The Finer Points of Fines

Holy crap, y'all. Okay, so I'm a cnn.com junkie. And today, I'm reading and I see an article titled "Police enforcement of library lending leaves 5 year-old in tears." I reluctantly click to read the article while thinking "Oh hell, ladies...really?"
So yeah - basically the public library in Charlton Massachusetts sent a "friendly" police reminder to 13 local residents to remind them that their library books were overdue. Understandably said delinquent patrons were not impressed. Then...to take matters further into crazy town the library spokesperson told the paper that they felt that the police visits would be "be a kinder way, a friendly reminder saying 'Hey can you bring this back,' rather than sending a summons," because she is high. Holy crap. If you want to see the local news report complete with little girl saying "I was scared" click here. I can only assume that each of her adorable dimples is a coffin nail in someone's career.
You know what? I get it, it sucks when people don't bring things back. The library I work for charges 5cents per day per overdue item with a cap at $5. To be honest, this does not really entice many of our worst offenders to bring back anything. In our school the fines are meant to be a deterrent to overdues, and we are usually willing to let kids slide if they are polite. We are almost always willing to make a deal. We make it very clear to them that we'd rather have our books back then take their money. I understand that these people in Massachusetts want their stuff back, but this is insane. And now it's national news.
Here's the thing, folks - we have been having the "Are Libraries Dead?!" debate since I started grad school. Librarians, when you do things like this: things that make us look like nervous old biddies, things that make us look naggy and mean, things that make us look like relics YOU ARE KILLING US. I mean really.
Not to mention for all of us Stephen King fans out there this is conjuring up uncomfortable memories of The Library Policeman.

Not how I want to be thought of...

So please, librarians, I'm begging you....help out the cause and don't do anything else that's going to get us put in the news for being nuts.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (December 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142402516
• ISBN-13: 978-0142402511
• List Price: $7.99
• I finished this book on Feb. 9

Okay, I will give you the shortest review of this book ever so that I may talk about what's really pissing me off: the shenanigans surrounding it right now.
Review: Miles asks his parents to go to a boarding school so he may search for the "Great Perhaps." Miles collects famous last words (awesome). He meets a diminutive boy with anger management issues (The Colonel) and a gorgeous free spirit (Alaska) who is the kind of girl boys like Miles fall in love with in books like these. What makes it unique is that the characters are amazing and interesting and flawed. Reading Miles' thought provoking essay at the end is enough of a gift to take away with you and you're just lucky you get to have the rest of the book. It's beautiful and sad and important and that's all I'm going to say because you should just go read it.
The shenanigans: It began with me seeing this:

First of all: that's big time bad ass. Huge. I, of course, 100% agree with this and I am rightly fired up over it. Also: Depew is in my neighborhood-ish but no, I couldn't go to the meeting (which is probly a good thing, because I believe I would have been kicked out due to cursing at people or thrown up because this makes me so angry I could puke).
Go here to read the write up of the meeting in the Buffalo News (this link won't be good forever because the archives aren't free). Seriously: the cancer quote makes me want to stab out that guy's eyes and piss in his ocular cavity.
Yes, there is swearing it the book. There is swearing in shitty rap music too, and I promise the kids listen to that. Yes, there is talk of a blowjob. I personally do not think the scene in question is that graphic and Mr. Green is correct in saying that it is not in the least titillating.
I work in a high school and I have ears. Therefore I think I am qualified to say that the things they say to each other are a hundred times more obnoxious than anything printed here. And I know plenty of them who would benefit from/appreciate/love this book. Kids are smarter than we think, folks, and pretending they aren't is a shitty plan (and yes, the view is nice from my soapbox, thanks).
Not to mention that this book is an ALA Printz award winner and that they actually hand out teaching guides to go along with them (though they contain hateful spoilers).
In searching more for info about John Green I have discovered that his awesomery goes even further. Exhibit one: his website. Cool links to anagrams, book info and his blog. You should stop reading this blog and add his to your RSS feeds. Go ahead, I'll wait. Exhibit two: Nerdfighters, and Brotherhood 2.0. Brotherhood 2.0 is a year long vlog exchange between Green and his brother (Oddly, I had heard his brother's Accio Deathly Hallows before and not known the story behind it). This vlog also inspired an entry into Urban Dictionary, another badge of coolness. DFTBA, which means, "Don't forget to be awesome."
Extra thanks to Eli for letting me in on all of this via Twitter :)
Moral of this blog:
I loved Looking for Alaska, and I have a crush on John Green. Also: book banners can suck my balls.

