A Bit Bookish

Oh, wow. Just wow. Moby Dick typed on toilet paper!

2012-01-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Ebay user Heppcat has offered this up for auction. There are four full rolls, one roll (epilogue) is about 1/5 of a roll and one half-roll. All of the rolls of tp came out of a brand new — clean — package of 2-ply cottonelle. They’ve been handled very gingerly and infrequently. Bidding starts at $399.95

A Whale of a Bookshelf

2012-01-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

This bookshelf is from young designer Justin Southey. You can store books in the belly of the whale and then swim him around the room on the casters. Southey is a designer and illustrator living in South Africa. His nautical bookshelf doesn't currently appear to be available for purchase, but we can dream, can't we?

Everything you need

2012-01-27T06:28:00.001-08:00

2012-01-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

Mary Anning was a fossil hunter who discovered the first complete pterodactyl (now called a pterosaur) in Great Britain, as well as specimens of ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. She was a common working class girl who got to meet some of the top scientists of the time. Remarkable creatures is a remarkable book about Mary Anning and her friendship with an upper class lady named Elizabeth Philpot, who collected fossils of fish. But it is so much more than just a story about friendship. It is a story about two women who are trapped within the confines and expectations of the time they live in, a time where women don't have the freedoms that we experience today; a time when women had to fight to be recognized outside of certain prescribed parameters. It is the story of passion played out in life and the delicate balance between loyalty, appreciation, and envy.

Funny library montage

2012-01-17T13:11:00.001-08:00

Says it all

2012-01-17T13:03:00.001-08:00

Joy of Books

2012-01-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine called my attention to this and it was just too good not to share.

Nice quote

2012-01-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

This quote came from an e-mail newsletter from a bookstore:

"People hold books in a special way--like they hold nothing else. They hold them not like inanimate things but like ones that have gone to sleep. Children often carry toys in the same manner. I don't hold my e-reader that special way; it's just a tool, maybe even a toy. My home is engulfed in traditional books, which I do handle with care. There's room for both. All part of the adaptation process."

More book art

2012-01-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

The erosion of cultures and of "culture" as a whole is the theme that runs through Guy Laramee's art. We are currently told that the paper book is bound to die and that the library as a place is finished. Will new technology really change anything concerning our human condition? Explore one artist's fascinating contemplation concerning this topic.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

2012-01-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

This book was written in 1982, and twenty-five years later found its way to the London stage. It was an astonishing piece of theater, featuring some unique life size stage horses.

After Kathleen Kennedy saw the London play, she told Steven Spielberg, who bought the rights to the book, and directed the film that was released on Christmas day.

Spielberg's film adaptation was beautifully done. The cinematography is incredible and the film is full of shots that look like they came right out of a fine painting. Spielberg's visuals and the musical score by John Williams was the perfect pairing. Not surprisingly, it is an emotional, sentimental, and heart warming movie. The acting is superb (especially by the young man who plays Albert, Jeremy Irvine). The brutality and universal suffering of war is clearly shown, and the film is a tribute to honest emotionally direct storytelling.

Michael Morpurgo is an award winning children's author, poet, and playwright, who has written over 100 books. Through the eyes of the war horse, Joey, Morpurgo tells a moving and powerful story. Joey tells his story from the beginning of his life on the farm with Albert through his involvement in the First World War. Surrounded by violence and loss, he just tries to survive. A red bay horse actually existed back in 1914 and was painted by a Captain James Nicholls in autumn of that same year. That's where the inspiration for this book came from. In World War I, over six million horses died. The human death toll was estimated at fifteen million.

Read the book, then see the film, and if you get a chance--experience the stage play.

Then Again by Diane Keaton

2011-12-27T21:47:00.000-08:00

Then Again is Diane Keaton's memoir about her Mother and herself. If you know Diane Keaton only as the actress who starred in many memorable movies over the years (Annie Hall, the Godfather trilogy, Reds, etc.), this book will give you a glimpse into her family life and personal life. Her mother was perhaps the most formidable influence in her life and Diane writes about their bond with great candor. Her mother kept 85 journals (literally thousands of pages) in which she wrote about her marriage, her children, and herself and Diane has used these to paint a portrait of her mother that is unflinching in its honesty. Diane's mother was an intellectual with restless and creative energy who struggled to find an outlet for her talents. Diane wonders openly in the book what would have happened to her own dreams of being in the spotlight, if her mother's had been realized.

Warm, funny, and self-deprecating, it's a marvelous little book about family--those people you love and who love you.

The Book Surgeon

2011-12-27T18:04:00.000-08:00

Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, Brian Dettmer carves one page at a time. Nothing inside the out-of-date encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books, or dictionaries is relocated or implanted, only removed.

Happy New Year

2011-12-26T09:45:00.001-08:00

Book Art by A_Ferrari

2011-12-19T20:23:00.001-08:00

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

2011-12-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

An Elephant in the Garden is inspired by historical fact (click here) and by the author's admiration for an animal he calls "the noblest and wisest, and most sensitive of all creatures." It is a story that brings together an unlikely group of survivors whose faith in kindness and love proves the best weapon of all.

