Christmas on Main Street (a/k/a - Mrs. Claus is losing her voice and the elves have frostbite)

In this case, a few photos may actually be worth a thousand words:

HAPPY HOLIDAY AND A MERRY NEW YEAR!

Anticipation

I have an enviable life, surrounded by books and people that love them. Two such people are Helen Simonson and Justin Kramon. Helen has been a customer of The Open Book for years and Justin was my very first employee. Both of them have books coming out in the new year and I can't wait to sell them and "name drop" like crazy.

Helen's book is entitled Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. I just fell in love with Major Pettigrew. He is the type of old school English gentleman that is baffled by the direction the modern world has taken. His relationship with his family members and the villagers of Edgecombe St. Mary are so beautifully described that you feel you know each person. The lovely friendship that develops between Mrs. Ali and the Major is charming without being cloying. The reaction of the villagers who have known the Major for most of his life are interesting and sometimes maddening. The Major's inate goodness and Mrs. Ali's dry wit and quiet rebelliousness are heartwarming. I hated to see this book end.

Justin's book Finny is being published by Random House in July. It has been described as a Dickensian adventure, a love story and the coming of age tale of a very unusual young woman. I am so looking forward to reading this book. I will post a picture of the cover and more information soon.

There are so many things to look forward to in 2010. Anticipating all the wonderful books I will read and all the new people that will walk in the door makes me welcome the future. And of course, time spent with family and familiar friends is something I am grateful for daily. I wish you all happy holidays.

Reading and Writing

I have learned that it is much easier to read 100 books in a year than it is to write 50,000 words in a month. The Diary of an Invisible Woman hit about 4,000 words and then was lost in a storm of things to do and other excuses. Maybe next November I will try again. At the rate I am going, it will take ten years to write this thing.

On the bright side, I just finished reading my 97th book and am heading into the home stretch. I have enjoyed so many of the books I read this year and even loved a few. Since I cannot remember what I had for breakfast, it is especiallly nice to have the list to remind me of my reading.

Wishing everyone the happiest of Thanksgivings, filled with turkey and family and friends and, of course, a few stolen minutes to read a good book!

On Black Friday

don't forget to shop at your local stores!

Happy NaNoWriMo

Yes, November is National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a 175 page novel between November 1st and midnight, November 30th. Check out the fun website to learn more about the crazy people who put this together. The NaNoWriMo people emphasize that it does not have to be a good novel. You just have to write lots of words. The describe it as the Great Frantic Novel.

So, in my spare time, I have decided that it would be fun to participate. I will try to figure out how to link this blog with whatever I write. Just as a teaser, I think that the title will be Diary of an Invisible Woman. I wish it was as easy to write pages as it is to write titles!

So far I have written three pages. Only 172 to go. Check back and see how its going....

Price Wars and Really Good Books

It has been a long time since I have taken the time to write for this blog. The bookstore, the library, the kids, etc. I know... excuses, excuses.

The last few days I have been following the "Price Wars" between Walmart, Amazon and Target with respect to bestselling books. For some reason these behemoths are falling over each other to sell books at a loss. Now Sears has gotten into the act. If you show a receipt showing that you have purchased one of these bestsellers for 75% off, you can get a discount at Sears. Really? Is this really a good business model? Is it designed to drive us little guys out of business so that they can sell books at full price again? Is it just a way to get people to say "I will buy this new book at a discount and, oh by the way, I need to buy a new microwave and some power tools as well?"

I am not enough of a sophisticated business person to have a clue about how this works or why they are doing this. Newsday ran an article about how local booksellers feel about this and there does not seem to be a consensus. What I do know, is that I do not equate books with microwave ovens. Books are not a product to me. I value books and feel that they are worth the money charged for them. Authors struggle to write words that will sing to us, to make us cry, to make us feel young or old, to take us away from our everyday lives. Publishers work hard to bind those words in attractive packages that stand proudly on shelves and to get the word out about these treasures. Booksellers work hard to match those books with their customers. All of this has a value that deserves to be honored.

