Welcome to the kingdom of Readalot again.

I am thoroughly enjoying my free time reading my books about books, such as "The Library at Night." Where else can you digest references to Caliph Omar I or discover such delicious vocabulary words as "peregrinations," "cacophonous," "embrasure" or "quotidian." This book isn't for everyone, but it satisfys the reader who wants meat in every phrase. It encourages personal libraries and establishment of a study.

He makes an interesting observation on our society and a quote would probably be best to illustrate. "Our society accepts the book as a given, but the act of reading---once considered important, as well as potentially dangerous and subversive----is now condescendingly accepted as a pastime, a slow pastime that lacks efficiency and does not contribute to the common good." He goes on to say that should a visitor from the past come to visit us, that he would discover that today's library "is considered less a living entity (great respository of our memory and experience) than an "inconvenient storage room." Not if Alberto Manguel has anything to say about it. He brings new respect to the reader for the book, for the past in relation to the present. He warns advocates of "original thought," that the quoting from books is important. He says, " to quote is to continue a conversation from the past, in order to give context to the present." He adds a quote from Walter Benjamin, "To write history is to cite it."

With that in mind, may I suggest you read some of the newly acquired history books in our library. See Ann Boleyn by Joanna Denny. Here is a book review:

Denny, Joanna.
Anne Boleyn:
A New Life of England's Tragic Queen.
Da Capo. Apr. 2006.
c.384p. illus. bibliog. index.
ISBN 0-306-81474-9. $26. BIOG
Long seen as depraved, deformed, and debauched, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, has intrigued people ever since her execution. She was accused of both witchcraft and adultery by her critics and praised by her admirers for her beauty, intelligence, and piety. This is a popular attempt to redeem Anne, who Denny (author of a fictionalized trilogy on the Tudors) shows to be a highly intelligent, active woman and an instrumental force in the cause of the Reformation in England. Although some might feel that Denny is unfair to Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, as well as her daughter, Mary, she is simply repeating prevalent opinions among scholars. Denny's writing is clear and to the point, though she does have a visible bias against Anne's detractors. This is a definite purchase for public libraries and any medieval and/or Renaissance collections.

Perhaps, I can hear back about a Lady who had the distinction of being one of the two wives of Henry the VIIIth to be beheaded. Perhaps, she read too much? "Off with her head!" Oh, that was Alice in Wonderland. I see what Mr. Manguel means about associations.

What are you reading?

How is it going? Well, I'm sure you are quite busy like I am, but there's also a very good chance that you received lots of books over the holidays as gifts. My books were very unique to libraries. For example, I'm reading "Dewey, the small town library cat who touched the world."

I am also reading "Cold plague" about prions gone wild, which for a nursing school librarian seems appropriate. A more scholarly gift was "Schoolroom poets: childhood, performance and the place of American Poetry, 1865-1917." In it, we learn that the public performance and memorization gave the children of this era hope and a vision, from which they could draw strength for all their life. Poetry can be retrieved from their memories and applied to everyday life situations. The author's intent is therefore changed by each individual, but isn't that always the case with poetry? This may take some time. Another scholarly gift was "In their own words: Letters from Norwegian immigrants." These interesting letters allow the reader to hear what their great great grandfathers were telling their relatives in Norway about following their dream of free land in America.



One comment about Ken Follett's World Without End. We have the print copy in the library as well as the audio. The audio book is available through the software "Overdrive." You must download the software at home. This is how the system works. Once you check out the book, you don't check it back in. You have two weeks to hear the book and then it is automatically returned for the next patron's listening. A few titles allow burning to CD, but it takes quite a few CDs. Try it. It's fun and makes the time go pleasantly, while you wash dishes or make dinner.



For the purpose of this club, it is important that you don't feel like you must read each book fully, like finishing all the food on your plate. If you reach page 50 and don't want to finish the book, that is fine. Move on to another book, until you find one that really speaks to you. You might want to plant books around your house, and pick them up at random, when you have a moment. This way, you are not reading one book, but many books! I'm, of course, speaking to those who are "wanna be" readers. As a librarian, we are always humbled by how much reading there is to be done! Don't let it discourage you. Just enjoy. It's your treat.

Season's Readings

I'm glad to see some comments with lots of reading suggestions. Remember there are no rules here, so if you like graphic novels you can read them. There is Manga, and then there is manga. There's a nice discussion of them in the Literature Resource Center and this article in Academic Search Complete: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=24954163&site=ehost-live.

Of course, the Library Lady, has some heavy selections. The introduction to "Democracy in America" by Alexis De Tocqueville is great and worthy of reading in itself. According to a book that is a tribute to libraries, "The Library at Night" by Alberto Manual, Dostoyevsky said that 56 is "the age at which 'real' life can be rightly said to begin." That's a nice positive thought to ponder. We have lots of time to explore our reading tastes.

To get you in the mood for the holidays, here is a nice list of books for the season. See: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=34909967&site=ehost-live.

I have read Richard Paul Evan's book called "Grace", and it is good for a nostalgic look at the year 1962 and leaves you at the end with a bit of a tear. The author established the Christmas Box House International, an organization providing services for abused children and adolescents. This book focuses on this subject and discusses current initiatives. If you haven't read "The Christmas Box" yet, do so. It's a very good read. Grace is on display at our library, as well as the audio book "The Christmas Sweater."

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Hope you have many happy reading days over the holidays.

Readalot is like Camelot

Welcome to the land of wishful reading. What is it that you wish you had read, but you didn't? That's a good place to begin. There are no rules in being well read. The only rule is to devote at least a half hour to reading each day. I want you to exercise too. If your job has you read all day, this doesn't count. You must read for yourself in this precious half hour. To play along with this concept, reading blogs doesn't count either. I'm talking about reading books. Books that were on reading lists long ago, but you cheated a bit in school by reading the cliff notes. Books that are obscure, and books that are common place. Already a great reader, great! Share with us something you would recommend.

Need help in choosing? Check out these books at the library: Any of the Nancy Pearl Book Lust books, a good almanac, or if interested in Fiction, "Genreflecting." Read books about books or books by readers who love books. Like biographies? Browse your local library by searching the subject keyword "biography," which is used as a common subject subheading in most library subject heading authorities. Search by last name and biography for specific results. While you are at it, let us know what you are reading.