Diary of a Word Nerd

Awesome Young Adult Books/Book reviews/Favorite Authors/Favorite Characters

Why You Should Read Paper Towns

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

Paper Towns the movie opens next week! Of course I’ve read the book, and I’m giving you the scoop on what you need to know before you see the movie.

Word Nerd Note: Any true Word Nerd would read the novel before seeing the film. 😉

Paper Towns is my second favorite John Green novel, after The Fault In Our Stars. In Paper Towns, Green uses his unique style ( a combination of humor, brutal honesty, and quirky characters) to explore an essential teenage question: what is the difference between the person we present to the world and the person we really are?

Green found a cool metaphor for this question. During road trips with his brother Hank (fellow YouTuber, podcaster, and Nerd Fighter), John Green discovered the phenomenon of “Paper Towns” – towns that exist only on maps to prevent plagiarism among map makers. They are destinations that don’t really exist… kinda like those people we pretend to be…

I know. Awesomeness. This is why Mr. Green has many, many adoring fans.

The Premise of Paper Towns

Quentin (”Q”) lives in Orlando, FL. Both of his parents are psychologists, so he’s extremely well-adjusted. His neighbor, the elusive and exciting Margo Roth Speigleman, is not. She organizes neighborhood TP raids and hangs out backstage after concerts. And she has a thing about running away. When Q thinks she has disappeared for real, he’s determined to find her.

Paper Towns is divided into three parts, or more accurately, three journeys.

In the first, Margo enlists Q’s help to exact revenge on the people who have wronged her. The hilarious middle of the night adventure includes raw fish and candid photos.
The next morning, Margo disappears.
In the second, Q searches for Margo, using clues he believes she left for him. Whitman’s Leaves of Grass plays a major role here. This section is slow and cerebral.
In the third, Q and his friends set out in Q’s brand new minivan (a gift from his parents) to search for Margo. More than once while reading this part, I earned a “raised eyebrow” look from my husband while I giggled at Green’s humor.

What I like about Paper Towns

As usual, I love Green’s balance between humor and depth. He can make readers laugh out loud and still ponder the deeper side of life and relationships.
The literary references. Everyone should read Leaves of Grass as a Paper Towns companion. Yeah for poetry.
Q is a nerdy, but compelling, lead, my third favorite John Green character after Hazel and Gus.

What I don’t like

The middle section dragged for me. There’s a lot of Q searching empty warehouses and finding nothing.
Q’s friend Ben is a bit of a dork and likes to call girls “Honey Bunnies”. Although this has been sited as an excellent example of John Green’s ability to write unique voice, I can’t imagine any 16 year old boy using the term Honey Bunnies. Can you?

Recommendation

Paper Towns is thoughtful and funny YA fiction, a good entry into John Green for YA readers. The content is fairly tame (drinking and references to sex – often beer is present but the characters choose not to drink it), and the themes less dark and deep compared to TFIOS and Looking for Alaska.

I’m curious to see how Paper Towns will translate to the big screen. It’s quiet compared to Jurassic World or Mad Max. Perhaps the producers will capitalize on the “journeys” of the story and ramp things up in the middle. It opens July 24, 2015; my teens and I will be there!

Have you read Paper Towns? What did you think? Do you plan on seeing the movie? Why or why not?

Word Nerd Note: We saw the movie; it sticks close to the book. We laughed often as the script captures much of Green’s humor. The characters look and act like real teenagers, refreshingly unlike the polished perfection depicted in some films and on The Disney Channel. I recommend. The soundtrack is pretty cool too, but I’m a sucker for soundtracks.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia

Improving vocabulary

Are Coriander and Cilantro the Same Thing?

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 11 Comments

Cilantro 2 — Beautiful green cilantro leaves

It was early morning, and my friend Don prepared a lovely egg sandwich for his wife before we set out on our six-hour drive to the Adirondacks. Don seasoned the sandwich with Trader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce and chopped green leaves that smelled like cilantro, although the sticker on the herb bag said “coriander”.

