How to encourage reading

What Does Dystopian Mean, Anyway?

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 20 Comments

When I describe the premise of books like The Hunger Games or The Giver to my friends, I use the adjective “dystopian”.  And even with all of the hype surrounding Suzanne Collins’ popular books, that term still makes people wrinkle their brows and say, “What?”  So let me roll up my word nerdy sleeves and explain.

Dystopia = the opposite of utopia

Sir Thomas More, way back in the 16th century, introduced the idea of utopia : a place of social perfection.  The term dystopia takes More’s unrealistic ideal and flips it on its head.  Remember that the prefix “dys” means difficult or bad, as in dysfunction, dyslexia, and dysentery.  So, in dystopian fiction, we find a society, often of the future, crippled by at least one horrible, inherent flaw.
Dystopian books tackle themes about government, politics, religion, or technology in a hypothetical setting.  They often explore the delicate balance between what’s best for the individual versus what’s best for society as a whole. 

Dystopian literature isn’t new

Dystopian books appeared well before The Hunger Games.  According to Wikipedia, the term was first used in the British House of Commons in 1868 when John Stuart Mill spoke to the assembly about the faults of the English government’s land policy in Ireland. 
During the 20thcentury, several authors explored dystopian themes.  Some examples:
  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley
  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  • Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry

Dystopian literature addresses moral issues without being didactic 

Dystopian books challenge us to thoughtfully consider what’s important, both for ourselves and society as a whole.  A good dystopian piece might take a current idea or practice and push it to extremes, forcing people to think, would this way of life really work better?

For example, in Ally Condie’s Matched, the government chooses everything for its citizens in order to optimize productivity- that includes food, occupation, and spouse.  Type two diabetes and obesity would definitely NOT be a problem in Condie’s world, but, at what price?
Many dystopian titles target young adult readers, giving teenagers great material to ponder as they form their opinions about religion, politics, and society.  I’ve enjoyed discussing controversial issues from The Giverwith my kids, and I hope that we will have more great conversations as they read the other books listed in this post.

Current popular dystopian reads

Here is a list of popular dystopian books from Goodreads; click the link to learn more about these and other books:  

  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Matched by Ally Condie
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner
  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
  • Ship Breaker Paolo Bacigalupi
  • The Host by Stephenie Meyer
What does the term “dystopian” mean to you, and can you recommend any books that fit the category?  Thanks for adding to the discussion.

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Julia
Improving vocabulary

What Does Obdurate Mean?

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 6 Comments

A few weeks ago, in her review of Stephen King’s book 11/22/63, Amy Makechnie mentioned a great word nerd word: obdurate.  Specifically, she quoted King:

“The past is obdurate.  It doesn’t like to change.” 

Thank you Mr. King, and Amy.  Now, let’s learn some more…
Obdurate \’äb-d(y)ə-rət\ adj, from Latin obdurare, to harden;  hardened in feelings, unyielding, resistant to persuasion.
I know some obdurate people, do you?  Frustrating, aren’t they?

Word Nerd Workout

It’s different this time, so read carefully.  Think of some antonyms for obdurate.  Share them in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by!
Other fun word nerd words:

Julia
How to encourage reading/Words and Technology

Why Parents (including me) Prefer Reading Print Books with Their Children

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 9 Comments

My youngest child started kindergarten this year, and now he’s bringing home easy readers in a royal blue book sack each night.  The books work on high frequency words and read like this:  Look at the horse; Look at the cow; Look at the pig.
“We need to read tonight, Mommy,” my son says with pride.  He can’t wait to be like his older siblings.
Our fall schedule has us constantly running, but I make sure I carve out time to sit down with my youngest and open a book or two.  He crawls into my lap.  We discuss the pictures, and he touches the words as he says them.
It just wouldn’t be the same with an e-book.

Parents and Kids Prefer Reading Print Books Together

At DigitalBookWorld.com you can read about a study recently done by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center in New York that found that 75% of iPad owners still preferred to read print books with their kids.  Fifty percent of the kids surveyed said they preferred print books when reading with parents.  There’s just something about sitting together and actually turning pages that appeals to us, and here are some reasons why:
  • Reading together is quality one on one time for parents and kids
  • Reading print books continues a tradition: I read print books to my kids because I remember my parents reading with me; hopefully my children will have fond memories of reading with me and will also choose to read print books to their kids
  • It’s easy to give print books to children as gifts
  • E-books have distracting content, like games, that pull children out of the act of reading

But e-books are gaining popularity

I realize that publishing is going through big changes.  Digital media is here to stay, and e-books have their benefits.
  • New reading apps are coming out for iPad
  • Companies are offering new digital reading platforms with fewer distracting games
  • E-books are more convenient to carry when traveling
  • Busy parents like giving their kid an e-book to read, especially since many have a “sound out the word” feature

But I still prefer print, and here’s why

Do you know which book that is?

Part of learning to read is learning about the books themselves- the binding,  pages, and slick covers.  Young readers need these tangible cues for the complete experience.  They also need large, vibrant pictures to go along with text.  I want them to see Eric Carle’s vibrant collages or Mo Willems’ mix of photos and illustrations in full size, on a printed page.  

I admit, I have to make a conscious effort to put that royal blue sack in the van before I take the kids to piano lessons.  It would be much more convenient to pull up a book on my iPhone.
But parenting isn’t about convenience.  It’s about choosing to be present to our children when they need us.  Making the effort, turning the pages, carrying the blue sack.  (Click to tweet if you agree)
  
So, go get a print book and read to a child.  I think you’ll both enjoy it.  
Which book format do you prefer to read with children and why?  Thanks for adding to the discussion.

