Recent Read: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking

Ann chose to represent introverts in the public art project One & Other, where members of the public occupied a normally vacant plinth in Trafalgar Square in London. See her entire hour here.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I first heard of Susan Cain when I read some of the articles she published leading up to the release of this book. I then listened/read every interview with her I could find. She was everywhere--Time Magazine, NY Times, NPR, and local papers everywhere. The book debuted at #4 on the NYTimes bestseller list.

Every time I read something of hers, like an article in the Toronto Globe & Mail entitled, "Giving Introverts Permission to Be Themselves," I found myself saying, "Yes!" and "Thank you!" I answered yes on almost every question of her introvert quiz, and was determined to be a "strong introvert."

I waited months to get the book from the library, and then only got halfway through before I had to return it so it could go to the next person. I waited for it to come out on paperback and reread the whole thing, pencil in hand to mark it up.

It feels like an exaggeration, but my instant reaction to it is that it's been life-changing. Thank you, Susan Cain. It's both validation and understanding of my personality and who I am.

Cain starts with a little history, explaining how our society transitioned from a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality, where extroversion came to rule and become the ideal. Often citing examples of significant people in history who were introverts, she discusses introversion (and extroversion) in business, culture, child-rearing, teaching, and relationships. She delves into the science and psychology of it as well. It was fascinating, useful, illuminating.

"Introversion--along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness--is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living under the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man's world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are. Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform." 

-Susan Cain, Quiet

Also, her website is a great resource for introverts.

Laura Marling

New album May 28

 

beautiful, as always

Picture This: King Jack and the Dragon

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently & Helen Oxenbury

King Jack and his knights spend the afternoon building a castle, and then battling to protect it from dragons and beasts. But then giants come to take away Sir Zack and Casper, leaving King Jack alone in his castle to face the creatures in the night all by himself.

This ode to make believe is sweet and funny, with a classic, old fashioned feel both in text and illustration. Bently's text rhymes wonderfully, and contains little moments of humor. Oxenbury switched between black and white sketches and full (yet muted) color.

Franz

Photo by Andrew Youssef via Stereogum

I spent last night at a fabulous Franz Ferdinand concert. They're definitely one of my favorite live acts, and of the four concerts of theirs I've been to, this is in the top two (it's hard to say whether this one or Royal Albert Hall was better). It's impossible not to move with their music. It was a relatively small venue, and the crowd had fabulous energy (they/we were obviously passionate about Franz Ferdinand). There was lots of dancing and jumping and singing along. And Franz themselves were in fine form. They sounded great. There were moments of improvising and riffs. And then there's Alex's personality--kicks and dramatic faces and dancing that make me smile. They played a lot of songs I've never heard before, which I'm guessing will be on their forthcoming album. (and I'm assuming they'll be back to promote it!) It's not always fun to hear songs you don't know, but I liked every new song I heard. During Take Me Out, the whole crowd was stomping, jumping so that you felt the beats of the song reverberate through your body. Also, opening act the Palma Violets weren't bad.

Take Me Out


Take Me Out with a view of the audience


Can't Stop Feeling & Outsiders, complete with drum orgy


This Fire (which ruins the album version b/c it will never live up to the speed and intensity of the live version)



I love them so much.

Recent Read: The Unfortunate Son

Set in 16th century France, this story is about Luc, a boy born with only one ear. His father rejects him, as do many others who see his deformity. But when he meets a fisherman named Pons and his sister and niece, Luc is embraced and loved as part of the family. He's gifted at fishing and becomes an apprentice. But his happiness is short lived. At sea one day, a ship of pirates kidnap Luc and sell him as a slave in North Africa. Villagers think of the boy as terribly unlucky--one ear, a drunkard father, stolen by pirates--but Pons always called Luc his good-luck boy. Will Luc survive and overcome the misfortune that's befallen him, or will his life prove unlucky as the villagers say?

