JEZEBEL'S GARDEN

New Books! New Books! New Books (that rock!)

2009-05-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings Earthlings!

So, anyhoos, I've been bummin' as of late 'cuz I never see any of our best new books in the library--which means that you aren't seeing too many of them either! Thus, I've taken the liberty of creating a list, so ya can go ahead, place holds, & get geared up for

Summer!

(and there's more where these come from!)

Just follow the Yellow Brick Road...

http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/bookletter/showlist.html?sid=6947&list=CNL13

The "Final" Word

2008-05-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

"What is reading but silent conversation?" -- Walter Savage Landor

Alas, my Readers' Advisory course is wrapping up, but before I go, I felt compelled to say that it's been a most enjoyable literary ride for a bibliophile such as myself. Aside from being the perfect "excuse" to read, I've garned a fancy for audiobooks (great background "noise" no matter the endeavor. In fact, I'm listening to one as we speak). That said, nothing beats the proximity of a concrete tangible, and I'm foaming at the bit for the delectible treat that awaits me on the table (finals can't be done soon enough for oh-so-many reasons). Fittingly enough, it's none other than my beloved Augusten Burroughs A Wolf at the Table.

Word to the wise: If you want first dibs on hot stuff, get a job at your local library!

Entry #7: "A Long Way Gone"

2008-03-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.
New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2007.

Genre: Non-Fiction (Autobiography/Memoir)

To Learn More...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4yhPSQEzo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael_Beah
http://www.nyc24.org/2006/newnewyorkers/childsoldier/index.html

Subjects & Themes: civil war; genocide; kidnapping, torture, murder, endless death; child soliers/children forced to kill; control; dictatorship; annhiliation; desolation & desperation; unspeakable horrors; adaptation & survival; huntering & gathering societies/tribal living; international relations; activism; rehibilitation; psychology; human development, family; forgiveness; perseverence; generosity; courage; compassion; finding one's voice; and, the ability to heal...

Reading Reaction: Where to begin? This is one of the most powerful literary experiences in recent memory. At heart, A Long Way Gone is truly an inspirational tale, and yet...It took me five starts only to determine that perhaps the audio route would be best. I just couldn't read the book (readerly immersion, for me, the utmost intimate), yet still, I sat, tears streaming down my face. Simply so raw, so simultaneously real and unreal. Nevertheless, I continued to listen, I would not turn away...I once visited the Holocaust Museum out in D.C. for much the same reason: Such stories must be heard, acknowledged, learned from, understood, even if only from afar. The continued perpetuation (and global ignorance) of such horror is enough to make an athiest pray for the existence of God, if only for the reassurance that there likewise exist the purgatories of hell for those content to create hell on earth.

Read A Likes (true tales of human atrocity--and survival):

Disguised: A Wartime Memoir by Rita De Clercq Zubli (2007).
Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children by Faith McDonnell (2007).
God Grew Tired of Us by John Bul Day (2008).
Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir (2002).
A Woman in Amber: Healing the Trauma of War and Exile by Agate Nesaule (1997).
When I was a Soldier by Valerie Zenatti (2007).

Related Reads (authentic voices of innocence lost):

Burn Journals by Brent Runyon (2005).
A Child Called "It:" One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer (1995).
Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (2005).
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent (2007).
Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses by Paula McLain (2004).
Running With Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs (2002).

Post Read Pick-Me-Up: Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive (you'll need it)

Entry #6: "The Professor's Daughter"

2008-03-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sfar, Joann & Emmanuel Guibert. The Professor's Daughter. New York: First Second, 1997.

Genre: Graphic Novel (originally written in French)

Author Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joann_Sfar

Illustrator Info: http://lambiek.net/artists/g/guibert_emman.htm

Subjects & Themes: Egyptology; Victorian London; museums & mummies; archaeology & antiquity; cultural elitism, gender inequality, & social hierarchies; murder, madness, & mayhem; timeless (& unlikely) love; transformation; beating the odds; and, the living dead.