Crush by Carrie Mac

• Hardcover: 106 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (May 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551435217
• ISBN-13: 978-1551435213
• List price: $14.99
• I finished this book on Jan. 29

So, okay. Here's the thing. I'm bee and I'm an internet addict. I know this, anyone who's met me knows this (and anyone reading this is probably one too.) The other day at work the internet went down like 25 minutes before quitting time. Nightmare. This book was sitting on my desk and so I started reading it. There you have it.
The book was sitting on my desk because it is part of the Orca Soundings collection and I am going to create a display of them soon. Orca books are specifically designed to be appealing to kids and cover a wide range of hot topics. They are very low reading level, short and use simple vocab. They are, in other words, what we in the business call hi/lo (high interest/low reading level). Their topics range from graffiti to sports to crime to drugs and even prostitutes (that word makes me think of this: funniest song about hookers ever!) So, because I send kids away with them all the time I thought I should probably read one. (Leave it to your girl bee to find the only one about lesbians).
So, yeah. Lesbians. Hope is a hippie kid who grew up in a commune with hemp wearing, no meat eating, madly in love with each other parents. They ship her off to NYC to hang with her druggie, bitchy model sister when they decide to go on an anniversary trip. In short order she meets a young mother who wants to take her in as a nanny (and is, shockingly, a lesbian) and a pretty girl. She is crushing on the pretty girl and of course this raises the "Am I gay?" questions and Hope is pretty freaked out. In a matter of 106 pages our Hope is out and proud and kissing on the dreadlocked object of her affections. Being that it is short and a low reading level, the novel sort of works itself out like a Babysitters Club book or something, except I don't think the BSC ever outed anyone. There are lots of plot holes and of course all of Hope's problems wrap up painfully easy (not to mention how the problem that the girls live in two different states is never addressed). But I'm not mad, this is all more or less to be expected.
Reading this was like a jolly rancher: It's sweet and strong, over quick and leaves a vaguely weird taste in your mouth (don't worry, it doesn't turn your tongue green). I'm glad we have them and I think they are good for reluctant readers. Just as long as you don't pick them up expecting Shakespeare.

Wide Awake by David Levithan

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375834664
• ISBN-13: 978-0375834660
• List Price: $16.95
• I finished this book on Jan. 16

An Open Letter to David Levithan
Dear Mr. Levithan,
Please figure out how to make the beautiful things you write turn into real life. If even half of the things that happen in your books existed in real life (like acceptance, Sound of Music Drag Reviews or Infinite Darlene) the world would be a much cooler place. Please get on top of that stat.
Thank you,
The Management (bee)

Seriously: I effin love this man. He is magic. If DL were to somehow meet and create an intellectual love child with Francesca Lia Block I would experience a joygasm of epic proportions.
Oh, plot? Okay. In the future: First gay Jewish president is voted in ---> election contested ---> the people make a stand. That's all you get. Effing read it.
What is so amazing here are the characters. Jimmy and Duncan are a sweet gay couple with an amazing group of friends that the story centers around. Levithan always has these amazing characters that might be floating off in the peripheral of the story that you're like dying to have lunch with. For me, in this story, it's Gus. He says some amazing things, I love the way he speaks. Also: there is a young man who hates his parents (because they won't let him be Jewish) who unleashes a hilarious tirade on how they are the apotheosis of suck. Love. It. Oh, also: a boy named Sue and his transsexual dad. Oh! And someone says that someone else is "rainbow sprinkles" I frocking love that! I wish someone would say that about me.
So, yeah, this got a seal of approval from me, and I would give it two if I could. I told like six people about how much I loved this today, totally unsolicited. I believe that when you are a librarian you are allowed to be a crazy person about books you like. Either way, you can look forward to more DL book reviews because I have ordered all his books for the library.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (March 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670061018
• ISBN-13: 978-0670061013
• List Price: $16.99
• I finished this book on Nov. 17

