Comments on: What the Manolo Is… http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/ Manolo Loves the Shoes! Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:26:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jim of the Silicon Valley http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-33288 Jim of the Silicon Valley Mon, 26 Jun 2006 22:09:43 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-33288 Jim of the Silicon Valley agrees heartily with the implied recommendation of "Grand Illusion". It is truly one of the great films. Jim of the Silicon Valley agrees heartily with the implied recommendation of “Grand Illusion”. It is truly one of the great films.

]]> By: Nancy http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-33098 Nancy Mon, 26 Jun 2006 04:17:28 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-33098 Island of the Blue Dolphins is indeed a wonderful story, and not only for children. Isn't it sad that so many books we think of as classics are regarded as children's stories? There is a reason books such as "Treasure Island" and "Oliver Twist" have been on library shelves for generations! I was in Santa Barbara last month and visited the mission, where the woman whose story is recounted in Blue Dolphin is buried (although the actual location of her gravesite has been lost to memory). There are printed accounts of her brief life after being rescued from the island available in the bookstore. Since I teach middle-school English and many of my students love the book, I purchased copies of 'the rest of the story' to include in my classroom library. For additional summer reading, may I recommend "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls. There is not much discussion of footwear, but on particular incident involving the disappearance of a set of overalls caused me to laugh until tears rolled down my face. For Gina: Lois Lowry has now also released "Messenger", the third in the Giver set. Each of the three books leave you wondering about what happened next, and the following book gives hints -- but the reader has to make connections and fill in the blanks. Wonderful for young readers! Island of the Blue Dolphins is indeed a wonderful story, and not only for children. Isn’t it sad that so many books we think of as classics are regarded as children’s stories? There is a reason books such as “Treasure Island” and “Oliver Twist” have been on library shelves for generations! I was in Santa Barbara last month and visited the mission, where the woman whose story is recounted in Blue Dolphin is buried (although the actual location of her gravesite has been lost to memory). There are printed accounts of her brief life after being rescued from the island available in the bookstore. Since I teach middle-school English and many of my students love the book, I purchased copies of ‘the rest of the story’ to include in my classroom library.

For additional summer reading, may I recommend “Summer of the Monkeys” by Wilson Rawls. There is not much discussion of footwear, but on particular incident involving the disappearance of a set of overalls caused me to laugh until tears rolled down my face.

For Gina: Lois Lowry has now also released “Messenger”, the third in the Giver set. Each of the three books leave you wondering about what happened next, and the following book gives hints — but the reader has to make connections and fill in the blanks. Wonderful for young readers!

]]> By: Lisa Laree http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-32590 Lisa Laree Sat, 24 Jun 2006 05:20:34 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-32590 Gina; dunno why my name is familiar, unless you are a frequenter of sewing sites ;)....I saw the little historical note in the back that the book is based on a true story, but is a fictional account, which is why I wondered how much her story would actually match the book. I'm probably going to carry the same impression as Jenny, although I can see why the adventure of living alone on an island would appeal to a kid. Still, it's not as depressing as <i>Tess of the D'Urbervilles</i> or <i>The Lord of the Flies</i>. My favorite young reader's book, and still among the top 10 of all the books I've read, is Madeleine L'Engle's <i>A Wrinkle in Time</i>. I read it in the seventh grade, and for years it was the gold standard to which all other books were compared. Gina; dunno why my name is familiar, unless you are a frequenter of sewing sites ;)….I saw the little historical note in the back that the book is based on a true story, but is a fictional account, which is why I wondered how much her story would actually match the book. I’m probably going to carry the same impression as Jenny, although I can see why the adventure of living alone on an island would appeal to a kid. Still, it’s not as depressing as Tess of the D’Urbervilles or The Lord of the Flies. My favorite young reader’s book, and still among the top 10 of all the books I’ve read, is Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. I read it in the seventh grade, and for years it was the gold standard to which all other books were compared.