Reading Reaction: Thought the illustrations were pretty cool, alternating between panels of muted tones in black & white, and those that were colorfully vivid. As for the story, however, what can I say? Silly beyond compare. It wasn't what I expected at all (was hoping for something a bit more historically rich) with enlivening details of Ancient Egypt...Alas, The Profesor's Daughter, considered by many critics to be a modern classic within the genre, is pure fantastical escapism. If you've ever seen the movie, The Mummy, you get my drift. Such just doesn't suit my mood today.

Read-a-Likes (additional cheese, if you please,w/ a dash of (mostly) historic noir):

Dead High Yearbook by Ivan Velez (2007).
The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips (2004).
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005).
The Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (2006).
Violin: A Novel by Anne Rice (1997).
Well Bred & Dead: A High Society Mystery (2007).

Related Reads (graphic novels for the slightly more aged reader):

A Contract with God by Will Eisner (2006).
Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman (1993).
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (2004).
The Rabbit's Cat by Joann Sfar (2007).
Sardine in Outer Space by Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert (2006).
Vampire Loves by Joann Sfar (2006).

Musical Accompaniment: Possum Kingdom by the Toadies (an intriguing enticement regarding the precarious promise of eternal life...)

Entry #5: "Blood Child"

2008-03-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

"Truth is, I hate short story writing...Yet there is something seductive about writing short stories..." -- Octavia E. Butler

Butler, Octavia E. Blood Child and Other Stories. New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 1995.

Genre: Science Fiction

Author's Website: http://www.sfwa.org/members/butler/

Butler's Obituary: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/books/260959_butlerobit26ww.html

Subjects & Themes: death & decay; chaos & control; dystopia; catastrophe; mutants; illness, genetic disease, & heredity; women & men/women vs. men; pregnancy; family; aging; loss; hopeless; drudgery; sense (or lack there of) of community; and, the ever present threat of annhilation.

Reading Reaction: A glimmer of intrigue, yet overall, pure displeasure (a fact about which I feel a little guilty, having only recently learned of the author's demise). For, try as I might, it seems inevitable that I will never acquire a taste for the realm of science fiction. I find it confusing & I simply can't muster enough inertia to decipher the message. Don't deny the author's talent--but I'll take a raw dose reality

Read a Likes (if bleak otherworldliness be your thing):

The Alien Years by Robert Silverberg (1998).
The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson (1989).
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein (1961).
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950).
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (1992)
The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood (1985).

Entry #4: "A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers"

2008-03-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

"Shamelessly honest, sharp, poetic, and feminine. That's the starting point for my work."

-- Xiaolu Guo, essayist, author, poet, & filmaker

"Nothing in this book is true, except for the love between her

and him." --from A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers

Guo, Xiaolu. A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers. New York: Doubleday, 2007.

Genre: Contemporary International Fictional/Muticultural Romance

Author's Website: http://www.guoxiaolu.com/

Subjects & Themes: language & meaning; life & meaning; linguistics; dictionaries; diaries; inward journies & outward travels; exploration; cultural immersion; passion, propriety, & perseverence; individuality vs. selfishness; Ethnocentricism; art, exploration, & creativing; isolation, adaptation, & self-discovery; sense of family, the demands of love, heartbreak & longing; sex adn sexuality; abortion; aging; and, learning to let go.

Reading Reaction: Incredibly satisfied with having found an intellectually stimulating & reverently rendered read that urged me to "slow down, digest slowly". Sadly reminded of lost love, but to have, too, survived intact. Awed by perseverence of ESL speakers, especially those

whose native tongue so vastly differs from our own. Reaffirmed: A personal passion language-- despite its intricacy and inherently tenuous nature.

Read-a-Likes ("It's better to have loved & lost than never to have loved at all...")

Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (2000).
Cloud Mountain by Aimee E. Liu (1997).
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (1999).
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (1999).
Loving Che by Ana Menbendez (2003).
Unburnable by Marie-Elena John (2006).

Related Reads (art, assimilation, &/or Chinese voice)

Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu (2006).
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan (2001).
The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland (2004).
Hunger: A Novella and Stories by Samantha Lan Chang (1998).
The Last Communist Virgin: Stories by Wang Ping (2007).
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (2005).

Suggested Background Music: Bach's Air on a G String (repeat, most definitely repeat).

