Twenty Five Things Meme

There are very few things in my life that are "secret" but I will give it a shot:)

1. I refuse to use LOL or BFF because I think they sound silly but love, love, love smileys.

2. I have declined to date someone because they didn't write well.

3. The more I like someone, the more books I give them as gifts...which must mean that my nephew is my favorite person in the whole wide world.

4. I can't figure out how I came to be living such a grown-up life when I have never once felt like a grown-up and kind of doubt I ever will.

5. I will develop a sudden passion for a hobby or topic and get completely obsessed with it. And then, once I decide I know enough, I just as suddenly stop being passionate about it. This does not apply to people however. I don't risk my heart easily but once I am in, I am all the way in. Sorry loved ones, you are stuck with me.

6. I wish I could get my cell phone implanted in my arm. It buzzes when I have a meeting or social event planned so I no longer forget what I am supposed to be doing at any given moment. I love it more than any of my other possessions, except for my books and sparkly shoes.

7. I am terribly addicted to twitter, which is another reason I love my cell phone.

8. I don't eat leftovers and never take leftovers home, except when I eat out with friends, who always talk me into taking home the leftovers. I usually end up giving to the neighbor to feed to his dog.

9. Last year I read 191 literary fiction, non-fiction and poetry books all the way through (no skimming). This number does not include the fun vampire fiction I used to "cleanse the palate" between the literary tomes or the 15 other books I skimmed.

10. Vampire romances are my comfort reads.

11. I was a vegetarian for several years and then started eating meat again in 2001. Slowly but surely it looks like I am drifting back to the world of vegetarianism once again.

12. I love live music and almost every kind of music and if I had unlimited finances, would go to every concert in town that I could find.

13. While I love reading more than anything else in the world I am not a collector. With the exception of a few reference books, the complete set of Harry Potters and autographed books by Margaret Atwood, as soon as I have read a book I sell it or give it away.

14. I have worked in public service for 13 years and have stopped worrying about germs. I figure if I haven't dropped dead by now, I am golden.

15. I don't find eating all that interesting unless I am eating out and then I insist on fabulous food. I don't think I have eaten fast food (apart from ice cream) in years.

16. Because I am not that interested in food, I am only an adequate cook. I do have a sweet tooth however and am a fabulous baker.

17. Even though I am not interested in cooking, I read cookbooks for fun.

18. I spent twenty years sending plants home with my Mother so she could rescue them and then moved into a house and discovered that I kind of like gardening and am pretty good at it.

19. I really believe squirrels are evil and are out to get me.

20. For the past five years, I have tried to watch every single Oscar nominee before Oscar party night, even the ones in the obscure categories like best costume. It has become kind of an obsession. The most movies watched in one day: I got up, watched a DVD and then went to the AMC Oscar showcase and watched five more.

21. I love Halloween and like dressing up but hate to come up with clever costumes. I've decided I need a personal assistant to figure the details in my life.

22. I grew up in a freakishly normal family. My parents are still together, my sister and I get along and I adore my nephew and extended family.

23. I have become remarkably picky about furniture and I won't buy something just to "fill in" until I find what I really want. I didn't have a kitchen table for five years until I found the perfect one in Claflin KS and I expect to own it for the next fifty years.

24. Living without a pet made my life easier but it left a huge hole in my life. I don't think I could go without one again.

25. I am an extroverted introvert (in other words, I can fake extroversion pretty well) and people are often surprised that I am an introvert.

2009 American Library Association READING LIST COUNCIL AWARDS

2009 READING LIST COUNCIL AWARDS - for the best in genre fiction in eight genre categories:

ADRENALINE: "Blue Heaven" by C.J. Box
Shortlist: "The Dirty Secrets Club" by Meg Gardiner; "Hold Tight" by Harlan Coben; "L.A. Outlaws" by T. Jefferson Parker; and "Rules of Deception" by Christopher Reich;

FANTASY: "Veil of Gold" by Kim Wilkins
Shortlist: "The House of the Stag" by Kage Baker; "Ink and Steel" by Elizabeth Bear; "Shadowbridge" by Gregory Frost; and "Small Favor" by Jim Butcher;

HISTORICAL FICTION:"The Steel Wave" by Jeff Shaara
Shortlist: "Dreamers of the Day" by Mary Doria Russell; "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane; "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows; and "The Whiskey Rebels" by David Liss;

HORROR: "Sharp Teeth" by Toby Barlow
Shortlist: "Coffin County" by Gary A. Braunbeck; "Infected" by Scott Sigler; "The Killing Circle" by Andrew Pyper; and "The Wolfman" by Nicholas Pekearo;

MYSTERY: "The Garden of Evil" by David Hewson; shortlist: "The Black Tower" by Louis Bayard; "The Calling" by Inger Ash Wolfe; "The Cruelest Month" by Louise Penny; and "Vienna Blood" by Frank Tallis;

ROMANCE: "The Spymaster's Lady" by Joanna Bourne
Shortlist: "My Lord and Spymaster" by Joanna Bourne; "Private Arrangements" by Sherry Thomas; "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose" by Lauren Willig; and "Your Scandalous Ways" by Loretta Chase;

SCIENCE FICTION: "Hunter's Run" by George R.R. Martin
Shortlist: "The Automatic Detective" by A. Lee Martinez: "City at the End of Time" by Greg Bear; "Matter" by Iain M. Banks; and "A World Too Near" by Kay Kenyon;

WOMEN'S FICTION: "Every Last Cuckoo" by Kate Maloy
Shortlist: "Belong to Me" by Marisa de los Santos; "Certain Girls" by Jennifer Weiner; "The Sugar Queen" by Sarah Addison Allen; and "Thank You for All Things" by Sandra Kring.

Winner of 2009 ALA Notable Books Council Book Award Announced

My book award committee met and we have selected our choices for the 2009 American Library Association CODES Notable Books Council Book Award.

* denotes my personal favorites.

The Notable Book Award is makes available to the nation’s readers a list of 25 very good, very readable, and at times very important fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books for the adult reader.

