Well, I'm not sure what exactly is giving me all this grief. I've finagled the table around, and I'm not convinced it isn't the table, but I'm not so sure it is.
I apologize for the wide format - the table in an earlier post is causing a bit of grief. I'll try to get it fixed asap.
Thank you for reading my column - I've written one more installment, which I'll post soon. However, Subter.com and Bibliomancy will be returning in February in a new form. I'll no longer just be writing about books and reading, and the title of my column will change. I haven't decided what it will be yet, but I'll be sure to let you know. Until then, cheers!
Traditions.We all have them – but is there really any tradition as fine as the end of the year list?As we get ready to move on into the next year, it is customary to wrap up the waning year in tidy, easy to digest packages.The human drive to compartmentalize kicks into high gear right around Thanksgiving and continues on through the end of the year, leaving us with a warm fuzzy feeling about the year.On the other hand, maybe it's the hot buttered rum causing that fuzzy feeling…either way, I've collected a few interesting book lists for your viewing pleasure.
The Quill Award is a new literary award offered for the first time in 2005.As stated on the Quills Literacy Foundation website, The Quill Award is
A new book award program that pairs a populist sensibility with Hollywood-style glitz to bestow the first literary prizes reflecting the tastes of the people who matter most--readers. The Quills celebrates the best books of the year in nineteen popular categories, ranging from romance to biography to graphic novels and beyond.
Not surprisingly, the book of the year winner was the latest Harry Potter offering (I expect it will top many end of the year lists for 2005, whether it was really the best book or not).Some of the other winners include The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (Humor and Audio Book), The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore (Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror), and Peace is the Way: Bringing War and Violence to an End by Deepak Chopra (Religion/Spirituality).
Amazon.com has become one of the world's largest booksellers.Whether you like them or not, if you're interested in book lists then it's worth visiting their website.Not only can you see their top 50 books of 2005 (see below), you can also access thousands of lists created by customers on every topic imaginable.Beware – if you start looking through those lists, you may lose hours of your time without realizing it!For now, we'll stick with the top books of 2005 lists; I'll share the top ten in each list with you.I always like to compare the "literary" lists against the sales lists, though it might be noted that books released late in the year might not top the customer's list.Do you really think the just released The Complete Calvin and Hobbes won't be a huge seller?Not I.I predict it will top the charts for 2006.I also note that the only book in either list that I've read is Harry Potter.I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
Editor's Picks
The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Jonathan Safran Foer
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything – Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life – Amy Krouse Rosenthal
My Friend Leonard – James Frey
Oh the Glory of It All – Sean Wilsey
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
The History of Love: a Novel – Nicole Krauss
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes – Bill Watterson
The World is Flat: a Brief History of the Twenty-First Century – Thomas L. Friedman
Customer's Picks
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Book Six) – J. K. Rowling
YOU: the Owner's Manual : an Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Young – Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet Oz
The World is Flat: a Brief History of the Twenty-First Century – Thomas L. Friedman
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything – Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Blink: the Power of Thinking Without Thinking – Malcom Gladwell
1776 – David McCulluogh
Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) – Christopher Paolini
French Women Don't Get Fat: the Secret of Eating for Pleasure – Mireille Guiliano
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed – Jared Diamond
On Bullshit – Harry G. Frankfurt
There's more to a book than what's written inside.And let's be honest – we all judge books by their covers.Do not deny it.It seems that several people have taken book cover criticism to a new level, and their collections on the web provide many laughs and even a little insight.
An internet entity known only as Punk Rock Penguin has put together her (his?) collection of 70 hideous book covers – and some mighty scary titles, too.PRP provides some snarky commentary for each title.Just a sample:
What is it about romance novels that make them so easy to poke fun at?Could it be the ridiculous cover art that seems to adorn the majority of them?Each year All About Romance makes their selections for the best romance cover art and the worst.Again, this site is full of snarky commentary to go along with the year's winners.I can't wait for the 2005 results!
The internet is a wonderful place for finding obscure creative and humorous talent that would have previously gone unknown to the world.Mr. Longmire is just one of those people – and his talent for mocking romance novel covers will keep you coming back for more when you need a good laugh.Though this isn't really a list of books you might want to read, I couldn't help but to add it here.My favorite titles have to be The Legend of the Totally Lost Mountie and Lord of the Hissy-fit.
Atlas Comics of Norridge, Illinois, has compiled their selection of the best and worst comic book covers of all time.From their introduction to the collection:
The comic book cover--along with her stylistic antecedent, the Pulp cover--is one of America's most instantly satisfying pictorial entertainments. Precisely because of their need to appeal to an unsophisticated audience, they are often shocking, lurid, exciting, powerful, grotesque or titillating. As a result they elicit an immediate response from the reader, one which eschews the intellectual reaction so often required of other visual arts.
Compiling these lists must have been quite a feat!Most of the covers are older, from the 40's and 50's.Publishers relied much more on the cover art to sell their comic books than they do today, and thus focused more on producing exciting artwork.Of course, as you can see with the worst covers, they weren't always successful!
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For the last ten months, I've been sharing with you many books that I've enjoyed reading, either recently or even when I was young.Rather than rehash the same information, I decided to get some input from my family, friends, and coworkers about the best books they read in 2005.I asked for dislikes, too, but the consensus is most people don't finish books they don't like.No surprise there – time is valuable!Each of our guest reviewers provided me with their thoughts, and aside from minor editing I've left them as is.Enjoy!
Carter, Library Public Services Associate
Memory of Running by Ron McLarty – Friendless alcoholic Smithy Ide considers himself a loser until a tragic family event prompts him to set off on an epic cross-country bicycle journey that may change his life.You will laugh, cry, and maybe even cheer as Smithy journeys toward possible redemption.
