For the Love of Words: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Beloved Milo! The lucky boy who meets “some of the most logically illogical characters” ever! [quote from the book jacket]

April 24, 2014

To the next (and probably younger) reader of this book,

I am 40 years old. That in itself may be shocking to you…but more shocking is that this is my first reading of The Phantom Tollbooth. How I managed to live this long without reading it is a mystery because I’ve known of its existence for at least 15 years. I think I was put off by the thought of reading an illustrated book meant for kids but now that I’m ‘old’, embarrassment concerns me far less.

As a child, I would have LOVED this book. The wit and wisdom and general cleverness that Norton Juster includes on every page would have made me collapse and convulse from hysterics. My parents would have correspondingly (and correctly) labeled me a lunatic. And I would have read the story of Milo over and over again until I knew the order and intricacies of each of his adventures in Dictionopolis and Digitopolis.

So, I hope that you have found your way here much earlier in life than I did, so you can be inspired by the words for longer. Because this is the kind of book that makes children fall in love with words! And if you do enjoy this book (in particular, the clever puns and word play) then I will suggest a few more titles for you that I feel are personally responsible for my love of words!

1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass (the sequel from 1871) contains my favourite nonsense poem “Jabberwocky”:

Jabberwocky

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

I love the poem but love Humpty Dumpty’s explanation of the words even more!

2. Anything by Dr. Seuss but Green Eggs and Ham is my personal favourite!

3. A Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear – a great collection of limericks!

4. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

5. For the Canadians – poet Dennis Lee always made me smile!

Enjoy!

Libby

my note inside the book

Books about Living off the grid

[Book Jacket Letter Context: I’ve been reading a ton of living-off-the-grid books in the last few weeks. I guess the polar vortex really did affect me on some level! By far, the best (and quirkiest) I’ve read is Off On our Own by Ted Cairns but if you have ANY recommendations, let me know. In the mean time, I’ve attached a copy of the following letter in each of the books I’ve read about sustainable living. See the books at the bottom of this post.]

Dear Like-Minded Individual! (Of course you are – we are reading the same books, after all!)

My absolute favourite poem is “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W. B. Yeats. In case you haven’t read it, let me indulge you:

The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W. B. Yeats

I have loved this poem since I was 8. Seriously. And in my deep heart’s core, I have always dreamed of a temporary escape – some place to live hermit-like in the woods – completely off the grid (as much as that is possible in this day and age.) Naturally that complicates the whole blogging thing, but it’s still a dream for at least a few weeks each year. Which explains why I’m reading this book.

I have a proposal for you:

You and I live in the same city. We clearly have a sustainable vision in common. Let’s meet up for coffee or tea or organic roasted chicory root (that’s a joke) and share our thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

Libby

Books that contain this letter:

Off On Our Own: Living Off-Grid in Comfortable Independence: One Couple’s “Learn as We Go” Journey to Self-Reliance – Read this one!

Crafting Log Homes Solar Style: An Inspiring Guide to Self-Sufficiency

The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook

Aimless Love, new and old poetry by Billy Collins

The cover photo: I can’t tell you how perfect I find this image for Aimless Love!

Aimless Love is Billy Collins’ new collection of poetry – featuring some new poems and many old favourites.  I think he’s a wonderful contemporary poet; in fact, my very first Book Jacket Letter was written to him (see it here).  I wanted to share his poem “Reader” with you, because it’s not only the first poem in the new book but also because it’s such a perfect poem for the WordPress community. At the very heart of it, we’re here because we love words, we love to read, and we love to share those loves with everyone else. Here’s the best Book Jacket Letter I NEVER wrote:

Reader

Looker, gazer, skimmer, skipper,

thumb-licking page turner, peruser,

you getting your print-fix for the day,

pencil-chewer, note taker, marginalianist

with your checks and X’s

first-timer or revisiter,

browser, speedster, English major,

flight-ready girl, melancholy boy,

invisible companion, thief, blind date, perfect stranger –

that is me rushing to the window

to see if it’s you passing under the shade trees

with a baby carriage or a dog on a leash,

me picking up the phone

to imagine your unimaginable number,

me standing by a map of the world

wondering where you are –

alone on a bench in a train station

or falling asleep, the book sliding to the floor.

– Billy Collins