So enough about prices. Let's talk about some really good books.

I am currently enamored with a series of books by Suzanne Collins. These books have been marketed as young adult novels, but they are great reads for any age.

The first is The Hunger Games, in which we are introduced to Katniss and the people of her district. The time is in the future, when the United States is divided into twelve districts; poverty and hunger affects all but those who live in the Capitol. Once a year, a girl and a boy from each district is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, in which the children are pitted against each other. They must fight until only one remains alive. This book is fast-paced and the characters are well drawn and appealing. You will be holding your breath until the end.

The next book in this series is Catching Fire. I cannot tell you too much about this book without giving away what happens in the first book. I can tell you that Katniss' actions in the first book result in unrest among the twelve districts and there are repercussions for all of the people of the country, as well as for Katniss and her friends and family. This book ends in such a way that you will want to email the author and tell her to write faster so you can find out what happens next. The New York Times critic, Gabrielle Zevin, says that Collins has written a sequel that improves on the first book.

I have read so many good books so far this year. If you go back to my April 17th post, you will see how I am progressing on completing my 100+ Reading Challenge. I think I just might make it!

I wish you a good Autumn, with time to read some really good books.

Art Critic in Minature

I was just about to leave the bookstore for the day when a nice family came up to the counter with their purchases.  I asked the little boy, who was maybe 4 years old, if he was going to go to school soon.  He got kind of a panicked look on his face and said, "No....I don't want to go to school.  I don't want to learn about Keith Haring!!!"

I looked at his parents and said, "So, he really doesn't like Keith Haring, huh?"  The mom said that he really disliked Keith Haring's work and then encouraged the tiny little boy to tell me his favorite artist.

"Mo -Dig-Li-Ahhh- Ni" was the extremely serious reply.     

Apparently he also is fond of Jackson Pollock's splatter paintings.

Only in the Hamptons?

If J.K. Rowling Got Really Cranky......

The Magicians by Lev Grossman is not a fantasy book for children. The characters, especially the main character, Quentin Coldwater, are journeying through some dark nights of the soul in search of happiness. The students at the college of magic in this book are not the same idealistic, young witches and wizards that matriculate at Hogwarts. The students at Brakebills are, for the most part, brilliant misfits who have to work extremely hard to master their skills. Their down time is spent drinking, smoking, experimenting sexually and agonizing over their futures. There is no fatherlike, Dumbledore figure to watch over them.

So why did I like this book so much? I enjoyed the characters, both human and magical. I appreciated the slightly sarcastic references to both the Harry Potter books and The Chronicles of Narnia. As much as I loved those books as a child (and still enjoy them as an adult), the ease in which the characters enter into the magical worlds seems false. And yes, I know this is all make-believe; but it still shouldn't be that simple.

Quentin is a character that is sometimes annoying in his prolonged adolescence. But ultimately, your heart hurts a little for him. His preoccupation with the magical world of Fillory sets him apart from his friends in Brooklyn. Once at Brakebills, he makes friends and discovers that his joke store magic is all show and no substance. He works hard and learns, he undergoes trials, he suffers pain.

This is not a light book, not a foray into a magical world where nothing truly bad will happen.

The Magicians is a story that will haunt you.

Religious Experience

I was not raised in a religious household. We celebrated Christmas and Easter, but it was really all about the presents and the tree and the chocolate bunnies. God did not play a big role in the family. As an adult, I am a questioning Episcopalian who attends church services very sporadically (ok....almost never).

So it was with some interest that I approached three books that I recently read. Two of the books were memoirs by women of Christian religions that fall a bit outside the mainstream and the third was written by a well known author about a rabbi and a minister. All three deal with faith and its importance in some shape or form.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen is my first foray into the humorous, religious memoir genre. Janzen writes about her return to her Mennonite family after her husband leaves her for a man named Bob who he met on Gay.com and, adding insult to injury, she is injured in a car accident. This book is funny and at time, sweetly sad. Janzen captures the quirkiness of her family and the issues that arise when you return to a family that keeps traditions and follows rules that you left behind.

