Diary of a Word Nerd

Awesome Young Adult Books/Book reviews/Favorite Authors

Why You Should Read Fangirl

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

I just finished listening to Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and I liked it even better than Eleanor and Park, which I raved about in my review. Fangirl could be considered Young Adult or New Adult fiction since its main character is a college freshman struggling to overcome her social ineptness in her first year at the University of Nebraska.

Premise

Cath is an introvert who retreats into the fandom of Simon Snow (a fictional equivalent of Harry Potter) when her real life gets too difficult. She and her identical twin sister Wren grew up reading, and loving, the Simon Snow books and writing fan fiction that earns them some online popularity. But when the girls go to college, Wren wants to start a new life, unattached to her twin, and Cath finds herself floundering outside of her comfort zone. She’s pretty sure her roommate hates her. She can’t believe how much her roommate’s boyfriend smiles. And, there’s this cute guy in her fiction writing class who likes collaborating with her, but never offers to walk her home after their late night writing sessions in the stacks.

This is a great novel about facing fears and shattering self-imposed boundaries.

What I liked

I could relate to so many of Cath’s issues: feeling socially awkward, wondering how to deal with grown up guys, facing deep-seated family conflict. I especially enjoyed Cath’s description of her writing process and all the joys and frustrations that come with trying to get the right words to tell a story.

Rainbow Rowell has particular skill in writing fresh, vivid descriptions of people and emotions. One of the reasons Cath likes Levi, her roommate’s boyfriend, is that he has “10,000 different smiles.” And on a day when Levi is uncharacteristically unfriendly, she says he’s “thirty degrees lower than normal Levi.”

The characters often exchange funny quips, but the humor is balanced with thoughtful treatment of serious issues like abandonment and mental illness.

The chapters of Cath’s story are interspersed with snippets from either the “real” Simon Snow books or from Cath’s Fan Fic, and I had fun trying to figure out what Ms. Rowell wanted to accomplish with those interludes.

What I didn’t like

Not much.

Recommendation

This is a great book for older teens who like realistic fiction or for adults who don’t mind a good college story. Rebecca Lowman, who read Eleanor’s chapters in Eleanor and Park, narrates this audio book as well. She does a great job in both. I highly recommend the audio version.

Notes on content

Characters consume alcohol, but they also suffer the effects of excessive drinking. (Cath’s sister ends up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning.) There are a few “kissy” scenes, and the characters discuss having sex. In Cath’s Fan Fic, the main characters, and arch enemies, of the Simon Snow series have a homosexual relationship. But in the Fan Fic and the main story, nothing explicit ever happens between characters. Some language.

Have you read this or any of Rainbow Rowell’s books? What did you think?
Thanks for stopping by!

Favorite Characters/How to encourage reading/Improving vocabulary

Vocab Inspired By Leo DiCaprio: Revenant

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Julia Tomiak / 13 Comments

I first “met” Leonardo DiCaprio when I watched What’s Eating Gilbert Grape way back in 1994. He played “Arnie” with such realistic characterization that I was smitten, even though his face was smeared with dirt for half the movie.

At the time, all of America was raving about Forrest Gump, but I was disturbed that in many movies about people with disabilities, the character with a disability always had some kind of “super power” to make him more palatable. Rainman was exceptionally good at math, if not social skills. And “Forrest” could run so fast, he saved Lieutenant Dan’s life. I taught students with disabilities; there were no superheroes in my classroom, just beautiful kids whose minds worked differently and who struggled with extremely difficult circumstances.

Like the kids I knew, Arnie didn’t have any super powers. He had mental retardation, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape showed with unrelenting honesty the challenge of caring for a person with disabilities. Leo did a great job of portraying mental retardation and was rewarded with an Oscar nomination. Many nominations and years later, he finally got the trophy for Best Actor for 2015’s The Revenant, a survival story about a fur trader attacked by a bear and left for dead by his companions.

I didn’t know what a “revenant” was and had to look it up. If you like learning about new words, join the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion.

revenant \rev·e·nant\ adjective, from the French revenir, to return

one that returns after death or a long absence (Merriam-Webster)

And here, in a fan girl tribute to my favorite actor, are some movie posters from Leo’s filmography. Sadly, many of his movies I will never see because this girl doesn’t do scary or brutal violence. (Read: No Shutter Island or Gangs of New York for the Word Nerd.)

Word Nerd Workout

Can you share some unusual vocab you learned from a movie? Or, for more fun, can you guess what husband calls Leonardo DiCaprio? (Hint: he’s not fond of my adoration for the actor, and his name rhymes with the original. Change one letter in the first name and add one letter to the second.)

Thanks for playing!