The bombing of Dresden looms and Lizzie's mother, a zookeeper, persuades the zoo director to allow Marlene, a young elephant that has bonded with Lizzie and her younger brother, Karl, to be kept safe in their garden. Their home is destroyed when bombs are dropped, so the family and Marlene have no choice but to flee with thousands of others in the dead of winter. This is the story of how they walked and kept themselves safe from approaching Russian soldiers.

It is a heartwarming narrative, with a calm and steady tone that engages the reader and builds in intensity as the story unfolds. You will be drawn into this tale of survival and its thought provoking and poignant exploration of the terrible impact of war on both sides of the fighting. Michael Morpurgo also wrote War Horse, which was made into a film Directed by Steven Spielberg being released on Christmas day.

And another inspiration for this lovely book was of course the elephants themselves. If you love elephants (like I do), you may be interested in this link to another story about elephants during World War II--a very sad story indeed--and this link to one of my all time favorite books about elephants, that I discovered in a used bookstore in Chicago many years ago.

The Future of Printed Books

2011-12-02T18:39:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Wired, the next time someone asks me about ebooks killing off the print book, I've got my response all formulated.

The Hunger Games

2011-11-18T18:59:00.001-08:00

Okay, if you still haven't read this trilogy, you've got time. Here's the movie trailer to whet your appetite.

Dewey Decimal Rap

2011-11-18T18:46:00.001-08:00

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

2011-11-06T07:09:00.000-08:00

Fifty-year-old Alice Howland, a Harvard professor of cognitive psychology, is at the top of her game. Her kids are grown, her marriage secure, her career on fire, when--after mere months of forgetfulness--she finds herself in the rapidly downward spiral of early onset Alzheimer's disease. With no cure or treatment, Alice struggles to find meaning and purpose in her everyday life as her concept of self slips away. Without memory or hope, she is forced to live in the moment, which is in turns beautiful, terrifying, and maddening.

The author, Lisa Genova, is a first-time author who holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University. She is a member of the Dementia Advocacy, Support Network International and DementiaUSA and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's association. She lives with her husband and two children in Cape Cod.

This book was an uncomfortable read for me because my great grandmother had memory issues, my grandmother had them, and my mother (who just turned 80) is starting to experience some difficulty. Apparently, this runs in the women in my family, so of course is of great concern to me. Just because there is a strong genetic linkage, it doesn't mean that I will inherit the disorder, but obviously it is of concern to me.

This book is important for several reasons. First and foremost, the glimpse we get into what it is like for the patient going through this long dark season (we see what it is like to literally lose your mind); and the differing points of view concerning what it is like to deal with a loved one who is deteriorating right in front of your eyes. It is haunting, heartbreaking, and frightening. Perhaps the scariest thing for me was losing your language capability. That would be the hardest thing for me to bear in the whole horrible process.

There is a touching passage in the book where she talks about how she used to be..."I used to know how the mind handled language, and I could communicate what I knew. I used to be someone who knew a lot. No one asks for my opinion or advice anymore. I miss that. I used to be curious and independent and confident. I miss being sure of things. There's no peace in being unsure of everything all the time. I miss doing everything easily. I miss being a part of what's happening. I miss feeling wanted. I miss my life and my family. I loved my life and family."

I highly recommend this book. Even if you are lucky enough to have never been touched by this dread disease, you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the toll it exacts.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-30T19:17:00.001-07:00

Artist Mike Stilkey

2011-10-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

2011-10-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this book, and highly recommend it. It is an unflinchingly dark, funny and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, 13 year old Conor wakes up to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster he's been expecting--the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient, and wild. And it wants something from Conor--something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

This book stems from the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd (whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself). It is a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

Profoundly moving and expertly crafted, the tale is enhanced by atmospheric and ominous illustrations that surround the text--softly caressing it in quiet moments, and in others rushing toward the viewer with a nightmarish intensity. It draws on elements of classic horror stories to delve into the terrifying terrain of loss. It tackles the toughest of subjects by refusing to flinch, meeting the ugly truth of life head-on with compassion, bravery, and insight.

Bookshop at the End of the World

2011-10-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

Arizona Public Media profiled Winifred Bundy's Singing Wind Bookshop, a 37-year-old, windswept "book lover's haven [that] sits on a ranch with no paved road or parking lot, no website, no advertisements--and no shortage of customers," largely because of its "expansive and eclectic collection, much of which is about the Southwest."

"It's mostly subjective--whatever I like," Bundy said. "Over the door is finance, and I truly believe all of that is fiction... and here's women's experiences in the West, which aren't fiction, I promise. Here's Hillerman hardcover, Hillerman softcover. Indians in the Southwest, Indians outside the Southwest... the Jewish Western experience--that's extremely important... short Californians--that's the size of the books, not the people--and tall Californians... bad men and bad ladies, shoot-'em-ups... and the Mormons are up over the window."

Bundy, now 81, observed that the "people I meet are more important than anything else. They could be your neighbor, or a Japanese tourist. Honestly, I think I get more out of this than anyone else."

Oprah of the Piney Woods

2011-10-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Houston Press, in an interview and profile, has called her the Oprah of the Piney Woods. Kathy Patrick owns Beauty and the Book, is founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club, author of The Pulpwood Queen's Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life, organizer of the Girlfriend Weekend, and is a popular speaker at dozens of book festivals. Okay, I admit it, she is pretty darn cool.

