Diary of a Word Nerd

Vocabulary from Gone Girl: Apotheosis

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Julia Tomiak / 10 Comments

Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday! Visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion to learn more cool words or share some of your own.

I’ve got one more word from Gone Girl. Amy, one of the main characters, is wicked smart (and I mean wicked); she’s sent me to the dictionary several times.

Here’s the snippet from Gone Girl. Amy is watching a TV talk show about herself:

The show gets underway, and I feel a bit better. It is the apotheosis of Amy.

apotheosis \ə-pä-thē-ō-səs, a-pə-thē-ə-səs\ noun; from Greek apo + theos god; elevation to divine status; the perfect example of something

For example,

During her interview, Missy Franklin appeared as the apotheosis of good sportsmanship.

Gone Girl, a literary apotheosis of the domestic thriller, rushed to the top of the best seller list and will come out as a movie later this year.

Word Nerd Workout

Use apotheosis in a sentence. What is the perfect example of a spring day? a sci-fi story? high school?

Thanks for getting nerdy with me!

Click the link and spread the word on Twitter: #Vocab from #GoneGirl: apotheosis = the perfect example of something, via @juliatomiak

Julia

How to encourage reading

Why We Should Be Generous With Books

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Julia Tomiak / 11 Comments

My personal library; awesome for organization

I have a confession: sometimes I’m possessive with my stuff. Including books.

I used to blame it on “the only child” syndrome.

I’ve always handed over a favorite book with hesitation. What if I never see it again? A few years ago, a friend gave me a personal library set. Using tools from this set, I put my name in all of my books and kept records of who had which novel from my collection.

If I didn’t see a book for a few months, I started asking questions.

But during Lent this year I realized the fault of my ways.

Awareness struck me while I was on the dreadmill, listening to Michael Hyatt’s podcast about finding margin . Michael said that many people make decisions out of fear that they might lose something, miss out, or be judged. He referenced the scarcity mentality, first introduced by Dr. Stephen Covey in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

I paused the treadmill and the podcast as I realized with horror: I had a scarcity mentality.

Twenty years ago, I read The Seven Habits. I was newly married, my Master’s Degree hung on the wall, and I thought I had it all figured out. I read Dr. Covey’s explanation of “the scarcity mentality” and thought, with scorn, of several people I knew who fit this description:

They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else. The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life.

It took two decades for me to understand that I have suffered from a limited view of the world for a long time, and in many facets of my life. It’s an anxious way to live, thinking that there isn’t enough. My possessive tendencies filled me with worry, not joy.

Thanks to Mr. Hyatt and Dr. Covey, I’m done with scarcity. This revelation has changed my perspective on parenthood, marriage, and friendships, but I’ll keep my thoughts here focused on the word nerdy realm.

Now, when fretful thoughts creep up, I remind myself that I already have or can obtain everything I need accomplish my goals. And one thing I love to do is help people find interesting things to read. I can’t do that clutching selfishly to my books.

Therefore, I’m embracing a generous literary spirit. If I can find great books to give as gifts, I’ll spend the money to do so. If I’ve got books on the shelf I haven’t touched in years, I’ll donate them to the library. I’ll hand out my beloved copy of The Help without reservation. Because encouraging people to read is more important than preserving my book collection.

Book lovers shouldn’t hoard books; we should share them.

We live in a world where Minecraft, Net Flicks, and six second videos pull attention away from books. While those forms of entertainment are ok in moderation (see, that’s the abundance talking- there’s plenty for everyone), books deserve love, too. And the best way I can spread that love is with an open hand.

How do you feel about sharing your books?

Thanks for sharing!

Julia

Click to Tweet: #Booklovers: It’s better to share #books than hoard them, via @juliatomiak

Improving vocabulary

Vocabulary from Gone Girl: Wastrel

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Julia Tomiak / 6 Comments

Do you care enough to look up words when you don’t know what they mean? Then you’re in the right place! Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a great meme for word nerds hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion.
I’ve got another word from Gone Girl. In this quote, one of the main characters, Nick, describes how he looked at a press conference:

The booze floating, sludgelike, just beneath the surface of my skin made me look like a fleshy wastrel, just sensuous enough to be disreputable.

wastrel \’wās-trēl\ noun from an irregular form of waste; one who expends resources foolishly and self-indulgently; one who wastes time, money, etc.

