Genius Discussion: Hodgepodge of Information

For me, Genius was a really quick read! However, for those who might not have gotten as far as others, I'll start at the beginning with Lollipop.

Lollipop was a shelter rescue. Oliver picked her out over smaller, more docile dogs, much to his father's annoyance. Pit Bulls get a really bad reputation for being mean and vicious, but much like Dobermans (as we talked about during Swindle), Pit Bulls are relentlessly loyal animals. With good training, pit bulls make excellent family animals and are a favorite of many people.

Oliver sent Lollipop to the Basque in Spain, mainly because almost no one knows their language. In America, many dog trainers use German commands to train, because theoretically the more glutteral german is easier for dogs to hear and understand than english commands. Here's a website of German words, commonly used in dog training.


In the next chapter, we meet Tatiana, who plays a very important role throughout the book. She makes a comment to Oliver, that no one is as dumb as he acts. Do you think she has a point? Does Oliver take his stupid-act too far? If you went to school with Oliver, would you think something about him was odd? Would you take the chance to nominate him for class president?

Share your thoughts in the comments and share any links or information you may have thought of while reading.

Samma

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be your Class President Disccusion

Time for our third book of the summer! Josh Lieb's lengthily-titled: I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President --thus after just referred to as "Genius", to limit down all of that typing!

Our protagonist is Oliver Waston, a 12 year old who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. He has everyone convinced that he is stupid and lazy --but in reality, he is an evil (and wealthy) genius, who isn't going to let anything stand in his way when he decides to run for 7th Grade Class President.

Real Kid Geniuses are pretty rare, but they're still out there. Jacob Barnette is the most recent, attending college level courses at age 12, and is being offered a reseachers position at his university. He regularly tutors his adult classmates in physics. You can read about him in this Indystar.com article.

What do you think of "real" geniuses? Or even fake kid geniuses, seen in moves like Baby Geniuses and Jimmy Neutron, or even Dexter's Labratory (if you remember that show). How do think Oliver compares to them (so far).

More importantly: do you think he has a chance of becomming Class President, this early in the book?

Samma

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President by Josh Lieb

The title of this book alone is enough for me to want to read it from cover to cover.  It always makes me laugh when I read it. 

Here is a summary (taken from the MORE catalog):

In Omaha, Nebraska, twelve-year-old Oliver Watson has everyone convinced that he's extremely stupid and lazy, but he's actually a very wealthy, evil genius, and when he decides to run for seventh-grade class president, nothing will stand in his way.

This is the first book written by Josh Lieb, although he has worked on various tv shows.

Fairest Discussion: Final Discussion Questions

So, hopefully you've finished the book (if you haven't you should probably wait to read this post as it will contain a lot of spoilers). I'll start with the general discussion, then go into my own opinion. As usual, use the comments to contribute.

1. What did you like best about the book?

2. What did you dislike most about the book?

3. Did you find Aza to be a relatable character?

4. How did you feel about the way Ijori treated her after he proposed deception? Would you have accepted his apology if you were Aza?

5. What was your impression of Queen Ivi? Do you think that the King did the right thing in the end?

6. What do you think of Illusing? Can you "illuse"?

7. Do you think you would do well at a Composing game, such as the one where Aza first spoke with Ijori?

8. How did you feel about Aza's Happily-Ever-After?


I liked the book in general. It was a quick and easy read for me (and a refresher since I read it back when it first was released). I liked the musical aspect to it; without being overbearing it was made very obvious how important music was the culture of the people in the story. However, it made it really obvious how much Ivi didn't fit in with the culture, and how much she really didn't understand about her new home. I think Ivi was my least favorite character throughout. She was rude, inconsiderate, had no respect for her new family muchless her new subjects. She wanted to turn Ayortha into Kyrria so she wouldn't feel so out of place, regardless of the fact that she was alienating an entire country by doing so. I think the King did the right thing at the end, ensuring that she would never again become the sole ruler of Ayortha. I'm sure there's some story behind their love for one another, but if I'd been him, I probably would have taken a page out of Henry the 8th's book.