Book reviews

Three Fun Books To Get You Through March

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Julia Tomiak / 3 Comments

It was 60 degrees and sunny yesterday; today the wind blows snow flakes against my windows. March is my toughest month. I’m done with winter, but it’s still has a few punches for me. As the last gray days drag on, I need funny reading material to keep my spirits up. I’m thinking perhaps you do too, so here are three book recommendations to help you laugh your way into April.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Review by Amy Makechnie of Maisymak. Find her on Twitter and Facebook

This book came at the perfect time: the middle of winter in New Hampshire. Alice is twenty-nine, crazy in love with her husband, and pregnant with her first child. At least she thinks that’s her life. In reality, she’s suffered a head injury at the gym (what? she hates going to gym!) and can’t remember the last ten years of her life. She’s getting divorced, her sister won’t talk to her, she has three kids (they don’t even look familiar; they’re so…needy!), and her formerly beloved husband despises her. What’s happened in the last ten years? How did Alice become so insufferable? And most importantly, can she start over? I loved this book! It made me laugh out loud but also forced me examine my own marriage and family: will I like where it ends up in ten years? (side note…SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA)

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Review by Dana Hemelt of Kiss My List. Find her on Twitter and Facebook

Things are not going well for Judd Foxman; his wife’s affair has ended their marriage and his father just died. Dear old Dad’s final request was that the entire family spend seven days sitting shiva after the funeral. Together. In the same house.

It doesn’t sound funny, I know. But I laughed out loud (the first of many times) during the scene when Judd walked in on his wife and her lover…Tropper imbues humor in the most unlikely places. A week of the dysfunctional Foxman family is illuminating, raw, real and amusing. As I was reading, I thought this novel would adapt wonderfully into a movie, and it has. The book is always better, though – and this one is no exception.

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophia Kinsella

Review by Valerie Rutledge of Peaceful Promises. Find her on Facebook

I’ve been looking for a month or so now for another title by Sophie Kinsella and the library has let me down so I ended up with The Undomestic Goddess on a whim.

Samantha is a force to be reckoned with in a predominantly testosterone driven field. She’s young, sharp and on the fast track to being the youngest partner in her upscale law firm in London. Until she makes one, very costly, mistake. Rather than face the music, she runs away, literally.

Winding up on a stranger’s doorstep, a case of mistaken identity lands her in job unlike any she’s ever known, a housekeeper of a countryside estate. Faking her way through the day, with a little help from the gardner, she slowly adjusts to this new pace of life. Little does she know she’s one curtsy away from yet another turn of events.

While I couldn’t exactly relate to the pull of the corporate world, I found her struggle between what she’s always done and what lies before her to be something with which most women can empathize. Lovable characters along with just the right mix of intrigue, romance & reality made this a quick, easy read on a cold, do-nothing day.

* * *

Can you add a funny read to this list? I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks,

How to encourage reading

Different Names for Vegetarians

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Julia Tomiak / 15 Comments

Daughter, motivated by health and moral issues, recently decided to go vegetarian. She’s busy pinning recipes, and now I have things like lentils and black rice in my pantry. I’m all for healthy eating and am happy to add more plant-based recipes to our dining repertoire. Hubby and I just want to make sure she’s getting all the nutrients she needs, which prompted research, which resulted in a discovery of some very interesting words to describe the many different types of vegetarians.

Yes, different types. At least seven. The Word Nerd is here to explain them to you.

If you like learning about interesting words, join the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme at Bermuda Onion. Bloggers post about new and interesting words, and you can learn along with them.

Types of Vegetarians

Turns out, there are different “levels” of vegetarians, and the names for each level describe what foods each type consumes. With a little knowledge of word roots, these titles make good sense. So, here we go, from “most strict” to “least strict”.

Vegans do not use or consume any animal products or by-products. This includes, obviously, meat and fish, but also dairy, eggs, honey, silk, leather, or wool.
Lacto-vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or eggs, but they do eat dairy. “Lacto” usually describes something having to do with milk.
Ovo-vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or dairy, but they do consume eggs. “Ovo” means egg.
Lacto-Ovo vegetarians do not eat meat or fish, but they do consume eggs and dairy. In other words, they, like Phoebe from Friends, do not eat “anything with a face”. Daughter currently subscribes to this category of diet.
Pescaterians do not eat meat or fowl but will eat fish. This diet isn’t technically vegetarian; along with the next two categories, it is considered “semi-vegetarian.” Pesce is the Italian word for fish; piscis means fish in Latin.
Pollotarians consume poultry and fowl but not red or white meat or fish. “Pollo” is the Spanish word for chicken.
Flexitarians eat mostly plant-based foods but occasionally consume meat, fish, or fowl. It’s a flexible approach to a vegetarian diet. I could fit in this category.

