Epiphanies of a Middle-Aged Princess

Consequently, I spend most of my time pointing out the merits of others. Consider, for example, Professor Matthew Williner, who see image below recently gave a lecture at Duke Divinity School, co-sponsored by Duke's art history department. Posted by millinerd at 5: Monday, January 05, The Epiphany Curve. This holiday The Atlantic's readers The Real Roots of Midlife Crisis breathed sighs of yuletide relief, assuring themselves that the mid-life crisis they have had, are having, or look forward to having would inevitably result in a biologically determined sextogenerian rebound.

Not one to waste time, I aim to apply the insights.

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Wisdom, said article relates, is merely? Hitherto known as the three wise men, I will henceforth refer to them as the three "older people [who] compensate for deterioration in specific regions of the brain by recruiting additional neural networks in other regions—an increase in so-called neuroplasticity that compensates for cognitive decline and perhaps brings other benefits. It's not that the findings are inaccurate I'm unqualified to say , or that neurology is unhelpful it availeth much , or that it's a bad article I admit I appreciated much of it.

Nor is it that the findings, as the article at one point concedes, are anything new. But what they are is upside down. Indeed, the history of art has long asserted that the arc of life is indeed curved: So when he comes for a visit, she hides out in the swamp and meets a frog that promises he's really a prince.

Emma eventually agrees to kiss him so that he can regain his true form. Neither of them were prepared for her to turn into a frog instead. Emma soon learns that a frog's life, while it has its own rewards, is one fraught with danger. Outsmarting a witch that wants their toes and tongu Ages: Outsmarting a witch that wants their toes and tongues, the castle dogs, a hungry otter, and a cantankerous swamp fairy, Emma does what it takes to return to her human size.

Along the way she meets new friends and learns about the power of a kiss. I loved how this book took fairy tale conventions and turned them on their heads. It's a fun read, and Emma is an engaging character. I also liked learning what it would be like to be a frog.

Baker isn't afraid to torture her characters, which makes for some great reading. The only thing I would change about this is the tone. Sometimes it felt a little too modern for me. I like my fantasy to feel like it's from far away and long ago, but not archaic. I give this 5 stars Dec 30, Jessica rated it liked it. Would it surprise you if I told you that I read this just because I felt like it? That means you know my reading style well!

I love Middle Grade, I love fairy tales, and I can't resist anything that has a princess involved, so this book was something perfect for a quick read. I loved the fact that Princess Emeralda was a "I can do it myself" kind of girl, and that situations allowed her to do just that.

I also very much appreciated the adorable twist that E.

Baker put on the whole fro Would it surprise you if I told you that I read this just because I felt like it? Baker put on the whole frog prince story, while still staying true to the feeling of the original. This was a sweet, quick read that was a lot of fun to listen to. It was just exciting enough, without being too scary, and actually really well paced.

It helps, of course, that Katherine Kellgren narrates this audio book. I adore her voice, and this was no exception. To the surprise of no one, I didn't really love the prince. He was whiny, mostly self-centered, and rough to like. I suppose it was good that he was though, because his inability to really be front and center during any big moments made Emeralda shine!

Still, that meant the romance didn't really work out for me, even though I knew it was the whole point of this fairy tale. I know this is Middle Grade, but I still maintain that a princess has every right to be picky! No one wants a whiny prince. This would be excellent for a bedtime read between parents and their kids! Ia begitu kikuk di situasi-situasi sosial serta takut berbicara di depan umum. Sementara Pangeran Jorge begitu anggun, tampan dan egois. Wajar jika Emeralda merasa heran mengetahui mereka dijodohkan, tidak ada persamaan diantara mereka. Agar bisa menghindari perjodohan, Putri E "Bersediakah kau mendapat kehormatan untuk menciumku?

Agar bisa menghindari perjodohan, Putri Emeralda pergi ke rawa-rawa. Putri Emeralda memang sering mengunjungi rawa-rawa.