The second book is The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker. This book chronicles Elna Baker's search for love and God and the truth in New York City. It also chronicles a family that is sometimes bizarre, Elna's enormous weight loss and lots of kissing. The author is a stand up comic and skilled storyteller . Her descriptions of her ill-fated attempts at dating and her post-weight loss family vacation will have you rolling. Her sincere believe in God and her religion are refreshing and somehow, innocent.

Finally, I had a sleepless night last night and I picked up the advance readers copy of the new Mitch Albom book, Have a Little Faith: A True Story. By 3am, I had finished the book and had tears running down my face. Mitch Albom's tender depiction of two "Men of God" and the meaning of faith and religion in both of their lives struck a chord with me. Rabbi Albert Lewis' tuneful and joyful approach to life is a lesson to everyone. And Pastor Henry Covington is an inspiration and a hope for many.

After reading these books I did not have an epiphany, nor did I hear the voice of God booming. But I though a lot about faith and family and what makes for a full happy life. I decided to remember the importance of being satisfied. I was reminded of how essential hope is. If books can inspire that, it is good enough for me.

Westhampton Beach in the Summer

It is Richard's birthday in a few days, and all bookstore employees get a cake baked by Sara for their birthday.  Unfortunately, we are out of stuff to make frosting, so an early morning trip to Waldbaums was required this morning.

I do every thing I can to avoid going to our local grocery store.  It is poorly stocked, badly lighted, expensive and the people that work there are surly, at best.  But I thought that 7:30am on a Saturday would be bearable.  I thought wrong.  There were hordes of people, including screaming children in pajamas and people who probably never went to bed last night. There  was a line at the checkout and the man in front of me tried to take my bagels.  Way too much stimulation and interaction for that early in the morning.

Back safely in the minivan, I headed for home, a straight mile down South Road, a quick turn and then safely in my driveway.  This is what I encountered on my journey:

A little man in tennis whites "jogging" down the road.  His running style was reminiscent of a high school majorette, arms pumping and knees popping up to heaven enthusiastically.  His eyes were on the horizon and his face carried a dogged determination.  

Two working men on bicycles on one side of the road, pumping hard on the pedals of their old bikes, while on the other side a scrum of brightly costumed cyclers took up half of the road on bicycles that probably cost more than the other two guys make in months.

Finally, a peacock.  Yes, a peacock,  wandering aimlessly around the center of the road.  I stopped and waited patiently while he (it was a he, fancy feathers and all) decided whether to head north or south.

I have really earned my morning coffee today........

The Guys

First of all, what happened to July? I turned around and fell into August. Somewhere along the way, I read some good books. Two of my favorite are by men who have sometimes been categorized as "Guy Writers". This does not refer to the obvious fact that they are men, but to their usual fans. I think that, although they do speak in the language of younger men, their appeal is wider than that. So, I want to tell you about their new books.


Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby is the story of a musician of some popularity who disappeared from sight almost overnight and the people who have become obsessed with his life and his music. The characters are sometimes funny, sometimes a little pathetic, including the iconic musician. Along the way, illusions are shattered, self-perception is altered and everyone involved learns a bit about love. This book comes out in September, and is a perfect autumn read as it leaves you with a sense of longing for things past.

This is Where I Leave You is the story of one of the most charmingly, annoying, dysfunctional families in literature. Judd Foxman's father has died and has made a final request that his family sit shiva for him. Judd, his sister, his two brothers, his mother and assorted inlaws and neighbors are crammed together for seven days. And oh yes, Judd's wife has just left him for his shock-jock boss. Relationships are kindled and revisted, lovers come together and fall apart and every conceivable relationship (parent, child, wife, sibling, friend) is tested. This is not a soap opera. It is a smart and funny and occasionally painful look at what happens when we leave our twenties behind and have to face our families, and our pasts, as adults.

