Kate DICamillo

After the discussion yesterday, I realize that I don't have much more to add about Kate DiCamillo. We love her books. We love to read them Out Loud. (I personally think everything is better when it's read aloud.) Here are a couple specific things that I love:

• She does a great job with "Show don't Tell".
• She has a way of summing up characteristics or emotions in a single, vivid sentence that readers can identify with clearly.

I really enjoyed The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, although my girls disagree with me. M asked me (between sobs), "Why did you make us read that?"

They both said Despereaux was their favorite. No, we haven't seen the movie.

Here is her website. Enjoy.

I'm off to do some hiking today!

Breaking Rules

The next couple of days will be spent in a discussion of Kate DiCamillo's writing. If you have not read her books, I highly recommend that you do so before you read this. I'm not going to post any spoilers, but I am going to talk about her style. As with any author's work, it would be better to come at it without any preconceived or jaded ideas. So, off to the library with you. This will still be here when you get back.

At this moment, Kate DiCamillo is the author who ranks highest on my Oh-my-gosh-I-love-their-work List.Reading her books is what I imagine drowning in chocolate syrup might be like. Dying, but loving every minute of it. Her mastery with words makes me fall in love with language all over again. Am I gushing?

Her skill makes breaking the rules possible. It also confirms a suspicion of mine: when you're good enough, you don't have to follow the rules.

For instance, a number of the sources that I have been studying suggest that an author should pick one genre and format and stick to it. Very few people can write both picture books and novels and get away with it (or so they say). That obviously doesn't apply to Miss DiCamillo. From picture books and easy readers to YA and adult novels, she can and has written it all. And she is good at all of it.

Rudyard Kipling

Long before I began noticing the boys around me*, I had two mad crushes. The second was Rudyard Kipling. (The first was Simon Bolivar, but never mind about that.) How could a girl resist a man with a name like Rudyard and an incredible storytelling sense? Every tale is a sensory rich experience.

A two volume set of his works sits close to my reading chair and we indulge often. His stories are best enjoyed out loud and I love his endearing (yet sometimes wicked) sense of humor.
I am currently reading "Something of Myself", an autobiography of sorts. In the chapter called Working Tools, he shares insights for writers.
On your muse:

"When your Daemon is in charge, do not try to think consciously. Drift, wait and obey."

On critics:

"And the generality of them seemed to have followed other trades--in banks or offices--before coming to the Ink; whereas I was free born."

On books:

"My treatment of books, which I looked upon as tools of my trade, was popularly regarded as barbarian...There were books which I respected because they were put in locked cases. The others, all the house over, took their chances."

On editing:

"They were originally much longer than when they appeared, but the shortening of them, first to my own fancy after fanciful re-readings, and next to the space available, taught me that a tale from which pieces have been raked out is like a fire that has been poked. One does not know that the operation has been performed, but everyone feels the effect."


"...it was necessary that every word should tell, carry, weigh, taste, and, if need were, smell."

He even talks about writing instruments, which leads me to believe that he relished the tactile element of long hand.

My family loves the Just So stories and The Jungle Book (which is perhaps why I have such a violent reaction to what Disney did with it), but I think my favorite is Kim. In that story, I can physically experience India, in spite of never having visited.

J likes The Cat Who Walked By Himself.
M can't decide between The Beginnning of the Armadillos and How The Rhinoceros Got His Skin.

Do you have a favorite?

*If you must know, the first time a boy offered to kiss me, I threatened to kick him "where it counts" and ran away. That was fourth grade.

Neil Gaiman

Where to begin? Last night, four members of our local writing groups traveled to hear author Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Stardust, and oh my, does the list go on) speak in Naperville. It was an amazing experience.

He read to us. No, you don't understand. He read to us. He read from Stardust (which he said is kind of like the movie, but more like a distant cousin than identical twins) and he read from the Anansi Boys, and I am only ever buying his audio books from now on.
After he read to us, he answered questions. Perhaps the most incredible part was how even poorly asked questions were answered in a way that pulled you into whatever situation he was describing.
One thing stands out above all the rest. Mr. Gaiman said he believes everyone is born knowing they can write, or draw, or create in some way. Then a day comes when someone tells them they can't, and then, suddenly they feel they can't. He compared it to walking a tightrope as a child and having someone tell you, "Don't look down". You weren't afraid until that moment. (That is the best paraphrase I can muster.)
At the end, he read a children's story called Instructions. It comes out in April.

We took our picture with "the other Neil". If you haven't read The Graveyard Book, you must. I bought one of the autographed copies.

*I was awake half the night thinking about Neil's comment about everyone's ability to create. He might not be aware of it, but that is actually a Biblical principle. Human beings were created in the image of a Creator God. Whether a person is a follower of God or not, when they create, they are imitating their Creator. More on that Here if you are interested.