauty, and, yes, Pullman’s His Dark Materials.

What’s all the fuss about fantasy? Why is it such a current fascination with readers? And why does it make some people feel so threatened?

I’ve at least figured out why I like it. In 2003, I read an article written by Natalie Burg, then a senior English major at Michigan State University, for the school’s publication The State News. She wrote, 

People are drawn to “the chosen one” much more so than they are the ordinary hero. A plot with a prophecy is always more exciting. Miraculous powers seem to be a hit as well. Wait a minute…chosen one, prophecy, miracles, conquering evil…there seems to be another book based around these things. …My devotion to Harry Potter is a result of my devotion to my faith. J. K. Rowling has made a little messiah. And I’m buying it.

As I read Natalie’s words, I realized that something in me is indeed drawn to this type of mythical hero. I also thought of something I once read about C. S. Lewis and his pal J. R. R. Tolkien. Late into the night more than half a century ago, Tolkien, Lewis, and others talked about faith. By the time the sun came up the next morning, Lewis was convinced that Tolkien was right: as Lewis had always thought, Christianity was a great myth–complete with war, betrayal, curses and blessings, and of course a tragic hero (who just happened to be not so tragic in the end). What Tolkien had conveyed to Lewis, however, was that this myth was different from fantastic stories invented by human minds. This myth was true. Lewis became a Christian and the rest is history.

I don’t know how accurate that story is, but it’s been told in biographies and writings about both men. I cling to it because it validates what is truly my obsession with stories like Frodo’s, Harry’s, Lyra’s, and even Luke Skywalker’s. It’s okay for me to get caught up in their adventures and perils because, ultimately for me, they point to the greatest adventure of all–that of being a follower of Jesus Christ. (Plus, they’re simply fantastic reads!)

As to why some people feel threatened by fantasy books and films, I imagine it’s because they’ve been told fantasy is dangerous and counter to the teachings of God; that any mention of witches or wizards, magic, sorcery, spirits, etc. constitutes evil. Of course, I tend to disagree. For me, fantasy, which highlights the classic battle between good and evil and frequently employs imagery like that found in the biblical book of Revelation, often parallels or at least complements my faith. I certainly can’t make up another’s mind, though, and I must leave it to each person to decide.

I see nothing wrong with reading fantasy books or viewing fantasy films. Every individual is entitled to his or her opinion, but I do hope such opinions are at least researched and grounded on facts, rather than hearsay. It is ridiculous to me that people take up arms against something they personally know little or nothing about.

In closing, I recommend this blog article by Jeannie Babb Taylor. Her first two paragraphs say it all to me. Enjoy!

Madeleine L’Engle, who wrote several dozen books, passed away September 6. She and C. S. Lewis were responsible for opening to me the world of fantasy. I’ve only begun to delve into the rich collection of her writing, but A Wrinkle in Time will always be a favorite. I love her imagination of the possibilities of time and space travel, and especially her willingness to put science with faith and show that they can coexist magnificently and even reinforce each other. This article highlights tributes to a woman whom readers everywhere will remember.

A month and a half ago, I linked to an interview with an author whose first book recently hit stores. Since then, I’ve been checking Robin Brande’s blog nearly every day and have found her down to earth, hilarious, humble, and honest. To put it simply, she’s great fun. How fabulous for me, a lifelong aspiring writer and an avid reader mostly of young adult novels and children’s books, to have such access to the thoughts of a REAL, LIVE, PUBLISHED author. The secret, she says, is to keep going. No one who quits the process ever gets published. I appreciated this quote from a different interview (for an organization called Embracing the Child, by the way, which supplies books to vulnerable kids):

I’ve found if I give myself too much time to work on a book, I end up revising the life out of it. I much prefer the heat of creation, writing a book straight through to the end so I can know how it turns out (I never ever outline–it would completely ruin a book for me if I knew the ending ahead of time).

It seems we writers (whether would-be, still aspiring, or actually published) work in varied ways. Some plan every detail of their books before writing a single scene. Some madly type whatever spills out of their imaginations. Some do a bit of both. Maybe the happy medium is the best place to be, but it’s a tough fence to sit on. Personally, I love the idea of Robin’s way. It seems free and freewheeling, even magical. Giving characters such life and breath that they actually begin to surprise you, doing things you didn’t expect, turning the course of the story in an entirely different direction, delighting you with actions your control-freak personality would never have considered.

