To the moon, Alice!

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

I didn't get to see the lunar eclipse the other night, and maybe you didn't either.  Well, here's a chance to view the event in less than 3 minutes thanks to timelapse video.  And in case you want to know more about our lunar pal, we have many interesting books such as Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11.  So, watch the video, read a book, and ask yourself, is the moon really made of cheese?

Elizabeth Edwards, 1949-2010

Sad to hear of Elizabeth Edwards' passing yesterday.  If you would like to know more about the estranged wife of former Presidential candidate, John Edwards, the library has two titles written by her: Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities and Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers.

Best Books of the Year

Last week the New York Times came out with their annual list of 100 notable books of the year. The list includes 50 fiction and 50 nonfiction titles, and the library owns many of them. My "to read" list includes: Four Fish: the future of the last wild food by Paul Greenburg, The Wave: in pursuit of the rogues, freaks, and giants of the ocean by Susan Casey, and How to live safely in a science fictional universe by Charles Yu.

"We never the know the worth of water till the well is dry" - Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734

Funny what you take for granted.  Such as water.  For those of us Northwesterners on the west side of the mountains, water is pretty much a constant.  There's the rain (of course), lakes, rivers, and creeks abound, and if the Columbia River isn't enough of a reminder that water makes us who we are, just travel a couple of hours to the west, and booyah, there's the good ol' Pacific Ocean.  Yet, this weekend I found myself feeling a bit like the mythological figure, Tantalus.  Why?  The pump on our well decided to quit on Friday (I do give thanks that it waited until the day after Thanksgiving), and suddenly water became the most important thing EVER.  It was everywhere but where we needed it the most.  No way to fix it until Monday, so "water on the brain" took on a whole new meaning this past weekend.  All of this leads me to point out that the library has several books on wells, and yes, septic systems too, and the Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook might come in handy for those of us not on city water.  And if you need to be reminded about the woes of Tantalus, consider checking out A Brief Guide to the Greek Myths by Stephen Kershaw.  May water and food always be within reach.   

Hedy Lamarr

There are many biographies popping up this season, and, of course, big names are everywhere.  If you want to read about a movie star but would like something a bit more, well, meaty, try Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr by Stephen Shearer.  She may not be a household name these days, but her life story is probably one of the most fascinating celebrity reads out there.  For instance, how many female movie icons do you know who can also put "inventor" on their resumes?  Ms. Lamarr was a key figure in the creation of an early technique for spread spectrum communications.  If you're like me, whose first thought was "what??," you'll be amazed to learn that she helped to co-invent technology we use in Wi-Fi and cell phones.  And she was a damn good actress, too.  Wow!

What's buggin' ya?

I can tell you what's bugging me - bugs.  I don't mind bugs so much when they're outside; after all, that's where they're supposed to be.  But when they start coming inside, and somehow seem to think that the inside of my house is where it's at, baby, I become seriously annoyed.  Especially spiders...because they're from Planet X.  But I'm not talking about spiders this time.  This year appears to be the year of the beetle.  At least, I think that's what they are.  To be sure, though, I need to check out a book on insects, such as Insects of the Pacific Northwest.  I don't know if it will tell me why these "beetles" sometimes congregate as trios (as shown in the photo).  Perhaps it symbolizes some sort of communication with a great, beetle god?  I suppose I'll never know.  And last year I had a mini-invasion of ladybugs which, I have to say, was pretty cute.  Until I realized I couldn't possibly hand-carry each one back outside, and then, some time later, I had to deal with a lot of ladybug carcasses.  I don't need that kind of angst. 

Two new cat books - wowee!

Another cat book, you ask?  Yes!  And not just one, but TWO cat books!  So, for all you dog people out there, please see my blog from Oct.6 (I really do write about other animals...once in a while...)

Most cat people I know wish they could read their feline's mind, or at least be able to translate what "meow, meow" vs. "mowwrrrr" means.  This book may not make you the next Dr. Doolittle, but it might help shed some hair, er, light on what your whiskered, four-legged kids are thinking.  Take a look at The Secret Life of Your Cat: Unlock the Mysteries of Your Pet's Behaviour by Vicky Halls for insider tips on why Mr.Cuddles attacks your legs as you walk by, or why the neighbor's cat, Brutus, comes through your pet door and terrorizes your boys, Pete and Repeat.  You just might learn that cats can be strange creatures, which leads into ----

Cats Are Weird and More Observations by Jeffrey Brown.  This is Mr. Brown's second book of cartoons about cats (the library also has Cat Getting Out of a Bag), and it's just as funny as his first book.  He manages to capture all the quirky cat things that cats do (sudden spaz attacks, licking odd objects like shoes and plastic bags), and each drawing represents something that every cat-o-phile can relate to.  Enjoy!