Word Nerd Workout

Have you ever known a wastrel? Tell us about him or her in a sentence. Fortunately, my only experience with wastrels has been through fiction. Here’s my sentence:

I shuddered at the story of the young man who wasted all of his money on alcohol and gambling and hoped that my son would never be such a wastrel.

Spread the word on Twitter: wastrel = one who wastes time, money, via @juliatomiak

Thanks for getting nerdy with me!

Julia

Awesome Young Adult Books/How to encourage reading/Recommended kid lit

Great Reading Suggestions from Children’s Book Week

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

Often when I pull into the school parking lot, my boys are waiting in the parent pick-up line with faces buried in books. This word nerd swells with pride. Shortly after, I yell through the minivan window for them to stop reading so that we don’t slow down the line of anxious mamas behind us.

Once we’re out of the line, I can smile again. My kids love reading. I wish all kids did. Because I believe:

If we’re going have a strong country, we must be wise, informed, and critical.

We must read.

Next week, May 12-17 2014, Every Child a Reader will launch the 95th annual Children’s Book Week, a yearly celebration to promote literacy.

There are events planned in all 50 states for CBW 2014, but my favorite part of the week is the Children’s Choice Book Awards. The only people who get to vote for these awards are kids, which makes these awards meaningful for young readers.

Of course, I don’t get to vote, but I do love the list of nominees for the awards; it gives me great ideas for the children’s “To Read” list, especially with summer coming. And if you are a kid, or have kids interested in voting, please visit the Children’s Choice site by May 12. The set up is cool this year, with a fun, interactive cartoon setting.

Here are the nominees for 2014:

K-2nd Grade

Alphabet Trucks, by Samantha R. Vamos; illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke
Chamelia and the New Kid in Class, by Ethan Long
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (this book was also a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee)
Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos; illustrated by Joy Ang
Bear and Bee by Sergio Ruzzier

3rd-4th Grade

Bean Dog and Nugget: The Ball by Charise Mericle Harper
Cougar: A Cat with Many Names by Stephen Person
The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh
Bugs in My Hair! by David Shannon

5th-6th Grade

Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli
National Geographic Kids Myths Busted! by Emily Krieger; illustrated by Tom Nick Cocotos
Prince Puggly of Spud by Robert Paul Weston
Lawless: Book 1 by Jeffery Salane
Battling Boy by Paul Pope

Teens

E & P won the YA category on both the Goodreads list and the NPR list

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Smoke by Ellen Hopkins
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Most of these titles are new to me. What I have heard about Allegiant has been mixed to unsatisfactory, but I will probably read it this summer. (If I keep my expectations low, perhaps I won’t be disappointed.) I listened to the audiobook of Eleanor and Park and highly recommend it.

Have you read any of these books? How can you celebrate Children’s Book Week?

Perhaps I’ll buy a few of these and leave them as presents on the breakfast table next week. More books for the parent pick up line!

Julia

Spread the word on Twitter: Great reading suggestions from Children’s Book Week via @juliatomiak. #CBW14 #amreading

Improving vocabulary

Vocabulary from Gone Girl: Misogynistic

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Julia Tomiak / 9 Comments

Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion. Visit Kathy’s blog for links to more word nerdy words.

I’m finally reading Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, and I’m intrigued. I love how Flynn uses alternating points of view to build tension between the husband and wife in this “marriage gone wrong” thriller. The opening line, from the POV of husband Nick, disturbed me:

When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.

Sounds like a murderer to me, but maybe that’s what Flynn wants me to think. I’ll have to read on and find out!

Here’s Nick again, speaking about his father’s Alzheimer’s:

… a slow decline into a sudden, steep drop that forced us to move our independent, misogynistic father to a giant home that stank of chicken broth and piss, where he’d be surrounded by women helping him at all times. Ha.

Great description, no? I had to look up misogynistic, but should have guessed at the meaning from the root gyn.

misogyny \mə-‘sä-jə-nē\ noun, from Greek misogynia, from misein to hate + gynē women; a hatred of women

Word Nerd Workout

Can you think of a misogynistic character, fictional or real? Tell us about him/her in the comments!

Thanks for getting nerdy with me!