Make Take Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan

2011-10-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking is really big in my area. Our library is going to have an upcoming holiday scrapbooking program that I'm sure people will really love, and scrapbooking retreats are planned once a year at our local state park. With this in mind, I picked up the fourth book in Joanna Campbell Slan's Scrap n Craft mystery series the other day and I must say that I really enjoyed it.

Joanna Campbell Slan is an international authority in the scrapbooking community. She is the author of over ten books on the subject, and her work has appeared in all of the industry's top magazines. Joanna is one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul authors, and in 2007, she co-founded Sisters in Crime's Forensic University of St. Louis.

This is a cozy mystery with a mix of humor and suspense. When Kiki Lowenstein is dumpster diving for her lost paycheck she finds a severed leg. She finds out that the leg belonged to Cindy Gambrowski, a customer with an abusive and violent husband. As Kiki tries to discover who the killer is we meet an interesting mix of characters who are well developed and the writing keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat following the action. The book includes holiday-themed projects and recipes too. A darn good read with a surprise ending. I highly recommend it.

Inheritance, November 8, 2011

2011-09-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

He was 15 years old when he wrote Eragon, and now this home schooled prodigy is releasing Book 4, Inheritance. Look for it.

Following Atticus by Tom Ryan

2011-09-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

When a close friend dies of cancer, Tom Ryan and his miniature schnauzer Atticus, decide to pay tribute to her by attempting to climb all 48 of New Hampshire's 4,000 foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity. This is their story...the story of a middle aged, overweight, acrophobic newspaperman and a dog of singular character. It is a book about a remarkable journey and an extraordinary relationship that began when a 5-pound puppy pierced the heart of a tough-as-nails newspaperman opening his eyes to the beauty and possibility in the world. This is an inspiring story about love, loss, and the resilience of the human and animal bond.

Last Words of 25 Famous Dead Writers

2011-09-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

When you've dedicated your life to words, it is important to go out eloquently. This list from BuzzFeed is pretty interesting. My favorite, of course, is from Edgar Allan Poe.

Top 10 Cities in the U.S. for Book Lovers

2011-09-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the list from livability.com. And no, one cannot live on books alone. That's why the cities picked offer a great quality of life, plenty of entertainment and awesome outdoor activities. After all, there's nothing worse than reading an inspiring novel and having nothing to do after closing the cover.

1. Portland, OR
2. Kansas City, MO
3. San Jose, CA
4. Charlottesville, VA
5. Iowa City, IA
6. Traverse City, MI
7. Pueblo, CO
8. Coral Gables, FL
9. Spokane, WA
10. Charlotte, NC

Baby Shower Invitation

2011-09-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

Possibly the cutest idea I've seen for a baby shower in a long time. I just love it!

The Smell of a Book

2011-09-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

So many people claim to love the smell of books. Here's an article that attempts to explain why.

Literary Pets

2011-09-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hemingway and friend

Since I love all things literary, and I'm a pet lover too, this seemed to be a nice fit (courtesy of 50watt.com)

Page Corner Bookmarks

2011-09-09T15:58:00.001-07:00

Novel-Tea Teapot

2011-09-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

For that special person on your list who loves tea and books, how cute is this?

Packaging for Books and Beans, a used book and coffee shop

2011-09-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Vintage Library Themed Wedding Shoot

2011-09-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have never seen a book themed wedding. I just love this!

Great Novels to Read When You're Broke

2011-09-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

From Flavorwire, comes this list of great novels to read when you're broke.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

2011-08-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

I loved this book! It was such a fast fun read. I recommend it highly.

The Waverlys are a family of women who reside in Bascom, North Carolina. All the Waverley women have reputations for having certain gifts. Claire Waverley is a successful caterer, who prepares dishes made with the plants from her garden, which mysteriously blooms year round. She has an apple tree with prophetic fruit, edible flowers that imbue people with special powers, and she's eccentric, reclusive, and an enigma. Claire's distant relative Evanelle gives people things. It is not always clear why she is supposed to give them something, but invariably some time after the gift is made a purpose is revealed. Claire's sister Sydney, who ran away from Bascom the moment she could, returns suddenly one day and Claire's quiet and carefully tended life spins completely out of control.

This book is about so much more than two sisters reconnecting after many years. It is full of magic and enchantment, and flower lore, and just plain joie de vivre. Sarah Addison Allen, the author, was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, a place Rolling Stone magazine once called "America's New Freak Capital." She has a B.A. in Literature because she thought it would be amazing to get a diploma for reading fiction. She thought it was like being able to major in eating chocolate (a girl after my own heart).

Read this book. Prepare to be delighted.

Book Related Tours

2011-08-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Looking to take that special book related tour? Check out this site.

Street Bookseller

2011-08-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

This guy has tenacity. Barnes and Noble has come and gone, but he's still here.

The Demon's Parchment by Jeri Westerson

2011-08-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

This is book three in Jeri Westerson's medieval noir series. Westerson's main character is Crispin Guest, a sort of medieval Sam Spade, who lives in the Shambles area of 14th century London and uses his intelligence and keen eye for detail as the "Tracker". He is approached by a Jewish physician, Jacob of Provencal, who wants him to find stolen parchments which someone might have used to bring forth a demon. These same parchments might be behind a series of grusome murders of young boys. With the help of his apprentice, Jack Tucker, Crispin must unravel all the mysteries and try to stop the murders.

