Letter to Charlie #5
Dear Charlie,
I notice you haven’t replied to any of my letters.
I know that you are very busy. There’s the sleeping, eating, and going to the park. There’s the whole becoming a “person” and “figuring out the world”, etc. Not to mention practising your animal sounds.
I do see how busy you are.
So, maybe, you could post a comment? Just so I know you’re getting these?
Thanks, and
Much love,
Your Mum
I notice you haven’t replied to any of my letters.
I know that you are very busy. There’s the sleeping, eating, and going to the park. There’s the whole becoming a “person” and “figuring out the world”, etc. Not to mention practising your animal sounds.
I do see how busy you are.
So, maybe, you could post a comment? Just so I know you’re getting these?
Thanks, and
Much love,
Your Mum
10 Comments:
Do you want to know something strange? In all of my meager fifteen years of existence, I haven't learned as much about life than in the hours it takes me to devour everything you've written.
I remember I saw Year of the Secret Assignments (I can never remember where the 'the' goes, so forgive me, please, if I've misplaced it?) a few years ago on a side bookshelf in a... er, bookstore. And I just thought something like, well! It's a fire alarm and a smiley face, I must read this! And I loved it and I read it many times again. And then, at some point in time, I'm not sure when, I bought Feeling Sorry for Celia and The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie. I think I started reading them both and just sort of stopped. (A grave mistake on my part, I will admit.)
So then, a few weeks ago, I get an email from the school book club (that I never go to because they always meet on unfortunate days) saying the NEXT book they'd be reading would be Year of the Secret Assignments. I started clapping and gasping and I got up and told me teacher that I just couldn't believe the odds, and how I thought I was the only one who knew of you (I wasn't, apparently), and how, yes, this IS the book I did that project on last year. (I made your book into a movie poster. I hope you aren't upset.)
So THEN, I got home and I was thinking, "I think it is time I read this book again!" So I pulled it out, and I ended up not reading it again because I've already read it many, many times and it occurred to me that I still had two more of your books in my locker (also known as my overcrowded bookshelf, but still). And I read Bindy, first. And I thought it was the most magnificent thing I'd ever read, not only because it was so complex with the whole "Let's kill Bindy" thing, but also with how Bindy learns SO MUCH about herself.
And then with Celia. I have that book right in front of me, actually. A friend of mine said she liked the cover because the girl had her toenails pained a lovely shade of purple. But either way, it astonishes me each time I read something you've written how... real it is. Is that the right term? Hmm. I hope so.
And right now, I'm just thinking that it's very unfortunate that I can't drive a car yet and then buses are apparently unheard of unless it's a school bus because I want to go out and buy the rest of your books.
But honestly. I think you'd make a psychologist cry and quit their job before passing YOU their magical clipboard and telling you to make sure you're wearing socks, because your four o' clock patient has a foot fetish. You're better at explaining this whole "so THAT's what life is about, then?" thing than anyone else.
I think you should come on a US tour. I'm assuming you're in Australia now, but I may be wrong. But if you do decide, for some reason, to visit the US, then by all means, come along and have a jolly good time. Perhaps you're in the mood for some Georgia?
I feel bad, now. This post was about your son, and I've written a novel about NOT your son.
Your son's really cute, though.
Yours,
Hayley
Dear Mum,
Ah!
Love Charlie
I was reading Justine Larbalestier's blog and noticed a link to "Jaclyn Moriarty". So here I was, thinking, "hey, isn't that the person who wrote The Year of Secret Assignments?" And of course I clicked the link and hopped on over. (I'm fifteen too, Hayley! :)
Anyway, I read The Year of Secret Assignments a few years back, and absolutely adored it! It was amazing--I totally loved Charlie and Sebastian and the adventures of Cassie Lydia and Emily. Matthew Dunlop/Paul was an absolutely horrible person! It was really bizarre, but sometimes I stand in the washroom in front of the sink for a long time just thinking and staring and eventually exit without brushing my teeth. Anyway, reading that Cassie did that... it was so bizarre, but I totally felt a weird electric trill, like "wow, somebody else does that too." And that's also one indicator taht you're a true writer--such details that seem insignificant but have an enormous impact. I'm really glad that you put that scene in there.
