Monday, April 24, 2023

Judy Blume has her moment...and so should we all!




LUCY BURDETTE: John and I attended a fundraiser for the Tropic Cinema in Key West several weeks ago, the premiere of the movie based on Judy Bloom’s “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.” The stars came out, including Rachel McAdams who plays the mom, Barbara Simon, and Abby Ryder Fortson, who plays her daughter, Margaret. It was written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig who was also in attendance, along with several producers and Judy Blume herself who lives in Key West. We had a blast watching the limousines drive up and drop off the stars, who were then interviewed on Eaton Street by Entertainment Weekly. (I also spotted Jeffrey Brown of the PBS NewsHour and managed to get his attention long enough to tell him that as PBS superfans, we thought he was a real star, too.)




After the notables were settled, ticket-holders trooped into the three theaters to watch the screening. For those of you who haven’t read the book, it’s the story of a 12-year-old girl in suburban New Jersey, wrestling with both the onset of puberty and her feelings about boys, mean girls, and religion. It’s been the target of numerous attempts at book banning since it was published in 1970. I was a little too old to have reaped the benefits of reading that book when I was going through puberty (my parents were mortally embarrassed by the topic,) but it’s hard to imagine wanting to ban a book or movie that helps confused teenagers understand rocky transitions.

(FYI, attempts to ban books have doubled over the past year.) 

One of my favorite parts of the evening was watching how much Judy (who is 85) enjoyed the experience. She maintains that she’s finished writing, and is focusing now on the bookstore that she and her husband were instrumental in founding. But Margaret was her third published book, and I think she had given up on ever seeing it filmed. Watching how happy she was, I imagined this might have been one of the peak moments of her long career.

Can you picture what a peak moment in your life and or career might be? (Maybe some of us have already had it!) (Here was one of mine:)

 
Lucy with Judy B at Books and Books


HALLIE EPHRON: I LOVE Judy Blume!! So jealous, Lucy.

My goal is modest. I’d like to walk to the bathroom on an airplane or Amtrak and pass someone who’s engrossed, reading one of my books. In hard cover. It has happened once, but I knew the person so that didn’t count.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: My career highlight so far might seem funny - it’s an editing experience. My manuscript was running behind (surprise!) and in danger of losing its slot on the publication schedule, so my then-editor and I hatched an idea. I had to come to NYC for a marketing meeting; I would stay an extra day and we would do the edit together in person. I arrived at the Flatiron building at 9am; in order to be undisturbed, we were allowed to use Thomas Dunne’s office - he was away. This was on the 17th floor, at the very tip of the triangular building, with spectacular views of Broadway, 5th Avenue, and the expanse of midtown.

My editor sat at the huge monitor on one side of the desk, and I sat with the printed manuscript at the other, and we went through the whole book, page by page, with me dictating changes while she added them in to the computer. We ordered out for lunch, and then for dinner, and I got to see the sunlight shift and slide over Manhattan until it disappeared and a million lights came on. We finished a little after ten that night. She had ordered the car service to take me back to my hotel; I remember sitting in the luxurious back seat, watching the streets fall away, feeling like a character in a movie about a writer in New York. It was an extraordinary, one-time-only experience, and I’m so glad I had it.

JENN McKINLAY: I feel like the plow horse here. LOL. I haven’t had a peak moment yet. I’m hopeful that someday I will, so I keep writing. If Judy had to wait that long then I guess I can be patient.

As for Judy Blume’s books, I was too young to be one of her readers – although I do remember a battered paperback copy of Forever - the pertinent parts highlighted in yellow - being passed around on my school bus by the older kids. So many of her books have been challenged and it’s just crazy because it’s not like parents were telling their kids the facts of life back then. Sheesh! I’m delighted the movie has been made. As Lizzo says, “About damn time.”

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, Lucy, that sounds amazing! I was too old for Judy Blume, but I see the adoration, and that’s so lovely. Hm, like Jenn, I’m thinking/hoping that the transcendent moment is still to come. I have had some wonderful amazing times, though. Like once, at a book event, someone tapped me on the shoulder, and said “Will you sign your book for me?” And I turned around, and it was SUE GRAFTON.

RHYS BOWEN: I remember my daughter asking if she could read Are You There God because it was controversial at the time. I let her, of course.

