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05/12/2004 Entry: "Books that inspire me"

I can't get any work done because there's yet another layoff rumor, but this is pretty centralized, and I think it's around one guy. I nearly snapped at him, but waited until we were alone and suggested that facts point otherwise, but that just made him claim more things. So I outright said that it's pretty irresponsible for him to start rumors based on this, and even if it were true, that he's going to make a lot of other people panic. That didn't work, and he started talking about what he'd do, data-wise, when he leaves. That's really stupid. I also have to add, if I hear one more person use the term, "Writing on the wall" again, I am going to puke.

Then Christine said her job might be in jeopardy. Again, I don't see it. Maybe it's all real, and I am a blind fool. The "writing on the wall" is in an invisible ink. Of course I have been ignoring some writing of another sort, trapped in a cocoon of day-to-day mundane living.

So much for my good mood today. I am trying to force myself to believe that God doesn't hate me, but I am under the influence of evil spirits, but I am not very good at this "lying to yourself" thing people seem to accomplish. Well, at least I can laugh for a while about it. I just wish I could honestly laugh like a drunk without a sad sigh as a chaser.

But it's not the end of the world. I saw Disney's made-for-TV-movie, A Wrinkle In Time on Monday, which was pretty good. I mean, for a made-for-TV-movie, it was pretty good. For the most part, it stuck more to the book than most TV adaptations usually do, although some rather important stuff was skipped, I am sure, to keep it from being more than 3 hours long with commercials. Christine found it gripping, and I must admit, it would have taken a lot to make me wander off. For some reason, seeing this opened up some part of me that had been closed for a while; I'm not sure how long.

"A Wrinkle in Time" was one of my most favorite books as a kid. I still have a copy, like my third copy since I wore out two other copies as a kid. This copy it also worn, but managed to live long enough until I stopped re-reading it at about age 12. I always considered the book to be less a kid's book and more like an adult book, but while I was growing up, it was marketed towards young adults. I think I read it once more when I was 21 or something, I can't recall. Watching the movie, I was surprised how much of the book came back, and how much that book influenced my thoughts towards science at a very young age. It was practically like a bible to me, not so much because of the lesson about love and good vs. evil, but more like fables that Christian kids grow to, like Adam and Eve, and Noah. There are other books that totally influenced me as a kid. Here is a list of some of them.

Abel's Island - A story about a civilized mouse stranded on an island after a flood. I really liked this book because it taught me that even under the worst circumstances, you can survive.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Classic kid's fantasy about a Lion and a broken table, although I have to admit, I never read the other 5 books in the series. I really liked the whole concept of taking a ruined world and saving it. Later, I found out this was a hidden bible lesson. Tricked!

I, Robot - I loved this classic sci-fi book because it explained logical laws, and how they could be applied to different situations. It was like a puzzle. From what I have seen of the upcoming movie, the plot is nothing like any of the stories.

The Dragonriders of Pern - Got me to love dragons and fear string in a big way. I have only read the first trilogy, although I think like a dozen or so books are out on it now.

Lizard Music - Like most of Pinkwater's kid's books, it started a protagonist who was usually a young boy left alone in bizarre circumstances. I identified a lot with them.

The Champion of Merrimack County - A cycling mouse and a bathtub. The biggest thing I got from this book was the lesson that extra burden (the cast) can make one a champion when finally lifted (the cast was removed). Proved true when I started out on my own.

The Enormous Egg - I really liked the idea of having my own dinosaur, but this book made me appreciate the terrible cost this would have.

Alice in Wonderland - And its sequel, Behind the Looking Glass, because I felt I was one of the few kid who truly understood the underlying theme of the book: grow up, the adult world makes no more sense than your own.

Higglety-pigglety pop! - Why spoiled terriers should never do theater. Because I like the bizarre. A Sadnak cult book.

The Illustrated Man - I loved a lot of Bradbury, but this and "Something Wicked This Way Comes" stick in my head as all-time favorites.

Pippi Longstocking - All of the books, because I admired a girl living on her own who didn't need anyone.

Conrad - Christine Nostlinger's book about a factory-made child (who comes from a drum) who gets sent to a grumpy lady who didn't order him. The factory realizes the mistake, but the boy decides to stay. Hilarity ensues.

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing - Made me glad I didn't have siblings. In fact, I read and loved a lot of Judy Blume's books (Blubber I liked a lot as well), but this was by far my favorite.

The Great Gilly Hopkins - Because even though I knew that cherished illusions always led to dismay, it was nice to see I wasn't alone.

Harry, the Fat Bear Spy - Both books, because damn, they were funny.

Doctor Dolittle - Because I wanted to talk to the animals, too.

How to Eat Fried Worms - gross title, but it's a book about a bunch of friends who set up a dare, and the whole thing is rather gripping.

Bunnicula: the Rabbit Tail of Mystery - Vampire bunny. Hah!

Any Encyclopedia Brown Book - Because I loved to solve a puzzle. I usually got them all right, and to this day, those skills have served me well.

Jaws - Well, I liked sharks

One last note: I saw my first cicadas today at work. Only about 5-6 of then, lazily crawling around the ground. I am betting those were the ones already hit by the swarms of starlings and geese we have on our property.

They're heeeeereee....


The Peanut Gallery responds with: 1 Comment


The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the only good thing that happened to me during a really crappy year at St. Michael's (located in Annandale VA, on Ravenworth road, fell free to spit when you drive by).

The idea of stumbling onto a secret world of adventure is just so exciting when you are a kid.

Mad props also to A Wrinkle in Time; the TV version was very "meh" in my opinion, even Kyle Secor (my secret husband) couldn't quite redeem the job the screenwriters did to the material.

I was also really into the Anastasia books by Lois Lowry. I saw a lot of myself in her; brainy and not like the girls in the Sweet Valley High books.

Lori got me into Mercedes Lackey as well; similar characters as in Madeline L'Engle and Lois Lowry of Misfit Kid Does Good.

Posted by Malle Babbe @ 05/13/2004 09:06 AM EST

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