Enjoy what is left of the summer. I hope your summer reading has been as pleasurable as mine.

Cannery Row

The Open Book's classic bookclub just finished reading Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I have always been a Steinbeck fan, but my admiration has deepened with this odd book. The opening line is " Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem , a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream." From this line Steinbeck goes on to tell a story of the people of Cannery Row, some of whom are down and out, some of whom are dreamers, some of whom are whores. It is a beautiful mish mash of a story held together by the glue of the Chinese grocery owner and Doc, the collector of marine and other specimens. Some of the other memorable characters are Mack, Eddie, Dora (the town madam) and an enigmatic character known only as "The Chinaman". Steinbeck once said that he wanted the book to have the qualities of a tide pool. I think that he succeeded, because the stories change as the time passes and you read on. This is a great book to read on a lazy summer afternoon.

Bloomsday

Happy Bloomsday!  Every year on June 16th, people from around the world celebrate the genius of James Joyce.  The protaganist of Joyce's Ulysses was a character named Leopold Bloom - thus, Bloomsday.

I would like to say that I have read Ulysses, but I don't want to lie.  I have always found James Joyce to be a little intimidating.  I did, however, just finish the most wonderful book in which the main character was named after Leopold Bloom.  In celebration of that book, I am honoring this day with a review.

Pat Conroy's South of Broad will not be published for a few more months, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on a galley of the book.  I have been a Pat Conroy fan for years, loving both Beach Music and The Prince of Tides.  I love his writing and feel that his descriptions of place put you right there.  But it has been a while since I read him and I wondered if the older me would be touched by his writing.

The book is truly wonderful.  I fall in love with books on occasion and this one has me head over heels.  The characters, the setting, the heart-wrenching love between parent and child and husband and wife, the long, long friendships, the beauty of Charleston, the cruelty of people and nature all combine to form that gem of a book that haunts you long past the turning of the last page.  

Book: The Sequel

Well, I have finally been published! Book: The Sequel is a book full of imagined first sentences to imaginary classic book sequels. The publisher asked for submissions and I was notified today that my sequel to Pride and Predjudice and its first line will be included in the final product. Unfortunately, I have no memory of the title or that first sentence. I guess it will be a surprise for all of us! The book will cost $9.95 and the proceeds will be donated by the publisher to the National Book Foundation. Look for it at The Open Book soon...

BEA 2009

Somewhere in this throng are a few foot-weary representatives of The Open Book. This year's annual BookExpo was a bit more subdued than previous years, but it was still a mass of booksellers and books and authors and librarians and, and, and... I came home with some great new books, and some orders for new products for the store. I was even quoted in Publisher's Weekly about Pat Conroy's new book. I got to meet Sara Dessen and Eileen Goudge and Nancy Grace and Sherman Alexie. As alway, meeting the authors whose work rests on the shelves of the store is a thrill.

This event gives me a sense of excitement about bookselling and reading. And although it has been a rough year for The Open Book and a rough year for the publishing industry (lets face it, it has been a hard year for everyone), writers are still writing and publishers are still excited to promote those writers. Even with thousands of people crowding the aisles and the overpriced food of the Javits center making a hole in the budget, during BEA we all get together to celebrate books and the people who love them.

The Sweet Smell of Books

I have been reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon for weeks. I loved The Shadow of the Wind by the same author, and I expected to love this new book as well. And I do. The language is so rich and the use of words so unusual, that I just have to walk slowly through the story. I have tabbed pages and underlined passages. It is one of those books that makes you want to linger over the last pages so you will not have to say goodbye.

Both of Zafon's books have made me want to visit Barcelona. The city is such a strong presence in both books. Zafon's other obssession in both books is books. He writes with such passion about books and writing and the love of reading. For a bookseller/librarian, he hits the right note with his respect for the written word and those who sell it. At one point one of his characters enters into a bookshop and he writes: "He held the shop door open and showed me in. I stepped into the bookshop and breathed in that perfume of paper and magic that strangely no one had ever thought of bottling."

