A librarian friend of mine (who has his own club for librarians who like to eat out ... the dinarians) ... is reading a book about a waitress in New York City. It looks great and it reminds me of other culinary nonfiction titles that I would like to sink my teeth into.
1. For Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter by Phoebe Damrosch head to 647.95 Dam
2. If you are picky, try Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl at 41.5092 Rei
3. If you are brave enough for Kitchen Confidential : Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain look at either 641.509 Bou or possibly in Biography
4. For a crime to wine story, read Cooked : From the Streets to the Stove, From Cocaine to Foie Gras by Jeff Henderson at 364.1 Hen or Biography.
5. For a more classic culinary tale, My Life in France by Julia Child. This one should be in Biography.
All this reading makes me hungry.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The sky is falling!
Newsday ran an article originally from the Washington Post. So many naysayers predict the end of books as we know it. It's nice to hear someone believes books are here to stay.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Spend a night with The Lobster
With both of my libraries closed due to snow this Friday there was only one thing to do ... stay in bed and read a book. Well, a novella.
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan is the perfect read for a winter's day. Like snow, the book is quiet and beautiful yet completely ordinary. The 146 pages cover one day - the last day - at a Red Lobster in Connecticut. Manny, the manager, has worked for the restaurant for 10 years and he is loyal and honest. Despite his years of hard work, corporate has informed him that "his" restaurant will be closing four days before Christmas. Struggling to follow the rules, serve his customers and set an example for his employees, Manny is like so many workers who give their all to a company only to be let go.
This is the first book I've read by Stewart O'Nan and I was impressed with the everyday details that made such a short book so rich. We can all relate to Manny. The mundane details that he busied himself with day after day became his life. And despite his efforts, they were taken away.
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan is the perfect read for a winter's day. Like snow, the book is quiet and beautiful yet completely ordinary. The 146 pages cover one day - the last day - at a Red Lobster in Connecticut. Manny, the manager, has worked for the restaurant for 10 years and he is loyal and honest. Despite his years of hard work, corporate has informed him that "his" restaurant will be closing four days before Christmas. Struggling to follow the rules, serve his customers and set an example for his employees, Manny is like so many workers who give their all to a company only to be let go.
This is the first book I've read by Stewart O'Nan and I was impressed with the everyday details that made such a short book so rich. We can all relate to Manny. The mundane details that he busied himself with day after day became his life. And despite his efforts, they were taken away.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Cartoon + History =
Haven't we already had this discussion?? This video at CNN.com is about the Anne Frank Center releasing a graphic novel version (comic book) of the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust. Some people don't like the idea of historical information in cartoon form. But...
A. Isn't accurate historical information fed to kids in any form GOOD?
B. Do they know that not all comic books are FUNNY??
C. Has ANYONE heard of Maus??
A. Isn't accurate historical information fed to kids in any form GOOD?
B. Do they know that not all comic books are FUNNY??
C. Has ANYONE heard of Maus??
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Beyond Black History Month
Even though it's one day longer this year, the end of February is closing in on us. I like to read something relevant to holidays and remembrances - women's history month, black history month, banned book week ... Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with chapters from Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen or A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn. Anyway, we did some nice displays at work and it's got me thinking about books to celebrate black history month. Not just books that happen to be written by African-Americans, but the books that really gave me goosebumps or chills. The books that made me cry with sadness or laughter. Here are my top ten.
1. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: written by Herself by Harriet Jacobs
I found this book in my tiny home library in Warren, Maine when I was younger. When I read it I couldn't believe it was actually written by a woman who lived that life. It was my first experience with something close to primary material and it blew my mind.
2. Color of Water by James McBride
I've mentioned this book before in this blog ... it was the 2007 Long Island Reads pick. It's a modern classic.
3. Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
I read this in college. It's another first hand account, this time of the 1940s and 1950s: “Something is new here…rural southern black life begins to speak. It hits the page like a natural force, crude and undeniable and, against all principles of beauty, beautiful.” —The Nation
4. Roots by Alex Haley
I know, you've seen the miniseries. But have you actually read the book? It is a classic for a reason - beautiful, sad, spanning time and continents.