Entry #3: "The Diving Pool: Three Novellas"

2008-02-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

"...I don't really understand couples at all. They seem like some sort of inexplicable gaseous body to me--a shapeless, coloress, unintelligible thing, trapped in a labratory beaker...And she seems quite peaceful, as if she's wandered off into a deep, cold swamp..."

--from "The Diving Pool"

Ogawa, Yoko. Translated by Stephen Snyder. The Diving Pool: Three Novellas. Picador: New York, 2008.

Genre: Psychological Suspense/Mystery/Japanese Fiction

For Further Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Ogawa

http://www.bookforum.com/inprint/014_05/2073

Subjects & Themes: manipulation; mental torture; inexplicable rage; reality vs. dream; hallucination; secrets; confusion & control; discontent; instanity & emotional break-downs; nothingness; interior & exterior storms; nothingness & the notion of the great abyss; alienation & the elusiveness of memory; the complex dichotomy of our human appetite; and life's enigma.

Reading Reaction:

In a word: weirdo-rama. Beyond that, thoroughly creeped out, yet equally fascinated. The author's writing style is deceptively simple (makes one wonder how it reads in its native Japanese) and before you know it, you've become nsnared in one enticingly abysmal realm...But, don't be turned off, for I was impressed enough to convince my library's adult services head to add it to our collection.

Suggested Read-a-Likes (otherwise known as more seriously disturbing reads for the wanna-be seriously disturbed):

Blindness by Giovanni Pontiero (1997).
Ghostwritten: A Novel by David Mitchell (2000).
In the Cut: A Novel by Susanna Moore (1995).
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman (2002).
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (1946).
Misery by Stephen King (1987).

Suggested Related Reads (more murder, mayhem, & madness--in Japan):

All She Was Worth by Miyabe Miyuki (1996).
The Bride's Kimono by Sujata Massey (2001).
Ring by Koji Suzuki (2002).
The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi (1998).
Wind-up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami (1997).
The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe (1964).

Musical Accompaniment: Enya (the darker stuff). Or, if hankering for a heavy vibe, try So Many People by Neurosonic. It, too, takes some serious deciphering.

Entry 2: "The House of Paper"

2008-02-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

"Books change people's destinies" -- from The House of Paper

Dominguez, Carlos Maria. The House of Paper. Orlando: Harcourt, 2005.

Genre: Contemporary (International) Fiction [and, arguably, adult fable/modern parable].

For brief author bio., visit http://www.pen.org/author.php/prmAID/28

Subjects & Themes: academia; bibliomania; loneliness vs. aloneness; missing persons; sex; human relations; authentic vs. pseudo friendships; inward journeys & outward travels; language vs. reality; gluttony & greed; need for fulfillment; history; life's vocation; time for contemplation.

(My) Reading Reaction:

Dominguez had me snickering from the get go, because, let's face it, we bibliophiles can get a little hoity toity when it comes to the (questionably) artificial intelligence spawned via our literary loves. We know it. We revel in it. So, too, does the abovementioned author. Hence, the beauty of the book. That said, despite it's brevity (A mere 112 pages! Whoopie!) there were times when the story seemed to drag. Then again, maybe I'm just not a fan of the adult fable, preferring instead tales with a bit more meat & a mite more bite than such whimsy is apt to provide. Overall, however, it still earns a thumb's up--at least in my book. For, the writer knows his craft & he wields his weapons well. And, as for Jon Stewart-esque mockery...What can I say? I'm a fan.

Suggested Read a Likes (if you're bonkers for books & the like--or otherwise obsessed):

The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Grueber (2007).
The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster (2002).
The Scroll of Seduction by Giocanda Belli (2006).
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (2004).
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield (2006).
Zahir: A Novel of Obsession by Paulo Coelho (2005).

Suggested Related Reads (if you're somewhat bookish, slightly bonkers, &/ or like to up the ante with a little intrigue...):

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad (2003).
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (2005).
How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Wood (2004).
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2005).
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco (2004).
Night of the Radishes by Sandra Benitez (2003).

Musical Accompaniment: Beck's Loser (repeat only if in the mood for additional self-flagellation).

