PEN America, Penguin Random House sue Florida school district over ‘unconstitutional’ book bans.
TikTok users report of reading 50% because of BookTok.
Some of the most banned books of 2023.
Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 27 best new books to take on your 2023 summer vacation.
Mom hate group celebrated Mother’s Day by quoting an author they’re trying to ban.
It’s been over fifty years since the Judy Blume classic book Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret was released to making it to the silver screen. And I’m telling you; it’s well worth the wait.
Not surprisingly, Judy Blume was a bit hesitant about making Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret into a film. And I can’t blame her. This book is a touchstone for generations of women and girls covering topics like wanting to fill out a bra, worrying about getting your first period, religion, family, school, and discovering boys. The film adaptation had to be made with the right touch, and with director Kelly Fremon Craig, and a wonderful cast it has.
When the film version of Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret begins, 11-year-old Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Forston) is finishing up summer camp and going to back to her parents, Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie),in New York City. But there is a surprise in store for Margaret. Due to her father’s job, the Simon family is packing up and moving from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple to the bucolic suburbs of New Jersey. Margaret is horrified. She’s going to miss the city, her friends, and her devoted bubbe Sylvia Simon (Kathy Bates).
Just as the Simon family is settling in their new home, Margaret is befriended by neighbor girl, Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham). It turns out Margaret and Nancy will be attending the same sixth grade class at the local elementary school. Nancy wants Margaret to join a super duper secret club along with new friends Gretchen Potter (Katherine Kupferer) and Janie Loomis (Amari Alexis Price). This secret club has quite a few rules, including not wearing socks, which causes Margaret to get some painful blisters.
Margaret and Nancy, along with Gretchen and Janie, are all in the same sixth grade class. Their teacher is Mr. Benedict (Echo Kellum), and the girls are thrilled to find Philip Leroy (Zack Brooks), a total grade school hottie is in their class. They all have a crush on him. But sadly, the girls also slut shame Laura Danker (Isol Young) for developing earlier than the other girls. There are horrible rumors that Laura lets the older boys have their way with her, and unfortunately the girls believe them.
While traversing the trials and tribulations of sixth grade, Margaret and her friends deal with the various growing pains of getting older. Nancy tells the girls they all must wear a bra to be in the club, and yes, they all chant, “We must, we must. We must increase our bust!” I wanted to get up in the theater and shout at the screen, “Stop! Don’t do that. It doesn’t work. Believe me, I’ve tried!”
The girls worry about getting their periods and once they do, they must tell the others exactly what it’s like. In one funny scene, Margaret and Janie (who want to be prepared for when the time comes), buy pads at the drugstore and nearly die from embarrassment when a teenage boy rings up their packages of “Teenage Softies.”
And yes, the girls are also obsessed with the opposite sex. They get a gander at the male anatomy by looking Gretchen’s doctor father’s anatomy books. And they wonder if they’ll ever be stacked as the playmates in Margaret’s father’s copies of Playboy so they can attract boys. As previously mentioned, all the girls crush on Philip Leroy. And when Margaret is kissed twice by Philip during a party game she is on cloud nine. Sadly, Philip acts like a jerk and later makes fun of Margaret’s small boobs.
Religion is also a central theme of Are You There, God” It’s Me, Margaret, and it’s one Margaret muses on for a year long research assignment given by Mr. Benedict. Margaret was raised without religion, yet has frequent talks with God. Her parents are of different faiths. Her mother was raised in a Christian home, and her father is Jewish. Barbara Simon is pretty much estranged from her parents for marrying a Jew. And though Sylvia at first wasn’t too thrilled with Herb marrying a shiksa, she does come around and is a devoted grandmother to Margaret.
Margaret decides to examine various religions. She goes to temple with Sylvia. She attends separate church services with Janie and Nancy. She even follows Laura Danker to confession at a Catholic parish. And Margaret continues to talk to God. Sure, she asks for bigger boobs, but she also wants to know is she Jewish? Is she Catholic? All of this leaves Margaret with more questions than answers. And when things come to blows when her maternal grandparents come for a visit, you heart breaks for young Margaret.
As the movie commences, Margaret has finished sixth grade and is looking forward to junior high and is about to go to summer camp. She has learned a lot and yet, has so much more to learn. And spoiler alert. Margaret gets her period.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is completely delightful. I really appreciated that this movie sticks with its early 1970s timeline long before smart phones, Netflix, the internet, and doing dances on Tik Tok. Everything from the clothing to the furniture to the music is faithful to the time period. All the performances ring true. Kathy Bates is a treasure as Sylvia Simon. But Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is truly Abby Ryder Forston’s film. She just embodies Margaret, endearing, awkward and oh, so relatable. And if you see this movie, keep your eyes peeled. The Judy Blume shows up as an extra.