It is a wild notion to write about a medieval serial killer who murders and defiles children, but in fact this novel is based on a retelling of a very real and strange tale of a 15th century serial killer, Gilles de Rais. There is even another character in the book who is based on a real person, but I won't give away the surprise by telling you who here. Just read the book and be surprised and delighted.

Westerson is a skillfull writer who knows her subject. She has an uncanny knack for making you feel like you are right there in 14th century London experiencing these things along with Crispin. She has a great eye for historical detail, and her writing is superb.

"Troubled Bones", the latest installment in this series comes out in October. In the meantime, go here and check out Crispin Guest's Journal, or here and check out Jeri Westerson's webpage.

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

2011-08-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

Rose Grandee is a texas housewife. She has a mother who departed her life early on leaving her with a pile of books and at the mercy of her Daddy's abusive fists. Rose Grandee endures the physical abuse of her husband. After all, it is pretty much all she has known over the course of her life.

But, underneath the surface of Rose Grandee, lies Rose Mae Lolly, a teen age hellion and heartbreaker from Alabama who is a crack shot with a pistol. When the tarot cards of a gypsy fortune teller predict that Rose's husband is going to kill her unless she kills him first, Rose Mae Lolly rares her head.

After trying to kill her husband (before he kills her), and botching it, she and her dog fat Gretel, leave on a journey where she uncovers long buried truths about her family. That journey results in a harrowing depiction of how far a mother will go to right a wrong and how far a daughter will run to escape forgiveness.

Forbes Highest Paid Authors List

2011-08-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

James Patterson ($84 million)

Danielle Steel ($35 million)

Stephen King ($28 million)

Janet Evanovich ($22 million)

Stephenie Meyer ($21 million)

Rick Riordan ($21 million)

Dean Koontz ($19 million)

John Grisham ($18 million)

Jeff Kinney ($17 million)

Nicholas Sparks ($16 million)

Ken Follett ($14 million)

Suzanne Collins ($10 million)

J.K. Rowling ($5 million)

A Bookshelf that gently goads you into reading

2011-08-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

Now this is wild. . .to help you keep the balance between read and unread books!

Literary Shoes etc.

2011-08-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

In my search for all things book related, I came across these. Now why didn't they have things like this when I was young?

Making Room for Readers

2011-08-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

This very interesting article from The Millions makes some excellent points about readers and reading.

Neil Gaiman purse

2011-08-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

One of the interesting vendors I met at the recent ALA meeting in New Orleans was Caitlin Phillips from Rebound Designs, which she bills as a second chance for well-loved books". She transforms old and unwanted literature into one of a kind Book Purses and Paperback Wallets. Have a favorite book? She's got you covered. Check her out here. The picture above is the purse she did for me using the leatherbound tenth anniversary issue of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods". I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Five Architecturally Impressive Libraries

2011-08-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

As this site says, until each and every book is cataloged on the internet for consumption on a Kindle we're going to need libraries, so they might as well look good.

Little Free Library

2011-08-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Now this is really a quite charming idea

A Backstage Pass to the World of Charlaine Harris

2011-08-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, you might enjoy this video interview with Harris (in two parts). Charlaine talks about the books, her take on True Blood, and what's next for Sookie Stackhouse.

10 Action Librarians

2011-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

Love this that I found over at themarysue.com

A dress made of books

2011-07-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Or, if the dress is a bit much, how about a book handbag?

What do Authors Read in the Summer?

2011-07-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

This list is courtesy of The Daily Beast.

Summer Reading List, courtesy of Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett)

2011-07-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading

The next Harry Potter

2011-07-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

For years people have been predicting what would be the next Harry Potter. With the final movie from the franchise in theaters now, here's a look at some of the series that have been called its successor--and whether they have lived up to the hype (courtesy of Atlantic magazine).

Why Librarians 'Need to Be More Like Lady Gaga'

2011-07-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Gwyneth Anne Jones, a teacher-librarian in Laurel, Md., who writes the Daring Librarian Blog, says that librarians need to be more like Lady Gaga than Lady Bird Johnson. We need to establish a clear, pervasive, vibrant, and involved presence in our community, and on the web. The more visible librarians are the less likely that they’ll be taken away. Good point.

American Library Association Meeting, New Orleans

2011-07-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the photos, I had a great time in New Orleans at the ALA Meeting. It was wonderful to get a chance to meet some folks face to face whose books I've enjoyed reading for years and to get to know some new authors. New Orleans was an attraction itself, the Scholarship Bash held at the World War II Museum was a rousing good time, and the Newbery, Caldecot, Wilder Award Banquet was a glittering affair.

Me with Daniel Handler, aka, Lemony Snicket

He's signing a copy of his new Young Adult book for me "Why We Broke Up"

Me with Kate DiCamillo, Alison McGhee, and Tony Fucile

Kate's book that she signed for me is "Bink & Gollie"

Me and Harlan Coben

He's signing his new YA book "Shelter"

Jeff Kinney, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" author, gave a nice presentation

Cassandra Clare, author of the hot YA trilogy "Mortal Instruments"

Mary Kay Andrews, author of Little Bitty Lies, Hissy Fit, and Savannah Blues

Authors Brandon Sanderson and Nnedi Okorafor

Brandon signed copies of his book "The Way of Kings" (he is also completing Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series); Nnedi signed copies of her books "Akata Witch" and "Who Fears Death".