It's the little things

If you're the kind of person who likes history with a twist, I have a title that will definitely twist the way you think about certain historical events.  Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: And Other Small Events That Changed History offers fascinating food for thought on numerous "what ifs" in, yes, history, but also politics, science, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  For instance, did you know a cat was behind Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin?  No foolin'!  Apparently Mr. Whitney observed a cat clawing at a dead chicken and getting only the feathers.  The proverbial light bulb went off, and he devised a revolving cylinder with nails that pulled the cotton through little, slotted holes.  No wonder cats expect reverence from humans - without them, we might still be wearing grass skirts and coconut shells.  And if Napoleon hadn't suffered from raging hemorrhoids, he might have been able to ride his horse and better survey the Battle of Waterloo.  Defeated by a sore butt - kind of gives new meaning to "ring of fire"...

Every dog has his day

If you've followed this blog for very long, you know what a crazy cat lady I am.  But I have a soft spot for dogs too, and a new book, A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life, is a must read for any animal lover.  It isn't an easy read (as any pet owner knows, the loss of a pet can be devastating), and because it's about rescue dogs, life at the author's sanctuary, Rancho de Chihuahua, isn't all about warm, fuzzy beds and dog treats.  Despite the tragedy of some of his dogs' backgrounds, Steven Kotler manages to lift his spirits, and the reader's, with his descriptions of humanitarianism at its very best.   

Wild blue yonder

I just got back from attending the air races in Reno, NV.  Each September aviation enthusiasts come from all over the world to watch or participate in the ultimate venue for pure, raw horsepower.  Whether you're into World War II warbirds or the latest in military technology, the air races offer something for every airplane nut.  Of course, the Northwest has its own share of aviation history.  Where would aviation be without Boeing?  Check out Boeing Field to find out how Boeing became the giant it is today.  And if you can't make it to Reno, don't fret - the library has some dvds that showcase a variety of airplanes.  The Aviation Library is a fine place to start, and you won't even have to fight the crowds to get a good seat.

Ready for Football Season

I'm a big fan of the NFL, so I was interested to take a look at the new book by Drew Brees, Coming back stronger : unleashing the hidden power of adversity.
The book is the inspirational story of how he came back from a severe shoulder injury to lead the New Orleans Saints to the Super Bowl. A great book for football fans, and those who cheer for the underdogs in life.

The quick, brown fox jumps over...

It's the last day of August and that can mean only one thing - thirty days has September, April, June and November, all the rest...uh...something, something, thirty-one.  As you can see, I can never remember the rest of that catchy memory aid, and I know I'm not the only one.  I don't usually suggest kid titles in this blog, but whenever I see the word "September," and I automatically start bopping my head to "thirty days has ...," and then I think "doh! why can't I remember the rest??," I think it's time to offer a very useful title that readers of all ages can appreciate.  Appropriately enough, the title is Thirty Days Has September: Cool Ways to Remember Stuff.  It's full of helpful tips to remember a cornucopia of basic information: from the above calendar jingle to easy and fun ways to recall your times tables (sound silly?  well, what if the electricity went out and the battery in your calculator died, and you needed to figure out  pronto what 9 x 12 equals?  not so silly now, is it?)  So, if you need to impress your niece who's majoring in astronomy, dazzle her by rattling off the correct order of the planets from the sun.  How?  By remembering "my very excited mother just served us nachos" - hold the guacamole.

Quiz time

If you're a fan of Ray Bradbury, you may already know that he is turning 90 this week.  But how well do you know his books?  The Guardian newspaper has put together a short quiz about some of his famous works, so here's your chance to rev up some brain cells and test how much you remember about Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and others.

Where art thou, Shakespeare?

For all you language lovers out there, the folks at the Oxford English Dictionary have just announced over 2000 new words to be added to the beloved tome.  Some of the new entries?  Hold onto your head: vuvuzela, bromance, staycation, buzzkill, cheeseball (not the edible kind), defriend, tweetup, bargainous (you have GOT to be kidding about this one!), overleveraged, quantitative easing (huh??), frenemy, and my personal favorite, chillax.  So, if you've just been defriended after becoming overleveraged, arrange a tweetup with someone other than a frenemy or a buzzkill, plan a staycation that doesn't involve any vuvuzelas, and chillax about that bromance your uncle is having - at least he isn't suffering from hikikomori.