Literary Itinerary (aka: My Reading Map), Entry 1: "Becoming Abigail"

2008-02-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

"A human being alone is a thing more sad than any lost animal, and nothing destroys the soul quite like aloneness." -- from Becoming Abigail

Abani, Chris. Becoming Abigail. New York: Turnaround, 2006.

Genre: Contemporary (International) Fiction

Subjects & Themes: obsession (danger of); loneliness/isolation; self-discovery vs. self-destruction; search for home; family, love, & loss; ties that bind, ties that break; history; oppression; racism, sexism, & rape; power vs. subjugation; hope; and, the thwarted attempt to come-of-age.

"I cannot in good conscience recommend Chris Abani's "Becoming Abigail" without providing the potential reader with due warning: The experience will leave you ravaged, and you'll never again question the power of words to move and sway. Years from now, you may not remember the precise nature of the story (if it be imprinted upon you at all) but you will most definitely recall the saccharine taste it left dormant in your mouth, the inescapable after-taste of a bittersweet emotional eclipse...Becoming Abigail defies description and opposes literary categorization; it exists without beginning, merely with a definitive end. It is a short body of work with passages so painful they require a speed read--like ripping off a band-aid. It is fragmented thoughts that unite in cohesive whole...Becoming Abigail contradicts all logic, yet somehow it rings truer than anything I've ever read...It is a literary experience as it should be

--so good, it hurts."

**Review excerpt courtesy of The Madison Times, July 28-August 3, 2006, by Anna Taylor (that'd be me) provided as means of sharing my immediate reaction to the abovesaid novella.

Other Books by Abani:

Masters of the Board, 1985.
Graceland, 2004.
The Virgin of Flames, 2007.
Song for Night, 2007.

Poetry:

Kalakuta, 2000.
Daphne's Lot, 2002.
Dog Woman, 2004.
Hands Washing Water, 2006.

Author Website: http://www.chrisabani.com/

Suggested Related Reads (if you fancy another African setting):

Skinner's Drift: A Novel by Lisa Fugard (2006).
Beasts of No Nation: A Novel by Uzodinma Iweala (2005).
Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (1977).
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1904).
The Madonna of Excelsior by Zakes Mda (2004).

Suggested Read a Likes (if you crave a sadly hopeful & hushed ominous aura w/ flawed, but strong central characters):

Veronica by Mary Gaitskill (2005).
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson (1993).
The Awakening by Kate Chopin (1932).
The Lover by Marguerite Duras (1984).
The Hours by Michael Cunningham (1998).
A Gesture Life by Chang-rae Lee (1999).

Recommended Background Music: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata--on repeat.

"Take Two"

2008-02-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

Turns out my final hurrah wasn't so much finale as an extended hiatus. Per (a new) professorial request, we shall now turn our attention to the wonderful world of Reader's Advisory--already a personal passion (some might say compulsion) so it'll be interesting to see how this all turns out. Please note: fellow bibliophiles, you are welcome here!

That said, instructions from the higher-ups are to create & utilize the Reader's Map format. Alas, 'til last week, I'd heard hide nor hare of such a contraption...A slight kink in the plan? That would be my own personal brand of proven spatial dyslexia. What does this mean? Well, it means many things (obviously), a number of which even I myself remain not privy. However, it is certainly safe to assume that the process shall be one of trial & error, continued evolution, involve a lot of tinkering, and probably more than a few "Oops!"

Oh, yeah, it will also be linear and literary.

(Kind of like Nancy Pearl's Book Lust @ http://booklust.wetpaint.com/page/Reading+Itineraries and

Maureen O'Connor's @ http://wordsworthyreadingpaths.pbwiki.com/
but nearly so professional, nor so cool!) :)

In other words, no flashy graphics and no flow-charts--just simple, straight-up prose.

At any rate, welcome to my world--a humble abode where simplicity is key, books are the bomb, and we're more than happy to let the words speak for themselves...

So, let the fun begin, shall we--and feel free to supply 2 cents if ever it strikes your fancy.

A "picture" of me, in case you're curious

2008-02-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95269263@N00/2144267714/

"Every work of art is an uncommitted crime." -- Theodor Adorno

Proof positive that you can meet a lot of interesting cats within the walls of your local library. (FYI: A reference to the artist, not my days-gone-by 20 something self).

