Are we speaking the same language?

Super Size Me

I have to have a little fun at both my Aussie friend and the American public’s expense for a moment. My friend had never been to the US before and after the grueling journey from Brisbane via LA (a journey which involves approximately 17 ½ hours of flight time and a few hours layover in the "lovely" LAX airport) and having gotten up at the crack of dawn to make the journey to Brisbane for said flight, not slept for the entire journey and arrived in time to go to an awards function at ALA, famished did not begin to describe him by the night’s end.

Unfortunately, being a weeknight many places were not open at 10:30 pm. What I originally thought was a place of ill repute, however, actually did turn out to be an eating establishment and we sauntered in for some kibble. I mean really folks, the name of the place and its proximity to Bourbon Street was quite misleading…Daisy Dukes? Seriously? Anyway, I played it safe and ordered a salad.  The whole gluten-free thing makes me wary and the staff at Daisy Dukes didn’t seem to speak Celiac.

My friend stared at the menu for a long time. Finally he looked up and asked me what an entrée was. All I could do was laugh. I thought we were both speaking English… Now my passport is very well traveled. It’s stamped by 21 countries. Usually I look at where things are placed on a menu, not the actual words because I’ve pretty much learned by now that there is a cultural difference in how we use words. And really entrée is French, not English. But I explained the menu to my friend so he’d know the difference between appetizers and main courses. He decided he was really hungry so he ordered chili cheese fries and some other monster of a dish. I quietly thought to myself that he was really ordering a LOT of food…

When it all arrived at the table, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. All he could think of was the movie Super Size Me. I really started laughing at this point as he sat there surrounded by masses of food with a Coke the size of a bucket. All I could say to him was “Welcome to America!”

To watch the movie Super Size Me on the Internet click here:

http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3473867545/

Andreas and his first American monster meal at Daisy Dukes in the French Quarter, New Orleans

The Sequel to "Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side"

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

By Beth Fantaskey

2/2009

Jessica's Guide to Ruling the Dark Side

Due to be released in early 2012

Having taken a month off to travel with my Australian friend after ALA, I am finally digging into my vast pile of blog fodder from the conference.  Never one to resist a good vampire story, I decided to start off my review reading with the follow-up to the fun teen vamp story Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.   In Beth Fantaskey’s (what a great last name for a fantasy author!) tale about a young vampire princess who is raised by adoptive vegan parents on a farm completely unaware of her heritage until the tall, dark, and incredibly handsome Prince Lucius Vladescu arrives on their doorstep from Romania to claim his betrothed.   Where Twilight is dramatic and often sappy, Jessica’s Guide is humorous and witty as young Jessica grows into her emerging vampiredom.  Vampires don’t glimmer in Fantaskey’s world nor do they wilt in sunlight.  At the end of Jessica’s Guide, Jessica, whose real name is Antanasia, and Lucius have finally resolved their relationship and gone off to Romania to face their vampire families.

Often second books in a series are disappointing, but Jessica’s Guide to Ruling the Dark Side, due out in early 2012 will not disappoint fans of the first book.  The book begins with the wedding of Antanasia and Lucius which is revealed by an invitation in the book leading readers to a website for full details of the wedding.  The book then continues with the story introducing many new characters as well as retaining several familiar characters.   The characters of Lucius and Antanasia grow tremendously in this second novel and although it is somewhat more somber and dark in tone, it does still have the sense of humor that Beth Fantaskey maintains in her first volume.

If you haven’t yet read Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and are a fan of fun vampire romps, I highly recommend picking a copy up and reading it now before the second volume comes out.  If you have read it, you won’t be disappointed with the sequel – be sure to put it on your to read list for 2012!

http://www.bethfantaskey.com/

Interview With Author Jeff Kinney at ALA!

It's been a fun-filled day at ALA beginning with an early morning interview with superstar children's author Jeff Kinney!  Jeff graciously agreed to let me do a video interview with him despite his jam packed schedule during the conference.  My son Luke is a huge Jeff Kinney fan and has read all of the Wimpy Kid books over and over again.  Luke was originally supposed to come with me to New Orleans and had hoped to meet Jeff, so I thought up the idea of doing author interviews and contacted Jeff's agent.  Lo and behold they came through and we have a happy ten-year-old!  Jeff is not only incredibly funny and talented, but a super nice author who is joint-minded in the mission librarians march forward with to place books in children's hands and raise literacy rates.  Humor and graphics go a long way in aiding the cause for literacy.  Many children who wouldn't otherwise pick up a book are doing so because of authors like Jeff and we owe him a great deal of gratitude.  Thanks again Jeff and we can't wait for Wimpy Kid 6 to come out!

Jeff Kinney Interview



http://www.wimpykid.com/

http://www.gregheffley.blogspot.com