Little Town Tea's Book Corner

Sophia Kinsella's book, Can You Keep a Secret?, was one of the fantastic books that traveled with me on my trip to Hawaii. Sophia Kinsella, author of the Shopaholic books, The Undomestic Goddess, and Remember Me?, writes with such perfectly timed humor that you will find yourself cracking up every time you turn the page. Although I am a fan of her Shopaholic books, the ones I have read anyway, I found Can You Keep a Secret? on a whole new level of wit. This particular book is about a woman named Emma Corrigan who works at Panther Cola, has a perfect boyfriend, and is hoping to get a promotion. She is a successful woman who gets by in her life by keeping secrets. One day, however, she sits next to a very handsome man on a business flight and when the plane hits some turbulence she spills all her secrets. After Emma gets off the flight, a little shaky and embarrassed, she cheers herself up by reminding herself that all of her deepest secrets were spilled to a mere stranger, a man she will probably never see again. Emma puts the incident behind her, that is until she goes to work the next day to find that mere stranger in her office and that he is the CEO of Panther Cola.
This is a book that will make your sides ache from laughter. I promise that you will want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. I bought this book for my mom for Mother's Day last year and she loved it. So, whether you are looking for a book for yourself or are trying desperately to find the perfect gift, I recommend buying Can You Keep a Secret?

David Sedaris

"I love things made out of animals. It's just so funny to think of someone saying, 'I need a letter opener. I guess I'll have to kill a deer.'"
— David Sedaris

David Sedaris, author of Naked, Holidays on Ice, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and When You Are Engulfed in Flames, did a reading at the Modesto Junior College last Saturday night and I was lucky enough to attend. For those of you who have not yet read a David Sedaris book, his books are hilarious. To be honest, I have never read one of his books and only bought a book of his because I knew he would be signing them. I have always listened to David Sedaris on CD. He has such a great voice and such a way of reading his work that I continually buy his books on CDs or get them from the library. The first time I ever heard him was in my brothers car. Bryan was listening to his book Holidays on Ice , a book I recommend for those of you who have not read any works by David Sedaris, and I laughed so hard I cried. My favorite story in that book is entitled "Six to Eight Black Men."
Anyhow, the reading was amazing and by the end of the night my face hurt from laughing so much. I think the best part was that after we got out of the theater David Sedaris came out and signed books.



I found out after this picture was taken that no pictures were allowed to be taken of David Sedaris. Opps! Anyhow, David is the one sitting down by the elevator doors. After what felt like an eternity, Wes and I got to meet David Sedaris and have him sign our books. This turned out to be an interesting meeting and one I will never forget. He first asked Wes if he was a Leo and he did a little growl and pawed at him with his right hand. When Wes said that he was not a Leo, but that his mom was, David asked Wes if he had recently had sex with his mother. David then went on to ask me if I had a sister and a brother. When I told him I did, he asked me if I could forgive them if they had sex with each other. And that, in a nutshell, was my encounter with David Sedaris.



Here is what David Sedaris wrote and drew in my book. I call his drawing the Abe Lincoln turtle.



Here is what David Sedaris wrote and drew in Wes' book. David Sedaris told me that if I had a cat it would look like his drawing...

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

I read Sue Monk Kidd's The Mermaid Chair over the summer while I was in Santa Cruz. It was just one of those books you can't put down and you find yourself reading all night while you tell yourself "just one more chapter." This story takes place on Egret Island, a fiction island that Sue Monk Kidd places off the coast of South Carolina. The main character, Jessie Sullivan, is a married middle aged woman who must go to the island to take care of her troubled mother for a few months. Her mother's house, the house she grew up in, is next door to a monastery. While staying with her mother, Jessie begins to question her relationship with her husband as she starts falling in love with one of the monks next door. Jessie also begins to learn about the mermaid chair, a shrine at the monastery that the brothers have dedicated to a saint that was once a mermaid, and she begins to learn a secret about her father that her mother has hid for many years. It is the vibrant characters and the twist and turns, that Sue Monk Kidd so perfectly executes, that keep you always wanting more.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta is the first California book ever written. It was written by a Native American named Yellow Bird, also known as John Rollin Ridge. He is also considered the first Native American novelist. I read this book for my Multicultural California Literature course. It is quite an interesting read. It is about Joaquin Murieta, whose name is spelled a number of ways, and his life as a criminal. Joaquin Murieta and his gang are well known for being feared throughout California during the late 1840s and early 1850s. This book is interesting because of the approach Yellow Bird takes. He sympathizes with Joaquin while making some of the members of his gang into villains. Yellow Bird also makes some derogatory remarks about some of the Native American tribes in California, which is interesting since Yellow Bird is Cherokee. Although it might not be the most historically accurate book and does display some prejudices, it is interesting to read the first book written in California and the first book written by a Native American.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

