Dr. Frank's What's-it

My God what was she trying to do, scar children's minds for life? I agree the book sounds cool but not for kids. Want a really weird and disgusting read? Try "The Taking of Sleeping Beauty" by Anne Rice (1st in a trilogy). It was recommended to me by somebody and I didn't get the joke until after I read it.

You should read Edward Tulane - I reviewed it in my column this month and thought it was really good. It's a sweet story, but you know that going in. What surprised me was how well she managed to make it more than just sweet. Honestly, I was really impressed by this book!

I requested a review copy of your book a little while ago. I hope I get it so I can write about it at Bookslut!

Edited to add:

You know, I think a lot of people forget what the original fairy tales are like and maybe that's why Edward Tulane seems so awful. I got the fact that Di Camillo was giving us an old fashioned read and as for Edward, well, the fact that he is an ass in the beginning is what made me keep reading the book. I don't know, we all like different stuff and part of why I enjoyed this so much was that it was such a different take on an old story. (The Velveteen Rabbit)

So hate me - I like my bunnies to suffer! ha!

I'm the same way, Colleen. That book would not ordinarily have been on my radar, but the review really made it sound great and I'm definitely going to check it out. I especially like the scarecrow bunny crucifixion. The art looks great, too.

From the review:

"What, exactly, are they meant to take away from this tale, with its hammer blows of random brutality, its weirdly malevolent adults..."

Reality, I guess.

There are some reviewers that I can be certain I will like what they don't.

I guess I just can't remember how old you are when you are 7. Is that a good age to be reading stories about a rabbit watching a little girl die? I just noticed the girl reading the CBS overnight news is a total knockout tonight. I think she is a fill-in. Great eyes. Anyway I understand when a book like this teaches a kid that old people (like grandma)eventually die but this one might just say "hey kid, it could happen to YOU TOO!" That being said it does look interesting and you can't judge a book by a few blurbs right?

That was certainly the worst bad review I've ever seen. The world would be a better place if people realized just how difficult it is to warp a child's mind.

I read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane a few weeks ago. It was fun and dark. Like Pinocchio or Zipes' translations of the Brothers Grimm. One of the best kid books I've read this year.

Holy Crap!!! A sound clip of "...And I Will Be With You" was on some MTV Reality show. I don't know why, but they've been doing sound clips of punk bands like the Living End and the Methadones (Danny Vapid of Screeching Weasel/Riverdales/Mopes).

I literally just walked in the room and heard it on my roommates TV. Does MTV have to contact you about using your music in their shows?

Maybe they don't have to contact him. Rush Limbaugh (he's all my boss listens to...there should be OSHA regulations against that) uses a Pretenders song as his theme song, even though Chrissy Hynde said she hates him and can't force his show to stop it.

I just saw Kate speak. She was fantastic. Although I had originally thought that the book would be sappy, she read part of it aloud and it was sad and freaky and funny and great.

I ALSO know two classes of second graders that the book is being read to, and both groups love it and think it is FUNNY. All this talk of love and broken hearts and whatnot fails to catch the warmth and humour of DiCamillo's writing. Stupid adults.