August 14, 2009 – The 1945 Roald Dahl short-story classic involving but not limited to a turtle, a yogi, and a terrible swan song. (When I began this essay, I realized I had a few things to say about boys' books and girls' books and how much I've had to talk about them AGAINST MY WILL, but I went on for 19 hours and... More »
A Summer To Die: The Nature Of Unleaving
July 31, 2009 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature in which we give a wrinkled look at the books we loved as youth. Today, Lizzie Skurnick rereads Lois Lowry's tearjerker 'A Summer to Die', in which — More »
Fine Lines Quiz Spectacular: Partial Coverage
July 21, 2009 – I'm not sure if you've heard anything about it but...our old, wrinkled pensive Fine Lines feature has spawned a brightly covered book, 'Shelf Discovery, out today! More »
A Taste Of Blackberries: Only The Goofs Die Young
July 10, 2009 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature in which we give a wrinkled look at the books we loved as youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick rereads Doris Buchanan Smith's A Taste of Blackberries', which gave readers everywhere a fear of hives. In the children's literature pantheon of those who die too soon,... More »
Little Women: The Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves
June 26, 2009 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature in which we give a wrinkled look at the books we loved in our youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick rereads 'Little Women', Louisa May Alcott's 1868 uber-girl guide to solace through sacrifice and scrubbing. • • • • • "Christmas won't be Christmas... More »
Down A Dark Hall: Getting The Spirit In The Dark
June 5, 2009 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature in which we give a wrinkled look at the YA books we loved as youth. Today, Lizzie Skurnick rereads Down A Dark Hall, Lois Duncan's thriller about a residence where artists can really colonize. They had been driving since dawn, and for the past two hours, since... More »
Nothing’s Fair In Fifth Grade: Pleading The Fifth
May 22, 2009 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a far more wrinkled look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick rereads 'Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade', Barthe DeClements 1981 classic about weight loss, multiplication and mean, mean... More »
Kinflicks: Coming To Rest
May 15, 2009 – It's time for another edition of 'Shelf Pleasuring', in which we revisit the sexiest books we stole off our parents' shelves. Today, Fine Lines proprietrix Lizzie Skurnick writes about 'Kinflicks', Lisa Alther's 1976 spine-teaser. My family has always been into death. More »
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret: How Have I Not Written About This Book Yet?
May 1, 2009 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature where we give a sentimental look at the YA books we loved in our youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick tackles Judy Blume's 'Are You There God? More »
Rabbits, Witches, Updike, Bitches
November 21, 2008 – Hi all! I was a little burned out—100K words' worth burned, let's say—on YA for a Fine Lines, and my Shelf Pleasuring transmuted itself into a work on the sequel without my doing. More »
The Long Winter: Cold Comfort; Or, In Which I Don’t Even Try To Fight The Metaphor
October 10, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Hangin’ Out With Cici: Time Outs
October 3, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Remember Me: After Birth, After Life
September 26, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
A Ring Of Endless Light: Eros, Thanatos; Now, Where The Hell Is That Dolphin?
September 19, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Sister of the Bride: Veiled Messages
September 5, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Bridge To Terabithia: Troubling The Waters
August 29, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Flowers In The Attic: He Ain’t Sexy, He’s My Brother
August 22, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
A Little Princess: Reversal Of Four Buns
August 15, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Tiger Eyes: Cuando Los Lagartijos Corren
August 8, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
Homecoming: A Dicey Prospect
August 1, 2008 – Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a sentimental, sometimes-critical, far more wizened look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. More »