Charlie, Currently free from the fetters of employment
Breakup by Dana Stabenow - Kate Shugak is an Alaskan Aleut. She is the former agent of the state's District Attorney's office, but has resigned to lve in the bush near her extended family. When spring comes to Alaska and the ice starts to break up, madness sets in. Grizzlies, moose, neighbors and murderers all run amok and star in a rioutous romp with distinctively black overtones.
Chris, Small Business Owner
Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin – when I read it, and it took me three times to get through it, I felt like I'd been hit in the face with a tree branch that nobody had managed to scrape the bark off of.I felt something raw and visceral, believable and obscene, and for whatever reason I found that place to be home.
Lisa, Library Public Services Associate Substitute
White Trilogy by Ken Bruen – I discovered this author through a recommendation of a co-worker.What a find this was.Set in Galway, Ireland, Jack White is a Private Investigator who uses his unique insights and experiences to solve crimes.The pure Irishness of the conversation in these titles is a treat, though one doesn't need a special dictionary to get through it.The chapters are short and snappy while totally riveting.With many twists and turns, Bruen shows why he is beloved of his fellow mystery writers such as Ian Rankin and their peers.
Marie, Library Public Services Associate
Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Alexander McCall Smith – follows the exploits of a German Philology professor – need I say more?Hilarious.
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo – the story of a smaller than average mouse with extraordinary skills:he's brave, enjoys music, and he can read!When the princess (whom Despereaux loves) is kidnapped, Despereaux must save her.This is a wonderful story about love, perfidy, forgiveness, and soup.
Hated:The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve – let's just put society as it relates to women back 100 years.There is a big difference between forgiveness and being a doormat to your man.Drudgery.
Nolan, Middle School Student
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – This book shows our future if we don't so something about technology soon.It's a creepy book, yet quite realistic.The lesson is don't watch TV too much, and that books are a good thing.I loved it!
Sydney, Web Writer
Promiscuities by Naomi Wolf - Naomi Wolf has taken an anecdotal approach to evaluating the secret history of female desire with her book, Promiscuities. Through conversation with her friends and by telling her own coming of age story Wolf reveals the winding history of female sexuality through time. The bulk of anecdotal experience is centered in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, circa 1969. However, she does cover many historical references to female sexuality and the prevailing social standards regarding women and sex. There is a lingering fear that surrounds the word "sexuality" and even more so around the world "promiscuity." I found, though I grew up more than 20 years later, most of her experiences were comparable to my own experience growing up in America. Feminism. AIDS. Media. All these things have impacted they way we look at sex. And in effect, have left huge gaps of confusion when it comes to morality and spirituality in a society where women are both lauded and debased for expressing sexuality.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Newsweek billed it as "A love story of astonishing power and delicious comedy," from the back cover of the book. It is a love story, but not in the conventional sense. It is an unrequited love story, as the theme of love unreturned surfaces time and time again through out the story. It is the story of a woman pursued from the first buds of puberty to the sour smell of old age by one man. For fifty-three years, seven months and eleven days and nights he does nothing but obsess over the woman. Marquez writes with so much detail that, while the story does move forward, it seems to trudge along. Also, the primary characters were weak, failing and somewhat despicable. However, their faults were familiar, and in seeing myself in their foibles I fell in love with them. This book was thick, descriptive, and full of nooks and crannies. It leave you feeling pushed over by the wonder and sorrow of love. "With her Florentino Ariza learned what he had already experience many times without realizing it: that one can be in love with several people at the same time, feel the same sorrow with each, and not betray any of them. Alone in the midst of the crowd on the pier, he said to himself in a flash of anger: 'My heart has more rooms than a whorehouse.'"–pg. 270
Toni Kay, Library Public Services Associate and Page Supervisor
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham – This book is actually collection of three novellas, all tied together by the poetry of Walt Whitman.They take place in the past, the "sort-of" present, and the future, yet each has the same set of characters.Very different than anything I've read, and as good as The Hours, also by Cunningham.
For my part, I'd have to say the best books I read this year were Magyk, Septimus Heap Book One by Angie Sage (children's fiction), Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling (fiction), and Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (nonfiction); each reviewed in previous month's columns.I'm looking forward to a new year of good books and can't wait to share my finds with you.
Peace, blessings, and good wishes for a happy holiday season and a wonderful year ahead.
I have returned from vacation – well rested and ready to roll.Still busy, but is that any surprise?I am resigned to the fact that for the time being, at least, things aren’t likely to change.I’ll just have to remember to make time for reading so I have many good books to share with you.Fortunately, we’re entering the dark time of year when it’s nice to stay in and cozy up with a cup of tea and a good read.
This month I’ve decided to cover a few different odds and ends rather than focus on one theme.My life has been rather scattered lately, and so have my reading habits.I’ve been reading fiction, non-fiction, educational graphic novels, comics, camera user guides, food packaging…you name it.Got words on it?I’ll read it.
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Sequels – love them or hate them, it seems they’ve become a mainstay of the publishing industry.How better can a best selling author continue to make zillions of dollars than riding on the coattails of their own success?The idea behind a sequel, I suppose, is that an author can continue a story he or she has started in a previous work.Sometimes the author plans in advance that their story will take perhaps three volumes, or seven as is the case with Harry Potter.In other cases, I imagine the author has such astounding success with a work that he or she decides to continue on and expand the original tale.One of the biggest problems with sequels is when you have to wait.And wait.And hope that nothing horrible happens to the author before the next book comes out.Then wait some more – there’s nothing more maddening than a publishing delay!Can’t those authors write faster?Finally, the eagerly awaited book arrives in your library or on the bookstore shelves.Will it live up to your expectations?There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to dive right in and read it.
Warning – next section contains spoilers!
