Fun Reader Stuff Online

Bill Michel sent a couple of cool links that were posted on Stephen’s Lighthouse, a blog run by Stephen Abrams, SirsiDynix’s Vice President of Innovation.  The first link is to 80 Online Resources for Book Lovers.  (For some, apparently, 23 Things is not enough.)  It’s a cool list, though, with lots of social networking sites, book swapping and purchasing sites and copious links to e-books.

Also from Bill, also from Stephen’s Lighthouse, is a link to a Best Opening Lines poster, which shows the 100 Best First Lines from Novels in a handy-dandy, ready to print 11 x 17 format.  Check it out!  (CLJ)

A New Look

You may notice a new look to the blog.  The constraints of the free blog hosted at wordpress are showing themselves.  Namely, the tag cloud has grotesquely oversized font sizes for frequently used tags, which throws the alignment of the sidebar out of whack.  It can’t be changed, so this is a new template that will show the tags directly on the posting, which the old one didn’t.  It’s all about the experimenting and seeing what works! (CLJ)

When the Story is True – part two

Speaking of non-fiction that reads like fiction, Carol Dahlquist, master book recommender, has a few new favorite non-fiction books to mention:  Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders by William P. Drennan, which is about the brutal murders in 1914 of seven adults and children dear to the architect and the destruction by fire of Taliesin, his landmark residence, near Spring Green, Wisconsin.  Another new nonfiction she recommends is Down the Nile: In a Fisherman’s Skiff by Rosemary Mahoney.  PW says: “This is travel writing at its most enjoyable: the reader is taken on a great trip with an erudite travel companion soaking up scads of history, culture and literary knowledge, along with the scenery.”  And for a little more local interest, she recommends The Florist’s Daughter by Patricia Hampl, a “thoughtful and elegant” (LJ) memoir of Hampl’s growing up in Saint Paul, and her relationship to her parents, told from the bedside of her dying mother.

Inquiring minds want to know:  What great nonfiction have you been reading lately?  Any recommendations?  (CLJ)

When the Story is True – part one

Nonfiction Readers Advisory is kind of the new thing in readers advisory–a new book is out, and there’s an increased focus on narrative nonfiction in RA circles.  In fact, this posting title is stolen from a workshop conducted at PLA on Practicing Nonfiction Readers Advisory.   The handouts for the training give a pretty good look at the ins and outs of Nonfiction Readers Advisory, which includes the following popular subjects:  biography, cooking, essays, humor, immigrant experience, memoirs, politics, science, sprituality, sports, true crime, travel, and true adventure.  The handouts include sure bets for each category.  And don’t forget the popular micro-history books (such as ______: The _______ That changed the World).  If you’re looking for more ideas on Nonfiction Readers Advisory, check out Library Booklists and Bibliographies: Nonfiction, which has a great selection of lists including bios, micro-histories, and nonfiction that reads like fiction (the highest compliment!).

So Readers Advisory question for you:  How much nonfiction readers advisory are you doing?  Do you recommend nonfiction to fiction readers?  Do you have a particular nonfiction area of expertise your fellow coworkers should know about? (CLJ)

Fantasy Book Island

If you had all the time and money in the world, who would you invite for a book talk? I’ve had this conversation a few times, and I’m always surprised by the list of authors people think up off the cuff. Who would you choose?

 

It is kind of the old story of the kid in the candy store, right? Too many options! After more thought, I ended up with a list of authors whose books I have developed multiple book relationships with – Barbara Kingsolver, Martha Grimes and Charlaine Harris all came to mind. All very different styles, but authors from whom I would enjoy hearing more.  (Amy B.)

Confessions of a Children’s Librarian

I love the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.  Yes, it’s teen vampire romance with a few werewolves thrown in for excitement, but the dialog is well written and the plot zooms along so fast, you waste 2 hours without even trying.  I read the first book in 3 days, the second book in 4, and the 3rd book in 2.  And I have two kids under age 4. 

It’s scary to admit loving something so trivial to one’s peers, but doesn’t everyone have at least one book or author they’re embarrassed to admit they like?  Don’t YOU?  (Ann W.)

The Complete Jane Austen

   Tonight, the PBS series “The Complete Jane Austen” concludes with the second half of the new remake of Sense & Sensibility.  It’s been an exciting ride through Austen’s works, with new versions (Persuasion, Miss Austen Regrets) and old favorites (Emma, Pride & Prejudice) both showing up.  The PBS Masterpiece (note: not Masterpiece Theater, just Masterpiece) has a cool website devoted to the series, including bits on the Men of Austen, behind the scenes info, and a discussion board. 

There’s a huge number of websites devoted to all things Austen.  A great one is Austenblog, a compendium of news about Jane Austen in popular culture, and dedicated to discussing (and defending!) Jane Austen and her work in all forms.  Another comprehensive site devoted to Austen is The Republic of Pemberley, which includes discussion boards and info pages, including a page devoted to the many sequels inspired by Austen’s work.  This doesn’t even include the scores of chick lit Austen take-offs, like Bridget Jones’s Diary, or Jane Austen in Boca, to name only two. 

Which brings us to the question:  What’s your favorite Austen work, sequel or remake?  Film or print?  (CLJ)