Lady Patricia Farmer, book Playboy Swings! I reviewed several years ago, is now back with a delightful and informative new book, Tea Under the Palms: From Leaf to Kettle, a History of Tea and the Art of a Proper Tea Party.
Farmer began her love of tea when she visited the Palm Court in New York City’s iconic Plaza Hotel with her mother to partake in tea. Though Farmer was only seven at the time, it was from that moment, she began a love with tea, not just as a drink, but as a culture and an imperative part of society, too.
Tea Under the Palms, is divided into several chapters. Chapter One starts with the beginnings of tea in China B.C. and the drink traveling to parts of Europe. I was surprised to find out tea became popular in France before it became popular in England. Before she lost her head, Marie Antoinette was a big fan of tea. Farmer then goes into great detail about the growing, harvesting, and creating of tea, which is an arduous process if you want premium. Tea pluckers in China are often women because of their petite builds. And they are often forbidden to eat certain foods because it may foul their palate.
Farmer also gives us the characteristics of various teas-green, black, oolong, and white, which interestingly enough all come from the same plant. It is during the different processing of these tea leaves, they gain their unique qualities to suit tea drinkers diverse tastes. And for those visually-inclined, Farmer includes an illustration of the tea processing method.
Now how do we prepare tea. Granted, some people just stick a tea bag in a mug of water and then heat it up in the microwave. Oh, no! There is a much more involved, and elegant way to prepare one’s tea, which I think would make someone more appreciative of this drink. And Farmer kindly includes in preparing a proper tea service within the pages of Tea Under the Palms.
You’ve heard of high tea and low tea, but what does that exactly mean? I have to admit, I thought it was a class thing, high tea meant for the upper classes and the very rich, and low tea for us lowly schlubs. But no. Farmer informs us that high tea is served at a table surrounded by chairs and low tea is usually served where people sit on low chairs or couches. And at both high and low teas, food is often served.
Yes, food. Farmer tells us about what kind of delicacies go best with a tea service. Three-tiered trays are often used in tea services, and they often various types of food. Tea drinkers start with the lowest tray, which includes scones or small muffins. The middle tray is laden with finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off and cut into triangles. And the top tier consists of delicious sweets and pastries (Farmer admits this is her favorite tier). The goodies may include miniature eclairs, tarts, and petit fours.
And of course, there is an certain etiquette one most follow at a tea service. Sure, you can slouch on your couch while watching something on Netflix while drinking some Celestial Seasonings chamomile tea. But at a tea service one must be on his or her best behavior and fortunately, Farmer spills the tea on how properly conduct oneself at a tea service.
If you want to know how to make the perfect pot of tea, Tea Under the Palms has the answer. Farmer also informs us the difference between tea bags and loose tea, and why she’s more of a fan of the latter. She talks of milk’s place in the drinking of tea, the use of a saucer, and other interesting tea service tidbits.
One of my favorite chapters in Tea Under the Palms was about the various tea rooms and services throughout the Globe. Of course, one of Farmer’s favorites is the Palm Court at the Plaza, but she also mentions Salon Proust at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, Sketch in London England, and The Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano, California. All of these places have their own unique and style that should appeal to any tea drinker.
I got curious about places that have tea services here in Milwaukee, so I did a bit of sleuthing. I found out the very posh and elegant Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee has an afternoon tea service at its Blu Cocktail Lounge. I may have to try it out one of these days. And one of my favorite coffee/tea houses, Rochambo, has an excellent selection of tea. It’s not quite as fancy as the Pfister, but its artsy, bohemian vibe is loved by many living on Milwaukee’s east side.
Tea Under the Palms was such an interesting book to read. Though I have been drinking tea for years, I learned so much from Farmer’s extensive knowledge and experience with this classic beverage loved all over the world. The illustrations and photographs that are throughout Under the Palms are quite stunning and the perfect touch. And for the foodies out there, Farmer provides a plethora of tasty and easy-to-follow recipes to make your tea service top-notch!
If you’re new to the drink of tea or a long-time connoisseur, you will love Lady Patricia Farmer’s Tea Under the Palms: From Leaf to Kettle, a History of Tea and the Art of a Proper Tea Service.
Widow who penned grief book for kids is charged with husband’s murder.
The mystery of the Taylor Swift memoir: Who profits, who leaked it and who is it even by?
Five authors who wrote sequels to someone else’s work.
Judy Blume’s book recommendations.
25 books being made into movies and series in 2023 and 2024.
thebookselfblog 