(Carney + Winona) + (Emily) X (Melissa + Mitali) = Infinite Bliss

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Infinite Bliss

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Syllabus for Maud Hart Lovelace Teens, 101 (Emily of Deep Valley, Carney's House Party/Winona's Pony Cart)

Prerequisites: None
Co-requisites: Every other Betsy-Tacy book

Course Description:
Introduction to delight.
Emphasis on excellent writing and character development.

Term:
The rest of your reading life.

Course Objectives:

On completion of this course, the reader will be able to:

1. Revel in great writing.
2. Claim fictional characters as new best friends.
3. Thank the publisher for reissuing timeless treasures.
4. Express gratitude to contemporary authors for lending their time,
             memories and forewords.
5. Schedule annual re-reads.
6. With relish, read books to and with one's children, nieces, friends
           (anyone who will listen.)
7. Demonstrate increased understanding of the human heart.

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Sitting next to me are two books: Emily of Deep Valley, with a foreword by Mitali Perkins:

 and Carney's House Party/Winona's Pony Cart, with a foreword by Melissa Wiley:

Buy the books. Read them. Share them. With everyone you know. 

Now, I'm not trying to sell you on the forewords from these wonderful women. No one buys a book solely for its foreword, right?  On the other hand, these introductions are, in their own way, a vital part of what these books are all about.

Mitali Perkins and Melissa Wiley offer very different prefatory words, but what they share is the same: books have a lasting impact.  Beloved books create their own kind of legacy.

I'm reading the Betsy-Tacy books to my Ramona, age eight. So far, we've shared the lives of Betsy and Tacy at ages 5, 6, 8, 10 ... Tib is there, too (but Tib doesn't mind being an afterthought. She's sensible that way.) And, just as my "Anne-with-an-e" and my "Betsy Ray" did, my "Ramona" is adoring the girls, the books, the lives, the families, the friendships. The books we love, and their heroines, become a part of our family.

To learn more, listen to the Book Club Girl, who will be interviewing Melissa Wiley and Mitali Perkins on November 15, at 7 pm (Eastern Time).  Find the details here, at BlogTalkRadio. (You can also go to that link to set up a reminder, so you don't forget to tune in!)

I'll be listening, and you can bet that a few other girls at my house will be, too.

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(Disclaimer: Yes, I am the godmother of Melissa Wiley's youngest son. But, I do not blog about her books because I'm a friend. Rather, we became friends because we both love to blog about books. And kids. And life. And learning ... you get the idea.)