Last Hurrah (for now)

2007-12-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma. ~Eartha Kitt

Despite the fact that I've sincerely enjoyed this semester, and significantly benefited from my fellow learned/learning librarians'-in-arms (i.e. why I prefer coke over pepsi--high octane!), I'm almost pathetically ecstatic about the fact that it's almost over that I'm ashamed to admit it. The best part? No need for an alarm clock on the 'morrow, for there is no noise more sheer horrific. That said, as with our dear abovementioned Eartha (such a deliciously funky name) rest assured, the brief hiatus means not that I shall shut down thee brain, but will rather keep reading the paper (and, praise the stars, a few unassigned novels while I'm at it!) despite the fact that it's often rather depressing; and, who knows, maybe I'll even venure to turn on the boob-tube, & see what all this reality television business is about. (Ok, probably not, but I might try to catch something--I wonder if Reading Rainbow every airs at night? Guess I'll have to use those Google skills to find out...). If nothing else, I'm quite confident that my reference patrons will keep me on my toes, and having played in the stacks today, I've got a few fun titles to share, straight from the Sun Praire Public Library selection. So, here goes...

Today's Top 10 (Print) Reference Resources (in no particular order)

Bloodletters and Bad Men (the name says it all)

Chases Calendar of Events

Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (a word whores heavem)

Encyclopedia of Evolution

Merriam-Webster Children's Dicitonary (photos & friendly font!)

Books Kids Will Sit Still For (too cute--wonder if it's true?)

Book Lust (I have to buy her action figure one of these days...)

The Shorter Routeledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (how handy--I'm short too!)

The Encyclopedia of Cats (just call me the crazy cat lady--you wounldn't be the first)

Guiness Book of World Records ("People are strange...." and so, so interesting)

Now, I know I all but promised a top ten picture books for your reading pleasure, but given the nature of this course, a reference related list seemed more befitting for this here last hurrah. However, so as not to leave you entirely gyped, a few faves that pop to tired mind, include: Fancy Nancy, Seventeen Things I'm Not Allowed To Do Anymore, Let's Get a Pup!, The Krazees, Big Al and Shrimpy, Our Tree Named Steve, The Next Place, Mrs. Crump's Cat, everything and anything ever written by Jacqueline Woodson, and gosh, now that I'm thinking about it, I could continue on indefinitely--picture books are the bomb! Thus, I leave you with an insider's tip, nothing--and I mean nothing!--cures a case of the grumps quite like taking the time to read one aloud. Give it a whirl sometime; I guarantee you'll be glad that you did.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Top Ten #2

2007-12-10T09:19:00.001-08:00

"When I look back, I am so impressed againwith the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense ofmyself in the world, I would do that again by reading,just as I did when I was young."

~ Maya Angelou ~

And, now, since I'm a Young Adult Librarian, it only seems fitting that I should take it upon myself to list a few of my faves from the YA Collection. If that's "cheating," so be it! Maybe I'll have to do picture books next...This is fun!

** Teen Librarian's Top Ten YA Reads (Besides Twilight--too easy--it's everyone's favorite!) **
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
Incantation by Alice Hoffman
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
Dairy Queen: A Novel by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Totally Joe by James Howe
Peak by Roland Smith
The Land by Mildred D. Taylor

Top Ten

2007-12-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

"Curiosity is, in great minds, the first passion and the last." -- Samuel Johnson

As evident by the date of my last entry, I have posted in ages. Apart from password conundrums, I really have no excuse, save a rathered harried schedule. For this, I extend my heartfelt apologies, as well as my vow to continue dabbling the blogspot world long after this particular course be done.

And, now, on to tonight's agenda. Thanks to recent discussions regarding the infamous "Top Ten," I've been reminded of just how much I love lists. In fact, within certain circles, I'm likewise known as one of those "list people." The plan? To reinvigorate my list making days of old, starting right now...