And I’ve had more than my share of career highlights: 3 Edgar nominations have been amazing. Guest of honor at conventions. And being #1 on Kindle was heady. However I don’t feel I’ve ever written that definitive book, the one that will last and people will say “ Oh Rhys Bowen. She wrote xxx.” Maybe that’s wishful thinking.

LUCY: Oh no Rhys, reach for the stars!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: What a fun event that must have been, Lucy, and I love that Judy is so committed to her bookshop. I remember you taking me there the first time I visited Key West.

As for career highlights, I suppose I'd include getting an Edgar nomination for Dreaming of the Bones (although I was much too nervous to enjoy the banquet) and finding out that The Sound of Broken Glass had debuted in the top ten in the New York Times. I was in a hotel room somewhere on book tour and ordered a half bottle of champagne with my very glamorous room service dinner. I still keep the cork in my carry-on bag.

Lucy again: Your turn Red readers...can you describe a peak life moment, or do you have one in mind? If you don't like that question, we'd love to hear any Judy Blume or banned books stories!
 

73 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is so amazing, Lucy!
    I don't have any banned book stories, but I love Judy Blume, so maybe that counts for something? As for peak moments, teachers get to have lots of special moments with each group of children they teach . . . .

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peak moment: going on my first international trip to France. Never thought that would happen.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I went to a library event as Daniel Palmer was there and it was shortly after I had surgery on my neck and I had this gear on so that I couldn't move my neck at all. He was impressed that I would come out to listen to him and get his autograph after all I had been through. I've been a fan of his for years and of his Dad's before him.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't won any accolades or guest appearances at conferences, so my books have been modest little peaks, but getting published is always a buzz for me. But I suppose the real thrills have been travel, which I never expected to do when I was young. The first time I went to India and met my husband's family opened up a whole world to me (and I love India!) And I had always wanted to go to Paris, so when we did and saw original works by the Impressionists, well, that was swoon time for me. Likewise seeing London and all the wonderful museums and some terrific plays (including The Mousetrap.) Then Galicia, Spain, and now Braga, Portugal (where we finally moved.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meanwhile, I was teaching when the Judy Blume books first came out, and the kids loved her books. I read most of them and was heartened at the realistic themes she wrote about. Wonderful stories and wonderfull writer. So glad for her to see this one made into a film.

      Elizabeth

      Delete
    2. Yes getting a book published is a wonderful moment--and sounds like you've enjoyed every bit of your travel adventures!

      Delete
  6. I don't have any Judy Blume stories.

    And I don't have any banned book stories where I'm an active participant. I will remind everyone that if someone is trying to ban books, they are the enemy they are looking for.

    And frankly, if you try to tell me there's a book I can't read should I have the desire to do so, you are sure to learn just how much I don't play well with others when the ire is raised.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My Judy Blume memory was rally about my seven-year-old daughter. I was in graduate school then and reading a lot of children's books but I had not yet a certain one of Judy's. I didn't think twice when my daughter picked it up to read it. Then she showed me a passage in the book, a very frank description of what happens in sex. She had two questions for me. First of all she wanted to know if it was true. I said it was. Then she wanted to know if her brother, two years older knew. I said he didn't. She got a very smug expression on her face; conversation over.

    So I learned that maybe I should have read the book first so I would be prepared. I'm pretty sure I would not have prevented her from reading it. As far as I am concerned that would be an excellent way to get a kid to seek out and read a book!

    But Lucy, just the other day I heard on a news program that JB did not want a movie made from the book for at least 50 years. Do you know if that is true or was it an error in translation, for lack of a better reason? Actually, I think right now is the perfect time for such a movie. And to be premiered in Florida!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is true--she was very protective of this book. This writer/producer team convinced her they could do it justice. And we need it desperately right now!

      Delete
  8. My kids must have read this, as I know we had a couple of Blume books. The clip took me back! My mother reacted exactly the same way when I begged for a bra. And the girls chanting "we must" reminded me of my best friend's Mark Eden Bust Developer. Oh, man.

    Gosh, Jenn, they weren't giving girls the facts of life, still, when you were that age?

    High points? Snorkeling with Galapagos penguins, thanks to my newly improved eyesight. The true miracle of LASIK: the moment in the operating room when I realized my 20/1100 vision was now 20/30.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LASIK is so life-changing! I got mine 26 years ago, and though I’ve started wearing glasses for driving, it’s still a far cry from my former 20/horrible vision.

      Delete
    2. I had mine done in late 2000, and am still marveling, Lisa!