My writer friends and I are hoping to get together more often to discuss our projects, ask questions, and help each other lay the groundwork for writing so that, when we have a moment to steal for actually crafting a work, we are prepared. Instead of staring blankly at the screen trying to figure out what scene we should write or what puzzle piece is needed, we might use the time to fill that screen with words. Whether or not we delete them later is another issue.

Some of my friends like to plan their work carefully. I think I prefer the freewheeling approach, even though it may back me into corners at times. If nothing else, at least I can say I have communicated personally with an author for whom this method worked. I’ll let you know what I think of Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature when I finish.

This article is definitely controversial. As evident from my earlier posts about Harry Potter, I tend to agree with those who find Christian themes in the books. But I know that many disagree wholeheartedly. What do you think?

When pressed to name a favorite book, film, or song, I always freeze. The pages of my mind flip through years of great entertainment and powerful lessons, and I’m loath to choose just one. Here, then, is a list of my favorites (plural!) in several categories. These titles have made me laugh and cry, reflect and rejoice, think and relax. Maybe some of them will be your favorites too, or perhaps you’ll want to read, see, or hear them for yourself.

BOOKS
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Aside from being an immersing story about a boy lost at sea on a boat with several wild animals, this book made me think deeply about survival, imagination, and the fine line between reality and truth.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Lowry creates a future world in which diversity, imagination, and individuality are wiped away in favor of keeping everyone “safe.” Her young hero, Jonah, is entrusted with receiving the Giver’s memories of all the pain, color, and joy of the past. The story points to the importance of our freedom to experience everything about being human.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
This is one of the greatest stories ever created. In a way, it’s about all of us–being on a journey, feeling burdened, clinging to loyal companions, fighting for what is right, losing much in the process, but triumphing anyway.
(You’ll be surprised by this one, but…)The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Simply great entertainment, but plenty of themes about life, death, friendship, good versus evil, politics, economic class.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Obviously one of the classics, it evokes a striking picture of racial issues that, unfortunately, still exist (though more subtly) in the twenty-first century. The spunky young heroine, Scout, is one of the most touching voices I’ve ever read in fiction.
The Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary
I understand that Cleary was one of the first to write from the perspective of a believable child. Ramona’s take on the world, which spans several years of her life, is sure to be a classic coming-of-age story set in modern times.
Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (and probably the forthcoming third in the trilogy, Inkdeath)
Funke’s writing, even when translated from the original German, is beautifully poetic. Her characters are flesh and blood, real enough to touch, and her environments completely visible in my mind. I also love the idea, frightening though it is, that we could read characters into existence in the real world.
Most Dr. Seuss books, particularly Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Reading these to Butterfly and Ladybug, I thrill at the way the words feel as I say them. It’s almost like eating. Suess was a master of humor, of course, but he was also adept at using alliteration, rhyme, and rhythm.

FILMS
The Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont, screenplay by Darabont
Andy Dufresne’s story is about the triumph of the human spirit in some of the darkest of circumstances. It’s a beautiful film.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy dir. Peter Jackson, sp Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson
I think these screenwriters did a superb job of capturing Tolkien’s world and beloved characters. Their arrangement of the material translated wonderfully to the big screen. The music, actors, and settings were all fantastic.
Forest Gump dir. Robert Zemeckis, sp Eric Roth
Who can forget Forest and his enduring spirit? Humor, tragedy, war, politics, love, loss–this film has it all. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Cast Away dir. Robert Zemeckis, sp William Broyles Jr.
This movie blew me away. For most of the two-hour running time, we have one man in one setting with one companion–a volleyball. Tom Hanks’s performance kept me rapt with attention to every effort he made for survival and rescue. I cried like a baby when he lost Wilson.
Finding Neverland dir. Marc Forster, sp David Magee
Aside from the fact that I’m a Johnny Depp fan, I’m drawn to watch this movie repeatedly because of the great tribute it is to imagination. I don’t know how true it stays to J. M. Barrie’s life, but in the film his character sees the world through a child’s eyes–both the fanciful aspects and the harsh realities. It’s also a movie about writing fiction, and it inspires me to create.

