Mar 18

Mar 18 Episode #191: CHOP SUEY: Roald Dahl, happiness and expectations, and preorders!

Hello! Thanks for tuning back in! Grace and Alvina discuss the controversy about the edited Roald Dahl books, talk about the relationship of expectations with happiness, and talk about preorders.

The book friends had about 33 people show up for the 1st ever Patron Happy Hour! There were introductions with two ice breaker questions. Thank you for such an enjoyable meet up!

“How have you been?”

Alvina’s parents have been visiting and they recently met Stephen’s mother for the first time!

Grace and Alex celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. Grace surprised him with Depeche Mode tickets for October! Grace has relatives from Taiwan are coming this summer and they really want to take their daughter to Disney World. They are all going! If any of our listeners are big Disney World people, please reach out with your suggestions! The Chinese Menu marketing meeting took place.

Chope Suey!

TOPIC #1: Roald Dahl Books:

Roald Dahl’s books are being published with changes to use more inclusive language. Does an author have a right to change their language? People continue to call this censorship. Grace does not believe it’s censorship. Alvina thinks about the author’s intent. The book friends discuss these word changes and how they feel about them. Puffin is releasing new editions alongside the old editions.

TOPIC #2: Happiness:

The book friends discuss this article,"The Grimm Secret of Nordic Happiness: It’s not hygge, the welfare state, or drinking. It’s reasonable expectations.”

TOPIC #3: Preorders:

Grace asks Alvina: Do pre-orders make a difference? Are they really important? Alvina shares her thoughts about what ways it CAN make a difference and in what ways it really doesn’t matter or isn’t worth the hassle.

**Book Recommendations: What we could be reading with Alison Morris!:**

Nik Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and illustrated by Rose Bousamra

Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Search for a Giant Squid by Amy Seto Forrester and illustrated by Andy Chou Musser

Alison Morris is a nationally recognized children's book buyer with an infectious enthusiasm for reading and 20 years' experience matching books to readers. As the Senior Director of Title Selection for nonprofit First Book, she oversees the curation of children’s and young adult books on the First Book Marketplace, hand-selecting a diverse range of titles that speak to and address the needs of kids in underserved communities, with a keen eye to inclusion, authenticity, and kid-appeal. She previously served as Senior Editor at Scholastic Book Clubs, Children's Book Buyer for Wellesley Booksmith and The Dartmouth Bookstore, and was the founding blogger of the ShelfTalker children’s book blog for Publishers Weekly. She'll be joining us from her home near Washington, DC where she spends LOTS of time discussing books with her husband, illustrator and graphic novelist Gareth Hinds.

Gratefuls:

Alison is thankful for the women in her life who have been there for her throughout her life. Grace is grateful for Ellen Oh and the You Are Here Anthology. Alvina is grateful for that she has a home where she can host three guests comfortably in her NYC apartment!

Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)

You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Instagram and @gracelinauthor on TikTok
Alison Morris is @AlisonLMorris on Twitter and @kidlitgirl on Instagram
Please rate and review us on apple podcasts!

If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Authors Minh Le and Grace Lin answer the random question If you had to add an extra arm or an extra leg to your body, which would you choose? Click here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!

Order the 2022 WTMMTM CALENDAR: https://shop.carlemuseum.org/category/books/autographed-books/grace-lin