JOHN UPDIKE 1932 to 2009 --To David, Linda, Mary Ann and Barry: So sorry you've lost a good friend.

Library Elf Starts Subscription Service

Berks County Public Libraries is not participating in a free Library Elf program. County patrons who enjoy Elf as much as I do should now consider their usage of Elf in determining what level of subscription is best for you. Since I can monitor my mother's account, and therefore also my father's account as well as my own, I have no doubt that the $20 per year services is right for us. Granted I've never racked up a 40 day overdue video or ILL ($.50/day) but Library Elf just might cause me to get more organized returning books. And for the convenience of checking status right in my email? Definitely worth it! 

New Obsession

What's Open Now: Fiction

1/31/2009 Missed entering altogether, What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes, who's following Mifflin Community Library on twitter. A light-hearted read I enjoyed. Love that the adopted dog "Mike" ends up having puppies and retains the name "Mike." I probably know a Junque Lady or two.

Also, Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. Wow. It is remarkably modern compared to Jane Austen (commentary included in Wives and Daughters and Cranford BBC production.) Must compare dates of writing.

Still have Poison Study open. What else is hanging around at the foot of the bed...Should add that reading has been postponed while DVDs of Boston legal Season Two are viewed!

1/23/2009 A Presumption of Death by Jill Paton Walsh Does not draw me in with as much intensity as those authored by Dorothy L., yet parts are staying with me. The tune sung by the young schoolchild (especially as sung falsetto by Petherbridge in the Book on CD), has been bouncing around in my head. To the tune of "Colonel Bogey March" (corps of Getty servicemen marching in parade, Bridge on the River Kwai) the ditty sings of Hitler's testicles, or lack thereof. I was very pleased that this novel offered additional insight into WWII Britain (and nice to be reading Austerity Britain at the same time).

1/16/2009 Poison Study, UK release, Maria V. Snyder Looking forward to the release of Maria's new book Storm Glass that follows a character from Fire Study. See pictures from Maria's visit to Mifflin Community Library through the library's website at www.berks.lib.pa.us/mifflincl Yelena and Valek's world parallels ours in flora and fauna, but with the inclusion of magic, empathic horses, and a geography that defies placement. I admit to being deeply disappointed that Criollo has a direct connection with our world's confectionery, and is more exotic only in my imagination. Still, one can but dream of that most perfect concoction!

Advance Reading Copies Received

To Buy or Not to Buy:Why We Overshop and How to Stop, by April Lane Benson, PhD

Received 1/16/2009  (1/24/2009: This book seems to have strayed from the kitchen pile...I wonder who's reading it now.)

The Power of Who: You Already Know Everyone You Need to Know, by Bob Beaudine

Received 1/15/2009 So far is following the same lines as Barbara Sher's Wishcraft. I can't help thinking that my Alumnae Thread on Facebook is following the basic theory of applaud the accomplishments of your friends, send encouraging messages, thank them for being available, give them strength when things are rough...

What's in the DVD Drive

1/24/2009 Boston Legal. Have just finished Season One of this gem of a show. I don't recall having watched too many bratpack movies that I should adore James Spader so, but it's hopeless. Even in his slimyness he's still exquisite. I do believe William Shatner should be remembered for his perfection in the role of Denny Crane rather than the lifeless Kirk. Watching an un-Odo in Boston Legal while still viewing DS9 Season Six is another treat.  

Star Trek Deep Space 9: Disc 5 

I've been enjoying the character makeup as well as the characters themselves. Probably my favorite of the Star Trek franchises.

The Music On Right Now

1/24/2009 Winterlude: Instrumentals for a Contemplative Christmas - a Goodwill find, quite peaceful, good addition to our solstice music collection

A demo CD from Jody Rush.

What's Open Now: Nonfiction

1/24/2009: Have abandoned Pliny/Vesuvius for Austerity Britain, David Kynaston, a scholarly work on the privations Britains continued to experience, 1945 to 1951. Changes in architecture and city planning as Britain  sought to rebuild bomb-scarred cities, and the dramatic social repercussions of the war in the workplace, at home, in governement and in schools. Includes notes from the impressive Mass Observation studies and makes references to fiction books that recount the various aspects of post-war Britain.  

1/15/2009: Ghosts of Vesuvius, Charlie Pelligrino. Pelligrino is the author of one of my favorite science fiction/science speculation books, Dust. At the same time I also have open Natural History by Pliny the Elder. Try the light Juvenile Roman Mystery #2 The Secrets of Vesuvius by Caroline Lawrence that has as one of the characters, Admiral Pliny.

What's Playing Right Now - Books on CD

1/31/2009 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

1/15/2009: A Presumption of Death, Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy L. Sayers. Read by Edward Petherbridge. I grew up with Ian Charmichael playing Lord Peter and can't watch Petherbridge (sorry, Marianne) but I find I can listen to him. This is a book that I'll have to read a printed version before I can completely appreciate the story. There's a lovely quote about germs I'm looking forward to seeing in print. At least I think it was "germs" and not "Germans." =^..^=

What's Open Right Now - Books, Juvenile

I read books from every shelf in the library. I think we all need a change of persepctive every now and then. Pick up a book from a shelf you've never visited!

1/16/2009: Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors, Jenny Nimmo, This was another case of being drawn in by the cover. Lovely pastel drawing similar to Mary GrandPre. I just find these magically endowed kids very amusing. I love the idea of the Pets' Cafe where there is a bouncer who will not let you in without a pet. This was my "waiting for Harry Potter" series. It's much more light-hearted than the later Harry Potters. =^..^=

1/15/2009: Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris, R. L. LaFevers,  sequel to Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos.  Adult fans of Amelia Peabody mysteries will enjoy these tales of a precocious young Egyptologist, her cat Isis, and the disturbingly cursed artifacts shipped to Britain from Egypt. Young readers starting the Harry Potter series would most likely find young Theodosia's adventures thrilling. =^..^= Also melds well with A Great and Terrible Beauty. I'm not the only one in the house to relish bright Theodosia, my mother read Staff of Osiris through two times in one evening. I do hope there will be more plucky Theodosia adventures.

Card Pocket

Here you'll find dribs and drabs I've stumbled upon while surfing the Internet and the most important book related information I've collected.

Can't live without these!

LibraryThing: librarything.com

Catalog your entire library, or keep track of books you've read, online, accessible from the Web anytime. Great groups to join for common interests. Search other member's libraries for books similar to those you enjoy. Let LibraryThing digest the titles and discover unusual statistics based on your tags and authors. Don't forget your library cat, a :CueCat.

LibraryElf: libraryelf.com

Cede your library system's, your account number and PIN. Library Elf sends you daily email reminders of what is due, overdue, what's on hold for you, and what will be due in three days. Can't live without it. While I personally believe that all people working for libraries should be magically endowed with powers to locate any borrowed materials hidden within the house, alas, it cannot be granted.