First, let's say that I actually began listening to this book on Random House audio book read by Mike Chamberlain. However, this was proving to be a super pain in the ass, because my car is a time machine from 1995 and it has a tape player (remember those?) and my iTunes was being a bitch downloading the disks to my iPod. Wow, that was a horribly boring story. Sorry. Anyway, so I finally snagged the book at my library. We have two copies which have literally not sat on our shelves more than a day since the beginning of the school year. On Friday when I saw one in the return bin I did a little happy dance and claimed it as my own.
Okay, first thoughts: this book is about Tyler Miller who is a senior in high school and a bit of a loser by his own admission. It is a bit weird to have a grown man with excellent diction read this story in with a teenager's voice. Especially when he says things like "trouser snake" (yikes). Oh, would you like to hear it? No problem: booknerd provides. Please enjoy a clip of a chapter early on in the book courtesy of Random House Audio Publishing:
It's kinda weird, right? My favorite favorite is when the dude makes the "chicken" noise. Ba-gock! (which makes me think of Bangkok which makes me think of this.)
Anyway, so this cheerful sort of underdog story takes a pretty serious turn when some major shenanigans occur at a party. (for the record, I never knew of any party like this when I was in high school. where are these parties happening?) Tyler, having gotten busted for his Foul Deed (of defacing the school), is the first suspect after the shit goes down. Anywho: he goes through a lot and you really feel for the poor kid. Also, his dad is a turbo douche. (this is the second book in a row with a dad who's a total ass) but Tyler is lucky to have a cool mom, a cooler sister and a best friend who is named after a Star Wars character.
Of course I loved the other books that I've read by Mrs. Anderson, and I saw her speak once and she was phenomenal. She held someone in the crowd's baby, it was cute. She was very funny and cool. Either way, this one did not disappoint in any way and it's amazing to me that she's so versatile a writer. She writes these amazing books from the point of views of these very different characters, and of course a really cool historical fiction book too. I can't wait to read more of her books, if they ever make it back to the library...

Sweetblood by Pete Hautman

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (August 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689873247
• ISBN-13: 978-0689873249
• List Price: $5.99
• I finished this book on Oct. 29

Here is what happens when I have to go through a list of all the titles in my library. I start adding titles to my list of books to read like a crazy person. Also, I have added this to my challenge reading list and switched it up a bit because I just bought a house and I'm busy (this is my excuse for everything right now, and it tastes good)
As you may know, my dearies, I do love vampire stories. I also love YA lit. This little gem combines both those into a neat little package. So, Lucy (hehe, I just got that reference to Stoker when I typed it) is a 16 year old diabetic goth (but she'll tell you she's a not-goth. oooh, goth-served) and she has a fantastic theory about vampires. Little Miss Lucy says that original vamps were actually people suffering from advanced diabetes. She writes an extremely cool paper on this topic for her English class which definitely freaks out her teacher and parents. And you know what that means...time for a shrink! Also, Lucy spends lots of time in vampire chat rooms and finds herself mixing with some very questionable people at parties.
This is a very interesting take on illness, goth kids and teen angst. As I write this I find I'm liking it more and more. I suggest reading it just to check out the paper that Lucy wrote her teacher elaborating on her diabetics as vamps theory. It's a cool idea and vamp enthusiast should check out.

Dead on Town Line by Leslie Connor, illustrated by Leslie Connor

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (November 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014240697X
• ISBN-13: 978-0142406977
• List Price: $6.99
• I finished this book on Oct. 14