Fannie Flagg is one of my favorite authors. The books I most adore by this author are Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which was later adapted into a movie, and Can't Wait to Get to Heaven. Her books have a small town southern style that always makes me feel at home. Each and everyone of her characters are memorable and seem to just jump right out of the page. She takes her time to add all the little details that give the reader a perfect visual of the setting of the story and the characters who are in it. If you haven't read a Fannie Flag book you should go pick one up today. If I were you, I would start with Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. It is one of my favorite books and is perfect to snuggle up with on a Sunday afternoon.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst, is the perfect book to pick up if your child's pet passes on. Everyone has a hard time explaining a pet's death to a child. This book helps children understand what has happened to their beloved fluffy friend and good ways to deal with the grief that can come from it. It is a book that I wish I had growing up and I think it is a book that every parent needs for a sad situation such as this.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

The Funny Little Woman, by Arlene Mosley, was my favorite book growing up. This story is set in old Japan and is perfect for a child in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade. One thing that I must insist on is if you get this for you child or your class you must do the voices because it makes this book all the more special. When I was little my sister would read this too me before I went to bed and her voices were the absolute best. I think this is a book that every child should read. It is a great look into a different culture and their traditions, plus the art work is incredible. This is a must have book for any child.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

The Legend of Old Befana, by Tomie De Paola a traditional tale from Italy. It is a very interesting book and a good book to bring into a class room or a home to show a child the different Christmas tales and traditions. The illustrations are beautiful as well. This book is perfect for a child in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

Duke Ellington, by Andria Davis Pinkney, is a biography of Duke Ellington for children. When I came across this book I instantly fell in love with it. I did a big project on this for my children literature course. If you are an elementary teacher or a parent with young children buy this book and read it to them. It is for grades 3-5. Make sure to also pick up a CD by the Duke so that your children can hear him play, and I am sure you wouldn't mind turning it on and listening to it yourself.

Little Town Tea's Book Corner

Wanting to someday be a published author of books for children, I read a lot of children books. One that I have recently fallen in love with is Olivia. Over the summer I flew down to visit my cousin in Washington D.C.. Since I last saw her she has had a little girl and boy. I was sleeping in the reading room and found Olivia in a basket next to the bed. The story is adorable and the only color used in the illustrations is red. Olivia has become a whole series of books about, as you may have guessed, Olivia. Olivia is a cute and clever book that any child, but especially a girl who is the oldest of her siblings, will love.

The Little Prince

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for children to have to provide explanations over and over again” –The Little Prince I was scouring my bedside table for good books this morning and I came across my copy of The Little Prince. The Little Prince, incase you are one of those unfortunate few who have not heard of it, is a book originally written in French by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. It is one of those rare books written for both children and adults. For a child, it is a book that they can relate to. It is full of imagination and the everyday annoyances that they run into when dealing with an adult. For an adult, the book acts as a reminder to cease from living as a serious grownup that ignores their imagination. This is a book that should be on bookshelves of adults and children alike. If you have a child, read this story to them. If you don’t, read this story to yourself. The Little Prince has proved to not only be an important reminder to me as an adult, it has also proved to be important to me in my relationship. After I had graduated from high school, I went back to my little town to see The Little Prince performed at my high school. Many of the actors in this performance I had acted with myself. Among those actors was Wes, who stared as the Little Prince. During high school, Wes and I had been good friends, but nothing more. Nevertheless, when I saw Wes perform that evening I saw him in a whole new way. A few months after the performance we started dating and we have been together ever since. Wes is my Little Prince and I am his fox. He has certainly filled my life with sunshine. "Nothing's perfect," sighed the fox. "My life is monotonous. I hunt chickens; people hunt me. All chickens are just alike, and all men are just alike. So I'm rather bored. But if you tame me, my life will be filled with sunshine. I'll know the sound of footsteps that will be different from all the rest. Other footsteps send me back underground. Yours will call me out of my burrow like music. And then, look! You see the wheat fields over there? I don't eat bread. For me, wheat is no use whatever. Wheat fields say nothing to me. Which is sad. But you have hair the color of gold. So it will be wonderful, once you've tamed me! The wheat, which is golden, will remind me of you. And I'll love the sound of the wind in the wheat..."—The Little Prince