I liked Aza for the most part. I think she got a little to down on herself at times --after all, she couldn't have been THAT bad of looking if a prince fell in love with her, right? I found it ironic that she only felt herself when she was with the gnomes, that her looks didn't matter (though they found her ugly too; they only liked her hair after all). Similiarly, I see why Aza forgave Prince Ijori for jumping to conclusions, but I don't think I would have done so myself. Sure, he's a prince and life would be set, but when you can't listen to reason the first time, I don't think there should be the opprotunity for a second.

Unfortunately, I am not an illuser. Mind you, I've never tried, but I'm sure I don't have the patience for that kind of thing. However, Illusing is very similar to something you may have tried or seen: ventriloquism. Some famous ventriloquists include Jeff Dunham, Dan Horn, Edgar Burgen, Jimmy Nelson, and Sherri Lewis (remember Lamb Chop?) There are a lot of resources for you to learn how to do it yourself, which you can look up on MORE. There are also tons of videos on YouTube of ventriloqists and on how to learn to do it yourself.

I also don't think I'd be very good at a composing game, but I'd love to watch one being played!

I like that Aza got a happy ending and that she ulitmately was able to gain some self-esteem and self-acceptance for her looks. I could have done without the epilogue, but I'm just that kind of a reader.

Below, I scoured the internet (...okay, YouTube) for some good ventriloquist videos and there are loads! A lot I've never even heard of! This was one of my favorites, Kevin Johnson who was a finalist on America's Got Talent in 2007. The second video is of Terry Fator, winner of AGT in 2008.





Enjoy and share your comments below.

Samma

Fairest Discussion: Other Resources

Since the discussion for our next book doesn't start until next week, and I don't have much else to say on the subject of Fairest, I'll use today to post up my list of similiar items to the book. If you've got other comments, feel free to share! I'll post the list of discussion questions on Saturday.

Books:
Beastly by Alex Finn (also a movie, though I haven't seen it yet!)
     Beastly is a modern day Beauty and The Beast (obviously, I'm sure). A handsome, popular guy is bewitched into a hideous monster who has 2 years to find someone to love who loves in him return, despite all of his short-commings.

Dusssie by Nancy Springer
     I haven't read this book yet, but if you know me: you know I LOVE Greek Mythology. Medusa has always been one of my all-time favorites! (She's not evil, just misunderstood!) Here's a blurb from Amazon.com:Dusie always knew puberty was going to be confusing, but she never realized it was going to be catastrophic--until she wakes up one morning to find that her hair has turned into a writhing mass of slithering snakes and discovers the real truth about her family: her mother is a Gorgon--right out of Greek mythology--and she was named after her mother's younger sister, Medusa. Her mother had hoped that Dusie's being half-mortal would protect her from inheriting the family curse.
Still reeling from this revelation, Dusie tries to keep her snakes under wraps. But after a boy she likes in school almost exposes her, she discovers another family secret--just one look from Dusie's snakes has the power to send someone right into his own personal Stone Age. Talk about "if looks could kill"!
Dusie better figure out how to control her snakes and her rage, and find a way to get her life back--before anything else disastrous happens.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
     The Wizard of Oz is another of my favorite book series. Did you know that Mr. Baum wrote FOURTEEN Oz books? And after him, a myriad of other writers wrote 26 more? The "Famous Forty" as they're known don't include every Oz book ever written though, they are simply the ones recognized by the International Wizard of Oz Club. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the 1939 film, but I can assure you: the book is so much better!

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
     No fantasy list would be complete without a mention of Harry Potter. If you haven't read the books, or it's just been awhile: they're always a good read. Especially if you've only seen the movies, the books are a must-read.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
     As mentioned above, I love Greek Mythology. When I discovered The Lightening Thief, I was HOOKED! I tell everyone that Percy Jackson is my new Harry Potter. Each book takes place over the course of a summer (or winter) vacation. Percy grew up, getting kicked from school-to-school because of things he never really had any control over doing. Things just seemed to HAPPEN to him. Luckily, he finds out that he's a son of a greek God and is taken to Camp Half-Blood where he makes friends (and enemies) with the other campers and goes on exciting (and dangerous!) adventures.