This is the peril of a librarian: there you are, walking along, straightening shelves, and books literally jump out at you. Some of them whisper: "Hey, bee, read me, I'm totally cool." some sort of shout "Hey! Read my ass!" some just sort of stand aside, aloof, knowing you will be drawn to them. This was one of those. Despite the fact that I had serious work to do, and despite the fact that I have books to read for the R.I.P challenge (which I am diligently working on, I swear) I had to read this one. And, since it was just a brief sort of taste of a book, I didn't feel too bad.
So, anywho, here it is: Cassie is dead, and they can't find her body. She is watching them search, but they aren't getting close enough because she's right on the line between two towns and they aren't looking there. This story is told in free verse. Honestly, I have never had the least interest in free verse (I always politely look the other way and try to look busy when Out of the Dust starts tapping me on the shoulder) but for some reason, this just seems so appropriate. And haunting. And sad. And sort of beautiful. And even though you couldn't pay me to read this out loud I really liked the format.
Most of the pages have black and white illustrations on them. Leaves or music notes sort of twirl around the poems. Some illustrations, such as a beautiful one of a field of birds, take up whole pages. The drawings are done by Gina Triplett, an artist who apparently designed her own set of Chucks. Her other illustrations are very cool, I particularly dig this one.
The story is sparse, and I'm not sure which, if any of my students would like this book, but it definitely wormed it's way into me and I thought about finishing it all weekend while I was out of town. Ms. Connor has apparently written some other stuff, so I might try to dig some of that up in the future. Either way, this is a very fall/spooky story. All the reviews/info I peeked at are all: "Blah, blah, blah, Lovely Bones, blah blah." I say boo to that. Does every story about a dead girl have to get compared to that? No. Some books should stand alone. Quiet. Aloof.

Photos

Hello my lovelies! I'm back from Florida and you can expect more books to be posted on a more regular basis now.
Here's the thing, I'm not one of those people who's gonna try to make you look at pictures of my vacation for hours, or my awesome amateur photography (but if you're interested, I do have a flickr, and you can check it out here also, I am awesome and so are my pictures). Having said that in Florida and we did Disney and Universal. I have to say I think Universal is cooler, and they have something I thought you'd enjoy, so I brought you back some pics.
That's right, Universal has a whole section dedicated to Dr. Seuss! I thought you'd enjoy seeing some pics of the Lorax since I have reviewed it on this site. And yes, he looks even more like Wilfred Brimley in person. The third pic is the Once-ler's House, and you can actually walk through the garden of Truffula Trees and stuff. Cool! Well, anywho: enjoy!

Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr by Garth Nix

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Listening Library; Unabridged edition (May 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807205583
• ISBN-13: 978-0807205587
• List Price: $40.00
• I finished listening to this audio book on May 16

So, my lovelies, I know you are wondering why it's been so long since my last post (16 days, an egregious time lapse). Well, this girl got mono. That's right, the kissing disease. And you'd think that it would make for some good reading time, but that's not the case. Anywho, I finally finished this one, and I promise there's more coming in a timely manner.
So, let's get to the matter at hand. This book is the sequel of sorts to Sabriel, though we don't get to really see Sabriel or Touchstone very much. The book centers on the title character Lirael and also on the son of Sabriel and Touchstone, Sam. Lirael is a Clayr - a mystical group who sees the future. Except, Lirael doesn't see the future, and she doesn't look like the other Clayr either (who does she look like, you're wondering? I'll tell you: Sabriel). Lirael is super broken up about this, despite the fact that she is wicked good at charter magic and even conjured/summoned herself up a pal: the Disreputable Dog (yes! You know this girl loves animals that talk!). Also, I love Lirael because she is a librarian. That's right, she works in the great library of the Clayr. When you work there you get a clockwork emergency mouse that magically runs for help in case you get into a tight spot. I'm totally jealous.
Anyway, Sam is supposed to be the Abhorsen in waiting, but he's a total wuss about going into death. So, this story has some serious angst about fitting in and finding your destiny and the major mystery of Lirael's parentage was pretty obvious to me. I still liked it though, even though it tricked me and didn't end. That's right, this exciting tale continues in the final book: Abhorsen in which - I require the following things to happen: (in no particular order) someone to tell me more about the origins of the Disreputable Dog, Sam to stop being a total girly man and Lirael to kiss someone - anyone.
Also, I require more Tim Curry to read to me. If you haven't tried books on tape I highly recommend them - it's a superior way to travel. I strongly believe that there would be no road rage if everyone was hearing a good story in their car. If you're interested here's a list of other books that Tim Curry (my boyfriend) has read on tape. Thank me later

Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Harvest Books; Reissue edition (November 15, 1992)
• ISBN-10: 0156454890
• ISBN-13: 978-0156454896
• List Price: $25.00
• I finished this book on May 1