The 2009 winners are:


FICTION

Alameddine, Rabih. The Hakawati Knopf 9780307266798

Aslam, Nadeem. The Wasted Vigil Knopf 9780307268426

Bausch, Richard. Peace Knopf 9780307268334

*Benioff, David. City of Thieves: A Novel Viking 9780670018703

Erdrich, Louise. The Plague of Doves HarperCollins 9780060515126

Galchen, Rivka. Atmospheric Disturbances Farrar Straus & Giroux 9780374200114

Lahiri, Jhumpa. Unaccustomed Earth Knopf 9780307265739

*Millhauser, Steven. Dangerous Laughter: Thirteen Stories Knopf 9780307267566

Sheers, Owen. Resistance Doubleday/Nan A. Talese 9780385522106

Strout, Elizabeth. Olive Kitteridge Random House 9781400062089

Talarigo, Jeff. The Ginseng Hunter Doubleday/Nan A. Talese 9780385517393


NONFICTION

Coll, Steve. The Bin-Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century Penguin Press 9781594201646

Faust, Drew Gilpin. This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War Knopf 9780375404047

*Filkins, Dexter. The Forever War Knopf Publishing Group 9780307266392

Gilmore, Glenda Elizabeth. Defying Dixie: The Radical Roots of Civil Rights, 1919-1950 Norton 9780393062441

Gordon-Reed, Annette. The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family Norton 9780393064773

Harris, Mark. Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood Penguin 9781594201523

Horwitz, Tony. A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World Holt 9780805076035

*Mayer, Jane The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals Doubleday 9780385526395

Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto Penguin 9781594201455

Taylor, Nick. American-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to Work Bantam 9780553802351

Vanderbilt, Tom. Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says about Us) Knopf 9780307264787

Wickersham, Joan . The Suicide Index: Putting My Father's Death in Order Harcourt 9780151014903

POETRY

Hirsch, Edward Special Orders: Poems Knopf 9780307266811

*Tate, James Ghost Soldiers: Poems Ecco 9780061436949


The winner(s) was selected by the Notable Books Council, whose members include Patricia L. Gregory, chair, Saint Louis University; Alicia Ahlvers, Kansas City Public Library; Susie Brown, Shaker Heights Public Library; A. Issac Pulver, Saratoga Springs Public Library; Andrea Slonosky; Sandra Ballasch, University of Iowa Libraries; Malynda Dalton, Texas A&M International University; Julie Elliott, Indiana University South Bend; Nancy Pearl; Nonny Schlotzhauer, Pennsylvania State University; Lise Snyder, UCLA College Library; Valerie Morgan Taylor, Lewisville Community Library and Booklist consultant Brad Hooper.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. For more information, visit www.ala.org/rusa

From my trip to the Slammer

https://www.joinmda.org/2009southkclu/aliciaahlvers/

The Embrace by Mark Doty

You weren't well or really ill yet either;
just a little tired, your handsomeness
tinged by grief or anticipation, which brought
to your face a thoughtful, deepening grace.

I didn't for a moment doubt you were dead.
I knew that to be true still, even in the dream.
You'd been out--at work maybe?--
having a good day, almost energetic.

We seemed to be moving from some old house
where we'd lived, boxes everywhere, things
in disarray: that was the story of my dream,
but even asleep I was shocked out of the narrative

by your face, the physical fact of your face:
inches from mine, smooth-shaven, loving, alert.
Why so difficult, remembering the actual look
of you? Without a photograph, without strain?

So when I saw your unguarded, reliable face,
your unmistakable gaze opening all the warmth
and clarity of you--warm brown tea--we held
each other for the time the dream allowed.

Bless you. You came back, so I could see you
once more, plainly, so I could rest against you
without thinking this happiness lessened anything,
without thinking you were alive again.

From poets.org Mark Doty

Free e-book Friday

Until January 15th, you can download a free copy of Suze Orman’s new book from Oprah’s web site.

NOTABLE AUTHORS WHO DIED IN 2008

Forrest J. Ackerman
Science fiction editor and critic

Robert Lynn Asprin
Author of the humorous fantasy series MythAdventures
and beloved fixture in science fiction fandom

Eliot Asinof
Novelist best known for the non-fiction work Eight Men Out

Clive Barnes
Theater, dance, and art critic

Andrew Britton
Author of the Ryan Kealey suspense novels

William Buchan
Pioneer author of spy fiction

William F. Buckley, Jr.
Conservative commentator, founder of the National Review,
and author of political essays, memoirs, and thrillers

Algis Budrys
Science fiction writer and editor

George Carlin
Irreverent comedian and political commentator

George C. Chesbro
Author of several mystery and spy thrillers, best known for the Robert "Mongo" Frederickson private eye novels

Arthur C. Clarke
Science fiction novelist and futurist
best known for 2001 and Childhood's End

Myron Cope
Award-winning sportswriter

C. R. Corwin
Author of the Morgue Mama mystery series

Michael Crichton
Author of numerous speculative thrillers such as Jurassic Park, and creator of the television series ER

James Crumley
Prolific mystery author, including the Milo Milodragovitch
and the C. W. Sughrue series

Thomas M. Disch
Multiple award-winning science fiction novelist and critic

Julius Fast
Author of mysteries and popular non-fiction

Elaine Flinn
Author of the mystery series featuring antique dealer Molly Doyle

Leo Frankowski
Writer of military science fiction,
including the Conrad Stargard series

George MacDonald Fraser
Best known for the series of historical romps
featuring unrepentant rogue Harry Flashman

Simon Gray
Novelist and playwright

Elizabeth Guest
Author of contemporary and paranormal romances

Gary Gygax
Co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons and
writer of many books on role-playing games

Oakley Hall
Novelist and author of the Ambrose Bierce mystery series

Jon Hassler
Novelist of small-town life in Minnesota

Tony Hillerman
Prolific mystery novelist, best known for the Joe Leaphorn
and Jim Chee series set on the Navajo reservation

Edward D. Hoch
Prolific mystery author, especially short stories

Russell Warren Howe
True-crime, thriller, and spy novelist

Joe Hyams
Political journalist and celebrity biographer

Donald James
Writer of thrillers and television scripts

Janet Kagan
Hugo-award winning science fiction and fantasy author

William C. Knott
Wrote westerns under numerous pseudonyms

Ralph Kovel
Creator of the immensely popular price guides
for collectibles and antiques

John Leonard
Literary editor and pop culture critic

Jack Lynch
Author of the Peter Bragg private eye series

Arthur Lyons
Editor and author of the Jacob Asch private eye series

Steven Marlowe
Author of historical fiction and mysteries

Gregory McDonald
Mystery and suspense writer, best known for the Fletch series

Conor Cruise O'Brien
Irish politician, intellectual, and historian

Meg O'Brien
Authored the Jessica James mysteries

Audrey Peterson
Wrote mystery novels and criticism

Harold Pinter
Poet, playwright, essayist and critic

Dorothy Porter
Prize-winning poet and author of verse novels

Julian Rathbone
Wrote historical fiction and numerous mystery series

Alain Robbe-Grillet
Noted French experimental novelist and
"anti-literary" fiction writer

Jerry Rodriguez
Playwright and mystery writer

Tim Russert
Newsman, political analyst, and author of
such memoirs as Big Russ and Me

Benjamin Schutz
Author of crime procedurals and
the Leo Haggerty private-eye series

Edward Sheehan
Freelance journalist and novelist

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Nobel Prize-winning novelist and critic of the Soviet Union

Studs Terkel
Author of popular social histories and consummate interviewer

Margaret Truman (Daniel)
Daughter of President Harry Truman and prolific author
of the Capital Crimes murder mysteries

Tasha Tudor
Caldecott-winning illustrator and author of
classic children's books

W. T. Tyler
Author of spy novels and thrillers

Peter Vansittart
Prolific historical novelist

David Foster Wallace
Innovative novelist, essayist, and journalist,
best known for his novel Infinite Jest

Hillary Waugh
Pioneering writer of police procedurals and hardboiled suspense

Janwillem van de Wetering
Author of numerous mystery novels and short stories, including the Grijpstra and de Gier series

Donald Westlake
Writer of many mysteries and thrillers,
including the Dortmunder comic capers, who also
wrote under many pseudonyms, especially Richard Stark

Phyllis Whitney
Beloved author of many historical, romance, and
gothic novels for teens and adults

Helen Yglesias
Feminist writer and novelist

list compiled by Fiction_L

Free e-book Friday

From Leo Babauta at Zen Habits

Merry Christmas everyone! As a gift, I’d like to share with
you my companion to The Power of Less — a free ebook called “THRIVING
ON LESS: Simplifying in a Tough Economy“.

