A friend shared an article with me today from The Onion about a 27-year-old man, Philip Meyer, who was found reading a book - and not just a few pages, the whole book - in Greenwood, Indiana.
His photo is featured in the article, apparently taken outside the local public library. The book in question was Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird -- one of my personal, all-time favorites.
Meyer is quoted as saying "the whole thing was really engrossing...there were days when I had a hard time putting it down."
The article further reports that "according to behavioral psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Schulz, Meyer's reading of entire books is abnormal and may be indicative of a more serious obsession with reading."
Well, I say, what better obsession can one have?
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Ishmael Beah's Memory of Events
There was notice in Publishers Weekly yesterday (January 21, 2008) that one of the books on my personal 'Best of 2007' list, Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, may be inaccurate.
According to Publishers Weekly, Sydney's The Australian reports that Beah's chronology of events in war-torn Sierra Leone differs from actual dates in the conflict. (January 19, 2008 and January 21, 2008)
It appears that Beah's claim to have spent two years as a soldier may be inaccurate.
I heard Beah speak at the 2007 Pennsylvania Library Association conference in State College, PA. Regardless of whether his book is factually correct, his book and his speech were both moving accounts of how war affects communities and families.
Publishers' Weekly says that a statement is expected from Beah's publisher later today. I'm sure thar I won't be alone in watching how this story resolves itself.
According to Publishers Weekly, Sydney's The Australian reports that Beah's chronology of events in war-torn Sierra Leone differs from actual dates in the conflict. (January 19, 2008 and January 21, 2008)
It appears that Beah's claim to have spent two years as a soldier may be inaccurate.
I heard Beah speak at the 2007 Pennsylvania Library Association conference in State College, PA. Regardless of whether his book is factually correct, his book and his speech were both moving accounts of how war affects communities and families.
Publishers' Weekly says that a statement is expected from Beah's publisher later today. I'm sure thar I won't be alone in watching how this story resolves itself.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Destination Bookstores
I came across a great article in the Fayetteville Observer on bookstores across the nation that are worth the trip - actual 'destinations'.
The article lists nine bookstores, places like Elliott Bay Book Co. in Seattle, Washington, Politics and Prose in Washington DC and Powell's in Portland, Oregon. I've actually visited about half of them, a few more only virtually.
Two of my local favorites are Whistlestop Bookshop in Carlisle, PA (an independent bookseller) and Hearts & Minds in Dallastown (an independent, eclectic Christian bookstore).
What makes both of these special are the proprietors, who are knowledgeable about books and can make wonderful recommendations.
What are some of your favorite nearby bookstores?
The article lists nine bookstores, places like Elliott Bay Book Co. in Seattle, Washington, Politics and Prose in Washington DC and Powell's in Portland, Oregon. I've actually visited about half of them, a few more only virtually.
Two of my local favorites are Whistlestop Bookshop in Carlisle, PA (an independent bookseller) and Hearts & Minds in Dallastown (an independent, eclectic Christian bookstore).
What makes both of these special are the proprietors, who are knowledgeable about books and can make wonderful recommendations.
What are some of your favorite nearby bookstores?
Friday, January 4, 2008
Good Advice! Use the Library & Save Money
Jeffrey Strain writing for TheStreet.com advises that "your local library should be one of your best friends...This is especially true if you spend any time reading or doing research about personal finance and investing."
That's true here for people using the Cumberland County Library System's resources.
You can:
All of this is available free at your local Cumberland County Library System library.
That's true here for people using the Cumberland County Library System's resources.
You can:
- Access investment services and information from home. Check out our business database listing. It includes Morningstar (use from a library computer or use at your home computer) and Business and Company Resource Center (use from a library computer or use at your home computer)
- Visit the library and use our print and investment research services like Standard and Poors or the Wall Street Journal.
All of this is available free at your local Cumberland County Library System library.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
More Harry Potter!?
One of my favorite books from this 2007 was the final installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as read by Jim Dale.
I thought that Rowling did a wonderful job of completing the series. It had a satisfying ending, including a glimpse into the future lives of Harry, Ron and Hermione; but, just like a good book should always do, it left me yearning for more.
Well, there is word today that Rowling occasionally experiences moments of weakness and thinks that she just might write another book in the series. (However, Harry wouldn't be the central character.)
Lest we get too excited about this, she also says that given the other projects that she is currently working on, she doesn't think she will get to it for at least 10 years...well, I can wait!
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