The Frog Princess

Siapa yang mengira kunjungannya saat itu malah membuatnya celaka. Alih-alih menghindar dari perjodohan dengan Pangeran Jorge, Putri Emeralda malah berubah menjadi seekor katak! Semula ia hanya ingin berbaik hati mencium seorang ups…. Seperti yang diyakini banyak orang, peyihir berhati jahat mengubah seorang pangeran tampan menjadi seekor katak.

Untuk bsia kembali menjadi manusia, hanya butuh ciuman tulus seorang putri. Demikan juga dengan sang pangeran. Kebetulan putri yang ditemuinya adalah Puteri Emeralda. Mencium seekor katak memang tidak terlalu buruk bagi Putri Emeralda.

Bibir si katak terasa dingin dan halus menekan bibirnya. Sensaninya tidak terlalu buruk. Namun yang terjadi sesudah itu yang membuat Putri Emeralda sangat terkejut. Sang putri merasa pening dan tidak bisa memfokuskan pengliatannya. Walau lambat laun bias, namun yang segalanya tampak berbeda. Warna-warna lebih indah dan bervariasi! Lubang hidungnya mengembang saat mencium bau sayuran busuk. Kakinya melekat pada tubuh yang gempal, pendek serta memiliki kulit burik berwarna hijau.

Putri Emeralda berubah menjadi seekor katak! Bukan main kesalnya hati sang putri! Alih-alih menolong, malah ia celaka. Berubah menjadi katak juga. Sepasang pangeran dan putri yang menjadi katak bersatu bahu membahu mencari cara untuk menjadi manusia kembali.

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Namun jangan mengira, perjalanan mereka penuh dengan aneka adegan romantis dan sendu! Walau mereka akrab karena merasa senasib, namun tetap saja tidak membuat mereka rukun. Baca saja adegan saat sang putri belajar menangkap lalat untuk pertama kali. Sang putri kesilitan menarik dan menggulung lidahnya yang keluar untuk menyambar lalat!

Bukannya memberikan petujuk, Pangeran Eadric malah mentertawakannya. Atau bagaimaan kesalnya sang putri karena pangeran selalu merayu untuk mendapakan ciuman lagi, siapa tahu malah berubah menjadi manusia. Bagaimana saya tidak mau tertawa keras, melupakan sopan-santun! Membaca bagaimana Emeralda membersihkan kaki lalat kering yang tersangkut di bibir Eadrick sebelum menciumanya. Bayangkan bagaimana eskpersi wajah sang putri menahan jijik melihat Eadrick dengan santainya melalap lalat yang berterbangan, ih……..!

Atau saat Eadrick dengan rakusnya memakan semua cacing yang diberikan oleh perempuan jahat. Namun seiring waktu, mereka mulai menjadi sahabat karib. Hari-hari menjadi katak telah mengajari Putri Emeralda banyak hal. Rawa-rawa sungguh tempat ajaib dimana kehidupan yang tua dapat berakhir dan kehidupan baru dapat mengalami berbagai ekjadian tak terduga, dimana teman dan pahlawan dapat muncul dalam berbagai wujud, di mana hidup bisa begitu indah, bahkan bagi seorang putri yang kikuk!

Untung ada Bibi Grassina, bibi Putri Emeralda yang menjadi penyihir. Apa hubungannya dengan berang-berang? Di salah satu buku, malah katak itu hidup dari tahun sekian dan baru akibat keisengan seorang gadis, di tahun ia kembali menjadi manusia. Buku ini jelas sangat berbeda dengan yang lainnya. Buku ini membuat saya tertawa lepas! Saat menunggu waktu upacara dimulai di Depok, saya kembali membaca untuk menuntaskan buku ini. Bisa dibayangkan apa yang terjadi! Melihat saya tertawa lepas tida perduli orang sekitar, bebarapa rekan kerja tertarik untuk mengintip apa yang saya baca.

Kami jadi tertawa bersama-sama. Hingga upaca berlangsung, beberapa rekan masih tertawa-tawa kecil mengingat hal lucu yang dibaca dalam buku ini. Kebetulan hal-hal yang saya anggap perlu dijadikan point dalam repiu saya beri tanda. Sehingga kami hanya perlu mencari halaman yang sudah diberi tanda dan tertawa lepas bersama-sama.