Go here to download the ebook for
free. (Please note: click on the link to go to the download page — don’t
click “save as” to save the ebook.)

Instead of birthday presents...

My birthday is coming up and I thought it might be fun to do something different and get arrested this year. Ok, maybe not really arrested but hopefully raise a little money for charity. Don't worry, I will still have Birthday Month so save January 6th for dinner out and/or January 10th for something fun and different (I hope).

See below to find out how to donate and thanks for your support.

I'm proud to tell you that I'm being locked up...that's right, I'm going behind bars to help Jerry's Kids© and MDA. To be released on good behavior I have to raise bail and I need your help!

All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation before 01/14/09. Your donation will help families living in our community and help guarantee me an early release. I can't wait to add you to my list of contributors.

Thanks in advance for your help.

If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser.
https://www.joinmda.org/2009southkclu/aliciaahlvers/

Typos and other errors

I usually save each blog post for a day so that I can go in and proofread it before publishing it. Unfortunately, I sometimes hit the "publish post" button instead of the "save as draft" button instead.

If it wouldn't cause the post to be published in everyone's blog reader multiple times I would be tempted to go in and fix a few errors in that last post.....and maybe finish it:)

Twittering

When I first started blogging couple of years ago various friends asked why on earth I would bother. I answered that my motivation was primarily to keep track of this monstrous pile of books I needed to read and, more importantly, so my out-of-town friends (most notably a good friend who moved to Switzerland) could keep up with my life and get to see a quirky side of me that my introvert side doesn't tend to let loose in public. The response at the time was that blogging sounded like a self-indulgent and narcissistic way of blathering on about myself.

Lately, I have been seeing the same kinds of arguments come up when bloggers talk about twittering. My point two years ago was, you don't have to have a blog or even read mine. Just accept that it makes me happy and gives a few friends (and my mother) pleasure.

Twitter is the same for me. I have met so many awesome Kansas City people who are not bloggers or who don't participate in the local blogger community on twitter. Unlike many of my new friends who are in the media fields, I don't treat it as a micro-blogging or marketing tool but tend to think of it as being able to text all my friends at one time with the random tidbits that pop into my mind and once again (hopefully) allow my old and new friends to get a glimpse of my quirkier side.

Books for the family

It should come as no surprise I give books as gifts. Shocking, isn't it. Luckily, the people on my gift list also like to read.

See, my whole family consists of bookworms. In case you are interested, Dad is reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin and my Nephew is reading 1984 by George Orwell.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to list the books I gave to different family members this year. This will also serve as a reminder so that I don't get them the same book again next year. Not that I would ever do that.....

Dad likes American history best but I can never resist an autographed novel:
Escape by Robert K Tanenbaum (autographed)
Bob Schieffer's America by Bob Schieffer

Mom likes a little bit of everything:
Remembrance of Murders Past by Noreen Wald - mystery paperback stocking stuffer
Shifting Calder Wind by Janet Dailey - romance paperback stocking stuffer
Captive by Joan Johnston - romance paperback stocking stuffer
Dark Angel by Karen Harper - romantic suspense paperback stocking stuffer
Intern: A Doctor's Initiation by Sandeep Jauhar - because Mom used to work in the medical field
So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger (autographed)
How The States Got Their Shapes by Mark Stein - this one may get filched by Dad
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski - hot literary fiction of the year
Stealing Athena by Karen Essex - historical fiction
The Soloist by Steve Lopez - uplifting and about music...both appreciated by Mom

My Sister is a mystery buff but I threw in a couple of "hot literary novels" as well:
The Turnaround by George Pelecanos
The Given Day: A Novel by Dennis Lehane
American Wife: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld
The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff

Grandma:
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
Red Bird: Poems by Mary Oliver
Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris

Brother-in-Law:
Planet Google: One Company's Audacious Plan To Organize Everything We Know by Randall Stross

Nephew:
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks
The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Amory Wars Volume 1: The Second Stage Turbine Blade (v. 1) by Claudio Sanchez
1984 by George Orwell
An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume 2 (Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories) by Ivan Brunetti
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Free e-books

From Dec 23 - Dec31st at www.eBooks.eHarlequin.com, there will be a free romance eBook a day given away.

Top Ten for 2008

All of my favorite books from 2008 (so far) are now listed at Present Magazine. And be sure to look at my friend Kaite Stover's recommendations as well.

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

This novel is inspired by an actual event during the 1992 siege of Sarajevo, a cellist watches as 22 of his neighbors are gunned down. His decision to play the cello in the square every day for 22 days to honor the dead profoundly impacts the lives of four ordinary citizens struggling not only to survive but retain their humanity.

This was the novel (so far) this year, that has most profoundly impacted me. It was an enormously touching novel and it brought back the horror of a time that I can still remember. I still remember being stunned and horrified that the entire world was sitting back and doing nothing. Sadly, most governments have not changed, as events in Darfur so vividly illustrate.

The Road by Cormic McCarthy

I am a firm believer that the books people love reflect their "story". That part of their life that they need told and retold in a variety of ways, not as an instant therapy tool but just as something intimate and recognizable to them at the deepest levels. This is why being able to effectively recommend books to people will always be more of an art than a science.

What I have noticed lately is that my story has changed. Until a few years ago, the stories I loved, that touched me, all revolved about building family, not always biological, but family all the same, the quirkier the better. Lately though, the stories that have blindsided me aren't about that. Some still have elements of family but most are about solitude. The main character is learning self-reliance and self-knowledge. Consider last years favorite (and if I might brag, picked before Oprah and the Pulitzer committee discovered it) The Road. It is about family but also about endurance, solitude and ultimately, hope.

From last year...

I had to laugh. When I went to my library conference a few weeks ago, I went to a readers advisory workshop (how to help people find "the right" book) on the Gen X, Gen Y readers and how to help them find books. When I go to these they always give out a big list of authors that are proven winners with this crowd. I was at a concert a few days ago and the friend I went with started asking me if I had read any of the "new, cutting edge" authors. Right down my booklist we went. Every single author that he was named was on my list. (He did miss Dostoevsky though.)

Yesterday, I had a new staff member (who reads a lot) start. She is in her early 30's. As I listened to her recommend books to an 80-year-old, she was also recommending right off the list.