One of the most hyped sequels ever came out over the summer – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, by J. K. Rowling.Unless you live in a deep cavern or under a very large rock, you’ve no doubt been caught up in Harry mania just like everyone else.Each time one of these books came out, we rushed to buy it right away and got to reading it quickly.This time was different, however.Could it be that Harry fatigue is setting in?Is it possible that the whole business of Harry and his friends having adventures and then fighting Voldemort is getting just a bit old?Well, yes, it is getting a little old, at least for me.Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the latest installment of the Harry saga quite a bit.I enjoyed the fact that Harry wasn’t as whiny as in the fifth book, and I also found the interactions between the characters as they discovered the ups and downs of male/female relationships quite amusing.But did she really have to kill off Dumbledore?Snape’s turn towards definite evil wasn’t too much of a surprise, and it was rather dramatic.I had rather wondered why he was working for the good, despite his intense animosity towards most in that camp.In a way I’m glad that the final book looks as if it will have to take a different form, since Harry has such specific tasks outside of the usual school setting.Hopefully that will make the final book in the series worth it all – though I’m sure there will be very high expectations for it.I’ll read it, and even though I’m a tad tired of it all, maybe by the time it comes out I’ll feel excited for it one last time.
No more spoilers.You can come back now.
Back in Issue 1.4 I wrote a review of a fantastic book called Dies the Fire, by S. M. Stirling.You may recall that in this particular book, all motorized, computerized, and some other mechanical technology (guns, in particular) is suddenly and catastrophically rendered useless in one bright flash of light.After “the change,” we follow several groups of people as they cope with such a different life and learn to take care of themselves – or perish.I am excited to say that the sequel, The Protector’s War, came out early.I’ve only just read a few pages, but I can say that I read it slowly so I can savor the story.Stirling is one of the best writers I’ve come across recently.The depth of his characters and the complexity of his narrative make for a truly enjoyable read.I’ll report back when I’ve finished it (as I wait for the third book in the trilogy…drats).
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Sometimes when you don’t have the energy or time to read a nice long book and its fifteen sequels, you might prefer something a little catchier.The kind of book you can open to any page and learn something new, for instance.Well have I got the books for you…
I bet you didn’t know that Michael Jackson allegedly paid a witch doctor $150,000 to put a curse on Steven Spielberg and David Geffen (he was upset he hadn’t been cast in the movie Hook).Or maybe you were unaware that before 1847, people that didn’t eat meat were called Pythagoreans?Perhaps you were wondering which state has the highest number of bars per person – Wisconsin – and didn’t know that Wisconsin also has the second highest number of UFO sightings per year!If that weren’t bad enough, Wisconsin has the highest binge-drinking rate, too.Must be the cold weather.By now you’re probably asking yourself, “How can I learn such wonderful trivia, so I might shock and amaze all of my friends?”The answer, my friend, is in one nifty book called Vital Statistics: An amazing compendium of factoids, minutiae, and random bits of wisdom, by Paul Grobman.You’ll find 337 pages of interesting information tidbits – open the book to any page and you’re sure to learn something you never realized you needed to know!I like the format of the book, with each 2-4 page spread covering a particular topic (apparitions, luck, underwear, etc.).Though the book has no index, the topics are organized in alphabetical order for easy reference.
Another book I just found fits the bill if you’re looking for a quick passage to read, especially if you’re interested in conspiracy theories.Even if you aren’t, you might find 50 Things You’re Not Supposed to Know by Russ Kick, to be – well, quite a kick.This little fit-in-your-pocket book is sure to fill your mind with all kinds of enlightening information – and remember, “they” don’t want you to know these things so it’s best to find out all that secret information.Here you’ll learn about how work kills more people than war, the CIA commits over 100,000 serious crimes each year, and that the insurance industry wants to genetically test all policy holders.Once you’ve spent a little time with this book you’ll be able to converse knowledgeably with even the most hardcore of conspiracy theorists – if you haven’t become one yourself!
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Over the last few days, I reread one of my favorite books, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury.The first time I read it, just a couple of years ago, I was floored by what I thought was his foresight into today’s culture.I’m not much of a fan of television, and can see the detrimental effect it has on society.The idea that people might have a room in their house where two, three, or if they were lucky all four walls were television screen is rather appalling to me, yet today we see televisions getting bigger and bigger.Then there’s the bit about how the people came to stop reading – the books just seemed to have more and more pictures and less and less words, and soon the people finally stopped reading and didn’t care anymore.I will admit to you, as a librarian and book lover, that has to be one of my biggest fears – that people will lose interest in reading.I realize that this is somewhat silly, but then there is that problem of graphic novels.
I have quite a love-hate relationship with the old graphic novel.For the sake of focus, I’m leaving comic books out of this discussion.They live in a realm all their own, and can’t really be lumped in with what I consider as graphic novels.Each day at the library, I process vast quantities of manga books, one subset of graphic novels.Let me share a little secret with you – I loathe them.I’ve even developed a theory about them, that they are a Japanese plot to take over the United States by causing the next generation to be completely ignorant.There really isn’t much reading involved, as they only have a handful of words on each page.The artwork in them is hideous (all those big eyes give me the creeps), and you can open almost every one of them to any page and either see somebody staring into space or slicing the guts out of somebody.Sometimes both.On the other hand, there are many graphic novels that I enjoy.Ghost World, by Daniel Clowes is one that I particularly enjoyed.I generally prefer a book that has a little more depth to it, and can’t justify completely writing off all graphic novels as pure drivel.
There are now even a few non-fiction books written in the graphic novel format.I might tend to be a bit skeptical about these, were it not for the wonderful book that was pointed out to me by my dear man.Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb, by Jim Ottaviani and a number of artists, is a great telling of the story behind the development of the first nuclear weapons.One might thinks this would be rather dull, but I found the story to be quite fascinating, especially the account of the hearings to determine if Oppenheimer’s security clearance would be extended.The book includes excerpts of letters, and a section of explanatory footnotes at then end.The most exciting thing to me, however, is that Ottaviani has written five more books about scientists, all of which are in the graphic novel format.Our library doesn’t have the others yet, but I’m hoping we’ll get them soon.Like it or not, I think these books would be excellent for hooking some of those reluctant readers – they cover interesting topics and have great artwork!I can’t wait to read the rest of them.