Selesai upacara, gagal rencana saya untuk segera meluncur ke toko buku favorit saya. Rekan-rekan yang tadi mengintip buku saya kembali meminta saya menceritakan satu atau dua hal kocak yang ada dalam buku ini. Seharusnya mereka membeli supaya bisa tertawa seperti saya! Saya percaya segala sesuatu memang sudah ada waktunya.

Misalnya, saat saya merasa kesal kehujanan, lalu basah kuyup, kedinginan maka pasti sebuah paket dari Bapak dan Ibu Peri buku sudah ada sebagai obat pelipur lara. Hari Jumat yang lalu, sudah kehujanan, kedinginan, dua kali diturunkan dari angkot karena sepi penumpang, lalu sampai rumah mendapat kejutan yang tidak menyenangkan dari jagoan. Saat hendak menuju ke kamar mandi, di meja rias tergeletak 2 paket!

Bayangkan 2 buah paket dari Bapak dan Ibu Peri! Buku ini bener2 menghibur! View all 5 comments. Jun 28, Linda rated it liked it Shelves: May 23, cookiemonger rated it did not like it Shelves: This book has a great idea behind it. It's a shame that the writing is so clumsy, and that its characters range from blah to toxically unlikeable. This, I'd have to blame on the stilted, impressively awful dialogue. I find it mystifying that some people have said that the vocabulary seems "above" or "beyond" the target audience.

Maybe I'm a genius of vocabulary or something, but I thought that it was below the level of other books such as Redwall or even Fablehaven. Nothing against those people w This book has a great idea behind it. Nothing against those people who did feel this way, it just strikes me as odd. Perhaps my biggest problem with this book was that it didn't seem dedicated to its own setting.

Descriptive asides were out of place and clearly meant to dazzle without contributing much else. The main character didn't act like even a castle pet, let alone a princess. Her first person narrative just sounded like an obnoxious brat from a contemporary setting. I would not have been surprised if she had mentioned Justin Bieber or Twilight. A good deal of behaviours and reactions struck against my logic shield and fried, such as her early insistence that an unseen character is totally icky when we only ever have her word for it.

In fact, her voice was so pervasive throughout that it rendered some characters female or genderless to me, as they merely sounded like her. I had had this book recommended to me from a reliable source. This book, and likely this series, does not compare. Jun 01, Meg McGregor rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Frog Princess is the first in a series of eight books! I have read this at least three times and just finished the fourth read!

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You know, it was better than all the other times I have read this book! In this story, Princess Emma goes into the swamp by her castle because she loves to explore it! The day the story begins, she is there as a way of avoiding her suitor, Prince Jorge whom she absolutely deplores! Little does she know that she will meet the love, I mean Prince Eadric was transformed into a frog because he said some rather unflattering comments to a witch.

Not exactly the smartest thing to do as he finds out. He has been searching high and low for a princess to kiss him. And it is his lucky day because, after some very witty and humorous dialogue, he gets Emma to kiss him! But, Emma is wearing a bracelet that repels magic, given to her by her Aunt Grassina, the powerful and kind Green Witch!

Instead of turning Eadric back to a prince, Emma becomes a frog! How they finally get back to their original selves is at times perilous, heartfelt, and very funny! I am already reading the next book in the series! Sep 23, Megan Reilly rated it really liked it. A few days ago,I finshed reading an incredible story called, The Frog Princess. The book by E. Baker takes place in an enchanted kingdom. Emma, the main character, kisses a frog who claims he is a prince, his name was Eadric. There were many bumps along the way for Emma and Eadric.

For example, Emma kissed Eadric and turned herself into a frog! In order to turn the both of them back they needed to find the witch who put the spell on Eadric. They also met many new friends like Li'l Stinker, a bat, and Fang, a snake. I loved the book. It makes you fell like you are in the medievil times!