Here is the list...
Arthur Rimbaud
Bret Easton Ellis
Charles Bukowski
Chuck Palahniuk
Dave Eggers
David Foster Wallace
David Mitchell
David Sedaris
Douglas Coupland
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Haruki Murakami
Hunter S. Thompson
Kelly Link
Linda Barry
Mark Danielewski
Michelle Tea
Nick Flynn
William Burroughs

And some "Street fiction" to go along with it...
Donald Goines
Iceberg Slim
Roy Glenn
Sister Souljah
T.N. Baker
Vickie M Stringer

Naomi Novik

We are now reading nominations for the Notable Book Award (we were nominating book prior to December 1st) and I can no longer talk about what I am reading. These award committees like everything to be a "surprise". Anyway, I have pulled an older book review off of my other blog and dusted it off to keep you entertained.

I am currently up-to-date on the Naomi Novik series and I have to say, I really becoming a fan. The story, set during the Napoleonic Wars, is about a ship's captain who defeats a French ship in battle, takes possession of the ship and discovers a dragon egg on board. Since dragons will go feral if not convinced to "take the harness" early in life and the dragons are an essential part of the war arsenal, it is imperative that the dragon choose it's handler. Of course, this dragon chooses the captain of the ship, who liked his life the way it was, but who embarks on this new path for the good of the Empire.

What I like most about this series is the affection that develops between the gentleman Navel captain and an incredibly intelligent and strong willed male dragon. FYI: It is a series that works equally well for men or women readers (at least so far) and is one of the "hot" fantasy series for adults at the moment.

Plenty of Fish

I want to take this test. Not because I have any intention of online dating again but because I like taking tests about me. I wonder if I can do that without signing up?

I could do a really long, profound explanation of why I like taking personality tests but does it really matter? After all, anything that keeps me busy and out-of-trouble can't be a bad thing.

Descartes' Loneliness by Allen Grossman

(Meditation Three)

Toward evening, the natural light becomes
Intelligent and answers, without demur:
“Be assured! You are not alone. . . .”
But in fact, toward evening, I am not
Convinced there is any other except myself
To whom existence necessarily pertains.
I also interrogate myself to discover
Whether I myself possess any power
By which I can bring it about that I,
Who now am, shall exist another moment.

Because I am mostly a thinking thing
And because this precise question is
Only from that thoughtful part of myself,
If such a power did reside within me
I should, I am sure, be conscious of it. . . .
But I am conscious of no such power.
And yet, if I myself cannot be
The cause of that assurance, surely
It is necessary to conclude that
I am not alone in the world. There is

some other who is the cause of that idea.
But if, at last, no such other can be
found toward evening, do I really have
sufficient assurance of the existence
or of any other being at all? For,
after a most careful search, I have been
unable to discover the ground of that
conviction – unless it be imagined a lonely
workman on a dizzy scaffold unfolds
a sign at evening and puts his mark to it.

from http://www.bathsheba.com/ag/

Major: A Black Athlete, A White Era,and the Fight to be the World's Fastest Human Being by Todd Balf

Marshall Major Taylor was one of the United States most unlikely heroes. During an era of Jim Crow laws and lynching, Taylor managed to rise to the top of America’s favorite new sport to become the “fastest man alive”. Despite racial injustice and setbacks, he never lost his dignity, moral virtue or his love for the sport of bicycle racing. This is a classic underdog story detailing the life of a little known American hero.

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow: A Novel of Shanghai by Wang Anyi

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow: A Novel of Shanghai by Wang Anyi opens with exquisite descriptions of Shanghai and its distinct and mysterious longtang - neighborhoods that are as much a character as Wang Qiyao, a former beauty queen whose life has gone sadly awry. Wang Oiyao, comes together with people, only to drive them away in the end, unaware of her impact on others as her country is on its people.

Birthday Month

Birthday month is on its way and it has been pointed out to me that planning is essential for a good birthday month. Since my birthday is on a Tuesday night (January 6th) I will be having the usual birthday dinner somewhere tasty but I will also need to start planning the Birthday extravaganza night out. Therefore, please mark your calender for January 10, 2009 to join me in my birthday celebration.

P.S. If you can't make that, I am open to more parties/dinners/cakes...throughout the month of January.

Cats

My friend needs to find a home for her two cats. Ideally she would like them to stay together but realizes that may not be possible. They will be five years old in April 2009 - up to date on all their shots and are declawed. She will provide new litter boxes and first supply of food and litter. If interested, please email me at notablereading@hotmail.com .

November KC Blogger Meetup

I am not sure I will be able to make it but...the next blogger meetup is next week. All blogger types are welcome.

Tuesday, November 18th anytime after 5:00 p.m.
Harry's Country Club in the River Market area
112 Missouri Avenue
Kansas City, MO

RSVP on Spyder's post

Motivational DNA Type is CSI (Connection-Stability-Internal): The Supporter

I am having a stressful day and I find personality tests to be soothing. Thank you, Bea for giving me something to do to regain my balance.

Supporters are practical, dependable and loyal. They are both people-oriented and detail-oriented. Supporters are natural supervisors. They thrive on helping others excel in their positions and will fight for the underdog. Methodical in their methodology, they like to have the facts before they act. They respect authority and organizational structure. Caring and careful with people and projects, Supporters are skillful at implementing procedures. They possess a strong work ethic. Having a clearly defined goal to work toward is important to them and they follow through on objectives with steady conscientiousness. Psychological pay is of primary importance to them. They need to feel good about what they are doing and sense that their work makes a positive contribution.

CSI Motivators: Facts and information, peer respect, sincere appreciation, private recognition, specific positive feedback, an inspiring work environment, co-workers they enjoy, clearly defined objectives, a sense of accomplishment, and time to reflect and plan.

CSI De-Motivators: Hype and hyperbole, infringement on personal or family time, perceived inequity and demands for rapid change.

Quick-Start Tips for Goal Achievement.

From Bea's Blog

Life and Death are Wearing Me Out: A Novel by Mo Yan

Alternating between funny and horrifying, this satire sends executed landowner Ximen Nao through the second half of 20th century China in a variety of reincarnated forms, starting as a donkey and finally ending as a child. In each form, he witnesses the results of the Land Reform Movement and Great Leap Forward into present day China. In spite of the light tone, this is a profoundly disturbing and enlightening look at the impact each change had on the Chinese people.

Well...I do have a few ideas...

You Should Be a Politician

Confident, assertive, and dedicated - you know what you want in life and how to get it. Stubborn and opinionated, you can stand your ground... even if it's unpopular. And while you have strong views, you never overwhelm people with your opinions. A true charmer, you subtly influence people into seeing things your way. You do best when you: - Work according to your own rules - Can change the world with what you do You would also be a good lawyer or talk show host.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Halloween Meme

You Should Be a Geisha for Halloween

According to our quiz, you'd make an ideal geisha. Your runner up costume: Fairy

The Halloween Costume Generator

Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel by Michio Kaku

In Physics of the Impossible, author Michio Kaku explores the fantastical world of science fiction and tells us exactly which of these “impossible” inventions are actually possible, at least according to our understanding of the current laws of physics. While most of these will not be seen in our lifetime, this intensely readable text makes it fun to imagine the possibilities that await future generations. Kaku does an outstanding job of making physics understandable and enjoyable, a remarkable feat for a science writer.