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Look at that, why don’t you – it’s time for me to wrap up another month’s worth of reading and writing.I hope you find the time to fall into a few books of your own, and don’t forget to love your local Librarian
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how we modern humans live our lives, at least those of us that might be called “average” Americans.I think we take an awful lot for granted, don’t you?
Where does your food come from, for instance?Most likely, the majority of it is shipped hundreds of miles from large corporate factories to your local grocery store.A series of strangers has grown, harvested, prepared, packaged, transported, and stored that tasty grub especially for your dining pleasure.Do you think their hands were clean?Did they sneeze on your food as it whizzed past on the conveyor belt?Exactly what were those chemicals they sprayed on there, anyhow?These are no doubt questions you’d rather not think about.No problem, lets move on.
Clothing.We all wear it.Again – where did it come from?Whose hands sewed it together?Sometimes I look at the racks of clothing and wonder about the people that spend every day working to manufacture the latest styles for those of us that need to have something new every season.Do you think they have nice air-conditioned work areas, and hour lunch breaks to rest?Can they even afford to buy the clothes they make?Maybe, but probably not.
Almost everything we consume comes from “somewhere else.”So often, we mindlessly buy what we think we need without much thought as to its history.What’s the big deal, you ask?
I ask you – what do you know how to do?Do you have any skills that actually contribute to your survival?I’m not talking about surviving the commute to work every day to earn the money to buy things – that doesn’t count here.I’m talking about truly basic skills, which in my opinion have gone by the wayside in our busy high-tech lives.
There was a time, not so long ago, that a person learned a wide variety of skills as they were growing up.Granted, girls tended to learn one set of skills and boys another, but a man and woman could come together as a nearly self-sufficient unit.Most family needs were met at home, with occasional trades with neighbors and visits to the nearest commerce center to fill the gaps.Each and every family member was responsible for something, even the smallest of children.
Today our lives are very different.Rather than directly providing for ourselves and our families, we work one or more jobs to make the money needed to get by.We race from work to the grocery store and home to the microwave – eat, sleep, then do it again.We rely on just about everyone but ourselves to take care of us.Nobody is really to blame for this; I imagine it just sort of…happened.
There is hope, however, for those of us that want to learn some of these skills and lessen our reliance on others.As usual, salvation comes through the printed word.Surprise!This month I’d like to share with you a few catchall reference books on country living skills, as well as two magazines I’m particularly fond of.So put on your Wellies and let’s get going…
I’ll start with the magazines, because they’re such a great way to get a feel for a subject before diving in head first.Just stick a toe in and see if the water is warm.
Countryside is by far one of my favorite magazines.Each issue is full of practical advice on a wide range of topics from gardening to cooking to animal husbandry.What sets Countryside apart from other magazines, however, is that the majority of information is submitted by readers that are living the country life themselves.Their stories are interesting, and the advice they give comes straight from experience.The most recent issue, for instance, has a large section on preserving your harvest with tips and recipes for canning, as well as articles on goat-raising, building a chicken tractor, and alternative energy sources.Some of the submissions are no longer than a paragraph or two, and others are a bit longer – but each helps add to the store of knowledge behind the skills needed to provide for your family.The magazine is printed in primarily black and white on high quality newsprint paper.Nothing pretentious from these folks, just down to earth information sharing between neighbors near and far.
Glossy and full of color pictures, Mother Earth News is sure to appeal more to the mainstream masses that dream wistfully of moving to the country and creating a more “simple” life for themselves.Everything in the magazine is beautiful and the people in the pictures all have a healthy glow.That being said, the magazine is still full of useful information and resources for learning more.As far as I’m concerned, if folks in the urban areas start reading this type of information and change some of their habits, even if they never move to the country, then this magazine is a success.
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Once you’ve spent a little time exploring the ideas behind self-sufficient living, it’s time to wade in up to your waist and start looking at some of the BIG books on the subject.I say BIG because either have lots of pages or are physically big (kind of cool, but kind of awkward).
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, updated Ninth Edition
Carla Emery, 2003, Sasquatch Books
Carla Emery began writing this book in 1969, and over the years it has grown into one of the most well-known resources for country living.Checking in at 871 pages (not counting the index), the book includes information on raising plants and animals, what to do with them once you’ve got them, and where to go for more help.There is even a short quiz and an achievement checklist at the end of the book!To give you an idea of what you might find in the encyclopedia, I’ll just pull some random tidbits for you.
Planning a garden for different seasons of the year
Recipes for steamed breads (puddings)
Recipe for rose and rhubarb syrup, and other things to do with rose petals
How to build fencing for your animals
Duck varieties and how they are used
Possible reasons for off flavors in milk
14 Principles for making a profit on the farm
You get the idea.This particular issue includes over 1500 websites, email addresses, and mail-order sources.Wow!
Country Wisdom & Know-how, Everything you need to know to live off the land
Storey Books, 2004, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
I picked up a copy of this book at Costco, of all places.I was terribly excited to find it – how could you go wrong with 8,167 USEFUL SKILLS AND STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS and 1,887 ILLUSTRATIONS, DIAGRAMS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS?You can’t.This is the physically large book I mentioned previously, my guess is it’s about 14” x 11,” and 480 pages of rather small print.Again, we find scads of information in one useful (if unwieldy) volume.The book is broken up into six sections – animals, cooking, crafts, gardening, health and wellbeing, and home, plus appendices.I’ll share a few snippets with you again, so you can get a feel for the information covered in the book.
Plants that are poisonous to house cats
Grooming tools for your horse
29 recipes using blueberries
Making grapevine wreaths
What to do when the power fails
Using beneficial insects
Building stone walls
Tea herbs
I’m definitely looking forward to trying out some of the ideas and recipes in this book.
