Let me just say up front that I’m really enjoying my duties as a panelist on the Young Adult Fiction Nominating Panel for the Cybils. I’ve been reading a TON of books, and a lot of them I probably wouldn’t have even heard about if they hadn’t been nominated. It’s been a great experience so far, and I’ve got some new favorite books that I should really write about someday soon.<\/p>\n
That said: I’m starting to really miss fantasy. I mean, straight-up teen fiction is great and all – dating, drugs, gossip, gangs, religion, rebellion, class clowns, abusive parents, terminal diseases… there’s some great stuff to be said about all of it. But I guess I can only take so much reality-based fiction in one three-month sitting. I’ve been starving for faires, unicorns, wizards, goblins… heck, even a little telekinesis or a ghost or something would be nice. Come January, I’m going to have to go on a BIG OL’ FANTASY BINGE. Anyone who’s got a recommendation (I’m looking at YOU, Fantasy Panel people), you can just leave it here in the comments. Much obliged.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, here’s an excerpt from a classic William Butler Yeats<\/strong><\/a> poem that’s inspired both a song by The Waterboys<\/strong><\/a> and a novel by Keith Donohue (co-reviewed<\/strong><\/a> by me and Jules last year): <\/p>\n “The Stolen Child”<\/p>\n Where the wave of moonlight glosses
\nThe dim grey sands with light,
\nFar off by furthest Rosses
\nWe foot it all the night,
\nWeaving olden dances,
\nMingling hands and mingling glances
\nTill the moon has taken flight;
\nTo and fro we leap
\nAnd chase the frothy bubbles,
\nWhile the world is full of troubles
\nAnd is anxious in its sleep.
\nCome away, O human child!
\nTo the waters and the wild
\nWith a faery, hand in hand,
\nFor the world’s more full of weeping than you
\ncan understand.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n