Book Club Girl

Betty White Recommends Betsy, Tacy and Tib!

I always knew I loved Sue Anne Nivens, now I know why!

Happy Birthday Maud - and the Unveiling of The Ray's Sandwich Tray!

How fitting that today, a Sunday, is Maud Hart Lovelace's birthday (which I somehow thought was yesterday and thus have been tweeting it all weekend, oops). Why fitting you ask? Well, on Sunday nights in the Hart home, and the fictional Ray home immortalized in her Betsy-Tacy series of books, friends of the entire family would come over for Sunday Night Lunch. The culinary highlight of the night was Mr. Ray's onion sandwiches. Said sandwiches were no doubt served on a sandwich tray. And for my birthday this year, my dear sister gave me a sandwich tray in the exact same pattern that Mrs. Hart kept in her home.

So today, I'm unveiling it here! It's much smaller than I would have thought (about 6" x 11.5"), but I guess that explains how Betsy ate so much yet maintained her willowy figure. It's quite beautiful, with a pattern of flowers running along a black-and-cream checked border. The artwork is just enough off-perfect enough that I suspect it was hand painted, but I'm no authority on such things. The tray is outlined in dark green. The pattern, by John Maddock & Sons of England, is called Lily. Many thanks to the fellow listren on the Maud L list serv for discovering it on Replacements. Check out the link and get some for yourself. And of course thank you to my sister for purchasing it for me! These sorts of treasures and more (the brass bowl and Maud's typewriter for example) can be seen at the Betsy-Tacy houses in Mankato, MN where they are preserved by the Betsy-Tacy Society (who today held a birthday party) as well.

PHILO, PHILO, PHILOMATHIANS!

No, that's not painted on the roof of Deep Valley High (with an underscore of tar beneath it to keep brave Zetamathians from attempting to wash it off). That is in fact, the headline to this post because the winners of Betsy-Tacy Convert Week are the Philomathians! I have been a tad remiss in not naming the winning society sooner, but hey, Betsy was a procrastinator too, so I'm in good company.

Congratulations Philos, for converting more new fans to Betsy-Tacy! As I mentioned when I announced the final outcome to the Maud L list serv, it wasn't quite the blowout I thought, but it was, in fact, a definitive win. And of course the real winners are Betsy-Tacy fans everywhere - old ones who know that they've helped to spread the word about our beloved tomes and new fans who are enjoying the books for the first time!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Betsy-Tacy Convert Week. A paver stone in honor of the Philomathians will be placed outside Maud Hart Lovelace's home on "Hill Street" that will read:

Philomathians
Convert Week
Winners Fall 09

Poor old Zets... and, to that end, if you feel like commemorating your efforts Zetamathians (and I count myself among you, sniff), you can order your own paver here!

New (and old) fans remember to renew your membership to the Betsy-Tacy Society and go here to find a local Betsy-Tacy group near you! I'm very much looking forward to dinner with some NewBetsys (of New England) this weekend during the American Library Association's mid-winter meeting!

Betsy Dishes Up Dating Advice in Today's Washington Post

Betsy Ray's advice on boys? "Just curl your hair and use a lot of perfume (her scent of choice? Jockey Club) and act plagued when they tease you." And while yes, this is a direct quote, this approach didn't stop her from competing against her boyfriend in the Essay Contest for the third time her senior year -- did she finally win? You'll have to read Betsy and Joe to find out!

Betsy, Tacy (and Tib) Make New York magazine!

Betsy Warrington Ray, who wrote stories about New York debutantes living swanky lives in Fifth Avenue apartments (though she knew nothing about such things, and thus her stories were always summarily rejected by the magazines to which she sent them), would be so pleased to know that she--along with Tacy and Tib, natch--has made it into the city's magazine of record at last!

Read My Guest Post at ReadingGroupGuides.com!