Can writing make you rich?

Forbes has come out with a list of the top ten highest paid authors.  No surprises here - just proves that readers love thrillers, romance and vampires.  Maybe I should write a book about a vampire lawyer (some would say they already exist) who falls in love with a possessed cat, and together they solve international crimes against the living dead.  I could even throw in a wise and bespectacled professor who offers sage advice to the vampire / feline duo as they struggle with their unconventional romance.  It could work...

New art books

Today I was walking by a cart of books in the process of being cataloged, and my eye was caught by two titles: Japanese Woodblock Prints by Andreas Marks and Botany for the Artist by Sarah Simblet.  Both are beautiful books, and whether you're an artist or you just like looking at lovely pictures, there is plenty of eye candy to satisfy everyone.    

To text or not to text?

I have to confess something - I don't understand the obsession with texting.  I can chalk it up to my age, but I know plenty of texters who are older than me.  I could say I'm not a fan of mobile devices, but my Droid phone is pretty darn cool.  Perhaps what really annoys me the most about texting  is the deterioration of a basic human function - vocal conversation.  I say "vocal" because I know lots of people will argue that texting is conversation.  Ok, maybe so.  But when I go out to dinner and see a family sitting at a table with mobile devices in hand, and about the only time a word is uttered is when the server stops by, I just feel sad.  When a friend told me that she had gone out to eat with family she hadn't seen in a long time, she felt like the kid who sees others passing a note but isn't included.  Why?  With the exception of one other person at the table, everyone else texted throughout the entire meal.  Were they texting business associates, friends, roommates?  No, they were texting each other at the table.  I wonder, if a device runs out of power during this dinner, will the ability to engage in a face-to-face conversation kick in?   

I suppose I shouldn't worry about future generations and how they will communicate with each other.  As one author points out, texting is just another step in the evolution of communication.  Whether you're into texting or not, check out Txting: the Gr8 Db8 by David Crystal.  He feels more positive about the whole text messaging phenomenon than I do, and I find that reassuring...for now.     

This Time Together

Carol Burnett has a new book out called This time together: laughter and reflection. I am listening to the audio version and it is read by the author which adds something special to the experience. She recounts some of her favorite stories from her life and her experiences on television. I laughed out loud several times as I listened to this one during my commute. I really recommend it!

Harvey Pekar

Harvey Pekar, the author of the classic comic book series and subsequent graphic novels, American Splendor, has passed away.  His works are often filled with lonely, depressed characters, somehow managing to just get through life day by day.  A film was made of American Splendor, with actor Paul Giamatti expertly portraying Pekar's sad-sack personality.  We have several of his titles in the library's collection, including Studs Terkel's Working: A Graphic Adaptation and The Beats: A Graphic History. 

Time for poetry

The Library of Congress just announced that W.S. Merwin is the 2010-2011 U.S. poet laureate.  We have many of his titles in the collection, so this is a good time to peruse the Dewey 800s - they need love too, you know.

Roses are red
Green is a lime
Merwin's much better
Than this silly rhyme

Piece of cake

I just love the title of Aimee Bender's latest book - The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.  It has been receiving quite a bit of press which has resulted in heavy demand, so if you're on the waiting list for it, you might want to check out Aimee's web site, www.flammableskirt.com.  She has done some very creative things on her site, including fun graphics, writing exercises, links to interviews, etc.  The library has her previous titles (as of this morning, two titles have holds, but The Secret Society of Demolition Writers and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt had copies available), so you might want to take a dip into one of these titles while waiting for Lemon Cake.  Ok, the more I say "lemon cake," the more I'm starting to crave lemon cake.  Books that make you want to eat - that could be an interesting list...

Job hunting tools

Having a hard time finding a job in this economy?   The library is a great resource for job help, and if you haven't yet taken a look at the "Get Job Help @ Your Library" link on the library's home page, take a moment to click on it, and you'll discover several options to assist you in your job search.  In addition, the library has lots of books on this topic, and, in fact,  we just received two new job hunting guides that sound especially good. 

