Episode #53: Talent vs. Genius
Book Friends Forever podcast is trying to reach the exciting goal of getting 100 reviews on Apple Podcasts! As of right now, they have 72 ratings and 69 reviews. They are thinking of doing something special once they hit the 100 mark! If you have any ideas, please let them know! It could be a phone call, a guest section on one of the episodes, getting a character named after you in one of Grace’s novels, (delayed gratification) or …any other ideas welcomed!
In Alvina’s world, the good news is that her parents and other relatives have been evacuated off the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship that had been quarantined due to a Coronavirus outbreak. They will now have two more weeks of another quarantine in California and be checked out by medical professionals.
Grace has been busy putting together her new podcast, Kids Ask Authors! The format will be a weekly 10-15 minute podcast where Grace and a guest author will answer one question from a child reader each week. Every episode will end with a kid book review. We hope that this podcast will be useful to all student writers and those helping them on their journey! When being interviewed about the inspiration for the podcast, Grace explained that she realized
that not every school can afford to have authors visits, so this is an opportunity for all students to experience having an access to an author. There is a website with a phone number that (with adult permission), kids can leave a voicemail with a joke, their question, or their book review! It’s been working out great! However, a reminder to parents if you’re listening, please be sure to have your kids speak up on the phone. (Sometimes it is not clear).
Talent vs. Genius?
Grace and Alvina were inspired to do this topic in part by a main quote from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women:
Grace loved this quote as a child but as an adult really began to wonder, “why can’t you keep doing art work if it brings you joy?” Can’t you be creative AND practical at the same time this day and age?
Others questions discussed in this podcast episode:
How do you tell someone is a genius or a work of art is genius? When does something become a “classic?” (As an editor, Alvina always dreams that her books would one day become classics, but how will she ever know that? Will she be around to know that?)
When Amy in Little Woman says “I’m not going to try”, Grace and Alvina discuss being born a genius vs. becoming one. The fact that she gives up forever, that means she may never get there! If she keeps “daubing” she may become great one day. This is a philosophy Grace subscribes to. If she never makes it to greatness, that is ok too but at least she tried.
There is a stereotype that being a genius means that we can excuse any poor behavior. Just because someone is a very talented genius, does that mean they act out and is that accepted? Are perfectionist also only just artists and geniuses?
What are we grateful for?
PING PONG! Grace and her husband have created a date night every Thursday where they get a babysitter and go play ping pong at a local ping pong hall. It’s been so fun! They may be the youngest ones playing!
Alvina is so thankful that her family is off the cruise ship. She has been grateful for the three day weekend and is so happy she’s been feeling more motivated about work.
2-Minute Book Review by Alison Morris:
Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom (Tales From the House of Bunnicula #3) (Paperback)
By James Howe, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)
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.
Other books and media mentioned in this episode:
