Nevada Barr

It should be no secret I look up to and idolize authors. When I worked at a bookstore I had the chance to meet countless authors personally. (I also had the chance to brew their coffee…) Most of these authors had penned books no one had heard of, books that simply rested on some obscure bookshelf and would never achieve high readership. Once a local author appeared and after we put out thirty chairs we noticed only two customers arrived to sit in them. I was horrified by the scene and acted fast- making sure us booksellers filled a few more of the chairs. After all, what could be more horrifying than showing up for a book signing only to discover no one was interested in your masterpiece?

Yesterday I attended a book signing by mystery writer, Nevada Barr. The event was packed. She has a strong fan base and the fact she just penned a novel set in Michigan’s Isle Royale National National Park and was giving her talk in Michigan only added to the excitement.

Here is where I should casually mention the fact I’ve never read a single Nevada Barr novel… But my older sister is a huge fan and I’ve been hearing about her stories for years now.

So, what is Nevada Barr like in person?

She is tiny. She is adorable. And she has a fantastic personality. She knows how to work a crowd and loves to mix in humor with her stories. I was amazed and slightly jealous to be honest. Here was a woman who could be talented, charming and funny all at once! Also, in the past she has worked in several fields, from acting to law enforcement to being an actual park ranger. And not only does she pen bestselling novels, she is also a painter. And did I mention she has a beautiful smile? So yes, Nevada Barr is charming and I look forward to reading her mysteries.

My photos from the event are up on flickr.

Later this month (on April 19 to be exact) I meet AMS... MUST FIND A WAY TO CONTROL MY EXCITEMENT. I should also settle on what my one question for AMS will be. Something tells me, "Will you marry me?" won't work.

Bloggers on the bookshelf

First, I should apologize: This is not a book blog and yet every entry as of late seems to be book related. I didn't plan this but you have to understand, it is very cold in Michigan during the winter. Meaning, I am indoors more than usual and there are only so many indoor activites one can do... and the boyfriend, Nate, is also very busy these days. Although we are both excited for our Lost party tonight. (I'm calling it a party even though only one other person is invited and that person may or may not be able to make it...) So, you see, this is not a book blog and I'll return to posting new material in the future. Like how I went about discovering the cure for cancer, or a look inside my high school yearbook... This is all content I have been saving. You'll just have to wait for the day in which I post it. Moving on...

This year I have several books I'm looking forward to from some of my favorite bloggers. The first on my list is Petite Anglaise by Catherine Sanderson. This title will be released on June 17, 2008 (in the US).



You can read Petite Anglaise's personal blog by going here. She is an Englishwoman who has made her home in Paris for the past decade. Her life is a bit Bridget Jones-esq, but without all the annoying aspects of Bridget Jones personality (Bridget Jones I find annoying, while Petite Anglaise I find charming and clever). Also, her stories of French life are reason enough to read her blog.

The second book on my list is Things I Learned About My Dad: Humorous and Heartfelt Essays by Heather Armstrong (Editor). This title will be released on April 29, 2008.



You can read Heather Armstrong's personal blog by going here. Of course, I probably don't need to put up that link or mention Dooce because everyone and your dentist is already reading her blog... But, there is a chance my Mom will be reading this entry and won't know about Dooce and will find the link helpful. This book is a compilation of essays dealing with fatherhood that has been edited by Dooce. I like the idea of examining fatherhood but maybe that's because I have a very odd father myself, who currently spends his days between the treadmill, computer and chessboard.

Dooce has a second book, that deals with the postpartum experience of having her first child, that will be out later this year. I must admit, I am more excited about the second book. I'd rather read an entire book by Dooce herself than a series of essays written by countless authors who (in my opinion) are not nearly as talented or interesting. I'm sorry if that sounds mean or horrible but I think there is a reason why Dooce is nominated for Best Writing of a Weblog and continues to shine as an excellent writer.

This third book has been out for some time now but I wanted to mention it anyway: No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog by Margaret Mason.



I gave this book to my sister, T, for Christmas and before wrapping it had the chance to read glance at its pages. This is the perfect gift for the blogger, be it the novice blogger who is just starting out, or the blogger who has written on the web for years but is running out of fresh, provocative material. I feel better knowing this book is on my sister's bookshelf which is about a 15 minute drive away. This way I can return to it in times of emergency, or I could always call my sister on the phone and say, "Quick. Give me #21," and she can fill me in over the phone. A thoughtful gift given? I think so.

Secrecy and reading

My boyfriend, Nate, is what you’d call a closet reader. In general, reading is not an activity or hobby of his. I gave him a copy of the first Harry Potter book years ago and he still hasn’t finished it. I joke with him that the reading level is a little too high and he should be reading something simpler, perhaps Hop On Pop or Fun with Dick and Jane. The truth is: not everyone feels the same way about the Harry Potter series. Yes, this is somewhat sad and tragic for me to comprehend but I’ll manage. Somehow. So although Nate isn’t what I would call a reader, he is what I would call a closet reader. And there is a difference.

“Let’s just stop in for a few seconds,” I say, as we pass a bookstore. The seconds turn into hours, the hours turn into days and I have nothing to do with such madness. I’m fine with a bookstore hit-and-run. I only need a half hour or maybe an hour at most before I start itching to leave. However, by the time I’m ready I must go find Nate, who is always in the middle of reading an entire book. From start to finish, no less. Sometimes he is standing up reading; sometimes he is sitting down on the floor. In these moments he is a vision for literacy in the United States.

“Can we go? I’m ready to leave,” I cut in.

“Okay, just give me a few more seconds.” Translation: We will leave in an hour, or perhaps the following day.

I was waiting in the bookstore for Nate to “finish” reading today and so I had time to go over these details. I began to wonder, are there other closet readers out there? Can certain places, like bookstores, morph non-readers into readers? I don’t have an answer to these questions but I do know this: bookstores do not make for a hot date.

On the bookshelf

I am currently reading Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. Before reading the memoir I read Lolita and so the timing is appropriate. Here is one passage of the book that I have enjoyed, thus far:

"I wrote on the board one of my favorite lines from the German thinker Theodor Adorno: "The highest form of morality is not to feel at home in one's own home." I explained that most great works of the imagination were meant to make you feel like a stranger in your own home. The best fiction always forced us to question what we took for granted. It questioned traditions and expectations when they seemed too immutable. I told my students I wanted them in their readings to consider in what ways these works unsettled them, made them a little uneasy, made them look around and consider the world, like Alice in Wonderland, through different eyes."

It is worth noting that Lolita is not the only novel read in the meetings between Nafisi and her students, even though the title may misled some readers. They also read Persian classical literature and the following Western novels: Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, Madame Bovary, Daisy Miller and The Dean’s December. I always get excited about knowing what novels get picked for instruction (or reading) and why. This may be a symptom of all the time I’ve spent sitting through literature courses.

Where did the creative energy go?

Classes started and as a result any energy I had is gone. I’ve been having two reoccurring thoughts this week: 1.) I wish I had finished college sooner (that I hadn’t taken so many breaks in the process) and 2.) Wow, my classes are a big waste of time. I’m being cynical, I know, and if you can’t stomach such pessimism then feel read to skip this entry. If you can, continue reading.

I realize it’ll all be over soon and I can live happily ever after with my college degree. In the meantime, however, it’s pure torture. I feel like I’m too old for it. It being college, sitting uncomfortably through dismal lectures, listening to the one idiot student in the class who won’t shut up, trying to pay attention to stories that involve the professor’s dog and not the actual material, and so on. (Actually, I don’t mind the stories involving the professor’s dog. I find those stories to be a little fascinating but that might just be because I’ve never had a dog of my own.)

Interview with Peter Mayle

"If you could install one luxurious amenity into your house free of charge, what would it be?"

"I think it would have to be a secretary. At the moment I answer all my own letters, all my own calls, and they tend to pile up and I'm very bad at them. What I would love is a secretary who's about 60 years old, trained in the Army, absolutely averse to speech before midday, waiting to be piled with masses and masses of work and chores -- a silent, completely efficient machine disguised as a human being."
-Peter Mayle [From an interview with BookPage]

Yes, I’m a tad bit obsessed with Peter Mayle at the moment. Not obsessed in the sense I want to visit Provence and find him (he already has enough fans who do this) but obsessed in the sense I enjoy him as an author. I like his idea of a personal secretary. Who wouldn’t love an assistant? I know mine would need to be trained as a coffee barista and hair stylist. My lattes and hair need care, after all.

Feel free to steal any of these ideas

This post does not contain any spoilers about HP Book 7. You can read on, knowing you are safe and sound.

After writing the previous entry I began brainstorming Harry Potter fan fiction ideas. This list followed. I won’t be using any of the ideas as I’m not a fan fiction writer (yet), so feel free to make them your own.

Harry Potter Fan Fiction Ideas:

The Hermione, Ron, Harry trio breaks up. In its place is the Luna, Neville and Harry trio. Hermione and Ron are happy with this arrangement, as it gives them more time to focus on their relationship. Harry accepts this arrangement as well, considering he always felt like “the third wheel” when in company of Hermione and Ron.

Cho Chang and Harry Potter get back together. Ginny claims she never loved Harry in the first place. In order to prove her point, she makes out with Draco.

“The new Hermione.” Hermione throws away all her books and goes punk. She takes up smoking, joins a band and petitions for Hogwarts to build an underground wizard’s skatepark. Instead of being known as the smart girl, she seeks out an identity as the punk girl. In order to be even more subversive, she tattoos the crest of Slytherin on her arm.

Dobby and Kreacher unite to form a house-elf union. The union strives to gain equal rights for house elves everywhere. Their first appeal is to gain the right to wear clothing. They devise the slogan: “No nude elves.”

Rita Skeeter publishes a shocking biography on Harry Potter. She titles the book: “Harry Potter: The Book Who Lived and Lied.” When Harry learns of the biography he decides to no longer focus his energy on overcoming Voldermort but instead he will focus on overcoming Rita. He decides “writing well is the best revenge” and sets out to pen a book that will expose her. He titles the book: “The Queen of Ugly Journalism: Rita Skeeter.”

Hagrid leaves Hogwarts in order to take a teaching position at Beauxbatons in France. During this time he reunites with Olympe Maxime. Their courtship is fiery but brief, seeing that she refuses to admit her giant heritage. Hagrid is heart-broken and adopts a goldfish in order to distract him from the pain. He names the fish Frank and opens a vineyard in the south of France.

Out of the Deathly Hallows (no spoilers ahead)

I’ve completed The Book, with a mixture of relief and sadness. Relief, as I will no longer have to worry about encountering spoilers, and sadness, because, well, it is over. J.K. Rowling, can’t you just write a Book 8? Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top? I know a Harry Potter “Encyclopedia” is in the works but that isn’t the same. I told Nate I may have to resort to Harry Potter fan fiction in order to satisfy my obsession. After making this statement he looked at me in silence, as if I’d just announced to him that I was packing my bags and moving in with my gay lover.

Today I found myself at Borders perusing all the HP merchandise. They had a bin of Hogwarts banners for each house (Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Grffyndor). I noticed the only banners they had left were those of Slytherin. I found myself smiling when I saw this and said out-loud, “Good.”

I went on to examine the official HP wand. If you push the button it glows and makes a pleasant, zapping noise. Right away I thought, “I need this!” Which was followed by more practical thoughts: “No, you don’t need to be casting any spells anytime soon. You do not need to go about town with a wand in hand.” So I put the wand back on the shelf, wishing Ollivander could make me a wand instead.

Did I enjoy Book 7? Yes, yes, I did. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but it could just be I wasn’t ready to close the book.

This post does not contain any HP spoilers

I’ve returned from Florida but won’t be posting until I get out of the Deathly Hollows. I would totally have the book read by now, except, I was on vacation and made the decision to act like it. I almost skipped Everglades National Park in order to sit in the hotel room and read. After all, being in air-conditioned surroundings and taking in the last of the Harry Potter stories (*sniff, sniff*) is tempting. But no, I made the right decision and will be avoiding the Internet until I finish it.

Reading

My mind should be on Florida but instead it seems to center on France. I just finished reading, Anything Considered, by Peter Mayle. Here is a brief review of the novel, from Amazon.com:

“It's no secret that Peter Mayle (author of A Year in Provence) loves Provence, so it's no surprise that Mayle's new novel is set that area: it takes place in Saint Martin and in Monaco. Bennett is an Englishman scraping together his last few francs, desperate to stay in France. He places an ad promising "anything considered," a wealthy truffle entrepreneur hires him for slightly illicit work, and the plot is off--a combination of a thriller, romance, and page turner. And through it all emanates the whiff of lavender, the curve of country hills, the bubble of champagne, and the sounds and tastes of Provence.”

I, like many readers, am smitten with novels that allow one to escape to exotic, faraway locations. Mayle’s descriptions of life in southern France are spellbinding. Will I go on to read his other novels? I haven’t decided yet. You see, in the spring I had a course on Faulkner and ended up reading all of his major works during that time. Then I went on an Amy Tan kick, reading every single one of her novels. If I do the same with Mayle, I’ll be busy for quite some time. I don’t read every single day, it varies, but with summer I find more time for reading.

Art in the world of books

What is a book cover worth? The answer will vary depending on the reader. I know my brother, Alex, always removes the dust jacket when he is reading. He claims to like the feel of the book. I have a working theory that he does this to avoid bias. The cover art will not influence him as a reader if he has stripped it bare. Of course, I can hear him laughing as I make this claim.

As for me, I judge a book by its cover all the time. This doesn't mean an attractive cover will guarantee an attractive story. It just means at first glance I'll be more likely to approach certain books over others. I also enjoy comparing different versions of the same book. Here is an example of various Harry Potter covers from around the world:



Top, left: Finland. Top, right: France. Bottom, left: Germany. Bottom, right: United States (and elsewhere). The bottom right is the most popular version.

Book Covers is a blog dedicated to "the appreciation of book cover design." Many of the selected covers I would describe as being artsy-fartsy, which is a good thing, by the way. I agree with the majority of their selections.

One of my favorite book covers of all time is this version of The Catcher in the Rye. However, other versions exist for the novel. Let us compare:



To the right we have interesting, striking, the red draws me in... And on the left we have simple, boring, this cover puts me to sleep. In high school I read the novel with what I view as the boring cover. Later, I found the horse version and my aesthetic senses were quite pleased. If I were the publisher and had the kind of power to determine which version would be on bookshelves I'd go with the horse version. Of course, if I were Holden Caulfield I'd probably go with the boring version, except I'd make it black to match the color of my soul.

(If you don't understand what I'm talking about, don't worry. The character, Holden Caulfield, reminds me of a modern day emo kid and so you'd probably need to read the novel and understand what emo is to get the joke.)

I've also found I almost always prefer the original cover art over the movie version that is released for certain books. This is true with the novel, Memoirs of a Geisha. Compare:



I feel like the original cover is more authentic, whereas the movie version is a little too glossy for me.

What are your favorite book covers, and why? I'd love to hear your answers.

Eating local

In the past few years there has been an incredible amount of interest on the issue of eating local. In the book, The 100 Mile Diet, two young writers attempt to live according to such standards. A brief synopsis of the novel is as follows:

“When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically traveled at least 1,500 miles—call it "the SUV diet." On the first day of spring, 2005, Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon chose to confront this unsettling statistic with a simple experiment. For one year, they would buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia.”

I recommend visiting the official site for the novel and in particular, the FAQ section, which seems to cover all bases. I enjoyed reading their response to the question: “Did it take a lot of time?”

Their answer:

“We won't lie–it takes time to find local food sources, to make food from scratch, to do canning for winter, and so on. But it also raises interesting questions about how we're spending our time. What if we spent more time on self-sufficiency and less time at the office?”

They also responded to the question: “Was it expensive?”

“Again, only in the beginning. Most of us pay a big premium for out-of-season foods like cherries in winter or prepared foods like spaghetti sauce, usually with a long list of ingredients we might prefer not to have in our bodies. Eating locally, we bought fresh ingredients in season and direct from the farmer–and we were often buying bulk. We preserved enough food for the winter that we rarely had to buy groceries. Our bet? Most people eating a typical diet could save money by eating locally.”

I’m going to be honest: Time and money are probably the biggest factors that would restrict me from a local diet. I wish it were possible to grow my own food or to avoid supermarkets altogether. I also admire the environmental benefits of eating local. However, I feel like I’m stuck in a rather cruel, matter-of-fact reality, which is quick to remind me: You barely have enough time in the day as it is and your bank account cannot afford to go any further.

I have shopped at the Farmer’s Market, local food co-op and at independently owned, small-scale grocery stores in my area. While I’ve discovered I can afford a few items from these locations, the majority of the items are just too dang expensive. I can’t be tossing around $7 for a cantaloupe or $5 for a single blueberry muffin. I’m sorry, but I just can’t afford those prices. If I start spending that kind of money I might as well purchase a new laptop, the digital SLR camera I’ve been dreaming of and quality toilet paper instead of the cheap stuff I’ve been buying. I want to make the world a better place but I just don’t want to do it while living in a cardboard box.

As for the matter of time, I’m willing to admit I probably could find more efficient ways for managing time. Do I really need to spend hours doing absolutely nothing with my boyfriend? Should I really be putting aside time to check in on my favorite blogs? And what about all that time I spend in the day responding to the 100 or so phone calls from my Mom, should I really be on the phone that often?

I know if I had more time I wouldn’t be rushing off to spend it planning food options or debating what to preserve for the long Michigan winter. With extra time in my life I would set out to write the great American novel or, forget the novel, I’d spend more time gossiping with my sisters because doing so keeps me happy. I haven’t ruled out the possibility of changing my diet someday. I just know that day is not today.

* In this entry the Canadian cover of "The 100 Mile Diet" is shown. An American version of the cover also exists, but I prefer this version.

Book talk

I ran into someone in the bookstore today who was reading this book. Except, I knew he was a newbie and not a crazed fan rereading the series before Book 7. He looked to be a male in his 20s, maybe 30s. I don't usually start up conversations with strangers but I couldn't resist. I was correct in my assumptions. He admitted he had just started the series. I can't explain why but I felt incredibly excited and spent the next few minutes chatting away with him. He told me he suspects Harry is going to eventually die. I had to hold back from laughing out loud (I was in a bookstore, after all) so I just smiled and replied, "Yes, there are many theories out there."

On the topic of reading, here are a few books I've finished lately:

Light in August, by William Faulkner
Uncle Tom's Children, by Richard Wright

Both novels were required reading for a class.

Accident of Birth, by Heather Neff
Haarlem, by Heather Neff
Blackgammon, by Heather Neff
Wisdom, by Heather Neff

I read these novels because they are written by a current professor of mine and I wanted to find out about the stories she has written. I'm waiting for the semester to end to give her feedback.

I am currently reading (for pleasure reading):
Saving Fish from Drowning, by Amy Tan

Isn't the title amazing? I love it.

Last May I put up a list of book recommendations from others. Go here for the complete list. I must be a terrible reader because I ignored the list after collecting and posting it. This summer I was planning on reading "the classics" but maybe I'll have time to consider previous recommendations.

Perhaps this entry is going to give off the impression I'm an avid reader. Well, don't be fooled. My ratio of books to movies (and pop culture) is a quite scary. So scary, I shall end this entry before switching over to talk of Britney, or why Little Miss Sunishine was so much better than The Departed.

Talk of Harry Potter Book 7

Please note: If you are not current with the Harry Potter series you should probably skip this entry. Spoilers ahead.

Borders is playing up the Snape controversy in order to promote Book 7. I agree with the sign: "Trust Snape." I know one can make the argument Snape is really a bad guy but I have a feeling JK Rowling doesn’t want to go in that direction. Yes, there is a certain ambiguity to his character but as the stories advance a more positive side of Snape appears to be coming through. And I just don’t think he is bad. I trust Snape.

Faulkner

I have a class this semester entirely devoted to the works of American author, William Faulkner. I’m not a huge Faulkner fan, but I am finding the class to be interesting.

The first day of class I started a random conversation with the girl next to me. "So, do you like Faulkner?" I asked.

"Yes, I love him," she replied.

I studied her face, looking for sarcasm but found no traces of it. She then went on to tell me how when she was a teenager she went through a "Faulkner phase" and had to read every single piece of writing he had ever written. I’m not sure if I understand this obsession but I suppose there are stranger things out there.

I’ve also noticed in the class there are a considerable amount of male students who tend to dress like Faulkner types. Maybe I’m just imagining it but I see a lot of guys with navy pea coats and thick facial hair. They look a lot like Faulkner at this stage of his life.

Yesterday I was talking to another student who confessed she hadn’t even read the material. She boasted: "I just went to sparknotes.com and it told me everything I needed to know. What’s the point in reading the book? You should really check out the site." She was very proud of her efforts and advertised the site with much glee. I, however, had to hold back from calling her an idiot.

In my mind bragging about being too lazy to read but using a silly cheat website as a substitute, is not a point of great pride. Especially in a room with English majors who have nothing better to do than read, even if it’s something as god awful as Faulkner. But those are just my thoughts.

Looking for daily strategies

New York magazine has included an intriguing Guide to Inner Peace. The content is in their current issue but is also available online. The notion of "inner peace" might seem a little cliché, but I'm always interested in strategies to improve daily living. (And maybe, just maybe, I like clichés.) My favorite article from the guide is Move to a Fantasy Island by Vanessa Grigoriadis.

Vintage children's books

Photo from flickr member, redcoulter.

I didn't find a children's book blog, but I did find the wonderful flickr group, Vintage Children's Books. I like the illustration of the walrus on the page above. He looks a little sad but the artwork is beautiful.

Top children's books for 2007

The American Library Association announced the top 2007 winners for children's literature. The Caldecott Medal went to Flotsam, illustrated by David Wiesner. The Newberry Medal award went to The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron. I found this information while reading my local library's blog.

When I was a teenager I worked in the children's room at the library. What I miss most about the job is reading all the children's books while at work. I had responsibilities at the job that didn't include reading but there was always time for sitting down with a book. I would shelve a book, stop, browse through its pages, shelve the next book, stop, read a little more, and continue this pattern until my cart was empty. It wasn't a hectic job and everyone on the staff had time for reading, so my actions weren't exactly rebellious.

I've been looking for a good children's book blog but haven't found one. I guess the search must continue.