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Julia
Improving vocabulary

Why I Love Perspicacious

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 6 Comments

It’s quite a word, sitting there under my picture in the right side bar of this blog: perspicacious.  Fun to say.  Try it.  I think it has something to do with the “sp” in the middle.
It’s meaning is even better.  Do you know it?
perspicacious \pər-spə-‘kā-shəs\ adj from Latin perspicere, transparent;  of acute mental vision or discernment.
Now, as much as I love to say perspicacious, I’d also really like to be perspicacious.  So I continually try to educate myself and surround myself with wise people.   And I keep looking up these cool words and sharing them with you. 

Word Nerd Workout

Think of a character from literature that clearly embodies “perspicacious.”  Share your suggestions in the comments.  I’ve got two ideas:
  • Gandalf, from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but he’s a wizard, so we expect it from him.
  • How about Hazel Grace Lancaster from The Fault in Our Stars?  She’s only a mortal, but her mortality imparts great wisdom. 

Looking forward to your responses!  Now go out there and be perspicacious!  

Other Word Nerd words:

Julia
Book reviews

Why Not Try a Graphic Novel

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 14 Comments

How do you get an unenthusiastic reader to take interest in a classic piece of literature?  Or Greek mythology?  Or the anatomy of the eye?
Try a graphic novel.

What are graphic novels?

Essentially, graphic novels are book length stories told with pictures and words in a sequential format.  But the stories aren’t limited to Peanuts comics or the exploits of superheroes.  Modern graphic novels explore themes of adventure, romance, or history. 
According to the Internet Public Library, comics and cartoons have been around for decades, but most experts agree that the first graphic novel appeared in 1978: Will Eisner’s Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories.  Eisner’s graphic novel had adult themes and imagery and was well received by the generation of Americans who had grown up with superhero comics. 

Why are graphic novels gaining popularity?

In our public library I’m seeing more and more graphic novels with quality art work and a surprising variety of topics.   Have you noticed this too?  A few weeks ago, my son picked up a graphic novel about the Greek Goddess “Hera”.  I’m sure he wouldn’t enjoy reading a reference book or article on Hera, but he flipped through the graphic novel within 30 minutes.  And he could tell me some facts about her when he finished.
I’m guessing it has to do with the ratio of pictures to text; less text makes graphic novels less threatening and more fun.
Think about it.  If you had to learn about Norse Gods, wouldn’t it be exciting to actually see them in action?  And to have a face to associate with a strange name like “Loki”, so that you can more easily recall who he is?   Imagine Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones with illustrations; it would be much easier to remember characters!
We are a very visual culture; it makes sense that a book format that caters to our visual preferences should gain popularity.  And as I have pointed out earlier, boys in particular prefer visual learning. 

Popular Graphic Novels to Try

Many classics, including Dracula, Treasure Island, and The Odyssey have been published in graphic novel form.  Maybe high school students could reach for the graphic novel instead of the spark notes!  And graphic novels aren’t just for boys; I found one called No Girls Allowed: Tales of Daring Women Dressed as Men for Love, Freedom, and Adventure by Susan Hughes and Willow Dawson.  
Some interesting titles to explore: (click the link for details)

Honestly, I prefer the old fashioned format.  But not everyone loves words as much as I do, and now they have another option.  Check out a graphic novel and let me know what you think, share one with the reluctant reader in your life, or recommend a few titles.  Thanks for stopping by. 
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Julia
Improving vocabulary

Why Isn’t October the Eighth Month of the Year?

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 12 Comments

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by during Banned Book Week to read my posts and comment on expurgated and The Kite Runner.  What wonderful discussion!  I enjoyed hearing from so many readers who share my belief in the value of books, even books with “content”.

Congratulations to Jennifer Brown of thebookienook; she won the Banned Book Week giveaway!  Jennifer, pick a book from the giveaway list, and I will ship it to you.  Please email me with your information so I can send you a great book ASAP.

Word Nerd Note: October

My word nerdy friend Crystal noted that it’s strange that October is the tenth month of the year, since “Oct” means “eight” in Latin.  (think octagon, octogenarian, etc)  Of course, I had to research the issue.
If you want more details, feel free to visit Wikipedia and read the history of our current calendar.  You will find endless paragraphs about lunar years, solar years, and the shifting date of the vernal equinox- stuff to make your eyes  glaze over and your head ache.
Let me hit the high points:

  • The first calendar established by the Romans had 12 months but started in March.  This would make October the 8th month, September the 7th, etc.
  • Sometime during the Roman Empire, officials decided to start the year in January, because the God Janus faced both ways (ie looking back, looking forward).
  • Roman rulers changed the fifth month to July to honor Julius Caesar and the sixth month to August to honor Caesar Augustus.
  • The Roman Calendar was changed to the Julian calendar (when Julius Caesar initiated reforms) and then the Gregorian calendar in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII instituted reforms.  Our current calendar is the Gregorian calendar.
  • The reforms had a lot to to with making the length of the year consistent and keeping the date of the feast of Easter from shifting too much.  That’s a huge oversimplification, but again, if you want details, read for yourself.  (And if you do, you’re either a bigger word nerd than me, or you just have way too much time on your hands.)

Word Nerd Workout

I dare you to bring up this topic in casual conversation.

“Hey, does anybody know why October is the tenth month of the year?  It should be the eighth.”

Let me know what happens!

Other Word Nerdy Notes:

 

Julia