I hesitate to even post this, as I know I do go on (and on) on this particular subject. But if you can stand one more soliloquoy to Betsy and Tacy, read my guest post at ReadingGroupGuides.com today.

So What Order Do I Read These Betsy-Tacy Books In Anyway?

I've seen at least one comment wondering in what order the unitiated should read Betsy-Tacy, and I assume that there are many people who may have been introduced to the series from Meg Cabot's wonderful essay in the Wall Street Journal this weekend who are wondering the same thing. So without further ado, here is the order! Each book link brings you to the book so you can read a little bit for yourself.

These first four books are avaiable in separate volumes -- I recommend for girls 5-9 (and up)
       
        
Betsy-Tacy -- book number one, set in 1897, starts when Betsy and Tacy are five and first meet (this one is also available on audio, read by Broadway actress Sutton Foster)
Betsy-Tacy and Tib -- Betsy's and Tacy's adventures continue with the addition of pint-sized, golden haired Tib, a welcome third
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill -- the girls turn 10 in this book, and venture further away from home, and meet a real Syrian Princess who lives in the Slough
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown -- the girls, now 12, venture into downtown Deep Valley, where Betsy is introduced to the library and the librarian Miss Sparrow, an auto comes to town and they also learn about the world of theater

These final six books are now available in 3 2-book sets -- I recommend for girls 9-12 (and up)

       
Heaven to Betsy-- this is the first of the high school books. Betsy is 14 and a freshman at Deep Valley High. Boys become very important, especially one Joe Willard, a new boy in town.
Betsy in Spite of Herself-- Betsy's sophomore year and she takes a glamorous trip to Milwaukee to visit Tib

Betsy was a Junior-- Julia is off to college and brings back the idea of sororities, which Betsy (unwisely) introduces to Deep Valley High
Betsy and Joe-- Betsy's senior year and finally, she is going with Joe! That is, until Tony (her freshman crush) suddenly changes his brotherly manner to a more romantic one.

Betsy and the Great World-- Betsy is setting off for a year-long tour of Europe, to start her writing career, and to put some distance between her and Joe
Betsy's Wedding-- Betsy returns home as WWI is sweeping across Europe...will she and Joe finally find happiness?

Now, what are you waiting for? All these crazy converters on my blog and Meg Cabot (not to mention Anna Quindlen, Laura Lippman, Mary Kay Andrews, Judy Blume, Nancy Pearl and Joyce Maynard) CAN'T be wrong -- go forth and READ THEM!

Meg Cabot on Why Betsy-Tacy Gives Today's Teen Lit a Run for Its Money

In the Wall Street Journal. I couldn't have said it better myself. Check it out.

Betsy and Tacy and ME In the Wall Street Journal!

Well heh! It only took me all day to realize that one can read the Journal online, so here it is, my quote about my beloved Betsy-Tacy!

Support the Betsy-Tacy Society When You Shop at Any Barnes & Noble Nationwide Sat. Oct 3rd!

To celebrate the reissues of the high school Betsy-Tacy books, the Betsy-Tacy Society has partnered with Barnes & Noble. If you shop at any Barnes & Noble nationwide on Saturday, October 3rd using this voucher, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Betsy-Tacy Society! The Betsy-Tacy Society is dedicated to maintaining the legacy of Maud Hart Lovelace's beloved series as well as with the upkeep of Betsy's (Maud's) and Tacy's (Bick's) actual childhood homes in Mankato, MN. Both houses have been lovingly restored and are open to the public for visits.

Thanks to the Betsy-Tacy Society, you can look out Betsy's front window at Tacy's house across the street and imagine yourself seeing Tacy for the first time. You can sit on the bench where Betsy and Tacy took their dinner plates, see the brass bowl that Mrs. Ray (so smartly) bought for herself the Christmas of Betsy's Freshman year, and also the typewriter on which Maud wrote the books and more. So if there are books you've been meaning to buy (and hey, why not buy some Betsy ones too!) head to your local B&N tomorrow to shop and benefit Betsy-Tacy at the same time!