10 Books That Have Shattered My Illusions--or at least made me want to be a better writer:

Native Son (Richard Wright)

Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon)

Becoming Abigail (Chris Abani)

Petals of Blood (Ngugi wa Thiong'o)

The Fire Next Time (James Baldwin)

The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion)

A Gesture Life (Chang-rae Lee)

Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)

Kafka on the Shore (Murakami Haruki)

Dry (Augusten Burroughs)

Only one woman?! Sheesh...doesn't seem right, especially as I adore the feminine voice. Then again, maybe because it speaks to me in a language I intuitively understand, I'm more often forced to step outside myself when I enter the other chromosomal domain? Interesting question to ponder

Stay tuned for the next installment, and if you're bored in the meantime, check out:

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en

It should keep you plenty busy.

I dig it, I so dig it.

2007-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Everybody sucks but me." -- Some Random Guy

Please Note: The abovementioned quote does not illustrate my feelings regarding the world, persay. It does, however, tickle my fancy to no end. Came across a fellow UW student holding a brazenly large billboard that made this announcement, which resulted in my first smile of the day. For, how I do appreciate arrogance when cleverly done. His reward? A thumbs up & a hearty salute. What does this have to do with librarianship, you ask? Absolutely nada, save that I was on my way to Collection Development, and I had to squelch the giggles throughout class everytime it popped into mind. The sheer audacity, I dig it. Were I only so bold...

Seek Inspiration and Ye Shall Find

2007-11-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

"Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life." -- Mortimer Adler

I've been feeling a little funky lately. Could be the change in season and frustratingly shortened days, a midsemester rut, or even an unfriendly hormonal surge. Can't say for sure, but it's been a bit on the annoying side. Who, after all, likes to be crabby? Especially when sitting at the reference desk when confronted by all types of people with unique needs out of the blue? Not a good place to feel edgy. Luckily, it wasn't anything that a good private vent to my co-workers (not about patrons, just the sensation of icks!), a few hours of yoga, & some chat time with my favorite (ok, my only) brothers couldn't cure. The icing on the cake, however, was an article I read last night in this months O Magazine. And, yes, I admitted that outloud. I read Oprah's magazine. I even have a subscription. As a woman, I can appreciate a fellow gals rise to the top--espeically, at least so far as I know, she didn't squoosh anyone on the ride there. Besides, I get a good snicker out of Dr. Phil, as well as the monthly "Gotta Have It" column that vastly exceeds any budget I'll ever see. Yet, I seriously dig the Reading Room section, & give kudos to Ms. O for not only recognizing the value of literature, but also going the extra mile to spread the word. Concluding the section this month was an article related to none other than librarianship--librarianship of the most admirable kind. If you can get your hands on a copy, see page 274 for an article on Somalia's traveling librarian; a man who twice monthly delivers boxes of books via camel back to children dispersed throughout the African bush. How's that for inspirational? I'd call it dedication of the most admirable & life-affirming kind. Certainly, if he can do that, I can find it in myself to make it to winter break with a sincere smile upon my face.

And, speaking of Christmas, I just had a thought--a donation to the camel library would make a pretty nifty gift for someone. I've an inkling there are a few other souls out there who may fancy the notion nearly as much as I. If you're one of them & want to learn more, check out the following webiste: http://camelbookdrive.wordpress.com. It's pretty cool...

Reference Psychology

2007-11-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

"While you are engaging in the act of giving, you should do so with great happiness and radiance on your face. One should practice giving with mental uprightness."

--the Dalai Lama

(If anyone other than the Dalai Lama were to say this, it would, I fear, sound corny, even trite. Yet, there's more than a grain of truth to be found in his words; it's lovely--and he's the Dalai Lama--the archetype role model for compassionate living. So there. :)

I've been working the reference desk for a little while now (since roughly mid-June) and I'm finally beginning to feel as though I'm coming into my own. Granted, I know next to nothing in the grand scheme of things & have loads left to learn (my aim being to never stop--forcibly shutting down the mind is akin to being dead, in my humble opinion) but I've the sensation of being home. Considering the fact that technically, I'm not even a "real" reference librarian, but rather a teen librarian who happens to staff the desk a good chunk 'o time, I think that's pretty cool. In fact, I like having such diverse job repsonsibilities--keeps me fresh, well-informed, & exposed to so many very different things. For example, just this week, I helped a first time cat owner learn about the special needs of her highly energetic (but loving) feral kitten. (Proof positive that it pays to be the "crazy cat lay") while later that same day a young child taught me what a meerkat is. Turns out, it's got nothing whatsoever to do with a cat, despite the phonetics of the name.