Back to Basics, How to learn and enjoy traditional American skills, Second Edition
Readers Digest, 1996
Back to Basics is yet another great all-around reference.The book is split into sections just like the others – land, energy sources, raising plants and livestock, enjoying your harvest, crafts and skills, and recreation.Each section then has several short articles, and sticking with form here are a few snippets for you.
Getting your home plans onto paper
Fireplace construction and design
Determining how much power your stream can provide
Beekeeping
Building a solar dehydrator
Hooked rugs, braided rugs
Woodworking
Old fashioned games and toys
Wilderness camping
I would go so far as to say that this book is a bit more user friendly than the previous two mentioned (though all have good information).The physical size, plus color photos and diagrams make for a pleasant reading experience.The information is educational and the projects are achievable.
Hobby Farm, Living your rural dream for pleasure and profit
Carol Ekarius, 2005, BowTie Press
I just found this brand spanking new book at the library last week, and felt it worth recommending to folks who are a bit more serious about their intentions.At first glance, the book is gorgeous, full of bright colored photographs and attractive sidebars.Once I started looking closely at the book, I discovered it to be an excellent overview for anyone considering farming as something more than a hobby.The author has farmed for over twenty years, nine of them commercially, and thus has an excellent insight into the machinations of running a small farm.I especially appreciated her honesty regarding the potential pitfalls and difficulties one might face on the farm.She covers everything from the decision to farm to farm safety to crop yields to preserving the harvest.Although the book is a general reference, I found it to be full of very useful information.
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Although each of the books and magazines above share some of the same information, they also differ in the topics they cover.Ultimately I would recommend each of them for your home library if you are serious about sustainable living and learning basic skills.The wealth of knowledge that can be gained is immense, and there is so much to be learned from those that have already made the decision to live this sort of lifestyle.
Isn’t this really what it’s all about – basic skills that provide both sustenance and satisfaction?Where is the satisfaction in dialing a cell phone, sitting in traffic, or standing in line at the grocery store?Severely lacking, I dare say.Satisfaction lies in working with your hands, and providing for yourself and loved ones.Joy comes from creation and successful projects.Peace comes from slowing down and getting to know yourself, your family, and the land.
I ask you now – what do you want to learn to do?There’s nobody stopping you but yourself.
Ahhhhh, here we are on the downhill slide of the first year of Bibliomancy.Each month as I sit down to write my column, I feel just a bit better about what I’m doing and where I’m going.It’s been a great learning experience so far, as I’ve met challenges of both the creative and organizational type.Romantic as it may seem, writing a monthly column takes planning, persistence, and ongoing thought over the course of the month.I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent standing in the shower thinking over what I’m going to write!Most important though is the fact that I’m still enjoying what I’m doing, and look forward to many more columns in the future.That being said, I’d really like feedback from my readers – any reading suggestions or possible column topics will be duly considered (though I won’t make any promises).Would you like to see more book reviews, maybe highlight an author or two, or would you like me to address issues in the library world?Whatever your thoughts, please drop me a line at a_murphy@subter.com .I’d love to hear from you folks on the other side of the computer screen.
This month I’m going to take you on a tour of a few books I’ve read lately.We’ll cover several bases, as my reading habits vary widely.At any given time I’ve got several non-fiction books underway, at least one or two novels, and whatever I’m reading to my son in the evening before bed.It’s no wonder I have a tough time finishing books!I’ve been doing much better though, and this month’s column is chock full of the books I read during June and July.No oldie moldies this time – just fresh literary selections from my mind to yours!
Without further ado, let us set forth on our journey…
Under the Banner of Heaven, a Story of Violent Faith – Jon Krakauer
Not long ago, I came across an interesting news article about a group of Mormon fundamentalists (read: polygamists) that appear to be building a new compound in Texas.At the very end of the article, mention is made that this is the same group of people Jon Krakauer writes about in Banner of Heaven.The article piqued my interest, so I decided to go ahead and read the book right away, rather than leave it on my ambiguous “I’d really like to read that some day” list that resides in the core of my brain.
Under the Banner of Heaven is the tale of Ron and Dan Lafferty, Mormon fundamentalists convicted of killing their sister-in-law and her daughter in a brutal murder that they say they committed at the behest of God.Krakauer also leads us through a history of the Mormon Church, from its inception to the many controversial events that led toward the eventual split between those that believe in the practice of polygamy and those that don’t.If you are like myself and have only vague notions about Mormonism, the book provides an excellent overview of Mormon beliefs (though I would recommend something along the lines of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Mormonism if you’re looking for a thorough treatment of the subject).What I found most fascinating however, were the discussions of modern day polygamists living primarily in northern Arizona, under the leadership of “prophet” Warren Jeffs.
I had no idea.
Did you know for instance, that polygamists legally marry their first wife, then have what is called a “celestial marriage” with the rest of their wives?These wives are then considered to be single mothers by the state, and often collect large sums of welfare from the government they despise.Also, when a man is excommunicated from the church, his wives are usually reassigned to other men within the group.In fact, marriages are arranged only with the approval of Jeffs and his small group of elders, and often girls as young as 14 are “given” to much older men.Jeffs, who has not been seen in public for over a year, is currently under indictment in the state of Arizona for crimes related to arranging marriages between married men and underage girls.There is now a $10,000 reward offered for information on his whereabouts, so if you know where he is…maybe we can split the reward!
Under the Banner of Heaven is in no way a slam against the Mormon Church, as some people may believe.It is, rather, a window into a small sub-group of distinctly American culture, and Krakauer tries to dissect how such a deep faith might have led the Lafferty’s to believe they were doing the work of God.For my part, this book led me to consider my position on religious freedom – should lines be drawn over what is accepted, and if so, where do we draw the lines?How do we resolve issues that arise between the government and small churches out of the mainstream?These questions don’t have simple answers, but always require fair consideration.
Leaving Fishers – Margaret Peterson Haddix
When Dorry Stevens moves to a new town and begins school, she begins to think she’ll never make any friends.One day, however, a girl named Angela and her group of friends take Dorry under their wing.Dorry is elated to finally have friends, even if they are members of a radical religious group called the Fishers.Dorry’s need for acceptance leads her to join the Fishers, with Angela as her “discipler.”Before long, Angela’s demands on Dorry grow more extreme, and Dorry must decide between salvation (on the Fishers’ terms) and her family.
Haddix addresses the issue of cults in this interesting novel for teens.She shows how cults prey on vulnerable individuals to increase their membership ranks, and how they work to isolate new members from their families.I enjoyed reading this story, especially on the heals of Under the Banner of Heaven.I always enjoy Haddix’s books, and also recommend Among the Hidden and Running Out of Time.She has a way of creating engaging tales while considering social issues like population control or attempts to genetically manipulate the population.
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs – Alexander McCall Smith
It’s said you can’t judge a book by its cover, but every now and then you can make a case based on a great title!I picked this little volume up as it passed by me at work one day, and despite the fact it’s the second of a trilogy I went ahead and read it anyhow.Most people might be familiar with Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series; I’ve heard they are quite good but haven’t read them yet myself.All I know is I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time as I did while reading The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs.
The protagonist of this tale is the intrepid Dr. von Igelfeld, professor at the Institute of Romance Philology, most renowned for his groundbreaking work called “Portuguese Irregular Verbs.”The story begins with Dr. von Igelfeld accepting a speaking engagement at a university in Arkansas, as he believes it will improve his standing amongst his colleagues.Unfortunately, it turns out he has been confused with somebody else, and his hosts believe he is a professor of veterinary medicine.Rather than correct the mistake, Dr. von Igelfeld plays along, gives a speech about sausage dogs, and returns home thinking the incident is over.When his American host visits him in Germany however, he once again pretends to be a veterinary professor, with disastrously hilarious results.Dr. von Igelfeld’s adventures don’t end here, and no matter what his intentions his activities always end up meeting with some comical end.
If this book is any indication, Mr. Smith’s works should fit the bill if you’re looking for some good, light humorous reading.
State of Fear – Michael Crichton
Sometimes I don’t know why I read Michael Crichton’s books.For whatever reason and despite the fact I find them to be decent adventure thrillers, there is something that bothers me whenever I read one.I can’t always put my finger on what though.Until now.I chose to read State of Fear mainly because of the controversy surrounding Crichton’s stance on global warming and environmental activism in the book.I needed to find out what the big fuss was.Some people even believe he may have been paid (if perhaps indirectly) by Exxon-Mobil to help promote an anti-global warming agenda, but I have no way of knowing if that is true or not.I will admit that I began this book with a suspicious mind.
It took me a while to get through State of Fear, but I managed.The premise is that environmental extremists plan a trio of “natural” disasters to coincide with a conference on abrupt climate change.The bad guys will stop at nothing to make sure these events happen, and the good guys must travel to places such as Antarctica, Arizona, and the Solomon Islands in the course of eleven days to disrupt their plans.There are a host of shallow characters, including several beautiful and extremely fit women, a maniacal lawyer that stands to gain huge sums of money if the events succeed, a handful of environmental thugs, a small group of covert agents working to stop the thugs, and a famous actor. The main character is a likeable lawyer who of course experiences a great change of heart over the course of the story and almost dies several times in a variety of extreme ways.Whew!
By the end of it all, I felt like Mr. Crichton was lecturing me.Especially annoying was the famous actor character, who was of course ignorant and who blindly followed the environmental “party line” thinking.You can be sure, however, the actor came to a tragic end, though I won’t give away the method of his demise.What really bothered me, more than anything, was the last bullet point in the “Author’s Message” section at the end of the book:
Everybody had an agenda.Except me.
I’m sorry, Mr. Crichton, you are not immune to having an agenda.Nobody is.If you can stand it, go ahead and read State of Fear and see what you think.But if you’re looking for a good adventure thriller, check out a Clive Cussler book.
Septimus Heap, Book One:Magyk – Angie Sage
There are currently quite a number of new fantasy books for young readers that are no doubt attempting to ride the coattails of Harry Potter and make their own mark in the ranks of juvenile literature.No doubt only a few will end up as lasting classics, but if I can cast a vote now I cast it for this delightful story.Sage has created a wonderful world full of engaging characters and magical creatures without seeming to be a regurgitation of any of the books that have come before.That in itself is quite a feat, but she has also written an exciting story that leaves one eager for the next installment.
Septimus Heap is the story of the quest to reinstate young heir to the throne Jenna to her rightful place as queen.Jenna has been living in secrecy with the Heaps, a motley family of wizards that lost their own youngest son, Septimus, at birth.However, her identity is discovered, and the evil necromancer DomDaniel sends his forces to hunt her down and keep her from returning to the throne.Marcia Overstrand, the ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard (and owner of very pointy purple python boots) helps Jenna escape to a new hiding place in the Marram Marshes.Along the way, they gain to their ranks the silent and surly Boy 412, a member of the Young Army Expendables.During the rest of the story we meet the mischievous ghost Alther, the good white witch Aunt Zelda, a message rat, shield bugs, some very nasty little creatures called Quake Ooze Brownies, even nastier (and slimier) creatures called Magogs, and a persistent but incompetent Wizard’s Apprentice.
Action packed to the very end, I recommend Septimus Heap to anyone that has enjoyed the Harry Potter books.I especially liked Boy 412 – it’s not often a character jumps into your heart as he did mine!Unfortunately, we have to wait until next April for Septimus Heap, Book Two:Flyte.Drats.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief journey, and maybe it will send you on a new tour yourself.Next month, along with a still unknown direction, I’ll definitely let you know what I think of the latest Harry Potter book.
I have a vivid memory of the first magazine I subscribed to.It was an early version of National Geographic World (now National Geographic Kids), and I remember an article about Iceland volcanoes.I can still picture in my mind a photo of houses nearly covered in thick, black, volcanic cinders.Very striking to a young girl who would later study geology in college!I kept stacks of the thin volumes and read through them often, and was always excited when the new issue came in the mail.Since that time, magazines have been a part of my life as a favorite form of reading material.
Magazines, periodicals, journals – whatever you might call them – are an ideal form for both obtaining and disseminating information.Benjamin Franklin published one of the first American magazines, The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, for All the British Plantations in America, in 1741.Early magazines were difficult to produce and expensive to mail, but producers persevered and soon magazines became an accepted and popular medium for the written word.Thomas Paine, Noah Webster, and Paul Revere (as an engraver) were all involved in the beginnings of the American magazine industry.Magazines provided a forum for commentary and information on issues of the day – just as they do now.
To be technical for a moment, “periodical” is the name of the larger group of publications that includes magazines and journals, as well as newspapers, newsletters, and other serials.Magazines and journals are published on a regular schedule (weekly, monthly, quarterly), and are released before the date printed on the cover.Magazines cover popular topics that appeal to a wide public audience, and journals are usually more scholarly and specialized – though that doesn’t stop some magazines from using the word journal in their title, for instance Ladies Home Journal.Adds a bit of legitimacy, I suppose.
Is there anyone that doesn’t like magazines?The sheer number of titles available would suggest there’s truly something for everyone.Whether you like sports, news, politics, art, literature, health, cooking, crafts, gardening, or naked ladies – there are sure to be several to choose from.We have over 200 hundred different magazines at my library, and that’s just a scratch on the tip of the iceberg.If you can think of a topic, chances are you can find a magazine covering said topic, no matter how obscure.And even if you don’t read them, you’re probably familiar with some of the magazines with the highest circulation numbers.According to Mediaweek, the top ten consumer magazines (circulation numbers as of June 30, 2004) are as follows:
AARP Magazine – 22,270,073
AARP Bulletin – 22,270,073
Reader’s Digest – 10,228,531
TV Guide – 9,016,188
Better Homes and Gardens – 7,268,424
National Geographic Magazine – 5,468,471
Good Housekeeping – 4,623,113
Family Circle – 4,372,813
Ladies Home Journal – 4,108,619
Woman’s Day – 4,060,619
No real big surprises there, though it is of interest to note that the two AARP publications are sent to all association members, and they may not have joined specifically for the magazine.I wonder what two magazines might make the top ten if we eliminated the two from AARP – People?Sports Illustrated?Newsweek?Hard to say, but it’s likely most people might mention those titles if asked what were the most popular magazines in America.
Short of running out of trees for printing, I believe magazines will continue in their popularity for a long time to come.They are easy to obtain, by either subscription or the inevitable impulsive purchase at the grocery store checkstand.Magazines are completely portable.Tuck one under your arm or stow one in your purse, and you will never lack for reading material no matter where you end up.Interested in a new hobby?Grab a magazine to learn more about it before committing yourself to a set of expensive dust collectors.Perhaps you’re planning a trip, or want to remodel your home.Again, much can be learned with just an issue or two on your topic of interest.Artists and craftspersons can gain inspiration and ideas from magazines – or cut them up to use as collage material.Magazines are the ultimate in instant gratification information – more often than not you can pick one up, open it to any page, and find something to occupy your mind for a few minutes or a few hours.
Browsing an extensive magazine stand can be a very pleasurable experience, as you can find magazines you might not know ever existed.Barnes and Noble has a good selection of magazines, as do most other large bookstores.If you’re really lucky, your town will have a true newsstand carrying an esoteric variety of magazines from around the world.One of my favorite stores for magazine browsing is located in the sleepy town of Port Angeles, Washington.The first time I visited Port Book & News I was amazed at the selection of magazines stretching the entire length of one wall.You never really know what you might find when browsing a magazine stand, especially if you look in the back rows.One of my recent finds at Barnes and Noble was Paranoia: the Conspiracy Reader.Full of such gems as “The Thousand Year Elven Holocaust” and “Vaccines and Human Animal Husbandry” how could you really go wrong?I didn’t actually buy it this time around, but maybe next time…
I love it when one of my magazines arrives in the mail.I usually skim from front to back before settling in and reading the articles.Some people, on the other hand, read every word from beginning to end, and others start from the back of the magazine.I like to look at all the advertisements, read the letters to the editor, and I’ve always enjoyed the “classified” section too.You can find some very unusual things there!Even the advertisements can be interesting (note I say can be).No matter how you read a magazine, it’s always a special experience as you see what’s in between the covers of each new issue.
Magazines can be used as a barometer of a person’s true personality, too.At our house, we currently get several magazines:Countryside & Small Stock Journal; Mother Earth News; Beadwork; Neopets, the Official Magazine; Montana Outdoors; and Friends Journal, Quaker Thought and Life Today.In the past we’ve also subscribed to Bead & Button, National Geographic, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, Utne Reader, Ranger Rick, and Zoobooks.At any given time we may have some of the following magazines out from the library:Harper’s; In These Times; Z Magazine; The Nation; Yoga Journal; Sunset; Black Belt; Military History; Somerset Studio; Rolling Stone…the list goes on.You might be able to paint a fairly accurate picture of us by our magazine reading habits!
One might ask why bother anymore, since so many magazines can be found online?I say take your favorite magazine and compare the print and online version.I’ll bet the online version lacks some of the stories and letters (though they might entice you with a special online only article or project), and it might not even have all of the pictures!What good is that?Besides, you just can’t read your computer in the bathtub.Magazines will be here to stay for a good, long time.Enjoy!
Resources
DeSpain, J J, A Writer’s Guide to Getting Published in Magazines
Are you comfortable living in the information age?Have you ever thought about what that really means?Information age.The age of information.Hasn't information always been around?What makes the present different from the past?It's good to be informed.Information is power.So why do you feel stressed out?
What is information, anyways?According to the American Heritage Dictionary, information is "knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction."Well then, that narrows it down a bit.Essentially everything we see, hear, touch, smell, and taste can be construed as information.As we go through our day, we're continually bombarded by a never-ending stream of sights and sounds, smells and tastes.Are we ever free to rest?Even as we sleep our brains continue to process data, which may or may not be remembered as dreams when we wake up in the morning.
Since there is no escaping information, the best we can do is be aware of the amount we encounter in our day-to-day lives, and perhaps devise a plan to cope with it.Sound good?
Try this little experiment – if you can stand it, go to your nearest Wal-Mart store.As you wander the aisles, take notice of the sights and sounds around you.It seems every ten feet there are either speakers or television screens blasting messages at you, not to mention the screaming children and parents.The sound level is awful - I wish I had a decibel counter to take in with me next time.Of course, if I were smart, there wouldn't be a next time, and if you're smart you'll just take my word for it and avoid the trip altogether.A trip to Wal-Mart is an experience in information pollution.
Rather than tarnish your good mind with thoughts of Wal-Mart, lets take an excursion into the world of information stored in physical media (print, film, magnetic, and optical), and accessed via four different information flows (telephone, radio, TV, and the internet).According to researchers at the School of Information Management and Systems at the University of California, Berkeley, the amount of new information created each year is, in my opinion, mind-boggling.In order to better grasp what the measured units of information really mean, the following table from their report How Much Information? 2003 shows easily understandable comparisons:
Table 1.1: How Big is an Exabyte?
Kilobyte (KB) 1,000 bytes OR 103bytes 2 Kilobytes: A Typewritten page. 100 Kilobytes: A low-resolution photograph.
Megabyte (MB)
1,000,000 bytes OR 106 bytes 1 Megabyte: A small novel OR a 3.5 inch floppy disk. 2 Megabytes: A high-resolution photograph. 5 Megabytes: The complete works of Shakespeare. 10 Megabytes: A minute of high-fidelity sound. 100 Megabytes: 1 meter of shelved books. 500 Megabytes: A CD-ROM.
Gigabyte (GB)
1,000,000,000 bytes OR 109 bytes 1 Gigabyte: a pickup truck filled with books. 20 Gigabytes: A good collection of the works of Beethoven. 100 Gigabytes: A library floor of academic journals.
Terabyte (TB)
1,000,000,000,000 bytes OR 1012 bytes 1 Terabyte: 50000 trees made into paper and printed. 2 Terabytes: An academic research library. 10 Terabytes: The print collections of the U.S. Library of Congress. 400 Terabytes: NationalClimacticDataCenter (NOAA) database.
Petabyte (PB)
1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes OR 1015 bytes 1 Petabyte: 3 years of EOS data (2001). 2 Petabytes: All U.S. academic research libraries. 20 Petabytes: Production of hard-disk drives in 1995. 200 Petabytes: All printed material.
Exabyte (EB)
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes OR 1018 bytes 2 Exabytes: Total volume of information generated in 1999. 5 Exabytes: All words ever spoken by human beings.
Wow!Those are some mighty big numbers!Theoretically, I could fit 80 pickup trucks worth of books on the external hard drive we just bought for our home computer.I'm trying to visualize 80 pickup trucks lined up – almost a quarter mile?It's a little hard to grasp at this late hour.
Are you ready for the kicker?In 2002, the amount of new information produced was approximately five Exabytes.That turns out to be the equivalent of 37,000 Library of Congress book collections.For now these are the most current numbers, but one can imagine the amount of new information created each year since.Heck, I bet that in 2004 there were five Exabytes in spam emails alone!Spend a few minutes reading the report.You'll no doubt be amazed, just as I was, at the shear quantity of information we humans create and send back and forth to each other.
We are literally drowning in information.
How does information overload play out in our daily lives?I know that for my part, I find it difficult to read very many books from beginning to end.Working in a library, I see so many books, and almost every day I bring home more books.A good day for me is when I return more books than I bring home.There are just so many good books though!I catch myself thinking "Hey, that looks interesting" all the time.Too many books, so little time as the saying goes.My electronic overload isn't too severe, but there are days when I feel blue about the state of the world.My tendency is to check the online news sites several times a day, and too much of that is bound to cause dismay.No news is good news.Think about that one for a bit.In my experience, information overload causes stress and a tendency not to finish anything.Too many choices!Is there any wonder attention deficit plagues people today?
The question then becomes, how do we get out from under this mountain of information?I don't have any magic answers, but I can tell you that the only person that can make your life better is you.By being aware of the part information plays in your life, you can begin to monitor and control its flow.The major streams we deal with on a daily basis are visual (television, movies, games), audio (radio, cell phones), print (books, magazines, newspapers), and the internet (email, news, entertainment).One can either minimize exposure or completely cut any stream of information.The stream I have chosen to cut is television, at least in its network, cable, and satellite forms.My cell phone usage is very limited.My personal downfall – books, magazines, and the internet.Oh well.At least I know where my overload comes from, so it's up to me to make the changes I need for a more sane life.Maybe the key is better planning.Maybe it's giving up the news.Either way, understanding the information streams in my life is a good beginning.
While you study how information affects you and your life, remember to take a break and plant a garden, paint a picture, take a walk, and spend some time with the people and pets you love.Slow down, and enjoy your life.It's the only one you've got.
Resources
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.Retrieved from http://www.bartleby.com/61/ on May 15, 2005.
BIBLIOPHILES