Book Club Girl Hearts Magers & Quinn Booksellers

I love Magers & Quinn Booksellers! Not only do they sponsor the monthly Books & Bars Book Club series that is revolutionizing book clubs and bringing them to a younger market, they love Betsy-Tacy! Check out this great display at their store today!

Join the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge!

I absolutely love this! (and, I had NO IDEA this was happening, how did my Google Alerts fail me?!) But who cares, I'm thrilled that S. over at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind has launched a Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge in celebration of the Betsy-Tacy reissues! I of course signed right up and can't wait to embark upon the challenge.

From A Library is a Hospital for the Mind, Here's How to Participate:

1. Start now by planning out which Maud Hart Lovelace books you most want to read. You don't have to read the Betsy-Tacy series, though I highly recommend them. In addition to the ten Betsy-Tacy books, Mrs. Lovelace also wrote three books as part of the Deep Valley series and twelve individual books on a variety of topics. Click here to see a full bibliography. (Almost all of the books are available through local libraries and book sellers, so be sure to check around if you can't find what you're looking for.)

2. Come back to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind the week of September 28 thru October 3 and sign-up to participate in the reading challenge using the Mr. Linky in my introductory Reading Challenge post. Be sure to post your name and link to your own post listing which of Mrs. Lovelace's books you plan to read, or even to your own introductory post. Be sure to use the permalink (link to the actual post, not just your blog.) This challenge is supposed to be lots of fun, so feel free to change around your list throughout the month if you feel the need.

3. Sit back, relax, and enjoy reading!

4. Come back on Saturday, October 31, 2009 and link up whichever of your Maud Hart Lovelace related reviews/posts that you wish to share. Be sure to use the permalink (link to the actual post, not just your blog.)

6. Visit around the other Reading Challenge participants' blogs and see what they have to say or which of Mrs. Lovelace's books they chose to read. Feel free to dialog with me or with them through blog comments or email. Find out what they like and why. Have fun!

That's it. So SPREAD THE WORD

Head on over to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind and add your blog to the Mr. Linky (until 10/2) and then enjoy her posts about all things Lovelace and Betsy-Tacy and enjoy reading this series so many of us love so much!

It's Betsy-Tacy Convert Week!!! Go Philos! Go Zets! Let the Games Begin!

I can't believe it's finally here -- on Tuesday, September 29th, the Harper Perennial Modern Classics editions of Heaven to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself, Betsy was a Junior and Betsy and Joe, and Betsy and the Great World and Betsy's Wedding are on sale! The have forewords by New York Times bestselling authors Laura Lippman, Meg Cabot and Laura Lippman and feature original cover art illustrations by the amazing illustrator Vera Neville, who brings Betsy into young adulthood from Lois Lenski's endearing childhood illustrations. In addition, they feature back matter excerpted from Sharla Scannell Whalen's amazing Betsy-Tacy Companion, with wonderful background material on Maud Hart Lovelace and the friends and family she wrote about in her beloved series.

As part of the reissue celebration, this week (and probably next) has been deemed Betsy-Tacy Convert Week! More than 200 people have signed up (via this blog and Facebook) to use this time to find and convert a new reader to the world of Betsy-Tacy -- and to make things interesting, they've been divided into two teams, Zetamathians and Philomathians -- the two rival societies at Deep Valley High School. Converters will post their stories here in the comments (as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and everywhere else). At the end of these two weeks I will tally up how many Zets and how many Philos made converts (based on comments posted here) and the winning team will win a paver stone in their name outside of Maud Hart Lovelace's childhood home!

I can't wait to see the comments pile up! There are also Betsy-Tacy parties planned in various locations, and there may be one near you, see below! There have also been so many online and print features, just in the last week alone, that demonstrate how much people love Betsy-Tacy, once they've been introduced! Check it all out below!