]]> By: Gina http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-32092 Gina Thu, 22 Jun 2006 21:51:57 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-32092 Bravo for grown-ups reading "children's"/"young adult" books! I would say one of the indicators of a good children/YA book is if grown men and women enjoy reading it. My 4th grade teacher read us "Island of the Blue Dolphins" after lunch/recess each day. (Good for helping us to settle down after running around outisde for an hour). I have bought new copies of my favorite children's books (hardcover where possible) just for myself. I still make it a point to read some of the newly published books for children, some of which are excellent (and others not, just like shoes). And every so often I read a book that I saw on the shelves as a child, but just never read. Lisa LaRee (why is your name familiar?): My mom once took a day trip to the Channel Islands and the tour operator said that the Lost Woman of San Nicholas Island died so soon after being rescued that very little is known of her actual story and that Mr O'Dell therefore had to create a fictional story. KikiBelle: I agree, "The Giver" is excellent. Have you read "Gathering Blue"? Ms. Lowry left the ending of "The Giver" up to the interpretation of the reader. And I have my own interpretation (which were tears of joy, also - - we should correspond regarding this!!). But so many people have demanded an exact explanation of what happened to Jonas that Ms Lowry has been persuaded to write a sequel. Okay, so much for leaving the interpretation of the ending up to the reader. It will, in effect, make some readers "wrong". But I guess I can't blame the author for doing it. I don't envy her the task, though. Years later coming up with a sequel you hadn't thought of when you previously created characters and "completed" their story? Difficult task and one that cannot please all readers. Bravo for grown-ups reading “children’s”/”young adult” books! I would say one of the indicators of a good children/YA book is if grown men and women enjoy reading it. My 4th grade teacher read us “Island of the Blue Dolphins” after lunch/recess each day. (Good for helping us to settle down after running around outisde for an hour). I have bought new copies of my favorite children’s books (hardcover where possible) just for myself. I still make it a point to read some of the newly published books for children, some of which are excellent (and others not, just like shoes). And every so often I read a book that I saw on the shelves as a child, but just never read.

Lisa LaRee (why is your name familiar?): My mom once took a day trip to the Channel Islands and the tour operator said that the Lost Woman of San Nicholas Island died so soon after being rescued that very little is known of her actual story and that Mr O’Dell therefore had to create a fictional story.

KikiBelle: I agree, “The Giver” is excellent. Have you read “Gathering Blue”? Ms. Lowry left the ending of “The Giver” up to the interpretation of the reader. And I have my own interpretation (which were tears of joy, also - - we should correspond regarding this!!). But so many people have demanded an exact explanation of what happened to Jonas that Ms Lowry has been persuaded to write a sequel. Okay, so much for leaving the interpretation of the ending up to the reader. It will, in effect, make some readers “wrong”. But I guess I can’t blame the author for doing it. I don’t envy her the task, though. Years later coming up with a sequel you hadn’t thought of when you previously created characters and “completed” their story? Difficult task and one that cannot please all readers.

]]> By: Machi http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-31992 Machi Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:01:18 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-31992 Manolo Darling, and what are you listening this week, after read your review about gnarls barkley, I listened too and I liked it so much, that the only thing that now I can do is thanking you for the advice, right now I am reading Mario Vargas Llosa´s La niña mala, it is quite good Chau Manolo Darling, and what are you listening this week, after read your review about gnarls barkley, I listened too and I liked it so much, that the only thing that now I can do is thanking you for the advice, right now I am reading Mario Vargas Llosa´s La niña mala, it is quite good
Chau

]]> By: Kristin http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-31755 Kristin Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:53:27 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-31755 Huh. I don't remember it being depressing. And I don't like depressing stories. But I was, what, 10 when I read it and probably thought that living off the land, free to do what I wanted would be the greatest thing ever. Huh. I don’t remember it being depressing. And I don’t like depressing stories. But I was, what, 10 when I read it and probably thought that living off the land, free to do what I wanted would be the greatest thing ever.

]]> By: chachaheels http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-31730 chachaheels Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:15:21 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-31730 Island of the Blue Dolphins! I haven't thought about that book since I was a kid and when I read it then, it was all I could think about. Thank you for reminding me about such a beautiful story. It's time (and probably timely!) for me to read it again. Island of the Blue Dolphins! I haven’t thought about that book since I was a kid and when I read it then, it was all I could think about. Thank you for reminding me about such a beautiful story. It’s time (and probably timely!) for me to read it again.

]]> By: Kiki Belle http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-31727 Kiki Belle Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:02:49 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-31727 Jenny, it's a toss up! My interpretation of the ending resulted in, as you so aptly put it, "tears of joy" while others most definitely viewed it as "the nadir of depression." Jenny, it’s a toss up! My interpretation of the ending resulted in, as you so aptly put it, “tears of joy” while others most definitely viewed it as “the nadir of depression.”

]]> By: jenny http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-31659 jenny Wed, 21 Jun 2006 03:50:25 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-31659 Kiki Belle: No, I haven't yet. Are you giving it a thumbs up (tears of joy) or thumbs down (the nadir of depression)? Kiki Belle: No, I haven’t yet. Are you giving it a thumbs up (tears of joy) or thumbs down (the nadir of depression)?

]]> By: beth http://shoeblogs.com/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is-68/#comment-31631 beth Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:07:09 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2006/06/20/what-the-manolo-is/#comment-31631 Ahhh, Manolo, you are in my village. Perhaps we will run into each other. We will, of course, recognize each other by our fabulous footwear. Ahhh, Manolo, you are in my village. Perhaps we will run into each other. We will, of course, recognize each other by our fabulous footwear.

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