      Delete
  9. I read about this movie in the Boston Globe yesterday, Roberta. How great you got to see the premiere! What did you think of the movie? I was also too old for Blume and have never read her. I'd like to remedy that.

    Top moments? Winning an Agatha was pretty great. Having people stop me in my town to say, "Are you the author?!" is too. I'd love to be nominated for an Edgar (the Mary Higgins Clark or Sue Grafton award included there) and to make the NYT bestseller list, but if that doesn't happen, I'm good. When readers report that my book got them through a hard emotional time or a hospital stay, that's all I need (as well as the ever-increasing royalty checks).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We like the movie very much--each of the actors was perfect for those roles. That's a perfect high moment Edith, someone telling you a book helped get them through a rough moment.

      Delete
  10. This is so great. Congratulations to Judy Blume! I was too old when the book came out, but my mom was a children's librarian, so I remember discussing the book (which she loved).

    I can't think of a top career moment. I was awarded the Supervisor of the Year award one year, but it was for doing contract bargaining, rather than for doing the 9-1-1 job.

    A more general peak moment: Watching sandhill cranes return at sunset to a small lake in west Texas. I still use that image in meditation. So amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I remember reading Judy Blume's books. Good for her.

    Supposedly, my top career achievement was being named co-receipient of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore and 1800 other climate change scientists writing the United Nations climate change assessments. I got a nice plaque and the award was listed as a bullet on the last page of my CV. In truth, getting the award had no impact on my research career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But still. Congratulations, Grace!

      Delete
    2. Grace, why do you say supposedly ? You certainly can be very proud of this achievement.
      At the bottom of your heart, Is there one that was more important to you ?
      Danielle

      Delete
    3. OMG Grace. Well done, you. Career impact or no, don't you feel just teensy bit chuffed?

      Delete
    4. Well, I'm impressed. Being even a part of a Nobel Peace Prize is an astounding achievement.

      Delete
    5. But still, what an honor and we're proud to have you here!

      Delete
    6. A Nobel Price co recipient? Wow, Wow, Wow! I am impressed and glad we have people out there who do important work and get recognition.

      Delete
    7. Grace, I join with all your friends here in saying how incredible your achievements. I am so overjoyed to know this about you!

      Delete
    8. Grace, I think that's amazing! We are all proud of you!

      Delete
    9. THANKS EVERYONE! I'm late in seeing all these kind thoughts since I just arrived home from a weekend getaway to Montreal. True, not many people can say they're a Nobel prize co-recipient. And yes, the research we did is important. But frankly, there were other climate change projects I worked on for Environment Canada that were high points of my career, including leading an all-female team on a groundbreaking urban drought project.

      Delete
    10. Wow! What a peak! Elizabeth

      Delete
    11. Grace that's incredible. Client scientists are true heroes who have been trying to move us in the right direction for so long.

      Delete
  12. I love this topic, Lucy! Reds, thank you all for sharing high points in your lives. I have had several, and although they seem mundane to report here, a few had to do with my reception after having delivered impassioned speeches in front of large groups of like-minded pro choice audiences.

    I was too old for Judy Blume and I don't think that my son, who was a voracious reader, read any if her books when he was young. I was/am, however, aware of the controversy surrounding her works. It makes me shutter to think of the people who are allowed to set standards for the rest of us while their own depravity is frequently spotlighted on the news. "If you are not outraged, then you haven't been paying attention. "

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so hard not to notice here in Florida Judy, we're glad to have JB on our side--and you too!

      Delete
  13. I have not (yet) read Judy Blume, but will now. I love that, at 85, she remains actively involved in getting good books into the hands of readers. The film looks terrific.

    I don't have a peak life moment -- but what an interesting question to ponder on this Monday morning.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read virtually all of JB's books when my daughter read them. Might need to go back and reread now. (GRACE CONGRATULATIONS!! Wow.)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I had to chuckle at Rhys's comment about wanting to write one book "...that will last and people will say 'Oh Rhys Bowen. She wrote xxx.'" Of course it's too soon to say anything about their lasting power, but Rhys, you have written so many stellar historical novels that your name is already practically the standard for a subset of the genre. It feels to me like every third book I pick up that's set in the WWII era invokes your name. "For readers of Rhys Bowen," or :If you love Rhys Bowen". Rhys, I think you are much closer to your goal that you realize!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said, Susan! And to me, the Georgie books set a standard for humor and historical 1930's Britain's atmosphere; the Molly books for insight into turn of the 20th Century NY.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  16. Too old for Judy Blume's books, but have been aware of how controversial her subject matter has always been. 85? So happy for her that this movie has been made, and yes, it needs to be seen in Florida, for sure. I work part-time at our local library--love getting books into people's hands--or movies--or helping them on the computers. But even though we're a small town, I still worry a little when a stranger comes into the library. But it doesn't stop us from displaying the books we want--and we aren't pulling any books off the shelves either.