Oddly enough, earlier this week I had been reading another book blog (which I would link to if I could remember where I found it) and found out that someone has actually made a perfume based upon the smell of books. A company called CB I Hate Perfume has bottled a scent called "In the Library" which is described by its creator as "English Novel taken from a Signed First Edition of one of my very favorite novels, Russian & Moroccan leather bindings, worn cloth and a hint of wood polish." I may just have to do a little shopping......

What Would Pippi Do?

This is me as a child, down to the saddle shoes, I swear. Try to get me to come to dinner or to feed the dog.....just try. My head was always in a book and my mind deeply involved in the plot. I was with Alice in Wonderland or Freckles in the Limberlost. I was Jo in Little Women or Nancy Drew chasing criminals or Claudia in the Metropolitan Museum of Art trying to solve the mystery of the angel. I was lucky to have a mother who figured out that any communication was impossible when there was a book in my hand.

So when I saw this article on Jezebel about terms inspired by the ladies of children's literature, I wanted to pass it on. I especially like "Granger Danger" because it describes behavior I exhibit much too often. Click on the link, revisit your favorite fictional kids book characters and imagine how useful they can be for your everyday vocabulary.

2009 - 100+ Reading Challenge

I have joined the 2009 - 100+ Reading Challenge. That means that I am going to do my very best to read 100 books in 2009. Here is my list so far (to be added to as the months pass) in no particular order:

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Favorite line: "It takes a graveyard to raise a child")
2. Drood by Dan Simmons (Huge book, dark, brooding and fascinating. This is worth the time.)
3. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Historical fiction with a twist of the gothic)
4. Hot Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman (Enlightening and looonnnng)
5. My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley (Romance, pure and simple)
6. The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow (A good look at female friendships)
7. Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman
8. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
9. Society of S by Susan Hubbard (Another kind of gothic/vampire story. Very well-written)
10. Fool by Christopher Moore (Weird, Shakespearean)
11. Exile by Richard North Patterson (This was a thriller that made me think)
12. Eclipse by Richard North Patterson (Africa, oil and intrigue)
13. Trouble in Paradise by Robert Parker (Pure vacation read.....Spenser is the best)
14. Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Wonderful, historical fiction)
15. Dear Fatty by Dawn French (A quirky little memoir by the Vicar of Dibley)
16. A Matter of Justice by Charles Todd (I liked this one...a bit like Maise Dobbs)
17. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (funny)
18.Turning Tables by Heather and Rose MacDowell
19. Fault Line by Barry Eisler (Page turner, so-so writing)
20. Maxxed Out by David Collins (Donald Trump-type character, moves along)
21. Happens Every Day by Isabel Gilles (A memoir of betrayal and divorce. Very sad.)
22. Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (So funny....I love Izzy)
23. Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky (A quest to save Yiddish books makes an interesting story)
24. So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson (My reading life in a nutshell)
25. Reasonable Doubts by Gianfranco Carofiglio
26. Bad Mom by Ayelet Waldman (Not really the story of my life...but interesting)
27. Cupid & Diana by Christina Barolomeo (Fun, almost romance novel)
28. Floater by Calvin Trillin (An oldie, Trillin is so funny in such a subtle way)
29. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (Shoes and Italy, need I say more?)
30. Sweet Potato Queen's Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit by Jill Conner Browne
31. Listening is an Act of Love by David Isay (Stories from everyday people)
32. Assisted Loving by Bob Morris (Double dating with your dad. Funny and poignant)
33. Cooking and Screaming by Adrienne Kane ( A different kind of food memoir....the zucchini recipe is great)
34. The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano (This is well written with unexpected twists to the plot)
35. Local by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly (My first graphic novel.....I could become a convert!)
36. Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross (Good mystery, lots of twists and turns)
37. The Language of Bees by Laurie King (I love these Mary Russell stories...this was a good one.)
38. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (The Sookie Stackhouse books are a guilty pleasure.....the True Blood series on television is pretty good as well.)
39. The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran (Good historical fiction, easy to read)
40. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child (I love Jack Reacher)
41. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (so, so beautiful).
42. Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson (ehhhh)
43. Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson ( simple, elegant and beautifully written)
44. King of the Screwups by K.L. Going (funny YA novel)
45. Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd (good, WWI mystery)
46. The Help by Katherine Stockett (my favorite so far this year)
47. South of Broad by Pat Conroy (I am in love with this book)
48. Even by Andrew Grant (good thriller, a little graphic for me)
49. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (great YA book, thanks Sara)
50. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (Classic Steinbeck with beautiful language. Half way there!!)
51. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum rides again....)
52. The Family Man by Elinor Lipman (nice, light summer book)
53. A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (memoir and recipes combined)
54. The Double Bind by Chris Bojalian (I am a little confused....)
55. A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart (Another great legal thriller with Dismas Hardy)
56. The Defector by Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon is almost as good as Jack Reacher....almost)
57. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Good science fiction )
59. You Or Someone Like You by Chandler Burr (please read this book so we can discuss it)
60. Persuasion by Jane Austen (Relaxing, peaceful)
61. First Family by David Baldacci (This is a great beach read)
62. Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby (Fun, sometime sad)
63. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (Really, really good.....read it!)
64. Civil to Strangers by Barbara Pym (The literary equivalent of chamomile tea)
65. Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiana (Takes you back to NYC in the 50's....a pleasure).
66. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (I am not really sure I got this one, a little antiseptic and self-consciously intellectual for me)
67. The Hearing by John Lescroart (Good, Dismas Hardy story0
68. Mennonite In a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen (Funny Memoir #1)
69. The New York Regional Morman Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker (Funny Memoir #2)
70. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom (Just the book I needed to read right now)
71. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo ( Good....I liked Bridge of Sighs better though)
72. The Little Book by Selden Edwards (Interesting time travel story.....good characters)
73. Fahrenheit 451 - Graphic Novel by Tim Hamilton and Ray Bradbury (An interesting retelling of this story in graphic novel form)
74. Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? by Louise Rennison (Soooooo funny).
75. Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood (good, Australian cozy).
76. Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor (wonderful mother/daughter memoir).
77. The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker (Unusual story, great characters)
78. The Fury by Jason Pinter (Fast moving, page-turner).
79. How Shall I Tell the Dog by Miles Kington (Funny musings on death....really)