Free e-book Friday

Ok, not actually e-books, but if you like classical music the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is offering 10 symphonies as free downloads. This will be available through November 24th.

Books & Books Meme

What was the last book you bought? Bought? I don't buy books, they just appear in the mail...day after day after day. Help! I'm drowning in books.

Name a book you have read MORE than once: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it? Every book changes the way I see life. I don't reacognize the effects but they all do.

How do you choose a book? By the pretty cover, the review, because I like the author, because a friend who has similar taste in books liked it, because it is assigned reading, because I am on a book award committee and must read or die...Take your pick.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction? Depends on the subject. I tend to gravitate toward fiction but love anything to do with Victorian woman explorers, archeology, brain research....

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot? The books that stay with me are the ones with "beautiful" writing or at least the most memorable descriptions.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book) I have always been fond of Amelia Peabody from the mystery series by Elizabeth Peters. The author has her PhD in Egyptology and has patterned her character after Amelia Edwards, Victorian Archeologist.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment? Life and Death are Wearing Me Out: A Novel by Mo Yan

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it? Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel by Michio Kaku

Have you ever given up on a book half way in? Sure. Many. Reading is not a test or an endurance activity. Reading should be a joy.

from Bea's Weblog by Bea

Free E-Book Friday

For a limited time, read all of Wicked, the book that started it all, including the smash Broadway musical that is celebrating its 5th anniversary this month, online, for free!

Kathleen Sibelius

Instead of watching the Vice-Presidential debates last Thursday, I went to Knuckleheads to listen to Tab Benoit. While we were there, one of my friends spotted Kathleen Sibelius in the crowd and shanghaied her for a picture.

The Door by Margaret Atwood

I love Margaret Atwood. Two of her fiction novels are on my Favorite Books of All Time list. In fact, I have met her and stammered like an idiot while she signed my books. What a joy to discover that her poetry hits me the same way.

From "Owl and Pussycat, Some Years Later", a witty retelling of the well-known nursery rhyme, to the darker poem "The Hurt Child", Margaret Atwood revisits familiar themes and explores new territory in The Door. In this collection, she highlights the dark side of personal, environmental and political landscapes in taut, spare verse proving once again her virtuosity with words.


Variation on the Word Sleep
by Margaret Atwood

I would like to watch you sleeping,
which may not happen.
I would like to watch you,
sleeping. I would like to sleep
with you, to enter
your sleep as its smooth dark wave
slides over my head

and walk with you through that lucent
wavering forest of bluegreen leaves
with its watery sun & three moons
towards the cave where you must descend,
towards your worst fear

I would like to give you the silver
branch, the small white flower, the one
word that will protect you
from the grief at the center
of your dream, from the grief
at the center. I would like to follow
you up the long stairway
again & become
the boat that would row you back
carefully, a flame
in two cupped hands
to where your body lies
beside me, and you enter
it as easily as breathing in

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.

From poets.org

Biannual Mowing Blog

I just thought I would share the fact that this is a very happy time of year for me. Why, you ask?

Because there is no more mowing! Now some of you might be thinking "mowing isn't so bad". In fact, I kinda like it. Yeah, well, you would be crazy people. I know the rest of you are doing the happy dance with me. No more dragging out the heavy mower every weekend (I am a delicate flower after all), no more environmental damage that is killing the planet causing me to be a bad, bad person (next year, I'm going electric) and best of all, no more no more mowing over dead animals causing me to being traumatized for weeks.

Now, it's time to rake! Ummm....Whoo Hooo?

Happy Banned Book Week!

Video produced in recognition of Banned Books Week, September 27-October 4, 2008, and in cooperation with ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Free E-Book Friday

Download a freebie of A Season for the Dead, the first in David Hewson’s series featuring his detective Nic Costa.

Go to the Scribd site. Formats are PDF and TXT.

This free gift is to promote the seventh book in the series, Dante’s Numbers.

Alien captured on CCTV

I found this on the Laughing Squid blog and knowing how many SF geeks read this, couldn't resist.

Slacker Uprising

Michael Moore’s new documentary, “Slacker Uprising,” is available for viewing (and download) for free as of today at slackeruprising.com.

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Today is Talk Like A Pirate Day, second only to my birthday and tied with National Pie day.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrr.

My pirate name is:

Captain Bess Flint

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

And for more pirate fun...http://www.talklikeapirateday.com/wordpress/

Alaskan Librarian

One of my fellow librarians has come up with something so brilliant that only, well, a librarian could have thought of it. He has taken all of the results from people doing Google searches and has started to put together posts answering the question that had somehow led them to his site. I have been endlessly entertained and impressed with his ability to take bizarre sets of search terms and provide clear, well thought out answers (in case that person ever comes back). He is a librarian in Alaska so I have a feeling his stats have gone through the roof lately which hopefully means that people's odd searches will provide endless blog posts for him and endless information for his readers (or at least for his geeky librarian readers).

I would do this too but 90% of the stats on my site come from authors looking for reviews of their books or people looking for reviews of those same books. Imagine that.

Charlie Rose interviewing David Foster Wallace

Writer David Foster Wallace was

Writer David Foster Wallace was found dead at 46 of apparent suicide.

Watchmen Meme

YOU ARE SILK SPECTRE...

You're law enforcement material! Whether it's working vice or for the CIA, you have all the tools. You're brash, tough, and resilient. You could go far!

You'd do well on the "other side" of the law too. Consider organized crime, pornography, politics, or the tobacco industry.

WATCHMEN Profile Inventory (WPI)

A Librarian's Plea

Before discussing candidates or issues, please double check to make sure facts can be verified by reputable sources. The rumors getting thrown around about Sarah Palin (or any candidate) don't end up hurting her, they hurt the Obama campaign (even if he didn't start the rumor) and makes Democrats look unreasonable and vindictive. Check out the rumor on http://www.snopes.com/politics/politics.asp or, if not covered there, look at the reputable new sources for confirmation.

Also, I would like to make a case for researching the candidates and voting based on the issues, not the personality of the candidate. Voting because we like them hasn't done us much good in the past, now has it?

Your public library is an excellent place to go to find out more. Each website has a list of REPUTABLE web resources for you to access. Please take advantage of all of the hard work your library has done to help you stay informed. http://www.kclibrary.org/elections-politics

Elections

It is going to be tough getting my reading done for my book award committee with the election going on. I am now indulging in behavior similar to Under The Ginko. Maybe sleep isn't as necessarily as everyone seems to believe?

The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine

The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine is a Scheherazade of a story layering stories within stories within stories in a complex pattern that blends fantasy and reality together in one brilliant package. Osama, now an engineer in Los Angeles, travels home to Lebanon to be with his father during his final days. During his visit with his family, he remembers stories of his grandfather, a hakawati, or storyteller. Weaving in and out of his family story are the fantastical stories of Fatima, a slave girl and Baybars, a slave prince which pull together the threads of past and present reflect the modern day Beirut.

