library – Page 2

The 12 Books of Christmas

November 28, 2012 by rurugby 2 Comments

I have had a challenging year but a great reading year.

Here are 12 great books as gifts for the holiday season. Links are from amazon.com but pick you favorite bookseller.

1. Slammed/Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover: A great year for Ms. Hoover, a year ago she was working as a social worker. And wrote “Slammed” after work and late at night. Not generally a fan of romances, but definitely a fan of slam poetry. “Slammed” from a female perspective, the follow up “Point of Retreat” from a male perspective. Colleen has a new book being edited now and looking forward to it. And of course my poem “Write Poorly” is in “Point of Retreat” too since it helped her finish book 2, which I am very proud of.

2. Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey: Really in many ways for me this is a recommendation for Wool 1, which is my favorite of this series. I just loved the little novella and how constrained it was. I am still in Wool 3 so an odd recommendation in that way, but Mr. Howey is just a wonderful author. I also love his book “The Hurricane.”

3. Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney: I can never spell Mr. McInerney’s name right but love this book. Definitely one I need to read again. A story of being in the middle of the crazy 1980s in New York. Good movie, great book, one of my all time favorites.

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson: Gonzo at it’s finest. One of those books you have probably read already, and one of my favorites of all time, just great.

5. Daytripper by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá: My favorite new book of 2012. Outstanding graphic novel, lyrical and beautiful. Looks at death as a way to look at life, very appropriate in this tough year I have head. This is one I don’t own so on my own wish list (checked out of library.)

6. Slaughterhouse Five/Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut: Can’t believe it’s only been since last summer I have really been reading Vonnegut. I read “Player Piano” and liked it. I love “A Man Without a Country” but it’s “Cat’s Cradle” that got me into reading Kurt Vonnegut. And it re-read well a few months later. Slaughterhouse Five read amazing well within a year, even though it’s the much harsher book. Two books that should be on anyone’s life reading list.

7. Who You Are by Nancy A. Henry: This one took me a while to find online. Just outstanding stuff and one of my three five star poetry books this year (also “Coney Island of the Mind” by Lawrence Ferhlinghetti and “Chicago Poems” by Carl Sandburg.) Here is my Goodreads review: This is a book about working with those society has tossed aside: Prisoners, Sex Offenders, Learning Disabled… Powerful, powerful stuff. I feel like should include a poem or two from both, but don’t want to offend any copyrights. Amazing and heartbreaking book. Really brave, heartwrenching. And it’s great to support a Maine poet and Maine poetry press.

8. Pyongyang by Guy Delisle: Sometimes it takes the sarcastic voice of a French Canadian animator to really make you understand a place. One of the books that proves the power of graphic novels, and one of my favorite books of all time. Actually finally bought a copy this year and have lent it to about 10 people who all loved it. Just outstanding and lets you know how truly weird North Korea is. Just amazing.

9. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi: Another book (and outstanding movie) that shows the power of the graphic novel. Just stunning. Let’s you know more about Iranian culture than almost anything I can think of. I hope the people of Persia and Iran get a better government. And I really, really hope we don’t start a war with Iran. From the perpective of an Iranian girl and young woman as the revolution comes to Iran. Just outstanding.

10. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl: I have read a ton of Dahl this year since finding a nice copy of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” at a thrift shop. This one is my favorite. Beautiful, lyrical and with tons of imagination. Amazing that this is one of his first books. Amazing stuff.

11. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: One of my favorite books ever, and the one I have liked the longest. I am astounded how amazing this book is. I even read it on YouTube. Beautiful and amazing, and included in my post on “Picture Books.”

12. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean: Beautiful, concise and lyrical. Just an amazing book. One of the many (including “Wool 1”) that shows the power of the novella. One of my favorite books ever.

And if you are not sure what to get a bibliophile, I am sure they would love an Amazon gift card, a gift card to a local bookstore or donation to their or your local library. All make great gifts. Libraries especially deserve our love now more than ever.

Sing Your Own Song

October 11, 2012 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I finished Catherine Cate Coblentz’s classic children’s book “The Blue Cat of Castle Town” (1949) last night. Decided to check it out of through Minerva at the library after my friend Pat Washburn decided to get a Blue Cat tattoo.

And it reminds us that in life we have to sing our own song. Good advice for anyone to be great at what we do and fashion beauty. Reminds me a lot of the great sushi chef Jiro from yesterday’s post.