    As for career highlights, I presented papers at local, regional, national and international conferences, and looking back, that life seems like a world away. But one of the best moments came when I was a lowly TA, teaching physical anthropology to a class of mostly freshmen. I was concerned when we reached the genetics portion of the class, because I had a student who clearly had a genetic anomaly. I was terrified of offending him. But at the end of the lecture, he came up to me and thanked me. He said he'd never understood his condition, but I had explained the genetics so clearly and now he understood. It was as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I don't think I've had a peak moment -- yet.

    I read all Judy's books because of course my parents wouldn't dream of saying, "No, you can't read that." I very much remember being engrossed in Are You there God. The other one that stuck with me is Tiger Eyes. I'm so glad a movie of Are You There God is coming out. I hope they haven't screwed it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No I don't think they did Liz! they did increase the roles of the mother and grandmother, to appeal to early readers but it's well done. We loved Margaret herself.

      Delete
  18. Never, ever did I think that books would be banned in the United States. I’m frightened.

    I was too old for Judy Blume’s books, and I’ve never read any. However, a couple of years after the Margaret book was published, an elderly nun who was a friend of some friends, highly praised the book and recommended that people of all ages should read it. I think I bought it but it ended up on my TBR pile. I don’t know if I still have it. It might have been one of the many books I’ve donated over the years. Now I want to read it.

    DebRo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, scary times DebRo. We dare not retire from speaking up!

      Delete
  19. What a great essay! I had no idea Judy Blume was involved in Book and Books - is that part of Mitch Kaplan's franchise? I knew him well when I lived in Miami. I can't imagine a better association than Judy and Mitch! I'm too old for the Blume books, but I bought them for my niece and goddaughter who loved them.

    Peak moment, I've had many, but I'm still waiting for the apex and I hope it concerns my writing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go Kait! Yes the Books and Books here is connected to the others, but it's a nonprofit

      Delete
  20. I have a new life goal after seeing those pictures, Lucy - I want to look as happy and vibrant as Judy Blume does when I'm 85!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I too was too old to read Judy Blume books, but of course I've heard of her forever! How lucky I was to have parents who let me read anything I wanted! As for peak moments--I am afraid I was not there for mine. My boss was giving an important keynote talk at an important conference in Paris, and she was accosted by an earnest French scholar who asked her if she was me!!! I guess I am glad I wasn't there; I would have been completely tongue tied.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I grew up on Judy’s books in the 70s and wore them out. So happy she is having a moment now!

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a great review Lucy. I love your comment to Jeffery Brown. My daughter was a Judy Blume fan when she was young.
    I was just thinking about banned books and thought what if we banned all books that negatively portrayed Germans living in the 1930-40's? What if Anne Frank has been banned? What if Germany decided they didn't want their white folk to feel "bad" and banned all history related to the Holocaust?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I fear that things like that could be coming...

      Delete
    2. AC, I think that Germany kind of did that for a while and a whole generation of Germans grew up without being exposed to that history. Perhaps not banned but ignored. Like the FL gov wants to ignore slavery here. It does happen.

      Delete
  24. Lucy, you are blessed to have met Judy Blume!

    Judy Blume is a family favorite. We read God, Are You There? it's Me, Margaret (if I recall the title).

    No one, IMHO, is too old to read Judy Blume books. I still enjoy reading books that are written for children, tweens and teens.

    Instead of banning books, Why not use this as opportunities to teach or point out problems like Racism or whatever it is in these books?

    Diana

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wonderful essay, Roberta! I never read the Blume books, but I loved the film preview. Both books and film are now on my list.