This is one of the best novels I have read this year.

Blog Day

Happy Blog Day!

BlogDay posting instructions:

1. Find 5 new Blogs that you find interesting
2. Notify the 5 bloggers that you are recommending them as part of BlogDay 2008
3. Write a short description of the Blogs and place a link to the recommended Blogs
4. Post the BlogDay Post (on August 31st) and
5. Add the BlogDay tag using this link: http://technorati.com/tag/BlogDay2008and a link to the BlogDay web site at http://www.blogday.org/

Since I read hundreds of blogs I thought I would pick one blog from a couple of my major categories.

Music Blogs - Covert Curiosity is a great blog with lots of new music to discover as well as free downloads of the recommended music. I follow a lot of music blogs but this is the only one I read religiously.

Book Blogs - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books is always a good choice for feeding my inner snark and the fact that I always find some good romance novels to recommend to customers is just a nice side benefit.

Odds and Ends - Crazy Aunt Purl - I don't knit but I love her voice. She isn't afraid to be silly or to laugh at herself, a totally endearing quality the blogosphere.

Social Networking and Tech blogs - Mashable is the blog I would follow if I could only pick one. I always find something interesting to talk about and I particularly loved that Facebook vs. Myspace evaluations.

Professional Development - Stephen's Lighthouse - Stephen is great at repackaging library and technology news for the library crowd.

Make sure you link back to Blogday.org with your post, and share your five new blog picks for this year.

Great list of Palin resources on the net from mashable.com

FollowTheMoney.org
Governor of Alaska
National Governors Association
OnTheIssues.org
PalinForGovernor.com
Sarah Palin Politician Facebook Page
VoteSmart.org

Copied from Mashable

Free E-Book Friday

The shortage the world will soon face won't be oil but water. Blue Planet Run shows stunning examples of this in Blue_Planet_Run.pdf (38 MB)

For ways to get involved http://blueplanetrun.org/

Political Bedfellows 2

Batman Dead End

For all of you comic book dorks who can't get enough Batman:)

Free E-Book Friday

Rare and acclaimed Doctor Who novels available to read for free!

All feature brand new artwork and extensive notes by the original authors.

Free e-book Friday

Download a free copy of the e-book Eight by Katherine Neville.

Hometown Hostesses

Fred Harvey reinvigorated his restaurant chain by hiring women servers in 1883 because "they don’t get drunk and get in knife fights like men." Tom Taylor leads this historical examination of the iconic waitresses and their patron, paired with a fashion show demonstrating their flair with fabrics led by Bonnie Hansen.

The Harvey Girls takes place on Tuesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Waldo Branch, 201 E. 75th St. RSVP: http://www.kclibrary.org/rsvp/2008/orderup/

Friday 7/18/08

I forgot to keep track last Friday so I am doing this Friday instead so ignore the date in the title:)

Fridays are usually spent working the desk, doing paperwork and other assorted librarian type things that pretty much mirror the rest of the week. I spent most of my morning working on another incident report and spent most of the lunch hour covering staff breaks. The one big difference this week was that I didn’t have to work from 8:15 – 6. I had a branch manager meeting about security issues that met at 4 p.m. so after that I headed home and changed into theater in the park clothing. Packed a bunch of snacky foods and am heading out shortly to see my friend Amy sing in Annie Get Your Gun with my UMKC friends.

Thursday 7/17/2008

• Slept in until 9 am.
• Ran on the treadmill while watching Lars and the Real Girl and checking Twitter/reading blog posts on my mobile Google Reader (on my phone).
• Noticed a lovely toilet bowl leak and put out an SOS to local bloggers and friends, myspyderweb and her hubby, Kanga (aka: my wonderful, new handy-person)
  
• On the way to work I stopped to buy soda and paper goods for upcoming programs.
• At work, I checked in with the morning supervisor and talked with last night’s supervisor about training issues for the newly hired security guards.
• Checked work email.
• Proofread next month’s branch calendar.
  
• Talked with owner of the security company about security guard issues.
• Worked on letters, email’s and faxes for publisher letters requested review copies for the Notable Award.
• Ate dinner and browsed the blogs.
• Went out and worked the desk for the 5-6 pm rush.
  
• Continued working on contacting publishers.
• I always try to work the desk for the last hour we are open on my late night.
• Went home.
  

Added later: Completely forgot about the girls night out event I was supposed to attend after work.

Wednesday 7/16/2008

Welcome to hell day...otherwise known as the day I work my regular job and then go work a reference desk at a university for my part-time job.

At 8:15 a staff person called in sick. It's a little late to get a substitute so I spent the morning working the desk. Most of the time I actually enjoy working the desk and would like to spend more time out there and less sitting at a desk on the phone or staring at a computer screen. We check books in and out, help people with computer problems, help people find the book they need 0r want (my favorite thing to do) and help people find information/answer questions.

When additional staff appeared I ran off to our neighborhood business association meeting. Since this is a lunch meeting it basically consists of eating lunch, socializing with my community and then listening to a presentation. Today's was about the green building going up in the neighborhood with a environmentally friendly design and a roof planted with native grasses. Very cool and when it is finished I will need to schedule a trip to my local neighborhood bar (conveniently located in the new building).

When I got back from schmoozing at the meeting I checked email (both personal and professional) and chatted with a staff person about the value of the workshop she just attended on urban literature. Since I was feeling a little tired from my late night last night I grabbed the "missing list" again so I would be up and moving around.

Finishing up my day I ate another lovely apple, yogurt dinner and headed off to the part-time job. This time of year is challenging because students have settled in, asked many of their questions and are now in the paper writing part of the process. That means that I spend this time reading blogs, investigating social networking sites, catching up on answering email for both jobs and reading professional journals while I wait for the occasional question.

One question answered all night (apart from the occasional "can you sign me on to a computer as a guest" questions).

I am now heading home where I will do a couple loads of laundry, put on my pj's, spend a little quality time with the cats, read a little and then get to sleep a little on the early side tonight. Tomorrow is my late day so I will also get to sleep in and catch up on my sleep from last night's awesome concert.

Tuesday 7/15/2008

• Started to listen to The Dybbuk on Book on Tape to prepare for the Jewish Literature program
  
• Arrived at work at 8:15 and talked with the assistant branch manager about upcoming employee time off requests, discussed repair issues with facilities staff and worked on the hold list before opening the branch at 9 a.m.


• Read Librarian by Day’s post and realized that I no longer remember the password for the branch library Flickr account and have no idea what random birthday I used. Now I can’t re-request the password.
  


• Worked the circulation desk for a while. It's a good day when I can talk to a customer about books.
  


• Met with the Public Affairs department to look at meeting room space and discuss layout and event issues.


• Ate lunch and started a new (to me) series… His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. Apparently this series is hot. How did I not know that?


• Talked with administration and co-workers about the bike theft issue and a plan for checking out bike locks is in the works. I also asked Human Resources for some advice about a staffing issue.
  