Get a Great Job When You Don't Have a Job by Marky Stein

101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times by Jay A. Block

What thriller authors are saying...

All Things Considered on NPR is running a new series called "Thrilled to Death," where established thriller authors are coming on the air to talk about books they love.  Scott Turow was recently interviewed, and do you know what he chose to talk about?  The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, a book I read a long time ago but often thought I'd like to read again.  Another Greene title I'd like to read is The Quiet American.  I saw the movie starring Michael Caine - which I enjoyed - but reading the book will be a different experience, I'm sure.  The NPR series should be an interesting glimpse into the reading tastes of some of our favorite authors. 

New titles!

Many new titles are working their way through the cataloging department, and here are just a few:

- Roman Blood by Steven Saylor
- The Anniversary Man by Roger Jon Ellory
- Arm Candy by Jill Kargman
- Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
- Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom by Kristin Van Ogtrop
- Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy, and Escape from Tibet by Jonathan Green

Seaworthy

Linda Greenlaw is back with another memoir and she will be speaking at Powell's bookstore tomorrow evening, June 8th, at 7:30pm. This one is called Seaworthy, and it is about her return to being a swordboat captain.

Greenlaw first became well known when she was mentioned in the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. She has written several books including, The Hungry Ocean, and All Fishermen are liars.

Aw, come on!

I told myself I wouldn't complain about the rain because I know I live in the Northwest, and every person outside of the Northwest says we're all about the rain, and the rain is why it's so beautiful and our surroundings are something to be envied...but...but...biting my rain-soaked tongue...

Ok, every cloud has a...well, another cloud behind it...no, no, no, a silver lining, and the lining in this case happens to be books.  Rain doesn't stop us Northwesterners from doing things, but it does provide an excellent opportunity for reading.  And there are two books that I think can provide a form of pseudo-sun-therapy.  Humor Me: An Anthology of Funny Contemporary Writing (Plus Some Great Old Stuff Too) is edited by Ian Frazier, a writer for The New Yorker, and a very funny guy himself.  This collection includes funny stuff from Roy Blount, Jr., David Sedaris, Steve Martin, Calvin Trillin, and more, and if these writers can't induce a few yucks, well, then, mercy me.

The other title, I Know I Am, But What Are You? is by Daily Show correspondent, Samantha Bee (she's dressed like a bee on the cover which seems a little obvious to me, but hey, if my last name was Cat, I'd probably wear whiskers).  Her essays can be a little edgy (meaning, if you're expecting clean, Art Linkletter-like humor, don't go here), but she definitely has an interesting take on life.

"They don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us" - Miss Maudie

This summer will be 50 years since To Kill a Mockingbird was published.  A new book, Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird, which will be published next month, asks writers and celebrities what influence Harper Lee's "novel of the century" had on their lives.  I'm ordering this title soon, and in the meantime, you may want to check out a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird - we have both the book and the oscar-winning movie.  Ms. Lee's work is a true rarity, in my opinion - both the novel and the film are masterpieces.

Nice

If you've searched the library's catalog recently, you may have noticed something new.  In addition to seeing where a book is located and whether or not it's available to check out, you can now see "read alikes," and the coolest of all, if a book is part of a series, you'll be able to see the other titles in the series, in the order in which they were written!  All of this added information is thanks to an electronic product called Novelist (which the library subscribes to and is accessible from library computers or your home computer).  I'm pretty excited about this for two very important reasons: 1) the fabulous series listing I mentioned above, and 2) if a book is checked out, you don't necessarily have to go away empty-handed because the "read alikes" section will suggest similar titles.  Reading titles in order, and expanding your reading horizon....priceless.

"Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!" - vulcanologist David Johnston's last message

Can it really be 30 years since Mt. St. Helens erupted?  I wasn't living in the Northwest at that time, so I don't have a "where were you when it blew" story.  But I'll never forget the first time I saw the mountain up close - there's a point on the road where you come around a corner, and all of a sudden it looks like you've landed on another planet.  The change really is that drastic, and when you consider the enormity of the devastation, you can't help but be in complete awe of the way Mother Nature is reclaiming the scarred landscape.

We have lots of books about this famous volcano (both pre and post eruption), and if you want to browse the shelves, a good call number to remember is 551.2109 (this isn't the only place where you'll find Mt. St. Helens books, but it's a good place to start).  Thanks to Iceland, volcanoes have had a big presence in the news these days - let's just hope that our mountains remain "sleeping" for a long, long time.