 

Betsy-Tacy Parties!
9/30 Aliso Viejo, CA, at the Aliso Viejo Library
10/3 Mankato, MN, at the Betsy Tacy Houses
10/3 Mesquite, TX, at Borders
10/23 Bainbridge Island, WA, at the Library
10/29 Waltham, MA at More Than Words**NEW!
11/7 Highland Village, TX, at Barnes and Noble
11/8 St. Paul, MN, at the Red Balloon Bookshop
2/16/10 Wellesley, MA at the Wellesley Booksmith
4/17/10 Dallas, TX, at the Dallas Heritage Village

Blog and Newspaper Features, just in the last week!
Six Boxes of Books -- Depraved Deep Valley - Top Ten Ways Deep Valley High is Like Gossip Girls!
Here in the Bonny Glen -- Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Booking Mama (and Booking Daughter) -- Betsy and Tacy Books #3 and #4!
Mankato Free Press -- Betsy-Tacy's Back!
Book Chatter and Other Stuff -- Betsy-Tacy Review
Joelle Anthony -- In Celebration of Betsy-Tacy
My Books. My Life -- Betsy, Tacy and Tib Review
Lauren Mechling -- Betsy-Tacy Giveaway!

Now bring on the comments:
Zet, Zet, Zetamathian! Philo, Philo, Philomathian!

Betsy-Tacy Convert #3! Plus the Top Ten Ways Deep Valley High is Like Gossip Girls

I have made another Betsy-Tacy Convert! And to clarify -- these converts are not part of the Blog Tour, I'm not counting those as converts per se, even though many of them are falling in love with the series. Today's convert is Ti from Book Chatter and Other Stuff. Read on for her review of Betsy-Tacy, the first book in the series, which she read with her daughter. I can't wait to hear what they think of the rest of the series!

And speaking of Converts -- those of you participating in Betsy-Tacy Convert Week should be receiving your books, and finding out whether you're a Zet or a Philo! (and please forgive my mailing house, which put the Zets letter on orange paper, and I assume, the Philos one on blue, argh!).

As you prepare to go out and convert, take a look at today's hilarious post from Six Boxes of Books: The Top Ten Ways that Deep Valley High (where Betsy goes to high school) is Just Like Gossip Girls. If this doesn't entice a teen, I don't know what will!

Betsy-Tacy Convert #2!

I actually found this adorable blog post earlier this week and tweeted it, but I completely forgot about my initial Betsy-Tacy Convert theme here on BCG. In addition to the more than 200 people who have signed up to convert girls into Betsy-Tacy fans in the coming weeks, I'm also continually on the lookout for folks who become fans on their own. This six-year-old wrote a wonderful review of the first book in Maud Hart Lovelace's beloved series, Betsy-Tacy, on her very own blog, The Kids Booklog and since then, has also reviewed Betsy,Tacy and Tib (including the classic episode, Everything Pudding). Impressive in so many ways, not the least of which is, 6-year-olds have blogs!

Look What Just Arrived in My Office!

 

Two boxes filled to bursting with these actual finished books!!! Forgive the blurry picture, I took it with my phone, and am still awaiting arrival of Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself. I am GIDDY with excitement!

Announcing Betsy-Tacy Convert Week! SIGN UP DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 9/4!

On the off chance that you haven't heard from me via Facebook, Twitter or Maud L, or happen to be a Betsy-Tacy fan I have not yet found and stalked on numerous social media, I wanted to announce here that the week of 9/28, the week the reissued high school Betsy-Tacy books go on sale is also, officially, BETSY-TACY CONVERT WEEK!

What is this you ask? Well, inspired by the passion that so many Betsy-Tacy fans have for the series (I mean, seriously, more than 200 of us traveled to Mankato, MN for the weekend to visit the houses, dress up in character and play games!), I decided we should put it to work, so to speak, and deploy a BT Army of sorts to convert readers everywhere into Betsy-Tacy fans.