So, this is the first book I've read for the Once Upon a Time Challenge, and I feel it was a good start. I chose this particular collection of folktales because I have read and liked Calvino in the past. I read Calvino's The Nonexistent Knight and The Cloven Viscount in school and even laboriously picking it apart in a lit class didn't kill it for me. I also booktalked the Cloven Viscount for a split themed booktalk (cause I'm a nerd like that).
This book is exactly what it sounds like a massive collection of folktales collected and retold by Calvino from all over Italy. There are a ton of them in here - and they are all brief, one page or two a pop. Some of them are more fun than others. All of them are very reminiscent to me of other folklore and fables I've heard. Most of them involve someone outsmarting someone else and then getting to marry the princess. I have come to two conclusions: never trust a person you meet in the woods, and, two: I would have hated to be a princess back then, because it's clear that your parents would marry you off to just about anyone (including a baddie known as the 'mangy one' nice use of the word mange).
Another common theme in these stories is that no one ever does what they are told. For example, in one story called "Silver Nose" a young girl goes to work for a mysterious stranger with a Silver Nose, even though her mother tells her not to. First off, yikes stripes, who thinks it's going to be a good idea to work for a dude with a silver nose? How is that even attached? Anywho: this Mensa quality genius of a girl decides to open the one door in the house that old Silver Schnoz tells her not to (obviously an awesome plan) and of course, it's hell and Schnozzola is the Devil. Then two more sisters decide to open the forbidden door. All I'm saying is: I have power over my own curiosity. No one in this book does. That's all.
I liked Calvino's telling of the stories, but I wouldn't recommend reading the book cover to cover as I did. It becomes very repetitive after a while. As I do with my books of fairy tales I think this would be much more fun as light occasional reading. I also like skipping around books like this. For more fun stuff, check out some fables online and this fun Andersen's Fairy Tales site where you can hear a story (and send me an e-card).

Bee at Deliciously Clean Reads

Hello my lovelies. This is just a note from your beloved booknerd to tell you that awesome book reviews by me can also be seen at Deliciously Clean Reads. DCR is all about reviewing books that happen to not contain cursing and graphic sex. I know you're shocked right now. You're thinking, but Bee, you love books with cursing, one night stands, and of course...the gayest cover ever. And that's true, my sweets, but I also love a lot of very tame YA and children's books.
I will be a regular contributor over there, but of course, I review everything here, so the reviews there will be repeats (though I'm giving them a different treatment). For example, my first review there is of Elsewhere (go here to read my original review) But the blog is really good. Recently they've even reviewed some of my favorites, like Twilight. So, check it out if you'd like. They also take submissions, and guidelines are on their page if you're interested.

Once Upon a Time Challenge

Okay, my lovelies. Your esteemed nerd has been invited to join a challenge. I'm so excited! The Once Upon a Time challenge is to read books that of the following genres: fantasy, fairy tales, mythology and folklore. And, of course, since the challenge ends in June ( the 21, in fact, this bloggers' birthday - coincidentally) Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Well, this girl loves a challenge, and this girl loves her fantasy, so: I'm totally in.
Here's some of the books I plan on reading for the challenge, but of course, I am open to suggestions:
In no particular order:
Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino
Strange Happenings by Avi
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Subtle Knife/Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
and of course:
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
knowing me, I will come up with others. I'm going to start tucking into these after I finish some of the Dresden Files books.
For more info on my nice new friends check out the the Once Upon a Time Challenge and Stainless Steel Droppings.