Thank you!

Sorry for the long absence from the blog.  I have a good excuse, but excuses sound lame, so my sincere apologies, and here we go...


As my dad likes to say, sometimes good, old-fashioned percussive maintenance fixes the problem.  True, but the power of a well-written thank you note cannot be overlooked (just go with me here...)  I know what you're thinking, you're probably saying to yourself, "yeah, but my thank you notes are boring because I always say the same thing, and clever e-thanks are just a click away, so why bother?"  Ok, I'm going to get a little crotchety now - an electronic, canned message with barking bunnies and hopping puppies (well, you know what I mean) can NEVER replace a handwritten note (harrumph, harrumph).  If the pressure to dazzle someone with real, live, written words causes a rash, then may I suggest an alternative: make the card yourself, and the brevity of the message won't matter because your thoughtful craftiness will astonish and warm the heart of the recipient.  And you know what?  There's a perfect book for you: Thank You Notes by Jan Stephenson Kelly.   Don't worry - you can thank me later (with a beautiful, handmade note...)

New titles about....what?

So, I was checking out some of the recent arrivals here in the technical services department, and I came across two titles that made me realize how much I don't know.  First title: The Definitive Guide to Plone by Maurizio Delmonte.  Now, I'm sure there's a whole gamut of people out there who know exactly what this book is about, but I wasn't one of them.  Plone???  Could it be a misspelling? (phone, maybe? But wouldn't it be The Definitive Guide to the Phone instead of ...Guide to Phone?  kind of takes on an all-powerful aura without that little article...)  And then as if that title wasn't worth a double-take, here comes the second title: The Quick Python Book by Vernon Lee Ceder.  Ok, hold on now, is a quick book necessary?  I can just imagine the conversation at a book store:
"Sir, may I help you?"
"Yes, I need something quick about a python."
"Oh, well let's rush over to the reptile section."
Customer and employee survey snake books.  "See anything that looks good?" winded employee asks.
"Well, these all look pretty long.  Isn't there anything shorter?"
"Yes, of course there is...let me just pull out The Quick Python Book!!"

Then I took a closer look at the cover, and instead of a large snake staring back at me, I found a drawing of an oddly dressed woman.  Ok, something's amiss, I thought to myself, so I opened it up, along with the mysterious Plone book, and you know what I discovered?  The world of computers has so passed me by.  Who knew python is a computer programming language, and plone is a type of open source software?  Oh, my aching head...(still not sure what an oddly dressed woman has to do with Python, but I'm just not going to worry about that...)

 

Happy Earth Day!

I'm home from work, sitting at my computer, and I'm looking out the window at an incredible view... the earth is so awesome.  This weekend sounds like it will be good for yard work, and if you're like me, and love to play in the dirt but don't always have the knack for tending Mother Nature's bounty, this book might offer some welcome assistance: How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work: Shameless Tricks for Growing Radically Simple Flowers, Veggies, Lawns, Landscaping, and More.  Rock on, planet earth! 

Philip Gulley

Philip Gulley has a new book out called, "If the church were Christian: rediscovering the values of Jesus." Gulley is a Quaker minister from small town Indiana very near my own hometown. Our library system owns many of his titles. I'm particularly fond of "Porch Talk: stories of decency, common sense, and other endangered species." We also own six titles in his fictional series about Harmony, Indiana.

Time for a quiz

The London Book Fair is taking place this week in, well, London, and because of the Icelandic volcanic mayhem, many exhibitors and attendees are stuck at home.  Of course, us Northwesterners know a thing or two about volcanoes, and the library has lots of books about Mount St. Helens as well as other famous (and infamous) eruptions.  But do you ever wonder why no one highlights works of fiction that feature volcanoes?  Ok, probably not, but if your interest is piqued now, test your lava knowledge by taking this quiz created by the UK newspaper, The Guardian.