This is quinoa, a complete protein grain that is a lovely addition to any vegetarian diet.

Other Vegetarian Word Nerd Facts

The term vegetarian was first coined in 1839. “Fruititarian” turned up in 1893.
In 1944, vegetarians who consume no animal or dairy products started calling themselves “vegans”.

Thanks to Merriam-Webster and Vegetarian Nation for information.

Word Nerd Workout

Did you know about these differences between vegetarians? Can you share any other interesting “diet inspired” words?

Thanks for adding to the discussion!

Awesome Young Adult Books/Book reviews/Favorite Characters/How to encourage reading/News from book business

Books Turned Into Movies for 2016

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Julia Tomiak / 3 Comments

Books have inspired many of the movies of 2016. (Of course they have, because books are awesome!) Since I’m a huge advocate of the “read the book before you see the movie” approach to life, here are some quick Word Nerd notes on upcoming films.

Upcoming Releases

Allegiant (March 18, 2016)

The last installment of the dystopian Divergent series, Allegiant wraps up the story of Tris, the Divergent heroine trying to save a world torn apart by competing factions. I haven’t read the book yet; most people I know don’t like it, mainly because of the ending (I won’t give it away) and the fact that although most of the series is in Tris’s point of view, Allegiant shifts narration between Tris and Tobias.

The trailers suggest that the film deviates significantly from the book. Although daughter, a proud member of the Divergent fandom, scoffs at the previews, when I asked if she wanted to see the movie, she said, “Heck, yeah. You can never have too much Theo James.”

I tend to agree. 😉

The Jungle Book (April 15, 2016)

According to Common Sense Media, this version of The Jungle Book is “less whimsical and musical” than Disney’s cartoon. The film combines animation and live action to present more characters and themes from Rudyard Kipling’s short story collection.

Me Before You (June 3, 2016)

I loved Me Before You, a thoughtful, bittersweet story about a paralyzed young man contemplating assisted suicide. Author Jojo Moyes does a great job of exploring the many facets of this complicated and controversial issue; I hope the movie does so as well. I’m surprised it’s targeted at teens. The main characters are in their 20s and struggling with adult issues. I’ll encourage my kids to read and discuss before they see. See my review of Me Before You.

The Girl on the Train (October 7, 2016)

This is another thriller along the lines of Gone Girl. It involves marriage, murder, and lots of lies. I didn’t like the book, mostly because of one pathetic character that dominates the narration, and I probably won’t bother with the movie, but if you’re a fan of thrillers, you might want to check it out. See my review of The Girl on the Train.

Fantastical Books and Where To Find Them (November 18, 2016)

I’ve heard rumor from my sixth grade son that J.K. Rowling has a new book out. Perhaps this is where the buzz originated. Rowling released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a textbook on beasts and dragons that Harry Potter and his peers would have read at Hogwarts. Rowling wrote a story for the film, which features Newt Scamanders, the author of the textbook, and his escapades in the secret world of magic in New York City several decades before Harry arrived at Hogwarts. Sounds like fun to me!

Already Out There

The Fifth Wave (released in January 2016)

Many people have recommended this sci-fi adventure which chronicles the aftermath of an alien invasion. I’m not big on sci-fi, but this is so popular, I think I’ll at least read the book and pass it along to my teens.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (released in February 2016)

No self-respecting Austen fan would dare to give this abomination of a movie their precious attention. The fact that the book made it to the big screen disheartens me almost as much as the fact that Donald Trump is still a front-runner in the Republican primaries.

Have you read any of these books? Do you plan to see the movies?

Thanks for sharing!

Improving vocabulary

What Is A Cabal?

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Julia Tomiak / 14 Comments

When reading a review of the latest BBC Sherlock episode, I came across a new word: cabal. I’m sure Sherlock would know this word; I’ve gotta catch up!

If you like learning new words too, visit Kathy’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme at Bermuda Onion. Bloggers share new and interesting words here; feel free to add your own post.

Here’s some context for cabal from the review:

It turns out the real culprit isn’t those meddling kids but instead a cabal with aims sympathetic to modern tastes.

Cabal \kǝ-’bal\ noun from French cabale, cabala meaning intrigue

A number of persons secretly united to bring about an overturn or usurpation, especially in public affairs
The intrigues of such a group
Synonym: plot
Verb: to unite into a cabal

Word Nerd Workout

Use cabal in a sentence. Here’s mine:

The reporter uncovered a cabal in the town council plotting to shift funds toward the development of a new shopping center that would benefit a local, politically connected businessman.

Gotta love small town politics. 😉

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!