Here's how it will work.
1) You sign up by commenting to this post that you want to find and convert someone into a Betsy-Tacy fan (comment by end of day Friday Aug 28th -- DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4th!).
2) We'll split everyone into Deep Valley High School's rival student societies: Zetamathians and Philomathians, to tap into your competitive natures
3) We will send everyone who signs up a copy of Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself
4) You will then give that copy away to someone who doesn't know about the series who should - ideally a young girl who will grow up with the series, but it can be a mom, an aunt, or anyone really!
5) You post a comment here about who you gave it to, what you said, what they said, etc. and identify yourself as a Zet or a Philo (we'll let you know which one you are when you get the book)

I'll keep a sticky post at the top of Book Club Girl that entire week (or two) so that all the comments will be front and center and the first thing people see.

6) If you have other online platforms you ALSO:
- Tell your convert story on Facebook, and share it with the Betsy-Tacy Groups on Facebook
- Tweet your story
- Put it on Flickr
- Make a video and we'll help you put it on YouTube
- Blog about it on your blog
- The sky's the limit!
7) At the end of the conversion week, or two weeks, we'll tally how many Zets made converts and how many Philos made converts (I'll tally from commnts made here on BCG since it may be hard for me to find links to everything online).
8) The winning society will get a paver stone in their name, ala "For the Zetamathians Who Converted the Most Betsy-Tacy Fans Fall 2009" placed outside of Maud Hart Lovelace's childhood home in Mankato, MN

So what do you think? Can we all pretend that the on-sale week is like the Social Room the first week of school at Deep Valley High? Go up to the new kids and convert them! The most orange or blue bows at the end of the week win!

Big Day for Book Club Girl

Still riding the high of my nomination for Best Book Club blog from yesterday, I awoke this morning (a tad late due to last night's "meeting" at the pub where I learned way too much about the politics at my son's preschool), in any case, I awoke, and after stumbling downstairs and beginning to prepare my breakfast through unfocused eyes, I reached for my blackberry and realized that the article I'd been interviewed for was finally in Shelf Awareness! Read the article, about the upcoming Betsy-Tacy reissues and the timeless appeal of the books here. I was so thrilled and immediately started emailing it and tweeting it and saw that Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books had already sent it into the twitterverse, for which I am ever grateful.

As if that wasn't enough, later today I learned that Book Club Girl was also nominated Best Industry/Publishing blog by Book Bloggers Appreciation Week! What a thrill, I coudn't be happier. I can't wait to see the list of all the nominees, I have a pretty good sense from following #BBAW on Twitter, but it will be so nice to see the complete list in every category. And I'm sure I will discover some great new blogs as well!

Betsy-Tacy Convert Part 2!

LizB over at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy has read Betsy-Tacy books 5-8 and her review of them is now up! Head on over to learn about The Crowd, what high school was like in 1906 and how girls back then were just as obsessed as girls are now about their hair, their clothes and boys, while also thinking seriously about their passions, their religion, and what kind of person they want to grow up to be. The lovely Meg Cabot left a comment as well! I can't wait for Liz to read about Betsy's adventures after high school, in the Great World, and beyond.

Betsy-Tacy Convert!

I'm going to borrow a convention from the Maud-L listserv that I recently joined. The listserv is for fans of Betsy-Tacy and Maud Hart Lovelace and is filled with the most interesting and well-read women of all ages from all over the country. When one of them makes a convert to the Betsy-Tacy series, they send a message out to the list announcing it. So I have decided that when I find a great blog post about someone coming to the books for the first time I will share it here. Not only to spread the word, but to show my regular readers that I'm not alone in my obsession!

So welcome Liz B from A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy: you are my first blogger convert! Read Liz's review of Betsy-Tacy, Betsy Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill and Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. I can't wait to hear Liz's thoughts on books 5-10! In the meantime, you can also follow Liz B on Twitter.