    As for the terrifying book banning, we have local elections coming up. I urge everyone to support the sane people running for your school boards and city councils. Fortunately we have some of those and I hope the local book-banners will be out-voted...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Where to begin? I love Judy Blume for so many different reasons. First, my kids who were born in 1983 and 1987 were readers of her Fudge series of books, and I read some of the books to them, too. The Pain and the Great One was a picture book about a big sister and little brother (which my kids were) describing one another. There were follow-up books to this one, but it was The Pain and the Great One that will always be special to us. My daughter read Tiger Eyes and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Judy is an amazing storyteller for all ages.

    And, while I dearly love all the children's and young adult/teen books, the book that resonated with me the most is Judy's Places I Never Meant to Be. This book came out of Judy's experiences with censorship, which have been so many, and her beginning relationship with the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). In part as a tribute to Leanne Katz, the first executive director of NCAC (who was very ill at the time) and in response to Judy's growing concern about censorship, not only of her books. The book consists of twelve short stories from successful but censored authors and comments on their experience with censorship. There is a great introduction from Judy on what she had gone through with censorship up until that point, 2001. I was working on my Masters in Library Science in my late 40's, early 50s, and I focused a lot on censorship of YA and children's literature. Places I Never Meant to Be was instrumental in my interest.

    Judy Blume points out 1980 as a major shifting point in book censorship, with attack after attack on her books and those of fellow authors. In PINMtoB, Judy discusses how it began to affect writers' work, making many more cautious as to what they put in their books. She expresses the thought that it's the books that will never be written due to fear of censorship that she worries so much about. The 80s is when Judy became pro-active against censorship and joined up with the NCAC. She has worked tirelessly on this matter, and I'm glad she's taking time now to enjoy her bookstore. I know it must sadden her greatly that the state in which she lives has enacted laws to censor books. If it seems like it's gotten worse, it has.

    My experience in a school library with censorship was disturbing. Not all censorship is done openly. We call it convert censorship, and it usually occurs when a book is just quietly removed from the shelf in a library. Now, I would be the first to defend librarians as the heroes on the front lines of the battle against censorship, but in this instance, they did something at which I was appalled. I was doing my practicum for my Masters program in a local high school when a student asked me to help her locate The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, first published in 1999. I tracked the book down to someone who had failed to return it and talked to that person. She returned the book. I had kept the two librarians in the loop on this, and when the book was returned, they decided not to put it back out. Yes, it's a controversial book, but there hadn't even been a challenge to it from any parents. They simply decided it wasn't appropriate material. I was gobsmacked, but I had no authority to do anything. All I could do is tell the student who wanted the book where to buy it.

    Now, back to a Judy Blume moment. My daughter taught elementary school in Key West during the 2006/2007 school year. She knew how much I admired and adored Judy Blume, and when Judy came to the school on a visit, my daughter had her sign a book for me. One of the best presents I've ever received. I would love to meet Judy in person, so I should probably get myself to Key West soon.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Since my comments were too long to include these links, I'm posting them here.
    Here are a few links to Judy Blume.
    Judy Blume's web site is fantastic and contains so much interesting information, including her dealings with censorship. https://judyblume.com/

    A short NPR piece about Judy Blume with links to continued readings. https://www.npr.org/2023/04/21/1171363516/judy-blume-has-never-been-afraid-to-speak-her-mind

    rom Judy Blume's web site, her page on censorship with links to more material, including her introduction to Places I Never Meant to Be. https://judyblume.com/judy-blume-on-censorship/

    ReplyDelete
  28. Judy was interviewed on Terry Gross today, too! I only caught the end - am going to go back and hear the whole thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edith, I had that pop up on my phone. I want to listen to it later.

      Delete
  29. Ah, Rhys, look what happens when you let your daughter read what she wants . . . she grows up to become your co-author. <3 Your body of work is such that people won't be able to name only one.
    One of my own best moments was when a student said I'd shown her she could express herself in writing as she did in dance.
    Judy Blume's books were gifts to young readers. Many of my students were big fans, and I seem to recall Scholastic book orders for them, way back when. H/T to all the writers who help make sense of life.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This isn't at all original but it's true: my peak life moment was the birth of Peter's and my son Thomas when I was 38 and we didn't think we'd be able to have any children. My peak being-a-writer moment (besides finding out that Seventh Street Books wanted to publish my first Polizei Bern novel) was walking home from the bus stop and having a young woman stop me and say, "Aren't you the American in the neighborhood who wrote that mystery?" And then she spent ten minutes beaming at me and telling me how much she'd enjoyed PESTICIDE and why. I was so touched! That was a real highlight.

    ReplyDelete