ahream

Judy Blume turns 70!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/02/03/st_judyblume.xml&page=1

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” “Fudge.” “Blubber.” “Freckle Juice.” “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”

Judy Blume wrote nearly all of the best books from my childhood and early adolescence. She was some sort of fairy godmother or, maybe even better, the maiden aunt who slipped you candy and pocket money and never, ever thought it was stupid that you wanted to be both a veterinarian and a ballet dancer.

Children’s books are the most important books, and nobody filled up my bookcase, my imagination or my heart like she did. She’s the only author I can imagine seeing on the street and running up to hug…even though I’m a real, honest-to-God grownup…even though I haven’t read one of her books in twenty years…still. She’s that important. And I don’t think I know a woman between the ages of 20 and 45 who doesn’t feel the same way.

I read that article in the Telegraph and nearly cried for all the stories of all the girls…and some boys…whose hands she held through her books, whose fears she soothed, whose questions she answered. Happy birthday, Judy. We love you! We really, really do.

ahream Dispatches from the City of Angels I'm a mystery writer living in and writing about Los Angeles. You can catch my short story, "Running Venice," in the new anthology LAndmarked for Murder. Look for it in bookstores and on Amazon.com now. In the meantime, feel free to poke around. Over at my website you can find even more blog entries than I could fit here, as well as a few other ramblings. Enjoy and come back often.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (1) Most Recent Twitters: Reading Tony Broadbent's book, The Smoke. It's too good. I'm losing sleep. Nocturnal pattern shot to hell. Productivity declining. L.A. Finds: The Denver omelet at Pat's in Topanga is sublime in its simplicity. Exactly what you need and nothing else, much like the restaurant itself snuggled smack in the middle of an old hippie community where the peace signs and tie-dye still reign. Flickr Updates: The second Thursday of every month is the Downtown Art Walk. The galleries stay open late, the restaurants are packed, bands perform on the streets. God, I love L.A. What I'm Reading: The Smoke by Tony Broadbent What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami Want E-Mail Updates? Click here, type your e-mail address into the first field (for public entries) and receive an e-mail note each time a new blog post goes up. (Photo updates, Twitters and "L.A. Finds" features not included. Those you have to swing by and check yourself.) Absolutely, positively no spam. Promise. Other author blogs: Sue Ann Jaffarian Eric Stone Christa Faust Lipstick Chronicles		2008-02-04 3:24 PM Judy Blume is My Hero Judy Blume turns 70! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/02/03/st_judyblume.xml&page=1 “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” “Fudge.” “Blubber.” “Freckle Juice.” “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.” Judy Blume wrote nearly all of the best books from my childhood and early adolescence. She was some sort of fairy godmother or, maybe even better, the maiden aunt who slipped you candy and pocket money and never, ever thought it was stupid that you wanted to be both a veterinarian and a ballet dancer. Children’s books are the most important books, and nobody filled up my bookcase, my imagination or my heart like she did. She’s the only author I can imagine seeing on the street and running up to hug…even though I’m a real, honest-to-God grownup…even though I haven’t read one of her books in twenty years…still. She’s that important. And I don’t think I know a woman between the ages of 20 and 45 who doesn’t feel the same way. I read that article in the Telegraph and nearly cried for all the stories of all the girls…and some boys…whose hands she held through her books, whose fears she soothed, whose questions she answered. Happy birthday, Judy. We love you! We really, really do. Read/Post Comments (1) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top