BOOK EVENT: Meet the Author

It was the LM Montgomery Institute Convention this weekend, with a large emphasis on the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables. There are a lot of events surrounding the anniversary here on Prince Edward Island. A colleague of mine is acting in The Nine Lives of Lucy Maud that is playing this summer at the Georgetown Theater; I am hoping to finally get to see Anne & Gilbert, the Musical after several summers.

One of the more controversial events has been the publication of Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. Well, somewhat controversial. I haven't read the book yet, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to. Ever since that last Anne movie, where she was running around the trenches of Europe during World War I, many fans like myself have been very wary of 'adaptations.' Don't mess with LM's original stuff! However, this time, the family of LM and a publisher contacted writer Budge Wilson to see if she was interested in writing a prequel.

She spoke of this dilemma herself today at a Author Reading today at Confederation Center. There were only about 20 of us there, braving the driving rain on beautiful PEI. Wilson was still gracious and wonderful, and we all got a chance to get a book signed if we wanted, and after a short reading, she took questions. She said her biggest question was 'Would LM approve of someone else writing this prequel?" And while she emphatically thought No, after thinking about it for a while, the bug got in her head and she really wanted to write it. There was contact with the heirs of LM to keep everything within their 'scope of imagination' as they take protecting Anne very seriously. (Although, I have to wonder why they ever let the province put Anne on our license plates?)

So, while many fans have their back up, I am open to reading it. Wilson is a great children's writer, and I have seen some favorable reviews. Someone on my google reader really liked it, but unfortunately I can't find that review now. It was good enough that it made me put the book on my mental TBR. I don't usually buy hardcover books as soon as they come out, but the chance to buy it and then get it signed was too good to pass up. I quite enjoyed Mrs Wilson today and her somewhat meandering talk. Her enthusiasm and respect for the history of Anne came through. I don't think I will reread Anne this year, I've read her so many times, but I am looking forward to the prequel. I particularly like how this edition looks so similar to the original Anne book of 1908.

LISTS: Authors from A - Z

Who are my favorite and newly favorite authors?

Lizzy Siddal made a list, and I thought it was a great idea. It's a combination of old standbys and authors I've recently discovered, and loved, so much so that I'm trying to find all their books and squeeze them into my reading list. But if you ask me tomorrow, half of these would change, lol. I've seen versions of this where you have to list your favorite book by the author, but lizzysiddal did it this way, and I'm not prepared to make that big of a decision tonight.


A - Jean Auel - I love the Earth Children series, but I've read them all
B - Maeve Binchy - I think I have read all her books now, except of few short stories
C - Douglas Coupland - I haven't read nearly enough of his books yet
D - Sarah Dunant - I've only read Birth of Venus, but I loved it
E - Jeffrey Eugenides - I'm not sure about him;notice I didn't bold his name. I loved Middlesex and didn't like The Virgin Suicides at all. I need another one to test him out.

F - Jasper Fforde - loving the Thursday Next books
G - Phillipa Gregory - the first historical novel was fabulous and I'm looking for another
H - Charlaine Harris - I devoured her Shapespeare mysteries, and will start her other mysteries soon

I - Kazou Ishiguro - loved the first two I've read. His quiet style is sneakily wonderful
J -
K -Stephen King/Sophie Kinsella - they seldom let me down
L - Lois Lowry - a new author, but The Giver is so wonderful, that she can make the list
M - David Mitchell - I think he could become a favorite author, I'll try another book to make sure

N -
O -
P - Orhan Pamuk - His two nonfiction books have been fab, I'm anxious to try his fiction
Q - Paul Quarrington - I'll be honest, I haven't read a lot of Q authors, so he is winning by default
R - Mordecai Richler - He's got a big list of books I haven't read yet, but I liked Duddy Kravitz a lot, and don't forget about Jacob Two-Two

S - Jerry Spinelli - another new author, and people rave about Stargirl
T -
U -
V - Sarah Vowell - I found her first book Assassination Vacation rather funny and I'd like to try another of hers. If I had read more Vonnegut, he might make the list
W -
X -
Y -
Z - Markus Zusak - He hasn't written enough books yet. Hurry up!

Do we have a lot of the same authors listed? Do I love an author you hate? Do you have any suggestions for my empty letters?