• Every once in a while a person needs a soothing no-brain task so I grabbed a list of books that had been marked missing and spent some time checking the library shelves for them.


• Went through a couple of book review journals and marked books that were suitable for the branch, the reading award....and a few just for me. This is one of the most dangerous tasks I undertake because it often results in a flood of personal book orders for me.


• Talked with a staff person about personnel "issues".


• Went home, changed and joined friends at a much needed Dropkick Murphys concert.
  

Monday 7/14/2008

• Got up and got ready for work.
• Checked work, Twitter and personal email accounts on my Trio.
• Marked email that needed attention.
• 15 minute drive to work.
• Got the deposit ready to go to the bank.
• Worked on the list of customer holds that needed to be pulled.
• Opened the branch.
• Answered a customer email.
• Sent out a message to staff about the importance of collecting accurate statistics.
• Sent out self-evaluation questions to staff person to complete for upcoming evaluation.
• Investigated an online book club management system and created an account, inviting a few of the current book club participants to join.
• Worked on a staff evaluation.
  
• Called downtown to get clarification on new statistics gathering system.
• Worked the customer service desk for about an hour where I got to answer a Reader's Advisory question (yippy!) I also checked in and out books, answered a couple of basic reference questions.
• Dealt with a customer disturbance issue and filed an incident report.
• Worked on Notable Award list.
• Ate a rather boring but nutritious lunch…hummus, carrots, peach…awhile skimming KC blogs, library and book blogs for interesting tidbits..
• Worked on finding a second leader for the newly expanded Jewish Literature program, found and invited second book discussion leader.
  
• Talked with staff about the proper way to structure an incident report.
  
• Talked to an upset customer about overdue fines.
• Had a staff "birthday cupcake" and a little social time.
• Cleaned up a portion of the “Missing Book” printout.
  
• Worked the customer service desk.
• Wrote a blog post about the Jewish American Literature program.
• Talked with Public Affairs about various promotional details for the program.
• Dealt with three bike theft issues and wrote another incident report
  
• Stopped at the grocery store, ran home and then headed downtown for a library program.
• Listened to my smart librarian friend do a presentation and cheered wildly.
  
• Got home at 9'ish, read a bit of a notable read and then went to bed.
  

I took these notes last Monday as part of The Day in the Life project first seen on the Librarian By Day blog.

Food For Fines

For those of you who may have incurred a library fine or two this year (and you know who you are), you will be happy to know that our semi-annual Food For Fines program will start on Monday, August 18th and run through Sunday the 24th. Each can of food reduces your fine by $1 and all of the food goes to Harvesters. I thought I would give you a little extra advance warning this year since a few of you complained that I didn't give you enough time last year.

All Right! Rock on!!

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Another free ebook

Periodically I crave a good vampire book (preferably romance) to cleanse the palette between more literary books. Sherrilyn Kenyon is always a good choice:)

If you want to try one for free, you get a free copy of the "Seize the Night" ebook. It's
also available in a free Kindle edition on Amazon. Use this link:
http://www.yearofac heron.com/ ebook.html

A People's History of American Empire by Howard Zinn

An animated version of Zinn’s essay, Empire or Humanity? What the Classroom Didn’t Teach Me about the American Empire.

Blogger Meet-Up

I won't be there for this one but anyone who blogs is invited:)

Tuesday July 22nd at 5 pm

Fred Garcia Tarahumara Mexican

10001 W 87th St

Overland Park, Ks

913-403-9211

Come for the food, come for the drink, come for the conversation. Just come!Please let Spyder know if you are planning on being there so that she can warn them

Going off the Notable Grid

I will be spending quite a bit of my blogging energy on a blog for the Jewish Literature program so I may not be posting as often (at least for a while). If any of you have something significant to say about the authors, history, trivia or books on the Jewish Literature program be sure to let me know. I can use the creative help and inspiration.

And now for my ALA fun reads!

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - I finally finished reading my free downloaded copy of this book and then promptly went out and bought a hard copy for my 18 year old nephew. This young adult novel has a lot to say about the 9/11 America, homeland security and personal freedom. It is fast paced, has engaging characters and is suitable (and recommended) for adults as well as teens.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - This fantasy novel was named "best fantasy novel of 2007" by the American Library Association "The Reading List" Award committee. It follows the life of Kvothe, living incognito, after his larger than life heroism goes horribly wrong. There are daring rescues, evil villains and enough magic to satisfy the most demanding of readers.

Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge - If you like hard science SF, this is an author you will want to try. Rainbows End is set in 2025 and the main character has been "cured" of Alzheimers. Starting over, he must learn to use the new technology close enough to what he remembers to be familiar but difficult to navigate and learn. His granddaughter is determined to teach him in spite of his curmudgeonly way. In the meantime he stumbles into a secret plot to take over the world....or maybe not? I really enjoyed it and I do want to try more of his Hugo award winning novels.

Outstanding Nonfiction

Well, I have read a whole lot of books in the past three weeks and I have a few that I thought I would highlight. Of course, the three non-fiction titles I am still thinking about are ones in which I learned that a) the pharmaceutical industry is evil, b) the nutrition/food industry, while not evil, is confused and misguided and c) we are throwing away huge amounts of money on humanitarian AIDS relief that pretty much guarantees that it will be used in the least effective way possible. Sigh.....

The first book was Our Daily Meds: How the Pharmaceutical Companies Transformed Themselves into Slick Marketing Machines and Hooked the Nation on Prescription Drugs by Melody Petersen. This was an absolutely riveting, yet very disturbing look at how drugs get approved, marketed and prescribed and I ended up going home and analyzing every drug I take and reassessing my medical and prescription options.

Book number two was In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan and although it can be read by itself, I think of it as a companion piece to last year's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. If you have been with me for a while you might remember me talking about how this book has made me start looking at my food purchasing choices in terms of how far they have travelled and to start making a conscious effort to buy local whenever possible. In Defense is the book that is getting me to look at all of the low-fat, prepackaged foods I purchase (all of which are supposedly "good for me"). His basic premise (and yes, you still need to all go out and read the book!) is: "Eat food. Not too much, mostly plants and don't eat anything your great, great Grandparents wouldn't recognize as food." I am now toying with shopping at farmer's markets unless I have no other choice, starting a garden and making everything from scratch including my own yogurt.

And finally, The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels, and the Business of AIDS by Elizabeth Pisani. The author started life as a journalist and later, became an an epidemiologist researching AIDS. She has worked for a variety of NGO's and has seen the programs around the world that have worked and those that have not. Again she has more to say but the important point I took from this book is that until the US (and other countries) stop putting restrictions on this money, especially in not allowing a program to give out condoms and needles, the battle to stop the HIV virus will be a losing one. Our programs are failing because we as a nation cannot be realistic about what prevents AIDS. AIDS prevention does not work when we focus on stopping premarital, extra-marital sex and drug use. It works when we focus on preventing UNSAFE sex and the sharing of needles!