Here is the river song the cat learns and teaches to bring a town full of beauty not money and greed.

Sing your own song, said the river,
Sing your own song.

Out of yesterday song comes.
It goes into tomorrow,
Sing your own song.

With your life fashion beauty,
This too is the song.
Riches will pass and power. Beauty remains.
Sing your own song.

All that is worth doing, do well, said the river.
Sing your own song.
Certain and round be the measure,
Every line be graceful and true.
Time is the mold, time the weaver, the carver,
Time and the workmen together,
Sing your own song.

Sing well, said the river. Sing well.

I am still learning my song.
It’s not been an easy road.
I admire those who have found a passion who are great at something.
Who turn a hobby into some money through sites like Etsy.
Who like my wife, decide they love something like podcasting and turn it into every week’s “Lounging with Lanna Lee.”

And there really is a blue cat of Castletown in a quilt by Zeruah H. Guernsey Caswell. It’s beautiful.

It’s a great book. Find it if you can. There is a version of it online, the book is off copyright, and I hope it’s gets published in paper and digital soon. It looks like there is a Kindle version available for 99 cents. And I give the book ***1/2.

After reading half the book again on Friday it goes up to ****. Had to get it on Kindle, after reading the library copy. It’s a fantastic book.

Not a Good Month for Reading

September 28, 2012 by rurugby Leave a Comment

September has not been a good month for reading. I have literally worked 2 days this month at work with all of the FMLA unpaid leave for my dad’s brain cancer surgery and recovery.

I have been understandably frustrated, exhausted and tired.

I thought the best way to get back into the reading saddle was to read some juvenile fiction.

Checked out 3 books, 2/3rds threw one of them.

The one I should finish today or tomorrow is by the wonderful and amazing Shel Silverstein called “Lofcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back.” Not sure how I missed this one in my reading travels just a lot of fun, and very Shel Silverstein. Nice to see him do a longer narrative book. ***1/2

Also checked out “boom!” by Mark Haddon (who wrote the wonderful “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” which is a modern classic in my view.

And the potentially fun, “Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius” by Frank Asch.

Other reading this month includes some personal sociology in the very cool books “Fat Sex” and the continuing reading of “Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation”. I am halfway through each of them. Been reading GO: TNG a piece at a time for a couple months now.

Literally the only book I finished this month is the John Steinbeck classic “Of Mice and Men.” Brilliant book, much, much sadder than I expected. ***1/2

And also loving Patricia Smith’s very dark poetry book about Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans “Blood Dazzler.” Poetry can do amazing things. ***1/2 Reminds me a lot in an odd way of Dave Eggers’ amazing “Zeitoun.” Both capture the soul of New Orleans well.

Have also read the first 30 pages of “Moneyball” by Micheal Lewis this week, which has been on the I should read this eventually list for a long, long time. I love “Liar’s Poker ****” but by and large don’t get that far with Michael Lewis.

That’s it for now, expecting to get more reading in as my head settles, and I feel back home again. Nice to be home.

Nice that my dad is improving. Hoping he can get back home soon and get his left side moving better. Glad his brain and mind is doing much, much better.

A Houseful of Books

August 31, 2012 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I am preparing today to go to Allentown, PA to see my dad in the hospital.

His tumor has returned and does look operable now (possibly on next Monday, September 10th).

Not able mentally to do deal with the re-admission and make the long drive from Maine.

I am lucky to grow up in a houseful of books.

Today I prepared to return all the books I checked out of the library (around a dozen) and finished two books. Carl Sandburg’s “Honey and Salt” which I browsed through, and was solid. *** And “Skellig” by David Almond, a YA book I really enjoyed. Very clever, and imaginative with great characters. Look forward to reading more of Almond’s work in the future. ***1/2.

It’s funny. I am thinking about what books to bring for when I am at my parent’s house, knowing there will be thousands of books there. Once a reader, always a reader.

Going Gray

August 17, 2012 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I am 38 now. I am going gray slowly all the time. I have been looking forward to it for a while. And I like how it looks.

It’s not so easy for women. There is a huge amount of money and a huge culture about dying hair. And to me gray is sexy. Look at someone like Emmylou Harris who looks fabulous with gray, Helen Mirren gorgeous, Judi Dench beautiful. But if you look at pictures of people looking good with gray hair, it’s usually men in the media. Even at a site called “Silverfoxes” it’s still 2 to 1 men.