5. Native Son by Richard Wright
I've been pushing Wright lately (his last, unfinished book was released this year) but this is another modern classic. Inside Bigger Thomas' head, you watch as he makes one mistake after another, digging himself deeper and deeper into trouble in 1930's Chicago. You want to reach into the book and shake him, hug him or slap him. I still haven't gotten over this book.
6. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Beautiful. Read Hurston, read anything by her.
7. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
My mom recommended this to me. Oprah recommended it to her viewers. Take their advice.
8. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Again, I KNOW you've seen the movie or the Broadway play but if you haven't read this book you're really missing out.
9. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The only white woman author on this list. This book caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln and it's still a great read today. If you fall in love with her writing, you can visit her house in Hartford, CT. They have a bookshelf with all of her first edition's in the parlor ... (drool).
10. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Another modern classic. This autobiography is hard to read due to sexual abuse ... this story will never leave you.
1. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: written by Herself by Harriet Jacobs
I found this book in my tiny home library in Warren, Maine when I was younger. When I read it I couldn't believe it was actually written by a woman who lived that life. It was my first experience with something close to primary material and it blew my mind.
2. Color of Water by James McBride
I've mentioned this book before in this blog ... it was the 2007 Long Island Reads pick. It's a modern classic.
3. Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
I read this in college. It's another first hand account, this time of the 1940s and 1950s: “Something is new here…rural southern black life begins to speak. It hits the page like a natural force, crude and undeniable and, against all principles of beauty, beautiful.” —The Nation
4. Roots by Alex Haley
I know, you've seen the miniseries. But have you actually read the book? It is a classic for a reason - beautiful, sad, spanning time and continents.
5. Native Son by Richard Wright
I've been pushing Wright lately (his last, unfinished book was released this year) but this is another modern classic. Inside Bigger Thomas' head, you watch as he makes one mistake after another, digging himself deeper and deeper into trouble in 1930's Chicago. You want to reach into the book and shake him, hug him or slap him. I still haven't gotten over this book.
6. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Beautiful. Read Hurston, read anything by her.
7. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
My mom recommended this to me. Oprah recommended it to her viewers. Take their advice.
8. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Again, I KNOW you've seen the movie or the Broadway play but if you haven't read this book you're really missing out.
9. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The only white woman author on this list. This book caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln and it's still a great read today. If you fall in love with her writing, you can visit her house in Hartford, CT. They have a bookshelf with all of her first edition's in the parlor ... (drool).
10. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Another modern classic. This autobiography is hard to read due to sexual abuse ... this story will never leave you.
Friday, February 15, 2008
"When I start getting good reviews, I worry about sales"
So says John Grisham in an interesting interview with CNN.
I have not read Grisham's new book, The Appeal, but my Mommy recently finished it and was very disappointed. So, according to my Mother, we do not recommend Grisham's new book. But read the interview.
I have not read Grisham's new book, The Appeal, but my Mommy recently finished it and was very disappointed. So, according to my Mother, we do not recommend Grisham's new book. But read the interview.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Make new friends, but keep the old
Bethany the Librarian, sitting at the reference desk this evening. Patron comes up to the desk holding the New York Times best seller list.
Patron: "Excuse me, could you check if you have any of these titles in?"
BtL: "Sure."
Patron: "Double Cross?"
BtL: "Nope, all out. I can reserve it for you."
Patron: "No, I have some books on reserve, I'd like a book to take home tonight."
BtL: "I see. What other titles can I check?"
Patron: "The Shooters?"
BtL: "All out."
Patron: "World Without End?"
BtL: "No."
Patron: "T is for Trespass?"
BtL: "All out"
Patron: "oh...."
BtL: "Have you read either of Khaled Hosseini's books? The Kite Runner or ..."
Patron: "A Thousand Splendid Suns. Yep."
BtL: "Are there authors you really like? I could check what books we have in for them."
Patron: "I like Danielle Steel."
BtL: "How about Bungalow 2?"
Patron: "I read it."
BtL: "Coming Out?"
Patron: "Read it."