And for your volcanic reading pleasure:

Pompeii by Robert Harris
The Volcano Lover: A Romance by Susan Sontag

Still Alice

Still Alice by Lisa Genova is a novel about a college professor who, after experiencing episodes of forgetfulness, goes to a doctor and finds out that she is in the early stages of Alzheimers.  What is unique about this story is that it is told from the professor's point of view as she progresses through the various stages of this devastating disease.  I always enjoy hearing an author speak about her work, and if you do too, please take a look at this interesting video.                                           

Steampunk

If you're a fan of steampunk, you might want to check out a couple of fairly new titles added to the library's collection.  Soulless by Gail Carriger says right on the front cover "a novel of vampires, werewolves, and parasols," and while it might be a crossover title for fans of paranormal romance or fantasy, I think steampunk fans will find much to like here.  The other title, Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest, doesn't contain the usual Victorian era setting, but steam-powered technology makes itself at home in a book that includes mad scientists and zombies, among other oddities.  Never heard of steampunk?  Take a look at this article from Library Journal and see if it sounds like your cup of tea, served from a Victorian teapot, of course.

April showers bring May flowers...

April is National Poetry Month, and I'd like to share one of my favorite poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay.  If you've never read her poetry, I suggest checking out The Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay from the library.  I find her to be a very accessible poet who transforms pieces of everyday life into beautiful and magical celebrations.

Untitled

Sometimes, oh, often indeed, in the midst of ugly adversity, beautiful
Memories return.
You awake in wonder, you awake at half-past four, 
Wondering what wonder is in store.
You reach for your clothes in the dark and pull them on, you
       have no time
Even to wash your face, you have to climb Megunticook.

You run through the sleeping town; you do not arouse
Even a dog, you are so young and so light on your feet.
What a way to live, what a way...
No breakfast, not even hungry.  An apple, though,
In the pocket.
And the only people you meet are store-windows.

The path up the mountain is stony and in places steep,
And here it is really dark--wonderful, wonderful,
Wonderful--the smell of bark
And rotten leaves and dew!  And nobody awake
In all the world but you!--
Who lie on a high cliff until your elbows ache,
To see the sun come up over Penobscot Bay. 

Do you sudoku? (and yes, this post has cats in it...again!)

If you answered yes to the above question, you might be interested to know which author claims that sudoku is her guilty addiction.  Click here to find out (and we have lots of her books, so take a peek at our online catalog too).

Another great cat book is about to hit the shelves: Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs.  Julie Jackson and Jill Johnson, author and photographer, have managed to make felines look both silly and dignified in this wacky collection of "tressed up" cats.  Some critics may say the existence of this book means someone has too much time on his/her hands, but if it makes you laugh, I think it serves a greater purpose - contributing to the health and well-being of humanity ;o)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

It seems there is no end to the vampire story - even U.S. presidents find themselves fighting these night creatures.  Well, maybe not all presidents, but turns out that Abraham Lincoln did more than write the Gettysburg Address and have to deal with a national civil war - yes, he was plagued with blood suckers...according to author Seth Grahame-Smith.  Sure, his work has been called a novel, but who knows for sure???  Check out this book trailer and decide for yourself (warning: it's a bit violent - in other words, don't expect a cozy parlor scene).     

Food...or science?

There are foodies, and there are geeks, but can you be both?  Of course!  Enter Alton Brown, (who, by the way, I'm not calling a geek, cuz you wanna know geekiness? how about shy, bookish, former band member, now chainsaw-wielding librarian - GEEK!), who somehow manages to make food and science immensely appealing to both culinary and, ahem, thinking (not geeky!) readers.  Get your name on the waiting list for Good Eats: The Early Years to prove that cool, suave, debonair library patrons know what's "good" and what's "leftovers" (course, leftovers in the food world, can be pretty darn fine). 

Too much stuff

We have a new book on order called The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard.  Ms Leonard is an environmental activist who takes a close look at all of the "stuff" we produce, consume and trash.  When I think about what my grandparents got by on, and then I look at what I'm accumulating and discarding, I'm a bit ashamed.  Thinking about putting this title on hold...

Hands-on experience

In my last posting I wrote about book covers.  Well, now I'd like to write about a very specific book cover that has become pretty darn famous over the past few years.  If you're a "twi-hard" you might already know this, but for the rest of us, this factoid has probably slipped right on past us: the original cover of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight shows two hands cupping an apple, and those hands belong to a part-time model named Kimbra Hickey.  And she gets lots of fan attention...just for that cover!  I'm somewhat mystified by the whole thing, but it's yet another example of the power of a book cover (so I took a photo of my hand holding a book - watch out, fame, here I come!)  If you want to see the face attached to the apple-holding hands, check out this article found on www.thebigmoney.com.  You'll also find out about the hand model used for Palmolive's soap label, as well as which celebrity has such ugly thumbs, substitute hands had to be used during a tv commercial.  Guess that's a "thumbs down!"