Teen Book Festival

So, today I sent a super fun day with a library school pal seeing authors. This is the second year in a row I've gone to the Fairport Teen Book Festival. As with last year Terry Trueman was the keynote speaker. I also saw him speak at NYLA this year. He is funny, charismatic and entertaining. The day began with introductions of all the authors, Terry speaking and then all the authors answering a few questions. Then we moved on to the breakout sessions- to hear authors present. As you can probably guess I have been preparing for this in my infinite geekdom, so I had already chosen the people I wanted to see.
First I saw Barry Lyga, whose Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl I quite enjoyed. Lyga gave a presentation on the History of Geekery which was very funny. In it he defined the term Geek and gave the five most important characteristics of geeks (such as loves details/minutiae, knows everything and is a social misfit) and then named some famous geeks. Notable geeks covered were: Bill Gates, Leonardo DaVinci, Einstein, George Lucas, and God (fyi: google results for God are both humorous and kind of sad, besides, I don't think you need any background info on him.) who, following Lyga's checklist, is in fact a geek.
Next I moved on to David Levithan, whose Boy Meets Boy got the totally distinguished Bee seal of approval. He read from Nick and Norah, which was cool. The best part of that is the copious use of the f-bomb in the chapter he read. Mr. Levithan subsituted the bomb with the work "frock" which was endearing. Example: "Now I'm frocked." funny. Then he answered questions about the writing process of splitting a book with another author and collaborating mostly via e-mail. It totally made me love the book more. Then he read us a section of a new book that he's working on in collaboration with Rachel Cohn about a girl in love with her gay best friend. It was excellent to get a sneak peak. It was dreamy.
Next I saw Nancy Werlin, who seemed shy at first, but opened up. She talked about how the things in her life often serve as a background for her novels. She discussed the genetic research (or lack of) she had to do for Double Helix and how she sort of looked the stuff up bit by bit, which was neat. She also mentioned that when writing The Rules of Survival she had to put it away for a while due to the upsetting subject matter.
Plus, I got some free books from TokyoPop, which is good times, because I am a girl who loves free swag. Barry Lyga also gave away little canvas bags with the Fanboy and Goth Girl logo, so points to him. All in all it was a pleasing day and I'm happy I could go.

Various titles by Nancy Carlson

So, okay, I'm student teaching, and we've been preparing for this author visit for about three weeks. Nancy Carlson is the author of over 50 children's picture books. We have about 30 of them in this particular library, and I estimate that I have read all of them at least once, and some of them approximately a gajillion times. I think the titles I've read the most are Think Big, Loudmouth George and the Fishing Trip and Louanne Pig in the Perfect Family.
I must say this outright, I do not love books. Okay, actually I like the Harriet books fine, and I don't hate Luanne, but: here's the thing. The characters are not cute. That bugs me. They are mostly animals. Luanne is a pig, Harriet is a dog (modeled after Carlson's golden retriever) and George is a bunny. Sure, some of them, like Henry the mouse, are cute. But it literally took me three weeks to decide what kind of animal Arnie even was (turns out he's a cat). I do not hate them or anything, I'm just not enamored with the characters. However, Ms. Carlson does her illustrations in colored pencils, and they are super colorful, and textured. I like the backgrounds and wallpapers much more than the characters themselves. Perhaps I am so critical of them at this point because I read them on average 5 times a day for a week and a half. I'm just saying.
Either way, it was really cool hanging out with her today. She was good with the kids (she did 4 presentations to 7 grade levels, something I would not want to do) and they all seemed into it. She showed them all how she drew the pictures, and I have to say that was neat. Her drawings (though, like I said, not all that cute) were flawless as she did them on a big easel with markers. She also personally signed many of the kids' books and drew a little picture in each of them. I totally appreciated that. Meeting her totally upped my opinion of her books.
The moral of this whole story had two parts: number 1, I'm glad I don't have to read Nancy Carlson books out loud anymore (too much of a good thing...you know?) and number 2, I heart meeting authors!
Now, for your viewing pleasure, an additional photo of Ms. Carlson and I together.

The Power of Reading by Stephen Krashen

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann; 2nd edition (August 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591581699
• ISBN-13: 978-1591581697
• List Price: $25.00
• I finished this book on Jan. 23