All three of these were eyeopening and fascinating books that I highly recommend reading.

Tomorrow....the fun titles I read on the flight home.

Kansas City Public Library to Host: Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature Reading and Discussion Series

The Kansas City Public Library will host the first of five monthly discussions in a series titled “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination” at the Waldo Branch, 201 E. 75^th St., on Thursday, August 21.

Designed to explore Jewish literature and culture through scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books, the Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature program at the Kansas City Public Library will explore the theme of Demons, Golems, and Dybbuks: Monsters of the Jewish Imagination over the course of five sessions scheduled for the third Thursday of every month.

Each 60-90 minute session begins at 7 p.m. and will be led by Dr. Ben Furnish, author of Nostalgia in Jewish-American Theatre and Film, 1979-2004. Furnish is also managing editor of BkMk Press and a lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. All sessions will be limited to 30 attendees. To register for one or more of these sessions call 816.701.3407 or you may RSVP online.

The Kansas City Public Library is one of 83 libraries across the country that received competitively-awarded grants to host the Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature program that was developed by Nextbook and the American Library Association (ALA). The majority of the funding will be used to provide program participants with free paperback copies of the five books that will be discussed in the series – Satan in Goray by Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Dybbuk and Other Writings by S. Ansky, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick, and Angels in America by Tony Kushner.

“We are delighted that the ALA has selected us to host this unique book discussion series,” noted Henry Fortunato, director of public affairs at the Kansas City Public Library and lead grant writer for the project. “These five sessions at the Waldo Branch led by Ben Furnish will further our mission of encouraging public dialogue by enabling community members to engage in deep discussion on major themes in Jewish literature.”

“Monster theory is a hot area of literary research now,” added Furnish. “Monster theorists say that these supernatural literary beings can reveal a great deal about evolving cultural identity and difference. Just as medieval England’s Beowulf gives us Grendel and a dragon, so modern Jewish literature gives readers unforgettable figures like Gregor Samsa and a dybbuk, which speak powerfully to audiences making sense of their lives amid the turbulent cultural changes of the 20^th century and beyond.”

The first program in the five-part series, scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2008, will explore Satan in Goray by Isaac Bashevis Singer. An epic story of desperation and religious fervor, this first novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Singer was originally published in Poland in 1935. A dark, chilling tale that clearly reflects the anxieties of its era, Satan in Goray concerns the survivors of a 1648 massacre in an isolated Polish village who become convinced that the Messiah will arrive at any moment. Their high hopes lead to disastrous results.

Registrants for this first program in the series will be able to pick up their free paperback copy of Satan in Goray after July 15, 2008, at the Waldo Branch, 201 E. 75^th St.

The remaining dates and books in the Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature series at the Waldo Branch include: Thursday, September 18, 2008, The Dybbuk and Other Writings by S. Ansky; Thursday, October 16, 2008, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka; Thursday, November 20, 2008, The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick; and Thursday, December 18, 2008, Angels in America by Tony Kushner.

Book Cart Drill Team Championship

I don't know exactly how to explain the Book Cart Drill Team Championship to a non-librarian so I won't even try. My only regret is that no one has posted a video of the winning teams routine yet. Below is the second place team.



I didn't see the performance so you will have to rely on another blogger to get the general idea. From the Anaheim en Mass blog:

"The crowd favorite was a team from CA who came out as mad scientists, complete with wild wigs, lab coats and a complete chemistry set on each bookcart. They danced their way through a musical number where they poured a drink in their beakers (which began to bubble merrily) and drank it. They writhed and shrank beneath their carts, stripped their outfits and became zombies - complete with ripped clothing and ashen/bloody faces.

Suddenly Michael Jackson's "Thriller" began to play and they stepped their way, zombielike, through the song w/ their bookcarts - just like the famous video but with the carts for added flair. They brought the house down, and wound up taking home the first place Gold Cart."

Meme

I found this meme on The Goblin in the Library blog, and since it is a holiday and I don't feel like posting a review and it looked pretty I decided to try it. So, I grabbed my current book off the virtual shelf and plugged it into Wordle.

Copyright and Free Books

One of the programs I attended while at the ALA conference was on copyright and online piracy. During the program, writer and editor, Eric Flint, mentioned that the Baen publishing response to this is to offer selected titles for free download and the rest of their library at reasonable (lower than paperback) prices. You can read their whole position statement about this and I tend to agree with it but the part that excited me was that FREE books are available, which is the equivalent of librarian crack. Best of all, with no DRM attached to the downloads you can share with others who might like the books. Of course, supporting your favorite authors by buying the books or asking your local library buy copies is encouraged as well.

For all intents and purposes Eric Flint's portion of the panel discussion is on the Baen website. I do wish I had written down a couple of "quotables" from Vernor Vinge and Cory Doctorow as well but I was too busy listening.

I'm Back!!!

In the exhibit hall at ALA....AKA: Librarian Nirvana

I have to admit, I had a fabulous time at the American Library Association. Apart from stalking Cory Doctorow, I finished my to-be-read pile (leaving books scattered throughout the country), met with my committee, attended publisher events, went to interesting programs, met cool people like Vernor Vinge (I am currently reading Rainbows End) and drank a little too much good California wine. I did forgot my business cards so I didn't do a good job with the whole networking thing and blithely told Vernor Vinge that I would email him my contact info, never dreaming that a computer scientist/author wouldn't have an online fan email address.

Oh, and I gathered up approximately 40 pounds of books to drag home with me even though I have a basement full of books that has been growing and growing and growing....but really, who can resist an advance copy of the Neal Stephenson book, Anathem even if it does weigh 30 of the 40 pounds? FYI: If you are very nice to me, maybe I will let you borrow it before the rest of the world gets to read it.

Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended. – Vinge, 1993

At ALA

I am at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim. In the past week I have read 14 books and yesterday I attended my committee meeting to discuss them all. I will give a full report when I get back but for now just know this. I am shmoozing with authors and talking about books. My life really is cooler than most people's. :)

Entertainment Weekly Best Books

The New Classics: Books
The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008

Well, I have read about 2/3 of these and some I loved, some I was underwhelmed by and a couple I didn't finish. All-in-all not a bad list. I loved The Road, preferred Murakami's Kafka on the Shore and couldn't get through The Stone Diaries to save my life so always remember, everything is subjective. Never feel bad when you don't agree with the "experts".

Friday Meme

This explains a lot about my life.

18 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

108 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Waldo Crawldo

I will not be able to attend but what could be better than drinking heavily for a good cause:)

Annual Spring Waldo Crawldo

Saturday, PM-Midnight

This annual spring pub crawl includes seven establishments all within walking distance: 75th St. Brewery, Kennedy's, Waldo Bar, Bobby Baker's, Tanner's, Waldo Pizza, and Lew's Grill and Bar. Tickets on sale now at each location. Visit all 7 the evening of the crawl and you will be in a drawing for great prizes.

Admission: $5 in advance, $10 at the door.

Waldo Shopping District
75th & Wornall
http://www.waldokc.org/