So after that I really had to read Feeling Sorry for Celia and totally devoured that too. I espcially like how your other characters make cameo's. :) Very lovely.
Then last year, a bunch of my friends and I were all reading The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie, and that was absolutely wonderful! The mystery was a surprising but nice touch. "Cincinnati" was hilarious. I also really like how your characters go on journeys of self-discovery and transfer life lessons.
The bits of humour in your books are sometimes unexpected but adds to the novelty! <3 them.
This gives faith in literacy, that the world isn't coming to an end and that the sky (figuratively) isn't falling. Or rather, that the quality of writing isn't completely deteriorating. Being both a writer and lover of literacy, I must say, your books are amazing!
-Issy
(www.parasane.wordpress.com)
Yes, I love all of your Ashbury/Brookfield books. However, I have yet to read "I Have Made a Bed of Buttermilk Pancakes". I've heard it's really good, though, so I'll read it soon.
I think your letters to Charlie are so cute! Hopefully this blog doesn't disappear or something in the coming years, because surely he'll want to read the letters when he is older. How old is he now? A little over a year? I think so. Time certainly does fly.
Hello,
I'm Cleo and I'm 14. I live in London.
I absolutley loved 'Feeling Sorry for Celia' and I first picked it up because I like the lemon on the front. See you cna judge some good books by their covers!
I then bought 'Finding Cassie Crazy' cause I love your first book and strawberries. And finally 'Becoming Bindy Mackenzie' cause of cherries. So cool.
But, please write more books about Ashbury and Brookfield.
There are many things I love about your books but especially how they are not just written if you get me. They are written in the form of notes or letters or weird diaries. It makes it seem more real.
I also love how you use people from your last books who we all know as characters. But NOT THE MAIN ONES AGAIN. This is very clever. Like making Emily from 'Finding Cassie Crazy' go from sounding funny to sounding annoying to Bindie. I love it.
So please, please write more just for me (and all the others that like them). Not that many people seem to know about them but everyone I lend them to absolutley adores them. So now loads of people at my school like them.
Anyways, yours baby is proper cute and he would be proud of your books.
Bye! xxx
Jaclyn! I love you!!!!!
Now the embarrassing fangirl scenario is out of the way.. Just letting you know I'm in the middle of reading I Have a Bed Made of Buttermilk Pancakes, and completely loving it!
Have really enjoyed your other books too. You're definately entertaining.
Thank you!
And update your blog, its cute :]
Erin, Melbourne, Aus. xx
Hi Jaclyn,
I first read 'Feeling Sorry for Celia' a few years ago, I picked it up accidentally at a library and have been consistently picking it up ever since. I've tried to find copies of your other books and I must say what everybody else does--you are absolutely amazing. There are very few writers who can communicate the emotions and feelings just as they come!
I recently finished your sister's book 'Three Wishes' and I hope she understands how excellent that was, I certainly wish the writing gene ran in my family!
Anyway, your Charlie is incredibly lovely, and it's so wonderful to see little pictures and updates. :)
As as aside, I've done some writing recently, just some vignettes that I'm a bit shy to show some people...would you mind if I emailed it you? that would be amazing.
Anyway, stay healthy and happy, I can't wait to read more of your books (and blog!)
Aicha
Hayley, Charlie, Issy, Eleni, Cleo, Erin and Aicha, thank you so much for writing comments. You are all so generous, kind and wonderful. Hayley, I think it's great that you made my book into a movie poster and I'd LOVE to come to Georgia. I'll let you know the moment that I do. Charlie, thanks so much for writing finally. It's great to hear your voice. Cleo, I am also very fond of strawberries and cherries and, in combination with certain other foods such as fish and chips or maybe in a glass of iced water, lemons. Aicha, you are very welcome to e-mail me but it takes me a long, long time to read people's writing, months, even years, and I would not want my slowness to discourage you. Thanks again to everyone. I love your comments. Jaclyn.
ok, i have just read 'the spell book of listen taylor'. i think its some great work! im really looking foward to reading more of your books :) keep em coming :)
Steph, xo
Thanks Steph! That's very kind.
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