Steve Hamilton, author of Edgar Award Winner for Best Novel of the Year for his YA book "The Lock Artist"

Alden Bell, author of "The Reapers are the Angels"

Serpent in the Thorns by Jeri Westerson

2011-07-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

I love Jeri Westerson's Crispin Guest novels. She really makes me feel like I am right in the middle of the medieval atmosphere she has created, London in 1384, experiencing the sights and sounds along with her hero, the Tracker, Crispin Guest.

The thing I love about Crispin is that he operates within this historical framework while maintaining personal integrity, his own moral compass, and a sense of humor that never seems to desert him no matter the circumstances. And the circumstances have not been the best for Crispin since he was banished from court, stripped of his title and his land, losing his money and position in the process, and forced to survive by his wits and skill as the "Tracker".

In this second book in the series, a simpleminded tavern girl shows up at his door in the Shambles asking for his help. A body was found in her room with an arrow protruding from the man and she must have killed him. The man was a courier from the French king transporting a relic to England. Crispin is drawn into the events and they quickly spiral out of control to the point where Crispin is implicated in the murder. With time running out he has to unravel the conspiracy behind the murder and save his country and himself in the process. How he manages to do this is a reader's delight in the hands of the skillful Westerson. This book is pure fun and one of my favorite reads of the past few months. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to tackle "The Demon's Parchment" [Book 3], and the 4th installment, "Troubled Bones", which is due out in October.

Awesome people reading

2011-07-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here's one of many cool photos found here.

Bookcase in a stairwell that you access by Bosun's Chair

2011-07-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

from boingboing

The ultimate compilation of Summer Reading lists

2011-07-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to largehearted boy, here is the ultimate compilation of Summer Reading lists. Enjoy.

My pictures, My Words by Mac Kenney

2011-06-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

This wonderful little picture book arrived recently for me to review and I must say I found it delightful. Mac Kenney is a nature photographer and poet, but this is his first effort to combine those two interests. He was born and raised in Colorado, so was able to experience the four seasons as only the Rocky Mountains and the wide-open plains can display them.

This slim volume contains 20 color photographs that run the gamut of human emotion and powerfully illustrate the beauty of the natural world. The photos are suitable for framing or for giving as gifts. The poetry reminds us of how brief and precious life is and how we need to take advantage of our brief time here and accept the love that's out there waiting for us if we would only open our hearts.

The contents of this book are indeed, as the back cover says, food for the soul. So pick up a copy, and bon appetit.

Ghellow Road by T. H. Waters

2011-06-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ghellow Road is billed as a "literary diary of a young girl's journey through the tangled labyrinth that is her life." It most certainly is that, and much more. T. H. Waters' story is a painful one, but her willingness to share it with people is quite admirable.

I don't want to give away too much of the story so as not to spoil it for those of you who would like to read it, and I do recommend that you do, but suffice it to say that Theresa Waters has more thrown at her in her early years than a lot of people have to deal with in a lifetime. Her mother is mentally ill, and in and out of hospitals; her father desperately tries to hold the family together, but is eventually overwhelmed by the task; and she is shifted from one temporary home to another, passed among relatives and friends, all the while trying to maintain some semblence of normalcy with her school activities and friends.

This is a tragic story to read, but this lady actually lived it, and managed to triumph over the worst of circumstances. It does indeed give you hope for the human race. You keep turning the pages cheering for Theresa, wanting so badly for things to smooth out in her life, and I was amazed at her resilience. In tone, the book reminded me of another coming of age story that has gotten a lot of press lately, "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. Sometimes life throws a LOT at you. These women learned to persevere under incredible circumstances, and not be bitter and give back what they got, but to reflect love and be successful despite great obstacles. There are life lessons to be learned here.

Okra Picks

2011-06-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Here's the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance's suggestions for good books to escape the summer heat.

Ten Most Powerful Women Authors

2011-06-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

Forbes magazine has showcased the Ten Most Powerful Women Authors. They were selected because of their ability to influence us with their words and ideas. They have won lots of awards and sold lots of books, so obviously they know how to tell (and more importantly, sell) a story. I've heard some quibble about the names on the list. See what you think.

Isaac Asimov's Letter to Future Patrons of a New Library

2011-06-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

97 writers sent letters in 1971 to celebrate the opening of a new library in Troy, MI. One of those letter writers was Isaac Asimov, who wrote the following:

Probably one of my favorite book related posters

2011-06-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

5 Reasons Why E-books Aren't There Yet

2011-06-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

This posting at wired.com made some good points about E-books.

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

2011-05-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Lisa Tawn Bergren is an award winning author with over 30 books to her credit. This is book one in a new series called "River of Time".

I must say that before reading this, I was only familiar with her 'God Gave Us' series of children's books, which are beautiful, and check out well here at our library. The artwork is wonderful and they are so colorful and sweet. So I was anxious to read this new YA series and see what her teen books were like.

