Tuesday, November 29, 2011

NPR Backseat Bookclub

I was driving down the road , on my way to the rather mundane purchase of a new toilet, listening to NPR's "Backseat Bookclub" as Norton Juster answered questions and talked generally about The Phantom Tollbooth. Occasionally I glanced up at the geese "v"-ing across the sky.

Juster has an easy-going, down-to-earth way that I could have listened to for miles. But too soon he finished up the interview by saying that sometimes "writers feel like their job is to communicate a specific idea or a finite point of view." [But]"I think the idea rather is to open up a piece of the world to a more creative encounter." That statement was a good unexpected gift and I was satisfied.

But then they announced the next book for Backseat Bookclub-- Breadcrumbs! The NPR website says: "Anne Ursu's big-hearted story about friendship and snowy adventure is perfect for wintry reading."

I swear those Vs of geese re-shaped themselves into "Y-E-A-H A-N-N-E!"

7 comments:

  1. Double Yippeeee! To Anne!

    Plus, there's nothing mundane about a new toilet.

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  2. True enough, Rebecca. That little half-bath may become the fanciest spot in our house. (The bar for fanciness at our house is not high.)

    And--isn't it wonderful that NPR has a monthly feature on children's books. Such a great idea.

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  3. Just received my copy of Breadcrumbs! Just a few more days of grading papers and I'll be ready to dig in!

    Also in the box: Okay for Now, and Mammoths and Mastodons (a gift for my nephew).

    Good reading ahead!

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  4. A writer's job is: "...to open up a piece of the world..." A beautiful and honest line, Jackie. May we all achieve this charge one day. And Breadcrumbs reveals many worlds to all of us and opens a reader's own inner-most worlds, so that she discovers a new piece of herself. Cheers, Anne!

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  5. Bless you, Jackie. And a blessings on your new can.

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  6. NPR Bookclub nominations so far: Gaiman, Juster, Ursu. Not a bad list.

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  7. I'm late reading this post, but wanted to add more good Breadcrumbs news: today, in the G (Arts) section of the Boston Globe, they recommend a few good books for Holiday gifts--and Breadcrumbs is on that list, too. Hooray!

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