Julia

Click to spread the word on Twitter: Vocab from #GoneGirl: misogynistic = hating women via @juliatomiak

Book reviews/How to encourage reading

Five Books to Give for Mother’s Day

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Julia Tomiak / 12 Comments

A beloved mom deserves something special for Mother’s Day. Give her a gift that will stimulate her brain and make her smile: a book, of course! But which one? I’ve invited some of my favorite blogging buddies to share micro-reviews of perfect books to give for Mother’s Day.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Review by Amy Makechnie of Maisymak

Have you heard? We’re not supposed to call girls “bossy” anymore. This idea comes from Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandburg. Examining women’s progress in leadership, Lean In has great ideas like “sit at the table,” and “ask!” Sheryl is the COO for Facebook, a mother of two, and writes about her leaning in to education and careers instead backing away out of fear or the unknown future regarding children and marriage.

Strangely enough, I enjoyed this book immensely even though I am a stay-at-home mom and believe the best work women will ever do is within the walls of our own home. Lean In doesn’t exactly champion full-time motherhood, yet I felt more empowered to LEAN IN to my job as a full-time mother AND take opportunities to impact the greater world. Told in a personal, warm style, I found myself relating to, and greatly admiring the brilliant Sandberg.

P.S. Sometimes I still need to tell my girls to stop being bossy. Bossy is a gift 🙂

Deliberate Motherhood and Motherhood Realized from Power of Moms

Review by Amy Makechnie of Maisymak.

Power of Moms was created as a gathering place for deliberate mothers, and it’s not a site featuring the most amazing crafts you’ll never be able to make. Rather, the entire focus is on our potential as women doing “the hardest job we’ll ever love.” The first published book, Deliberate Motherhood, is authored by over 60 mothers who write about 12 core values such as joy, peace, and love. The follow-up book, Motherhood Realized is another fantastic compilation and features one of my favorite motherhood writers, Katrina Kenison. Great gifts for any woman, Motherhood Realized just hit #1 in Motherhood and #1 in Parenthood on Amazon. The best thing about reading both of these books? Peace and empowerment.

Suburban Haiku: Poetic Dispatches from Behind the Picket Fence by Peyton Price

Review by Dana Hemelt of Kiss My List

Suburban Haiku is Peyton Price’s take on suburban parenthood. On the outside, this book is adorable – perfect for an ottoman or coffee table. On the inside, the humor and wit had me giggling and nodding as I read it in one sitting. I could have written many of these haikus (because I can relate, not because I have poetic talent), but they will amuse any reader regardless of age, gender, or suburban-ness.

I interviewed Peyton about her book, completely in the form of haikus. Here’s a snippet:

Me:
What inspires you
To write these little ditties
And why choose haikus?

Peyton:
People talk too much
about ridiculous things.
This is my revenge.

And one of my favorites from the book:

I do feel better
after those thirty crunches.
Chips are delicious.
-Suburban Haiku, page 25

The Mother of All Meltdowns by A Bunch of Hot Mamas Losing Their Cool

Review by Nicole Goodman of Work In Sweats Mama

Hey mama. Are you carrying around a suitcase of mommy guilt in excess of the carry-on limit?

It’s time to lighten your load with hilarious, heartwarming, and heroic tales of motherhood from 30 mama bloggers and writers in The Mother of All Meltdowns. You’ll laugh until you cry. And maybe pee yourself a little bit.

But, more importantly, you’ll realize no mother is perfect, and pinterest-perfect moments pale in comparison to the silver linings found in every inevitable meltdown.

So, mamas, grandmamas, mamas-to-be, and everyone who knows a fabulous mama, grab a glass of wine, a bar of chocolate, or the biggest Fountain Coke on the planet and indulge in a little motherly mayhem.

Also, the Kindle version is only $0.99 through Mother’s Day!

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Review by The Word Nerd (me!)

When I read the first page of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, I burst out laughing, but Semple offers more than humor in this clever novel. Years ago, Bernadette Fox earned respect and admiration in world of architecture. But somewhere in the midst of marriage and motherhood, Bernadette has disappeared- literally and figuratively.

Her loving daughter Bee sets out to find her, collecting emails and letters as clues. (And making a large chunk of the book epistolary- or written in letters- a refreshing format.) Bernadette’s agoraphobia and wit give her the most unique and compelling voice I’ve read in awhile, and I missed her when she disappeared. A must read!

[Word Nerd Note: agoraphobia = abnormal fear of being helpless in an embarrassing or unescapable situation that leads to the avoidance of open or public places]

I hope this helps you find a great book to give (maybe even to yourself!)

Have you read any of these and do you have any books to add to my recommendations?

Thanks!

Julia

Tweetable: Mother’s Day gift ideas from the word nerd, @juliatomiak. Five great books to give!