In this case, please judge...

It's a cliche, but "judging a book by its cover" can be a lot more fun when you actually have covers to judge, say, American vs. British covers.  An interesting column from the web site, www.themillions.com, presents U.S. and U.K. covers for 10 different titles, and the writer offers opinions on which version is better.  Take a look and judge for yourself...  

Oscar time!

But I'm not referring to the famous golden statue.  In this case, Oscar is a cat, and he is a pretty special guy.  He lives (and works!) at a nursing and rehabilitation center in Rhode Island, and his "job" is to give comfort to those who are about to pass away.  You may say, well, any cat could do that, but Oscar doesn't just provide comfort, he actually senses when a person is about to die, and he stays with that person during the final hours.  It's an amazing story about an amazing feline, and it just proves once again that animals often possess uncanny abilities.  If you'd like to see some photos and videos of Oscar, visit here, and if you want to read more about him, place a hold on Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat.  

Et tu, Brutus?

If March makes you think of shamrocks and green beer, you may have forgotten about a very dark day for a certain, famous Roman. The Ides of March ("ides" was the term used for the 15th day of March, May, July and October) is quickly approaching, and if you're curious why March 15th is known for more than just being "two days before St. Patrick's Day," you need to read The Ides: Caesar's Murder and the War for Rome by Stephen Dando-Collins.

Here's a paragraph from the first chapter, describing Caesar's physique seven weeks before his assassination: "Caesar was fifty-four years of age. Tall, well built, with a small chin, sensuous mouth, and large, dark brown eyes, his fair hair now gray, he was a good-looking man, if not handsome. Yet he was vain; because he was balding, "a disfigurement which his enemies harped upon," according to his biographer Suetonius, Caesar brushed his hair forward to cover a large bald spot. To further hide his baldness, on public occasions, he wore the laurel crown to which he was entitled as the winner of a Triumph. According to Suetonius, Caesar's vanity extended to having his body hair removed with tweezers." Too bad Caesar didn't embrace the "bald is beautiful" movement...

Pruning pains

My back hurts. Reason? My husband and I spent the weekend pruning our fruit trees. All 19 of them. It was a lot of work. But it was also pretty great being outdoors in our "spring" weather (almost hate to say the word for fear that winter is gonna smack me for it...) - and despite sore muscles, aching back, bruises caused by large tree limbs, etc., our first major pruning adventure turned out to be a success. Whether you're facing a large or a small pruning project, here are some books that can trim your apprehensions about gardening.

P.S. - I was not the official chainsaw operator for our project, and no, I wasn't auditioning for "Saw VII." But a chainsaw-carrying librarian might dispel some stereotypes...from Cycle Jan to Chainsaw Jan...hmmm...

* The Illustrated Practical Encyclopedia of Pruning, Training & Topiary
* Pruning Made Easy: A Gardener's Visual Guide to When and How to Prune Everything, from Flowers to Trees
* Encyclopedia of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and Landscapes

and as a recent buyer of property in the "country," I'm going to put this one on hold for sure:
* Five Acres and Independence (independence? certainly not from pruning!)

Hail to the chief...of books?

Just came across a list of the best read US presidents. To find out who had a habit of burning holes in his books, or which president took a speed-reading course, or who published an English translation of a 16th century metallurgy text, check out this entry from The Daily Beast. And if reading this list inspires you to read more about a particular president, be sure to check out the biography section of the library.

New fiction

Do you root for the underdog in a sports game? Do you secretly cheer for the tortoise when he crosses the finish line ahead of the much faster rabbit? Whenever I'm looking at the newest fiction coming into the collection, I admit to having a fondness for lesser-known titles. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for bestsellers, and let's face it, the bestsellers are in high demand. But if you're like me and get a bit weary of hearing the same authors' names again and again, I have a few suggestions to combat bestseller fatigue. These titles have been recently ordered, so you may have to wait a bit for them, but if you put yourself on hold now, you'll probably be at the top of the list - and what's better than that? I'm also providing a couple of keywords for each book as a way to entice readers :0)


Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show - traveling theater, Ireland (this is getting buzz about being a good book club read, so it's popularity may rise)

The Man With Two Arms - baseball, "switch pitcher," obsessive parent

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson - Dickinson's inner voice, tattooed handyman

The Crimson Rooms - pre-WWI setting, British female lawyer, illegitimate child