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
     If you liked Percy Jackson, and you haven't read The Red Pyramid yet, I highly reccomend it! With a creative focus on Egyptian mythology, the Kane Chronicles are a quick read and easy to get sucked into. Carter and Sadie are brother and sister who find out that their family is decendant from the Egyptian Pharohs, which gives them certain extra abilities in helping to battle, contain, and work with the Gods. One of the unique things about the Egyptian gods vs. Greek Gods is that the Egyptian gods aren't neccarily...good. But they aren't bad either. They just "are".

The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
This is one I haven't read, but I did steal the blurb from MORE for you:
After reluctantly kissing a frog, an awkward, fourteen-year-oldprincess suddenly finds herself a frog, too, and sets off with the prince to seek the means--and the self-confidence--to become human again

Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Har
 Another I haven't read yet, but MORE has it covered! Long after the disappearance of Snow White's stepmother, the witch trapped in her mirror manipulates a desperate peasant and a merchant's daughter to seek the magic she needs to gain her freedom, but the girls show her a power far greater.

Movies:
I'm sure I could go on forever about all of the fairy tale movies there are, but here are a few you may not have seen in awhile, with links to the MORE page:

Ever After

The 10th Kingdom --You can actually find a book based on the screenplay as well!

Almost every Disney Movie is a fairy tale, but some all-time favorites include:

Snow White

Hercules

Mulan (which I think fits very well with our One World, Many Stories theme this summer)

Beauty and the Beast

Pinocchio

Tangled

The Princess and the Frog

Graphic Novels and Manga:
I always like to try and get people to read Graphic Novels, especially since there is such a great collection spread out across MORE. Here in Augusta, we've got a large variety including two of my favorites, in the YA section:

Fables Fables is a graphic novel that takes place in modern day times, in a Fabletown, beneath New York City. After being exiled from their homeland, the characters from fairy tales settled down and conduct a society similiar to our own, with very unique problems. There is also a short spin off series, Jack of Fables.

Fairy Tail Fairy Tail is a Manga series, available here in Augusta, and has recently been made into an anime. Fairy Tail is the name of one of the magical guilds, made up of a sundry of different powered magicians who work together (and against one another) in order to make money taking up jobs posted in their guild hall.


There are, of course, variations of some of these titles in all kinds of formats. Don't be afraid to surf around MORE and see if there's a movie or a graphic novel of your favorite fairy tale. That's how I find some of the best books.

Post up some of your favorites I don't have listed here, or other suggestions I may have missed. Don't forget to check on Saturday, and I'll post up the discussion questions for Fairest!

Samma

Fairest Discussion: Self-Identity

Hopefully by now, you're at least part-way through the book. Even from the very beginning, it's obvious that Aza's biggest hang-up is the way she looks. She describes herself as having black hair (actually a very pretty black called htun, according to the Gnomes), milky skin badly contrasted with her bright red lips. For Aza, she has grown up, always hiding her face and trying her best to go unnoticed.
It isn't until she gets to Ontio Castle, a place where she feels she will be most noticed and ridiculed, that she finally finds people who look past her looks --or so she hopes.

Last week, I mentioned my new favorite show: Glee! And fortunately for me, the subtexts of the show fit in perfectly with this story. Every character has something about them, usually a physical trait, that they don't like. Throughout the episode, "Born This Way" (another homage episode to Lady Gaga), Rachel (the self-proclaimed star of Glee club), considers whether or not to get a nose job after an accident brings to light that she’s a great candidate for the procedure. Mr. Shuester encourages the Glee kids to print the thing that they don’t like/are ridiculed most about themselves on white t-shirts to wear during the big number.

While everyone in glee club agrees that there are parts of them that they don’t like, none of them thinks that Rachel should change the way that she looks. Kurt takes her to the mall, where a flash mob dances to “Barbara Streisand” by Duck Sauce –Barbara being Rachel’s ultimate idol who never let the poshness of Hollywood and Broadway pressure her into changing her own unique nose.

Below is the full performance of "Born This Way"



If you were a Glee member, what would your t-shirt have said? Do you think comparing Aza’s feelings towards her appearance are similar to Rachel’s experiences in the episode (if you’ve seen it; also available on Hulu).

Aside from Glee, how are you liking the book so far? Do you find Aza to be a relatable character? Who is your favorite side character so far? Do you like Prince Ijori? What about Queen Ivi?

As usual, share any tidbits, other links, videos, or your thoughts on the book so far in the comments.

Samma