Let me tell you something dearies, this book is preaching to the choir here. It is known that I heart reading, and the major point of this book is to tell me that reading is good. Also, according to Mr. Krashen I can thank reading for my excellent vocabulary and spelling skills. Outstanding. This book is aimed at educators, I would say, not just librarians. There is a big section in the middle where Krashen discusses the benefit of reading things like comic books and romances. So there you have it, kids, I'm not a failure for wanting to read fluff, or as Krashen puts it 'light reading'. That's a totally superior and even respectable title. BTW: every time I read that phrase I thought of Harry Potter (Hermione: I checked it out weeks ago for a bit of light reading. Ron: Light??) Anywho, I love any book that touts the plus side of graphic novels and comics. This one even uses pro-comic books quotes from African Bishop Desmond Tutu!
I like the book's stance promotion of sustained silent reading programs and demonization of the way we teach spelling to kids. So, basically, I bought this one hook, line and sinker. The other great plus of this book is that it is very readable and interesting.
What's more, this book taught me random facts that I will for no reason remember and then share with other who will not care. Such as: the lexicon of most television is 5,000 words (aka: not very many words).
Moral of this story: books are good. that is all.

Getting Graphic by Michelle Gorman

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Linworth Publishing (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586830899
• ISBN-13: 978-1586830892
• List Price: $36.95
  
• I finished this book on Jan. 7
  

No kids (Yes, we're on a pet-name callling basis now. Nice, isn't it) it's not a dirty sexbook. Sigh. But it's about an equally sexy topic: Graphic Novels aka comic books. Here's me explaining to my father the difference between comics and graphic novels:
me: A comic book is a short serial that's staple bound, and a graphic novel is a longer story that's actually a book.
my dad: ah-ha (goes back to eating his dinner)
Now, I have no idea if that is right, but it seems solid, right. Anywho, I love the graphic novels. This book is designed to introduce the format to librarians. Btw: it's a format, not a genre. A graphic novel can be any genre. The problem with me reading this book is that I am already sold on them. However, the book did include good selection guides and book suggestions.
I didn't really like the layout of the book, I felt that all the suggestions should be at the end. But I liked the content so what can you do?
Now my next task is to get the librarian at my friendly neighborhood public lib to start ordering some. I'm thinking of giving him this book.
For fun, here's links to some good sites on graphic novels and comics.
Comic books for young adults

Here's a great link to many different sources

American Library Association's site on graphic novels

Cybersins and Digital Good Deeds by Mary Ann Bell, Bobby Ezell, James L. Van Roekel

• Hardcover: 187 pages
• Publisher: Haworth Press (February 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789029537
• ISBN-13: 978-0789029539
• List Price: $39.95
• I finished this book on Jan. 5
  

The subtitle of this book is: A book about Technology and Ethics. I would have to say that this isn't really what I got out of it. I feel that this title implies a discussion of those topics, but that is not really the case. The book is essentially a glossary of popculture terms loosely tied to technology. It could be useful as a glossary of terms and idea, but for someone who has a good working knowledge of popculture and technology I thought it was not really teaching me anything.
It is organized well and an easy read. I could see a newcomer to using technology (do those still exist?) getting some use out of this book, but only as supplementary knowledge. There is really nothing super helpful about reading one page about "Flash Mobs" or "Marketing to Children"
This book's origional title was "Some stuff about technology for people who've recently crawled out from beneath rocks" but it was changed because they thought it was too long.
sigh.

I'm a book nerd, are you?

So that's basically my story, I'm a nerd. I'm a librarian to be and I pride myself on being 'well read' though the irony of that is that I read a lot of trash and fluff. But it's so good. This year I resolve to read the same trash and fluff with fervor, but to also try to add some classics as well.
The following link will lead you to the Modern Libraries list of the 100 best novels (ever?). Way back in high school I was given a list like this in my AP English class and I decided to read them all. I totally never did. So, about 6 years later (how am I so old?) I have decided to revisit this list.
http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.html
I'm not saying I will read all of them or anything, or that I will read only them, because I really only want to read Stephen King and J.D. Robb (I'm not sorry) but I will try to read a balance of something from the list and something I want to read.
In Stephen King's book Bag of Bones his main character said something about the books people read are a really good way of knowing who they are (worst paraphrase ever?) and I thought it would be a fun thing to write about the books I am reading this year. So I will put entries and links and little reviews about each book that I read all year, and I will try to tackle some of this list.
I'm not pretending that I'm an awesomely educated book snob whose opinion is important or anything, it's really just more for fun. However, I do occasionally write real reviews and I do have a print journalism degree for which I took a book review course. Please feel free to add comments about the books of suggestions.
thanks for reading
bee