ARTISTS (AND SELECTED SONGS)
Harry Connick Jr., “It Had to Be You,” “I Could Write a Book,” “Lazybones”
I’ve not been a Harry fan long enough. Only in the past few years have I discovered his talent. At his big-band concert, I had a fabulous time. He clearly enjoyed every minute of the music he made with his friends and fellow musicians, often giving them the spotlight as they played solos. He is funny, energetic, and amazingly gifted. And his voice is extremely soothing.
Billy Joel, “Piano Man”
Obviously one of Billy’s biggest songs, this is one I’ve loved for many years. Billy’s skill on the piano is matched by the way he captures human nature in his lyrics.
Steven Curtis Chapman, “Fingerprints of God,” “I Will Be Here”
Steven’s written dozens and dozens of great songs, and these are two of my favorites. The first, for his daughter, focuses on true beauty found within a person. The second describes the kind of marriage I strive to maintain with my husband.
Nichole Nordeman, “Gratitude,” “I Am”
I identify with the way Nichole questions her faith. In her songs, she never claims to have everything figured out. She never makes blanket, dogmatic statements about God. Instead, she reveals her constant journey to what she realizes is a bigger and more wonderful mystery than anyone could ever explain.
Third Day, “Love Song”
These Atlanta guys know how to rock. Mac Powell’s voice is bold and powerful, and his bandmates complement him and each other in a smooth, tight sound. This song is a simple but telling presentation of what Christians believe Jesus did.

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

So. Wow. After way too much stopping and starting for my liking, I finally secured a kid-free allotment of time in which to devour the remaining few hundred pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I made it to bed at 11:00 and was unable to sleep unfitfully for hours afterward. There is much to process, but I wanted to record my initial reactions before I move to deeper posts later.

(1) I’ve talked with others about how Jo Rowling may not be the most poetic writer. Her adeptness lies not in meticulous word selection but in masterful plot construction and character development. As the incredible expanse of her world and her intricate story unfolded in Book 7–I experienced many “a-ha” and “oh!” moments–I was totally awed by her talent. The dozens of connections she wove through all 7 books, which came to light so beautifully in this final volume, make me nothing but respectful of a mind that is able to see such a big picture and yet reveal it so slowly, piece by piece, without ruining the satisfaction of viewing the whole.

(2) I have loved these characters–Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore, the Weasleys, Lupin, Sirius, Luna, Neville, even Snape. Rowling made them so real, so dynamic, and so human. I felt their pain, embarrassment, amusement, love, hope, struggles. It is a credit to Jo that she hasn’t seemed to let all the Potter hype (movies, toys, clothes, web sites, etc.) deviate from her goal to stay true to the characters born from her mind.

(3) Nonstop action! This is why constant interruptions were so annoying as I read this book. The action began with a bang and hardly let up until the last page. Battles, arguments, deaths, revelations, new puzzles came one after the other. I can’t even begin to conceive of this in film format.

(4) Snape and Dumbledore. After reading the chapter in which Voldemort kills Snape, I felt disappointed that the despicable professor wasn’t, after all, fighting for the good side. What a beautiful death scene, though (”Look…at…me.”). Then the next chapter, in which Harry dives into Snape’s memories, vindicated Severus Snape at long last, and I have never been so grateful to an author. Snape was probably her most clever creation because he kept us wondering for so long. I also thought knocking Dumbledore off his pedestal was clever and REAL. In all previous books, we’d seen few weaknesses in the wizard, but this book showed that he, too, lived through serious character faults and mistakes. I think this was probably the greatest lesson for Harry. After all, Dumbledore has told him all along that the choices make the person.

(5) Death. I think Rowling treated death in a beautifully spiritual way. The chapter where Harry knowingly walks to his death in the forest is poignant, heartbreaking, and revealing. I marveled at the way she described his sudden realization of what it means to live in a body–to see, to breathe, to be. I also love the way she showed her belief that we keep going after that body is gone. Just beautiful.

These are my initial reactions. I will write more and use specific quotes later. Well done, Jo! I couldn’t have asked for better.

I will of course comment on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when I finish it, but for right now, let me say that it’s completely engrossing from the first page. Now that the princesses are in bed, I will hide away in my quarters and read until I fall asleep…if I can fall asleep. As an amusing side note, the King, who is not a reader, just returned from Wal-Mart where he purchased his own copy so we won’t argue over who gets to read when. Happy reading, Potter fans!