80. The Last Symbol by Dan Brown (Fun, fast page turner with lots of info about the Masons and Washington, D.C.)

81. Secret Asset by Stella Rimington (MI 5 Spy novel...I am addicted to British espionage)

82. Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt (Touching, sometime funny memoir of loss)

83. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (Haunting, a bit disturbing)

84. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Really good YA sci-fi)

85. Thin is the New Happy by Val Frankel (Memoir of a chronic dieter)

86. American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson (Inspiring and funny)

87. Labor Day by Joyce Maynard (She perfectly captures the voice of the young boy)

88. The James Deans by Reed Farrell Coleman (Great, noir mystery)

89. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Follow up to The Hunger Games....I can't wait for the third book!)

90. The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathie Marie Buchanan (Historical fiction about Niagara Falls and the early days of electricity)

91. The Cold Light of Mourning by Elizabeth J. Duncan (A lovely little cozy mystery)

92. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran (Light and easy historical fiction)

93. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (My new favorite book)

94. Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly ( Harry Bosch and Hong Kong....a lethal mix)

95. Y, The Last Man by Brian Vaughn, et al (Interesting, dark graphic novel....a lunchtime read)

96. Murder Plays House by Ayelet Waldman ( A smart cozy mystery)

97. The First Rule by Robert Crais (Joe Pike made me cry!?!)

98. Personal Days by Ed Park (Odd little book)

99. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova ( Wonderful story, beautiful writing)

100. Velva Jean Learns to Drive by Jennifer Niven (Endearing characters, good story)

101. Still Life by Louise Penney (Very good mystery that takes place in Quebec)

102. The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom (Quirky mystery with a mobile library in the north of Ireland)

103. American Thighs by Jill Connor Browne (Oh those Sweet Potato Queens!)

If I get very ambitious, I will annotate the list with comments. Check this post to see how I am doing!