I also found myself wanting my own prince charming!!! This book is a great story for children. It will sweep them off there feet! Nov 04, Abigail rated it liked it Shelves: Princess Emma believes she is the worst princess and witch in all of Greater Greensward, and when she is told she has to marry a shellfish prince she runs of into a swamp only to find a frog who claims he is a prince and a kiss from her would turn him human again. But after a kiss from the prince she turns into a frog. So they go off on an adventure to turn human again! They make Eadric look like a pig in some parts yet in other parts he's sweet as can be.

I recommend this book to girls who are Princess Emma believes she is the worst princess and witch in all of Greater Greensward, and when she is told she has to marry a shellfish prince she runs of into a swamp only to find a frog who claims he is a prince and a kiss from her would turn him human again. I recommend this book to girls who are into fantasy and don't mind Frogs. Mar 05, Sonja P. This would be perfect for a younger reader. Its a fun take on a traditional fairy tale, and Baker has a fun sense of humor. It would definitely be great for 8 years up and older, as the tone is pretty innocent.

I would also recommend it to people who are fans of Ella Enchanted, where the fairy tale is turned on its head in a way that makes the girl more active in the story. I think I hit this one a little late, which is why its three stars for me, but I would definitely give it to a younger reade This would be perfect for a younger reader. I think I hit this one a little late, which is why its three stars for me, but I would definitely give it to a younger reader, or someone who really loves reinvented fairy tales.

Dec 09, Stella Chen rated it it was amazing. This was such a cute read and it brought me back to days where romance was actually readable. Love stories doesn't have to involve the guy leaving you because he fears for you, nor the fact that you are a loser that gets swept off your feet by your handsome, "mysterious" lover.

When everything use to be simple and sweet, I actually enjoy the adventure-love stories, foe example this one. Apr 10, Kimberly rated it it was amazing. This book was about Emma, a princess who's told to marry Prince Jorge which which she doesn't want to, so she runs away and kisses a frog who says he's Prince Eadric and Emma turns into a frog too. Both Emma and Eadric go through lots of stuff together and in the end everything goes alright.

It made me feel happy that because everything went alright. I learned that u can do lots of stuff if you work together. I would recommend this book to everybody cause it's a fun book. I adored this series when I was very little -- around 2nd and 3rd grade. Feb 27, Haley S rated it it was amazing Shelves: Very good series for all girls!

Great example of a fresh fairy tale, funny and charming characters I haven't tried any E.

Kathy Glasgow Oakes (Author of Epiphanies of a Middle-Aged Princess)

Baker before, though I've seen lots of these books in the library. I finally tried this on audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the easy listen. It's not one I think my son aged 6 will enjoy, being, not only about a princess, but about eurgh! Emerelda Emma is the princess of the title, who does NOT want to get married as her mother expects, or become Great example of a fresh fairy tale, funny and charming characters I haven't tried any E.

Emerelda Emma is the princess of the title, who does NOT want to get married as her mother expects, or become a witch as her aunt a witch herself wishes. But when she gives in and tries to turn him back into human form, it goes wrong and Emma becomes a frog herself. She and Eadric go on an adventure to attempt to turn them back back into their true selves.

Eadric is annoying, eats flies, and won't stop talking about kissing. Can they work together and find a happy ending? A fairly short read, with particular appeal to girls aged Plays with the usual conventions of fairy tales and makes the princess so much more rounded, with an atypical prince to root for as well. Sep 04, Seraphina rated it liked it Shelves: The last Time I read this I must have been 12 or The Frog Princess is about an awkward princess who meets a frog prince, she kisses him and turns into a frog herself.

This is definitely one of my favorite retellings of the Frog Prince, its original, cute a The last Time I read this I must have been 12 or This is definitely one of my favorite retellings of the Frog Prince, its original, cute and has talking animals. What more could a girl want? This was a good coming of age story too, Emma is everything a princess is not.

She's clumsy, got a laugh like a donkey, and she's a witch who screws up most of the time. She really finds herself as she travels and gets through the many obstacles of returning to a human. Eadric was just adorable, he would brag only to blush, he made the most of being a frog, and since he was one for a long time it really showed off his mental strength.