Little Town Tea’s Book Corner

Being an English major, I have hardly had time to read for pleasure the last three and a half years. On average, I would have to read 7 books for each of my English classes, and I was taking anywhere from 3 to 4 English classes each session. Due to this crazy load of literature, I would spend my breaks getting a head start on the readings for the following session. Now that I am done with all of my English classes, I finally have time for pleasure reading. Because of my trip to Hawaii after Christmas, I took the winter session off. It has been roughly two months since I have been in school and I have been filling that time with reading. Right now I am reading Charlaine Harris’ A Bone to Pick. It is the second book in her Aurora Teagarden Mystery series. So far I am enjoying this series. It is about a librarian in the south who solves murder mysteries. It is just one of those fun books that you can pick up and enjoy without having to analyze any deeper meanings, which is refreshing after three and a half years of scrutinizing every sentence for any hidden implications.
I came across Charlaine Harris when my friend, Kris, told me about her Sookie Stackhouse series. You might have heard of this series. They have made it into a HBO show called True Blood. The Sookie Stackhouse books are about a waitress in the south who has telepathic abilities. This series, unlike the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, is crammed with supernatural beings. I have read all the released Sookie Stackhouse books. They are addictive and fun. If you are looking for a light read with a southern twist you should definitely pick up something by Charlaine Harris.

Some of My Favorite Things

During my life, well during the past six years, I have run into some fantastic pieces of entertainment that I have really enjoyed and that have stuck with me. These things I want to share with you so maybe you can get the same wonderful experiences out of them as I did.
Big Fish is an absolutely fantastic movie that has remained number one on my list of favorite movies since I saw it in high school with my two best friends. It is directed by Tim Burton and stars Ewan McGregor. It is a far-fetched, yet very likely movie that will have everyone crying and laughing and viewing the world forever in a different way.
The movie that makes number two on my list of favorite movies is Harold and Maude. Harold and Maude was made in 1971. Cat Stevens monopolizes the sound track, making you fall in love with his music in a whole new way. I don’t think I would have ever seen the movie if it wasn’t for my brother telling me to watch it. It is an unlikely love story that always makes me fall in love with life and the uncertainties it may bring.
My freshman year in college I somehow came across a band called The Format and their song entitled “The Snail Song.” If you have a chance, go and listen to this lovely melody. It always reminds me to take time and enjoy myself, a reminder that everyone needs once in a while.
My sophomore year of college I was browsing around Amazon, trying to find some new music, and I came across Eric Bibb. The next day I bought his CD and still can’t stop listening to him. My favorite song is “Mr. Shine” from his CD Diamond Days.
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, is my all time favorite book. Due to my insane love for elephants, I have been looking longingly at this book for over a year, yet never buying it. Well, for Christmas Wes’ dad gave it to me. I brought it with me on my trip to Hawaii, which turned out to not be the best idea because it was difficult to put it down and enjoy the crazy roasters of Kauai. Anyhow, Water for Elephants is set during the great depression and it is about a man who leaves veterinarian school and travels with a circus. I passed it along to my mom, who absolutely loved it, and now my sister is reading it. (I love our constant sharing of books.) I promise you, whether you are a 19 year old man or a 71 year old woman, you are going to love it.

This music video is my most recent on my list of favorite things. Wes sent me this video a few weeks ago. I think it is beautiful.