April is National Poetry Month

Oh, how in the world did National Poetry Month sneak up on me like this? The craziness of winter, the non-sale of the bookstore, the still new work of the library world and here it is, April. So, although I have a lot to say about so many things, I am just going to post my favorite poem in honor of Spring and Poetry and the world spinning round.

Summons
By Robert Francis

Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I’m half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I’m not too hard persuaded.

A Piece of Pi

I am the first to admit that math was never my strong suit. I have always been a book person. But the last few years I have enjoyed hearing about the celebrations of "Pi Day" on March 14th. There is even a website, Pi Day, which has a countdown clock. There are discussions about why people like Pi including poetic statements such as "Pi is a magical loophole in our assumed and intuitive structures….lovelovelove". There are even Pi day songs with lyrics such as "Oh number Pi, Oh number Pi, your digits are unending" (Sung to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree"). Today, I saw students walking into school carrying cakes and pies. Who knew that math could be both fun and tasty?

In Praise of Old Books

Jaqueline Winspear is the wonderful author of the Maisie Dobbs series and one of my favorite authors. She and five other authors write a terrific blog called Naked Authors.com. Recently she wrote about her visit to the Boston Public Library. I know that this is a long quote, but her sentiments about books and bookstores and libraries made me smile on a gloomy, gray, March day. Ms. Winspear says:


"Now, this is a library-goers library, a place with thousands of books that seem to scream, 'Come in, read, research, study, learn, travel to far places, meander back in time, stretch the gray matter, pull me off the shelves and have your way with me.' And as I was sitting at my desk, surrounded by a pile of books on the social history of Beacon Hill, I thought, 'Why would anyone want a Kindle?' (Or something similar). Well, having slogged a couple of hefty books off and on one ‘plane or another, I can see why, however, there is something about those older tomes, something about a place so steeped in intellectual curiosity, that underlines the importance of the book. And later, as I braced myself and went out into the cold air, I realized that it had to do with what we are really tapping into when we open a book, whether we are immersed in study or reading for pleasure. We are accessing a direct line to a vein of storytelling that goes back centuries, and the fact that we can pick up a book – old technology, if ever I saw it – speaks to that legacy. I was using books that will never be available on a Kindle, and to turn their weary but still-up-to-the-job pages made me ache with pleasure. We are so lucky to have libraries, so fortunate to have bookshops, and we have been blessed with books. I just wish more people would come in from the cold and seek the warmth of they offer to the very soul of a person. I've always felt a sense of belonging, in a library - a belonging that warms the cockles of my heart."

The Many Faces of Jane

I just love Jane Austen. Her books are like mashed potatoes on a snowy day, filling and comforting. I have read and re-read all of her books many times. I don't really have a favorite, but lately I have been intrigued by the many different ways in which you may consume the classic, Pride and Prejudice. Of course, there is always my favorite, the Penguin Classic paperback, but you may be suprised at the appearances this timeless story makes in different packages.


There are the movies, both the classic version with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier and the more recent version with Keira Knightly. In 1995, the BBC produced a wonderfully long and luxurious (6 hours!) version of the book in a miniseries starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Mr Firth again reprised his role as Mr. Darcy in the modern day take on this story in Bridget Jones Diary.

Now, coming in April we can look forward to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, a story described as "the original text of Jane Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action". I think I hear Jane Austen whirling in her grave....

Finally, I found the following site that condenses the plot of Pride and Prejudice into a Facebook Status Update page. Austenbook lists the changes in relationships and announces the events that drive the plot. My favorite listing is "Lydia Bennet and Kitty Bennet joined the group 1,000,000 Strong Against the Officers Leaving Meryton {join!}".