“Are coriander and cilantro the same thing?” I asked him. Don knows everything; trust me, you never want to challenge him to a game of Trivial Pursuit. And lately, he’s gotten serious about cooking.

“I think so. It smells like it, and I can’t find anything labeled “cilantro” at the store. You should blog about it.”

Well Don, here you go. And, not a surprise, you were right. 😉

This isn’t a cooking blog, but the cilantro mystery intrigued me. To learn more interesting words, join Kathy’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, where bloggers share new words they’ve learned or favorites they enjoy.

The deal with coriander and cilantro

In short, coriander and cilantro are the same thing. Cilantro, also called Chinese or Mexican parsley, refers to the leaves of the coriander plant when it’s in its early or vegetative state. Once the plant flowers and grows seeds, it’s called coriander. Coriander is good in curries, soups, and stews. I love to use cilantro in salsa, salad, and Asian recipes. Unfortunately, I’m the only one in the house who likes it.

I’ve struggled with growing and storing cilantro. Here are some helpful tips for doing both.

To grow cilantro

Cilantro plants will bolt and go to seed in temperatures above 75 degrees F. (this has always been my problem) For best results:

Grow in cool but sunny conditions
Keep it shaded during the hottest part of the day
Prune frequently
Replant every six weeks; it’s a short-lived herb and will bolt even with frequent pruning

That sounds like too much work for me. On to better storage!

Storing tips

Choose a bunch with green, aromatic leaves
Pick out any wilted leaves
Put stems in a jar with water, like flowers
Cover leaves with plastic bag
Put jar in the fridge
Change water every two days and pick out wilted leaves

Whew, that’s kinda high maintenance as well, but I love my cilantro, so I’ll give it a try.

Thanks to whatscookingamerica.net and gardeningknowhow.com for the helpful info.

Word Nerd Workout

What interesting foodie word can you share? Any helpful food storage tips?

Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Julia

Improving grammar/Improving vocabulary/Recommended kid lit

Mindware: Activities to Stimulate Your Brain

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 2 Comments

It’s summertime, which means, in our part of the country, that kids have a few months off from school. But that doesn’t mean their brains have to rot.

Well, at least in my family it doesn’t.

Can I tell you how much I hate “the B word”? You know what I’m talking about… the one that starts with B and ends with D and implies that a child has nothing to do.

Here’s a passage from one of my favorite novels, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple:

Bernadette and I were driving Bee and a friend, both preschoolers, to a birthday party. There was traffic. Grace said, “I’m bored.”
“Yeah,” Bee mimicked. “I’m bored.”
Bernadette pulled the car over, took off her seatbelt, and turned around. “That’s right,” she told the girls. “You’re bored. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret about life. You think it’s boring now? Well it only gets more boring. The sooner you learn it’s on you to make life interesting, the better off you’ll be.

Go Bernadette! Nailed it!

To prevent “the B word” from contaminating my house this summer, I just ordered several books and activities from Mindware.com, a site with “brainy toys for kids of all ages”. The stuff at Mindware encourages kids to think logically and problem solve, something that, unfortunately, they don’t always do even within the school year. (I could rant about standardized tests and regurgitation here, but I won’t. Or did I?)

I don’t want busy work; I’m looking for things to keep their minds sharp. At Mindware, I can find games and puzzles to challenge each of my kids, aged 8 to 15. We’ve used Mindware products for years, and here are some of our favorites:

Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits – kids build electric circuits with child friendly parts. Teaches physics basics. Can be noisy-watch out for the alarm project!
Zoob Building Sets– an alternative to the ever-present Lego blocks. Zoob pieces fit together as ball and socket joints, which encourages a different approach to building.
Make Your Own Mask Kit– comes with mask forms and art supplies to create 10 masks. Promotes creativity, imagination, and drama. My daughter loved this during her “mustache phase”.
Wind Power Kit- Two of my boys used this kit to build their own wind turbine and learn about wind power. One turbine entered the science fair!
Tin Can Robot Kit – Turn an old soda can into a robot!
Q-Bitz – a game that works on pattern recognition and memory.
Puzzle books, leveled for various abilities. Myfavs:
- Analogy Challenges
- Word Roots
- Perplexors
- Venn Diagram Perplexors
- Multiplication Mosaics
- Addition Adventures
- Coin Clues: Making Change – because my kids shouldn’t need a calculator or cash register to do basic arithmetic

Do any of these sound fun to you? Hope so!