BtL: "Echos?"
Patron: "Read it."
BtL: "Maybe you would like to look at our displays. We have a staff picks display that is very popular and a display of new writers."
Patron: "Ok, thanks."
What is a librarian to do when a patron is interested in brand new, popular books that are all checked out and have 546 holds? I think some patrons do not want to go into the stacks where the "old" books are. New York Times bestsellers are their favorite genre. The readers advisory is a hard sell because it's not necessarily the subject matter or author they are interested in, but the buzz surrounding the book. Perhaps having a good list of new non-fiction that reads like fiction would be a good suggestion.
Another problem I encounter is blank, cheesy or embarrassing covers for really great older books. One library has two copies of Rebecca - one cover is red silk, the other is the cast from a 1980's Mystery! episode. I tried to recommend Enders Game to a tween the other night. He took one look at the cover and made a face. "Nah, I think I'll look around some more." Libraries cannot constantly buy updated covers on classic books to make them more appealing so I think the best advice is to not judge a book by it's cover ... or publishing date!!
Patron: "Excuse me, could you check if you have any of these titles in?"
BtL: "Sure."
Patron: "Double Cross?"
BtL: "Nope, all out. I can reserve it for you."
Patron: "No, I have some books on reserve, I'd like a book to take home tonight."
BtL: "I see. What other titles can I check?"
Patron: "The Shooters?"
BtL: "All out."
Patron: "World Without End?"
BtL: "No."
Patron: "T is for Trespass?"
BtL: "All out"
Patron: "oh...."
BtL: "Have you read either of Khaled Hosseini's books? The Kite Runner or ..."
Patron: "A Thousand Splendid Suns. Yep."
BtL: "Are there authors you really like? I could check what books we have in for them."
Patron: "I like Danielle Steel."
BtL: "How about Bungalow 2?"
Patron: "I read it."
BtL: "Coming Out?"
Patron: "Read it."
BtL: "Echos?"
Patron: "Read it."
BtL: "Maybe you would like to look at our displays. We have a staff picks display that is very popular and a display of new writers."
Patron: "Ok, thanks."
What is a librarian to do when a patron is interested in brand new, popular books that are all checked out and have 546 holds? I think some patrons do not want to go into the stacks where the "old" books are. New York Times bestsellers are their favorite genre. The readers advisory is a hard sell because it's not necessarily the subject matter or author they are interested in, but the buzz surrounding the book. Perhaps having a good list of new non-fiction that reads like fiction would be a good suggestion.
Another problem I encounter is blank, cheesy or embarrassing covers for really great older books. One library has two copies of Rebecca - one cover is red silk, the other is the cast from a 1980's Mystery! episode. I tried to recommend Enders Game to a tween the other night. He took one look at the cover and made a face. "Nah, I think I'll look around some more." Libraries cannot constantly buy updated covers on classic books to make them more appealing so I think the best advice is to not judge a book by it's cover ... or publishing date!!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Blog of the Month
I stumbled accross this blog when I was looking around online for reviews and interviews related to Will in the World, this month's book discussion book. So much fun! I love that they have to budget their book money. I can relate.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Get Ready to Laugh!
David Sedaris - author of Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked and other books that will make you pee your pants - has a new collection of essays coming out in June! It is titled All the Beauty You Will Ever Need.
More good news! My favorite writer of history and historical fiction, Alison Weir (see post from January 13, 2008), has a new book of historical fiction. It is called The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel and it will be published in April. Weir's first work of historical fiction, Innocent Traitor, is an amazing account of Lady Jane Grey. And Mrs. Weir will be doing a US tour! So far there are limited stops ... if she doesn't add more, I'll be travelling to Washington, D.C. in May!
More good news! My favorite writer of history and historical fiction, Alison Weir (see post from January 13, 2008), has a new book of historical fiction. It is called The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel and it will be published in April. Weir's first work of historical fiction, Innocent Traitor, is an amazing account of Lady Jane Grey. And Mrs. Weir will be doing a US tour! So far there are limited stops ... if she doesn't add more, I'll be travelling to Washington, D.C. in May!
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