She does not disappoint.

The Bentarrini sisters, Gabi and Lia, are spending the summer in Italy with their mother, a famed Etruscan scholar. One day they wonder into an ancient tomb and happen to place their hands atop a handprint there and find themselves transported to fourteenth century Italy. To complicate matters, the sisters are separated in the time jump, Gabi falls for a knight on one side of the conflict, and in the search for her sister gets caught up in a battle between two opposing forces. Gabi is frantic to find her sister and find a way to return home, but what about her knight in shining armor who is literally from a different world? Can she truly leave behind a love she has only just found and yearned for her whole life?

This book is a nice blend of history, romance, and time travel. Gabi is a spunky heroine whose dialogue and thoughts ring true as typically those of a teen and add humor to the unusual predicament she finds herself in. The writing is good, the story flows well, there is good characterization, and the story is laced with adventure so you are compelled to keep turning those pages. This book would definitely appeal to teens, but also to adults as well.

Cascade, the next volume in the series, is due out shortly. I will definitely be adding this to my "to read" list, as I am interested in seeing how the rest of the story unfolds.

The Tattooed Lady: A History by Amelia Klem Osterud

2011-05-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

This is a fascinating book. Combining thorough research with lots of wonderful historical photos, it delves into the history of tattooing, telling us that tattooing was a tradition that survived from early tribal and pagan times and was adapted by European peasants to their new Christian reality.

Modern European tattooing doesn't reappear until the fifteenth century, when Christian crusaders began arriving home from Jerusalem with symbolic tattoos, and then again in the seventeenth century, in the form of mystical alchemist marks and Christian symbols worn as souvenirs of a pilgrim's visit to Jerusalem.

The Greeks learned how to tattoo from their neighbors, the Tracians, who lived in what is now Turkey. Tracians used tattoos to indicate higher cultural status, and tattooed Thracian women were depicted on Greek vases. The Greeks used it to permanently mark Greek slaves.

The Romans picked it up from the Greeks and used it until Emperor Constantine banned penal tattooing in 316. The Picts, an ancient matrilineal pre-Celtic tribe of the British Isles, were notorious for tattooing, especially among women.

The custom spread as sailors learned to tattoo each other and tattoo shops began to spring up in large cities and ports on both sides of the Atlantic during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, attracting men and women interested in putting an indelible mark on their bodies. Perhaps the poorer residents of cities and ports yearning to tap into some tribal yearning wanted to decorate their skin.

In any case, as with other fads taken from the working class, by the end of the nineteenth century the stylish upper classes of the U.S. and England had started to get tattoos. In addition to the sailors, gentlemen officers and princes of European nations had begun visiting places in the Far East. When these officers returned to their upper crust lives, the permanent marks were seen as racy and daring, and they inspired other stylish individuals to acquire tattoos. Even upper-class women participated. Lady Randolph Churchill, Windston Churchill's mother, became the most famous of these well-bred tattooed ladies. According to popular lore, she had a snake tattooed around her wrist, which she could hide by wearing a bracelet.

But the heart of the book concentrates on a gutsy group of women (including Irene Woodward, Nora Hildebrandt, and Artoria Gibbons) who covered their bodies in tattoos and traveled the country performing nearly nude for all to see (at a time when it was scandalous to show even a bit of ankle!). Though they were the precursors of a cultural movement (almost a quarter of Americans now have tattoos), little has been known of their real lives, until now.

Nora Hildebrandt

Tattooed women were accused by many of being exhibitionists, desperate, oversexed women who needed men to look at their bare tatooed limbs as some kind of kink. However, placed in the historical context of tattooing, they were simply taking the next step. They saw a need, and they filled it.

Tattoos became more mainstream throughout the 1980s, and with the explosion of the early 1990s grunge/alternative music style, tattoos were dubbed by some as "the nose job of the '90s". Thirty-six percent of Americans age 25-29 and 28% of those age 30-39 sport tattoos. So, tattooed women have gone from being unique and exotic spectacles to being fairly common in just over a hundred years. These women helped bring tattooing out of the realm of the sideshow and put it into everyday life. Whether you already have a tattoo or whether you would never even consider getting one, this is a most informative and enthralling book.

Date a girl who reads

2011-05-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

"Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilightseries.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes."

— Rosemarie Urquico

In Honor of Mother's Day

2011-05-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

Rae Meadows, author of Mothers and Daughters, has recommended three books about mothers who will make your mothering seem perfect.

5 myths about the 'Information Age'

2011-04-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

This article is worth reading just for the refutation of #1 alone.

11 Best Books on the Civil War

2011-04-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the 150th Anniversary, the Daily Beast has come up with this list of essential books about the war. There are no fiction titles here (that would be a separate list), and they may be missing a few essential ingredients, but it is an excellent starting point.