So you can choose your Pride and Prejudice.....black and white or color, with or without zombies. For me, give me a rainy day, lots of tea and the 6 hour miniseries. I know I almost know it by heart, but it always draws me in.

Meme Madness

It seems like everytime I open a blog or a social networking site there is another meme. You know those posts asking you to list "25 Random Things" or "Memories" or "In Your Senior Year of High School Did You...." . I truly enjoy reading them, but find completing them more difficult. It is hard to think up 25 random things about myself or remember what I did in high school. But I may have found the perfect meme.....or at least I may have "borrowed" other people's ideas and created the perfect short meme for me. Here it is.....Bookmama's Book Meme:

1. What was your favorite book as a child?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2. What is the one book you recommend to almost everyone?

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
3. Do you read books while you do other activities, and if so, which activities?

Yes, cooking, bathing, watching TV, listening to music and any activity which allows it.
4. Which book has been on your shelves the longest?

Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
5. What is your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next?

Hot Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman, Eclipse by Richard North Patterson and

Above the Law by Tim Green
6. What book did everyone like and you hated?

Atonement by Ian McEwan

7. Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life?

All of the Travis McGee books remind me of off-season in Colorado.

8. Have you ever seen a movie you liked better than the book?

The Hours by Michael Cunningham
9. Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?

Jessica Howard
10. What was the last book that you bought?

A book on hydroponics for the home gardener for my daughter.
11. What was the last book you checked out from the library?

Above the Law by Tim Green
12. What do you wish you had time to read?

Raj Quartet by Paul Scott

13. What is one of your favorite reading memories?

Listening to my friend Jane reading The Monster at the End of the Book complete with

Elmo and Cookie monster imitations and hearing my daughters shrieking with laughter.

I could continue to ask questions about books for hours. You can find out a lot about a person by asking what they read, why they read it and what kinds of books touch them. I hope you enjoy thinking about how you might answer the questions. I would love to hear your responses.....

Oh Mexico....

The sale of The Open Book has eaten up every waking minute and I have sadly neglected Bookmama's World.  While the sale of the store is still in limbo, I am leaving in about an hour for a long anticipated trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.  While I am there, I hope to regroup and recharge and READ!

I tend to be sensible when it comes to packing.  I throw in a few pairs of shorts, a bathing suit and a skirt.  I take the necessities.  But when it comes to taking books on vacation, I am, admittedly, ridiculous.  For this vacation I am taking two mysteries download to an MP3 player and the following books:

The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Eclipse by Richard North Patterson

Exile by Richard North Patterson

Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 

 

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 

You may not believe it, but I am concerned that I will run out of books.  Luckily, my sister and my mother will have backups waiting for me.  I will give you an update on how many I read when I get home.  In the meantime, thanks for checking in on my world.

Good Times at the Open Book

If The Open Book could talk I am sure it would have lots of stories to tell.  A bookstore can be a witness to blooming love stories, angry fights, laughter, friendship and many other human experiences.  It has been a privilege over the last ten years to witness the human drama unfolding in the store, to take part in lots of the laughter and to have formed unbreakable friendships. This is my last week at the bookstore and I have to tell you that it feels a bit like an extremely long wake. Although the bookstore will go on, my stewardship of this business will come to an end.  It is an understatement to describe it as bittersweet.

Unwinding a ten year old business is a lot of work, which is too easily and too often interrupted by the discovery of things that take you wandering back in time.  I remember standing in an almost empty store holding balloons to give out to the children and wondering what this new career would bring.  I could not have imagined the richness of the bookseller's life.

I am moving onto a new career which is full of intelligent, interesting people.    I am so glad to be working in a place filled with books and people who love them.  It will ease the transition and I look forward to growing as a librarian and the new adventures I will have.

The Open Book has hosted lots of good times (some of which I am sure I am not aware of....so many people had keys).   Christopher Morley said,  "When you sell a man a book, you don't sell him just 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue....you sell him a whole new life."   I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to give "whole new lives" to so many and to be The Open Book's Bookmama for awhile .