The weather forecast for our vacation looks a bit damp. Better pack up some puzzles and workbooks.

Word Nerd Note: Mindware didn’t pay me to write this post. I genuinely enjoy their products and wanted to share a nerdy tip. You can find a lot of these items at Amazon or other sites at cheaper prices, but I like using the catalog and the site to get ideas.

Where do you go to find books and activities to stimulate your brain and the brains of those you love?

Thanks for sharing!

Julia

Improving vocabulary

Does Yogurt Really Mean “Long Life”?

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

I recently found a display at my local “self-serve yogurt store” that intrigued me. Yes, I took a picture. Yes, my kids cringed with mortification.

I love yogurt, frozen or otherwise, and I had to know if one of my favorite snacks truly meant “longevity”.

Origin of yogurt

Yogurt: noun, from Turkish yogurt, meaning a tart, thick milk, from the Old Turkish root “yog” which meant to condense or intensify (BonAppetit.com)

Most scholars believe that yogurt has been around a long time… like 8000 years. Way back then, when herdsman in Central Asia milked their animals, the enzymes from the storage containers (animal stomachs) curdled and thickened the milk. The new food gained popularity because it stored well and tasted good.

Although I couldn’t find any evidence that the word itself means “long life”, Dairygoodness.ca and DownToEarth.Danone.com state that yogurt has long been associated with longevity and good health, and several studies support this.

Currently, yogurt is made by adding lactic bacteria to milk and warming it. The bacteria convert milk sugar (lactose) to lactic acid, which thickens the milk and gives it tart flavor.

Have you tried Greek yogurt? It’s made by fermenting milk and straining out the whey to create a product that is thicker and higher in protein. Greek yogurt holds up to heating well and is best for cooking.

I like Chobani Greek yogurt because Chobani sticks to the traditional method of straining, whereas some other companies make their yogurt “Greek” by adding starch and milk protein concentrate to thicken the product. This NPR piece explains the difference between the two methods of creating Greek yogurt.

Word Nerd Workout

What’s your favorite snack that comes from a foreign word? What’s your favorite yogurt?

I like making Overnight Oatmeal Yogurt Cups for breakfast. They are super easy:

1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup oatmeal
2 tsp sweetener (honey, brown sugar, etc)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp chia seeds
1/2 cup fruit (can be frozen)

Combine yogurt through seeds in a jar; shake. Mix in fruit and top with a teaspoon of oatmeal. Let sit overnight. Can store three days in the fridge.

Whew, all this food talk is making me hungry! Thank you to Dairygoodness.ca and DownToEarth.Danone.com for valuable yogurt info.

If you like to learn about words and word origins, join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme with Kathy at Bermuda Onion.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!

Julia

Book reviews/How to encourage reading/Improving grammar/News from book business/Words and Technology

Word Nerd’s Top Ten Favorite Podcasts

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

I’m in the “shuttle years” of parenthood- meaning, I spend an inordinate amount of time in the minivan delivering children to various activities. To keep my brain stimulated while adding miles to the Odyssey, I listen to podcasts. They’re also great for road trips. Since summer is the season of travel, I’d like to share my favorites with you.

Some emphasize “words” and include book reviews, writing tips, and bookish news. Others focus on “nerdiness”, with conversations about responsible use of technology and thoughtful commentary on life in general.