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

2011-04-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

I loved this book. It was sweet and funny and a really quick and easy read. Fannie's books always have so much heart in them. It's the perfect thing to read if you are trying to decompress from something stressful (for me it was an algebra class), or a lovely book to spend a couple of hours reading on a nice afternoon outdoors.
The main character in the story is Maggie Fortenberry, a former Miss Alabama who has returned to her home town of Birmingham to sell real estate. On the surface, it looks like Maggie has the perfect life, but things aren't always what they seem. She is berating herself for a lifetime of missed chances, and feels like life is just not worth living any more. You will fall in love with Maggie as she makes plans to leave a world she can no longer bear, and darn it if life just keeps interfering with her plans. My other favorite character from the book is Maggie's boss, Hazel, an eternally optimistic midget who calls herself "the biggest little real estate woman in the world." There is even a neat little mystery wrapped up in this whimsical tale of a southern belle who has lost her way.
This book is also a love letter to Birmingham and the state of Alabama (my home state, so I share Fannie's love for the place). When Fannie describes the heyday of the city and those grand old houses on the hill you can almost smell the magnolia blossoms.

Here's a link to a video of Fannie being interviewed about this book. For some reason it wouldn't let me embed it for you, but I think if you take the time to view it, you'll see why Fannie is a favorite of book clubs.

I absolutely adored this book, just like I adore and admire the irresistably delightful Fannie Flagg.

Challenged Books 2010

2011-04-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the American Library Association released its list of the top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2010. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins made the list this time in "what's become a virtual rite of passage for young adult sensations," the Associated Press (via the Washington Post) reported.

"I've read in passing that people were concerned about the level of violence in the books," Collins said. "That's not unreasonable. They are violent. It's a war trilogy."

This year's top 10 are:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. Lush by Natasha Friend
7. What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
8. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
9. Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
10. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Some random comments:

"It almost makes me happy to hear books still have that kind of power," Alexie said. "And there's nothing in my book that even compares to what kids can find on the Internet."

The ALA reported 348 challenges to books in 2010 and at least 53 outright bans. According to Barbara M. Jones, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, some books on the list "reflect current trends and changes in technology, including Hunger Games, inspired in part by reality television; Aldous Huxley's classic Brave New World, which anticipates antidepressants and artificial fertilization; and a work of nonfiction: Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich's despairing account of trying to get by as a waitress, maid and Walmart worker," the AP noted.

"The closer books come to things that are really happening in a lot of lives, the more they become a reminder of what people don't like to think about," Jones said, adding that Ehrenreich's book "really hits hard what it's like to have a low paying job."

My take: Nickel & Dimed was a great muckraker of a book. Sherman Alexie's book is funny and deserves all the awards it has won. Brave New World...Twilight...you have got to be kidding. What a joke this whole Banned Books thing has become.

Video Preview of Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit"

2011-04-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

First of all, if you haven't read The Hobbit--read it. Tolkien's The Hobbit and his Lord of the Rings trilogy are fantastic books. Secondly, Peter Jackson did a wonderful job interpreting the trilogy and everybody is waiting with baited breath for The Hobbit. This film snippet will whet your appetite and prime you for the filmed experience of Tolkien's magical book.

Top Ten Books of the American South

2011-04-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their own favorite list of southern books. Southern literature is definitely one of my favorite genres. Here's Glen Taylor's top ten. Harper Lee is no surprise, and I'm gratified to see Rick Bragg on the list. Eight, nine and ten on his list are certainly classics. There are a few new ones to me that I intend to check out. Maybe you should too.

The Ultimate iPad Accessory

2011-04-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

From BuzzFeed....LOL...I love it!

National Library Week, April 10-16, 2011

2011-04-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Woman I Was Born to Be by Susan Boyle

2011-03-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows her story. A couple of years ago, if you weren't from Blackburn, a village in West Lothian, Scotland, you would never have heard of her. In April, 2009, she was catapulted to global fame when the YouTube video of her audition for Britain's Got Talent touched the hearts of millions all over the world.

To this day, when I watch that video, it makes me cry. That audience and those judges had prejudged Susan before she even opened her mouth...based solely on her looks. But she wasn't there to be a model. She was there to sing. And when she opened her mouth and sang, she blew them all out of the water. She showed them exactly what she was made of, and in the process held a mirror up to their snide judgmental attitude that showed them just how "ugly" they were.

This book tells the story of her life, how she was born to sing, the challenges she has struggled to overcome, and the astonishing transformation from humble village woman to international superstar.

Image of the Day

2011-03-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

The Floating Bookstore

Bookshelf Quilt by Rita Correia

2011-03-27T21:21:00.001-07:00

Story Book Gown

2011-03-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

This is just too cool not to share.

Bookpocalypse Now!

2011-03-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Among the many things Japanese people are mourning after the earthquake are their libraries. Japanese people have been uploading hundreds of images of stripped library shelves and piles of unorganized books. It is a good visual of the power of the quake. The Book Bench's Macy Halford has an interesting theory why. Read about it here.

John Green Loves Librarians

2011-03-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

John Green, the author of "Looking for Alaska" and other extremely popular books was at the recent ALA Conference in Anaheim, California. I'm planning on attending the ALA Conference in New Orleans this year, and I hope I run into a few folks just like John while I'm there. Gotta love that enthusiasm!

Library Haunting

2011-03-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

This article from Utne Reader has so many statements that so captures the feelings I have when I'm in a library. Here's one of them: "...enter a library, and we lose our hard surfaces and become porous, like paper waiting for ink. We breathe in the smell, that sweet intermingling of must and glue, and our troubles melt away. Our despair at the desk when the words wouldn’t come; our irritation at an imagined slight or a telephone that rang and rang; our sore back—all forgotten. Here, in the hush of the stacks, we can forget the day’s indignities; here, we can recover our curiosity and hope." This spirited defense of public libraries is a must read.