Anne Kreamer in her book “Going Gray” talks about all the politics, media, and money in dying hair. There is literally billions of dollars spent. And in a lot of industries, it’s considered standard to dye hair. Despite the fact that there is an artificiality to it. And if you look at the back cover Ms. Kreamer looks FAR better with some gray hair. Fabulous vs. dowdy.

It’s just one of those things changed by advertising. And a very interesting book. ***1/2 (pg 138 of 206) (Warren PL/Westbrook, Me). Fyi, Westbrook used to have the Warren and Walker Libraries. The Warren library had private funding from the SD Warren paper mill (now Sappi) unfortunately it closed a few years ago and it’s collection is now part of Walker Library which is the public library in Westbrook, Me where I live.

Books finished this week:

Maine Poems by Richard Berhart: A poetry collection where I could tell the imagery was pretty but it mainly left me cold. I really enjoyed the long poem “Sea Storm” which pushed this to **1/2. I think Berhart would be a solid short story writer. (Warren PL)

Shakespeare Wrote For Money by Nick Hornby: A collection of Nick Hornby’s “Stuff I’ve Been Reading” columns from the monthly “Believer” magazine from August, 2006 to September, 2008. Includes some off months, and one “Stuff I’ve Been Watching.” Good stuff, so far have checked out one book from his suggestions the YA book Skellig which I will talk about later. Without question this column inspired my weekly blogpost. Thank you, Mr. Hornby. ***1/2 (Baxter Memorial Library/Gorham, ME/Minerva)

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler: Easily the most fun book I read all week. I am lucky to be in a job at a call center where I can read while it’s slow. First person fiction is very dependent on a great central character and Virginia Shreve is a wonderful character. Just enjoyable, and anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will enjoy it. ***1/2 (Kindle) I think if you are a teenaged outcast would probably be ****. Good stuff.

More Kindle stuff:

The Magic Kingdom by Stanley Elkin: Very British so far. Elkin also has some absurdly long 50 word plus sentances. Enjoying the story about the dad who gave extraordinary measures for his son, who wonders if the sick should just have fun. Looking forward to where this is going. This is definitely not a book for everyone. 8%

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall: I have been reading this in pieces for a long, long time. Interesting stuff, not sure why I keep being distracted. Probably just my reading ADD. And you could also argue the book tries to do too much. Curious to see where it all falls. 48% ***

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Breezed through it one homeroom in high school. Ie quick skim. Enjoying it now. Steinbeck is one of the great American writers who deserves the honor. 16%

Really the Earth … dominated my reading on the Kindle this week.

Other stuff. Library +

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen: Someone at the call center let me borrow this. Don’t think I read it in school. Pretty decent. *** pg 60 of 195

Honey and Salt by Carl Sandburg: Good stuff, nowhere near as amazing as the great “Chicago Poems.” This came out in 1953, Chicago Poems in 1916. Sometimes being young and loud is a good thing. *** (Warren ML)

Ballistics by Billy Collins: Solid book of poetry. I think I am liking this the best of the Billy Collins book I am reading. *** 1/2 (pg 60 of 110) (Patten Free Library, Bath, ME/Minerva)

Skellig by David Almond: Recommended by Hornby’s “Shakespeare” book. Good stuff so far, Nick Hornby is right the immediacy of young adult fiction is just wonderful. ***1/2 (pg 34 of 182)

The Town of No by Wesley McNair: Good stuff, that I am going through too slowly. I have a lot of poetry checked out right now. pg 32 of 85 (Warren PL)

Nine Horses by Billy Collins: Another solid book of Collins poetry. “The Trouble with Poetry” is still my favorite Collins book. pg 77 of 120 (Walker PL)

Convinced my wife to buy “Gender Outlaws”(not on Kindle) and get “Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation” on the Kindle. Didn’t read much of it this week. But, it’s great stuff.

Questions About Angels by Billy Collins: I will finish a Billy Collins poetry book this week. I will finish… pg 56 of 91. Probably the weakest of the Collins book I am reading but still ***.

So that’s it. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things is a lot of Fun” and Nick Hornby’s “Believer” columns are just awesome. I hope other authors, writers do similar things. I can’t imagine this is the only “What I Am Reading” style post on the blogosphere.

Edmund