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Mysterious Thelonius
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From: Karen Breen <KarenBreen>
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:25:43 -0400
Well, I guess it's time for me to jump in again. Let's just think for a minute what it was like trying to describe _Mysterious Thelonius_ to all of those folks who don't have a lot of money to buy books and weren't going to see it. I reviewed it for School Library Journal and after the disaster of the review for Charlie Parker, I was so worried that someone would miss the genius of this book that I practically threatened the editors to find the right person. And then, oh my goodness, it was mine to describe. How to convey the pattern, the images, the clever use of matching tones to color? Talk about a late review. And, as a passionate supporter of Chris' work, I didn't want to screw it up for the buyers or for Chris. On the other hand, I had to make sure that people were not so mystified by this approach to jazz that they would not buy the book. Then they couldn't see for themselves. Most of my reviewing is for an entirely different audience than those we've been discussing. I write a book review column for parents. So, instead of writing for my peers, I'm writing for folks who really don't have a grounding in the literature. In those columns, I usually write around a theme: fear, starting school, adoption, American history, etc. And I'm given the freedom to wax on as long as I like...sort of like this letter. But, I've gotten some really good practice writing for these folks who need someone to bring them up to speed. And that's how I approached _Mysterious Thelonius_, only on a slightly more familiar level. I knew that I could assume a lot more from the audience than I could when writing for parents. At the same time, I had to "explain" that Thelonius had been accused by his fellow musicians of playing "wrong" notes. And that the notes on the page pretty much followed the music of the tune Misterioso, a tune full of what one might consider "wrong notes". Different lessons for different folks. All of this is to say that, for me, the best picture book reviews teach me something about the book. Even if it's only how the illustrator has connected to the writer. None of us knows everything. We need the space and the knowledge to fully examine the work that has taken everyone so long to produce. Okay, I'm climbing down off my soap box. Back to lurking and loving this discussion. PS I also threatened the editors about the star. It got one, but it didn't make it to the "best" list at the end of the year.
Karen Breen New Visions for Public Schools
"If you haven't got it in your soul, it won't come out of your horn"
Received on Tue 15 Sep 1998 07:25:43 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:25:43 -0400
Well, I guess it's time for me to jump in again. Let's just think for a minute what it was like trying to describe _Mysterious Thelonius_ to all of those folks who don't have a lot of money to buy books and weren't going to see it. I reviewed it for School Library Journal and after the disaster of the review for Charlie Parker, I was so worried that someone would miss the genius of this book that I practically threatened the editors to find the right person. And then, oh my goodness, it was mine to describe. How to convey the pattern, the images, the clever use of matching tones to color? Talk about a late review. And, as a passionate supporter of Chris' work, I didn't want to screw it up for the buyers or for Chris. On the other hand, I had to make sure that people were not so mystified by this approach to jazz that they would not buy the book. Then they couldn't see for themselves. Most of my reviewing is for an entirely different audience than those we've been discussing. I write a book review column for parents. So, instead of writing for my peers, I'm writing for folks who really don't have a grounding in the literature. In those columns, I usually write around a theme: fear, starting school, adoption, American history, etc. And I'm given the freedom to wax on as long as I like...sort of like this letter. But, I've gotten some really good practice writing for these folks who need someone to bring them up to speed. And that's how I approached _Mysterious Thelonius_, only on a slightly more familiar level. I knew that I could assume a lot more from the audience than I could when writing for parents. At the same time, I had to "explain" that Thelonius had been accused by his fellow musicians of playing "wrong" notes. And that the notes on the page pretty much followed the music of the tune Misterioso, a tune full of what one might consider "wrong notes". Different lessons for different folks. All of this is to say that, for me, the best picture book reviews teach me something about the book. Even if it's only how the illustrator has connected to the writer. None of us knows everything. We need the space and the knowledge to fully examine the work that has taken everyone so long to produce. Okay, I'm climbing down off my soap box. Back to lurking and loving this discussion. PS I also threatened the editors about the star. It got one, but it didn't make it to the "best" list at the end of the year.
Karen Breen New Visions for Public Schools
"If you haven't got it in your soul, it won't come out of your horn"
Received on Tue 15 Sep 1998 07:25:43 PM CDT