For "kids' of all ages

2011-03-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Pop-ups! They're Not JUST for Kids from Bowdoin College on Vimeo.

Bowdoin College has a pop-up book collection highlighting the cutting edge of paper engineering.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

2011-03-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

In 1993, Greg Mortenson failed to climb K2 and was nursed back to health in an impoverished Pakistan village. To repay their kindness, he promised to return and build a school. This book is the story of that promise and the extraordinary lengths Mortenson went to to fulfill his promise. Over the next ten years, Mortenson built not just one but 55 schools, especially for girls, in the forbidding terrain that birthed the Taliban. It is an amazing story of grit, determination, and courage. This is one man's riveting adventure that spawned a great humanitarian effort.

Read this book. But, better than that, follow your heart, and hopefully this book will be a catalyst to bring the gift of literacy to children who deserve a chance to go to school. If the book inspires you to do more, here are suggestions for how you can help:

1. Visit the www.threecupsoftea.com web site for more information. If you purchase your copy of the book online through this web site, 7% of the book purchase will go toward a girls' education scholarship fund in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

2. Suggest Three Cups of Tea to a friend, colleague, book club, women's group, church, civic group, etc.

3. Check to see if Three Cups of Tea is in your locall library. If not, consider donating the book.

4. Pennies for Peace, www.penniesforpeace.org, is designed for school-children. Get your local school involved to make a difference.

5. Make a tax-deductible contribution to the Central Asia Institute, P O Box 7209, Bozeman, MT 59771. It costs $1 per month for one child's education in Pakistan or Afghanistan, a penny to buy a pencil, and a teacher's salary averages $1 per day.

A nice list of bloggers for you to check out

2011-03-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

Never Growing Old: Over 40 Bloggers!!

What's the next chapter for book shelves?

2011-03-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Home builders are still putting in bookshelves, but this article in the Star Tribune discusses the current trend in what goes on those shelves. And though I'm not against putting other things on my shelves besides books, and do, the majority of the space on my shelves will still be dedicated to books.

20 Cool Home Library Design Ideas

2011-03-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

I'm always interested in new ways to display books.

Cozy Book Nook

2011-03-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

I want one.

More literary tats

2011-03-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

I love this one. Check out the others on BuzzFeed.

Amazing Book Sculptures

2011-03-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

This site has some wonderful sculptures involving books. My favorite is the painted book sculptures. Check it out.

Organizing the Bookcase

2011-03-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

New stairway idea

2011-02-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

Author Interviews

2011-02-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

This is just what I've been waiting for.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

2011-02-21T21:11:00.000-08:00

I absolutely loved this book. It's a book you can lose yourself in. My copy of the book had eight pages of accolades in the front telling you how much you were going to enjoy this book. Examples: This one from the New York Times Book Review, "Wroblewski's literary skill is most apparent in his intoxicating descriptions of the bucolic setting...he handles his task with impressive subtlety." From Books & Culture, "The literary sensation of the season...You may want to trust me and get the book right now...Fresh and unpredictable to the end. Wroblewski has an uncanny ability to make palpable for us the bones and muscles of his characters." And even this one from O, The Oprah Magazine, "Whether you read for the beauty of language or for the intricacies of plot, you will easily fall in love with David Wroblewski's generous, almost transcendentally lovely debut novel, ...The scope of this book, its psychological insight, and lyrical mastery, make it one of the best novels of the year." There is a quote from Stephen King on the back that says: "I flat-out loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Wonderful, mysterious, long, and satisfying: readers...are going to enter a richer world. I envy them the trip."

Hype, or reality? For me, it was reality. From the first page, I was drawn into this lush dream of a book. From the opening back story set in South Korea to the unforgettable conclusion on the Sawtelle farm, this book that is part mystery, part thriller, part ghost story, had a grip on my imagination that made it extremely hard for me to lay the book down.

Edgar Sawtelle and his family, his father Gar and his mother Trudy, live on a farm and breed dogs. Edgar is mute and has a pet dog, Almondine, who has looked after him since birth. Edgar's father's brother, Claude, returns to the farm after a stint in the service to help them out. The stay is short lived because he has fights with his brother and after a huge one, he storms off. A short time later Edgar finds his father in the barn, dying mysteriously. Unable to call for help, he watches his father die.

After they bury Gar, Edgar and Trudy try to keep the family business going, but when the mother catches pneumonia and Edgar has an accident with the dogs, they are forced to call on Claude for help. When Claude returns to the farm he also manages to work his way into Edgar's mother's affections and Edgar becomes grief stricken and bewildred because he has begun to suspect that Claude had something to do with his father's death. Circumstance forces Edgar and three of the Sawtelle dogs to flee into the wilderness beyond the farm where he fights for his survival and regroups for the final return home and confrontation with Claude.

Wroblewski is a master storyteller and this big, mesmerizing read is wildly satisfying. I highly recommend it.

Shelf-Worthy Bookends

2011-02-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

The link to Flavorwire will introduce you to some pretty darn decorative (as well as functional) bookends.