Wordy Podcasts

Books on the Nightstand Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness work in the publishing industry and share their thoughts on all things books. They recommend great reads and discuss things like “Why do some people like dark books?” and “Favorite books within books”. For summer, they are running a Book Bingo game that challenges listeners to read a variety of books. A must for all book lovers!
Helping Writers Become Authors K.M. Weiland is a published author who shares her expertise on writing. Tune in to learn about character development, outlining, or common writing mistakes. Last year she ran an excellent series on character arc that helped me with my novel revision.
The Narrative Breakdown Cheryl Klein is an editor who likes kid lit, among other genres, and James Monahan works in film. Together, they analyze topics like story structure and what makes a good character flaw. I’ve enjoyed many episodes, including interviews with YA authors Rainbow Rowell and E. Lockhart.
Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty packages her quick and dirty grammar tips into podcasts of 15 minutes or less. Sometimes she goes into extensive detail about word origins and the rules of grammar, more than my brain can handle in between soccer training and art class. But still, she has taught me a lot, especially a humble respect for the changing nature of language and the need to foster an attitude of open mindedness instead of prescriptivism.
Writing Excuses This podcast, hosted by a team of published authors including Brandon Sanderson, usually runs fifteen minutes. With humor and brevity, the hosts tackle important writing principles. Best of all, they encourage you to stop making excuses and start writing.

Nerdy Podcasts

Note To Self (formerly New Tech City) Manoush Zomorodi explores the impact of technology on our lives and helps listeners find balance in the digital age. I especially like listening to this one with the kids in the van; it sparks interesting discussion. Episode topics include how much screen time is appropriate for kids, talking to teens about tech, and the importance of spending time away from your phone to foster creativity. I’m not a huge tech geek, but I want to use technology in a thoughtful way, and Note To Self helps me do that.
The TED Radio Hour (Do you know what TED stands for? Technology, Entertainment, Design) In each episode, Guy Raz takes snippets from several TED talks and lumps them under one topic. For example, in “Framing the Story”, he included talks by a movie producer, an author, and a book cover designer. The variety of speakers keeps the episodes interesting and inspiring. I like listening to the TED Radio Hour while I run.
The Portfolio Life Author Jeff Goins believes that you don’t have to do just one thing with your life, but you should love what you do. He says it’s okay to be a mother and a writer and a photographer and a fitness expert. This concept of “A Portfolio Life” validates my existence. Jeff offers helpful tips for managing time and fostering creativity.
This is Your Life Michael Hyatt, a friend of Jeff Goins, is an entrepreneur who helps people with life goals and leadership. I don’t work in the business world, so not all topics apply, but usually Michael has something thoughtful and helpful to say about time management, personal interactions, and goal setting. Like this:

You must schedule the important things so they don’t get crowded out by the urgent things.

5. Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me Peter Sagal hosts this hilarious news quiz, my go-to podcast when I’m feeling sleepy on long car trips. I get to laugh and review current events at the same time! Note: this one isn’t always appropriate for the kids.

Do you listen to podcasts? What are your favorites?

Improving vocabulary/Recommended kid lit/Words and Technology

What Does Unctuous Mean?

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

One of my favorite podcasts is Note to Self (formerly known as New Tech City), a show that explores how technology affects our lives. In a recent episode, host Manoush Zomorodi used a recipe generator app to cook lunch with random items from her kitchen. The app suggested that she saute brussels sprouts with avocado. (Have you ever COOKED avocado before? Me either!) With heating, the avocado covered the brussels sprouts with a coating described as “unctuous”.

I had to look that one up!

To learn more interesting words, join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion.

Unctuous is an interesting word with multiple meanings.

Unctuous \’ǝn(k)-chǝ-wǝs\ adjective from Latin unctus, “act of anointing”

Fatty, oily
Smooth and greasy in texture
Plastic
Revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness

In Note to Self, the fatty or smooth and greasy meaning was implied. However, I know I’ve heard the “smug” connotation of the word as well.

Word Nerd Workout

Think of a synonym for unctuous. I’m going with insincere.

Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.

Nooks and Crannies Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the blog to enter the giveaway for Jessica Lawson’s new kidlit novel, Nooks and Crannies. I have to tell you, I got this for my 11-year-old son to read for a road trip, and he loved this mystery.
And the winner is…

Debbie Rodgers

Debbie, Jessica will be in touch soon to get details for mailing your copy of Nooks and Crannies.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today! Come back on Friday to learn more about Note to Self and my other favorite podcasts.

Julia