The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds was wonderful. The writing is top-notch. The historical setting is meticulously researched, and Leeds gives the reader an interesting look into 16th century France. But it's not an exciting swashbuckling tale, as the kidnapped-by-pirates part might suggest. He doesn't even get kidnapped until almost 100 pages in. That's not to say that it's boring. There's a little bit of a mystery involving Luc's parentage, there's the hope/effort to reunite Luc with his adopted fisherman family, there's the quest for survival in a new place as a slave, etc. Leeds creates meaningful relationships with fully fleshed-out characters. I became invested in these people and their stories--I didn't want to say goodbye. I also loved the themes Leeds delved into (and how she addressed them)--destiny, luck, attitude, perception, as well as forgiveness. Does Luc's ear make him lucky or unlucky? Is Luc's fortune determined by exterior circumstances or his own attitudes and decisions?

(There is a mention of eunuchs--it's for a purpose, but I would imagine that some parents would not want to explain the what and why to their children.)

Picture This: The Day Louis Got Eaten

The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell

Louis and his sister Sarah are in the woods when Louis is eaten by a Gulper! Sarah goes after the Gulper to save her brother, but as soon as she's reached the Gulper, it's eaten up by a Grabular. We soon learn that there are many hungry creatures around. Will Sarah ever be able to get her brother back?

This was a fun one. The Gulper swallows Louis, a Grabular swallows the Gulper, an Undersnatch eats the Grabular, a Spiney-backed Guzzler downs the Grabular, etc. until there's a bit of a Russian doll situation. Each creature is distinct--one comes from the sky, one from the sea, one from the desert, another from the mountains, and they all look goofy rather than scary, adding to the humor. Readers can watch as Sarah turns her bike and some sticks into the various vehicles she needs to traverse these landscapes, including an underwater bike with a breathing tube that goes to the surface. Fardell uses repetition effectively, increasing the humor. The conclusion (rescue) is funny and unexpected. On a second reading, you can see that each monster is slightly visible in its approach before it's revealed. Funny, entertaining, creative, and plenty of details make for a lovable book.

from The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell

from The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell

from The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell

Picture This: Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert

Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert

by Gary D. Schmidt, illustrated by David Diaz

Martin de Porres grew up in the barrios of Lima, Peru. With an African slave for a mother, and a Spanish conqueror for a father, he was often disapproved of. But at the age of 8, his father retrieved Martin and his sister to be educated in Ecuador. Disapproval followed him to Ecuador and in Lima as he became apprentice to a doctor. When Martin wanted to join the Dominican Order, he was told he could never be a priest because of his impure blood. So instead, Martin offered to work as a servant. Despite the condemnation of so many, he became known for his healing abilities, his kindness, and his humility. People and animals came to be cared for by him. He was eventually welcomed into the Dominican Order, and he became known as the rose in the desert.

This book was beautiful in story, message, prose, and  illustration. It's no wonder it won the Pura Belpre Illustrator award. The story is incredible--a mulatto boy overcoming racism, class, and poverty through humility, service and goodness--all in the 1600s. Gary Schmidt has written a beautiful, poetic text to convey this story. I knew I was in for something special with the personification of hunger and illness ("Hunger lived in their home. Illness was their companion") The repetition also has a very poetic feel to it (frowning, disapproving people, the phrase "who is this strange boy"). And yet despite whatever troubles may have ailed Martin, Schmidt maintains a tone of peace and optimism.

Then there are the illustrations. So beautiful. They're rich and saturated with color. With dark outlines, and sometimes panel-like shapes, many of the illustrations have a stained-glass quality to them. A number of pages feature motifs reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts. The backgrounds are textured and weathered like frescoes or the stone walls of a church. The renditions of Martin himself depict his sensitivity and a harmony with his surroundings. Highly recommended.

I'll be adding this to my list of the best picture books of 2012.

Illustration by David Diaz, from Martin de Pores: A Rose in the Dessert

Illustration by David Diaz, from Martin de Pores: A Rose in the Dessert

Illustration by David Diaz, from Martin de Pores: A Rose in the Dessert