The biggest perk of my increased comfort--the realization that my rather divergent path to librarianship (all those once feared "pointless" degress & seemingly unusual experiences)--combined with my in-the-works professional development skills enable me to really help people. Also evident is the fact that it faciliatates the process of "making that connection." Patrons asking for me by name, stopping by just to say hello; high school kids keeping me abreast of how they did on that assignment, which speech is next; parents asking for my input...Though not necessarily affirmation of a job done perfectly on my part (always room for improvement!) yet it let's me know that I met their needs in some way--even if in no other capactiy than having validated their need was important. Never fails to make my day, and it's so, so cool to know that I've finally discoered a niche, custom made, just for me.

Etc.

2007-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

"As marvelous as the stars is the mind of the person who studies them."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, now there's a man, arguably (and in spite of rumored human fallacy) of infinite vision. Such is both humbling as well as comforting, as I sit here, home sick for the day; essentially rendered useless, and admittedly irritated with the whole scenario. I'll spare you the details, but suffice to say, drugs are not my friend--a certain family of antibiotics that is, lest you get the wrong impression.

Adverse reactions, it seems, are the theme of the day within my humble abode, for I just read an aricle for a class that severly offended my professional sensiblities. Once again, I'll spare you the details, and, out of courtesy, I'll refrain from naming any names. However, I'll give you the gist--it was written by a (librarian!) author who vehemently argued that libraries should model themselves after big box bookstores & cater to the coffee clutching crew, while purging the facility of frivilous finances, namely degree-wielding reference librarians. Who needs 'em, he says, most "patrons wouldn't notice the difference."

Hmm..

I wonder what the people whom I helped last night would make of that? Especially when I can only recall one scenario in which an individual required assistance locating nothing more than a specific title. For, although I can't deny that there are certainly times while at the desk that my research prowess proves unnecessary (or not to be such a "prowess" after all) it's the libraries all-encompassing capacity that renders it so invaluable. Ideally, it is a place of education as well as fun--and one that is open to all. And, while I can't say I've ever received poor service at a big box bookstore (I've found most under-paid staff persons to be be surprisingly pleasant) such entities do seem to be a watering hole for suburban Whites with spare time on their hands.

Call me jaded, tell me I'm wrong. Perhaps I am mistaken. To each their own. Big box bookstores have their place; so, too, do libraries--even when equipped with we apparently overpaid reference geeks. If need be, I can learn to make coffee. Whatever. But, please, let us at least appreciate the distinction.

rants, raves, and the sheerly ridiculous

2007-10-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

"I personally believe we develop language because of our deep need to complain."

- Jane Wagner

Ridiculous Rant: On my way to work everyday, I drive past a local eatery(an eatery that shall remain nameless in a modest stab at decency--best to wield one's fork gently) with a sign posted out front that reads, "Ciao down at ...". I'm almost ashamed to admit that it never fails to irritate the bejesus out of me, and yet it does. Makes me feel like a member of the grammar police, a fact which is comical in and of itself, considering that when it comes to puncuation, I much to prefer to follow my own rule book. Used to drive some of my English profs nuts. Guess what goes around, comes around, eh?

Alas, I'm often forced to fill out order cards for music CD's with titles that are rather creative takes on standard language. Intentionally illiteracy is a trend, or so it seems. Needless to say it also drives me bonkers. Still, nothing trips my trigger quite like the power to order materials for the library's teen collection. Talk about fun research. And today, I had the added bonus of discovering that I had more green in my account than I'd thought, so I get the joy of purchasing anew before the fiscal years bleeps out.

Journals such as VOYA and School Library Journal are amazingly insightful sources of information, but my personal favorites are the teens themselves. There's no audience better than the intended to tell ya what's good, and there are two sites in particular that I've had especially good luck with:

http://www.teenreads.com and http://www.flamingnet.com

Both are incredibly user friendly as well as a grand-old time to surf, but what's really cool is how well the teen reviewers write--they often prove as equally versed as their professional peers, if not more so. As a behind-the-scenes writer (& teen fan) I think that's the bomb.

Oh, and one more site that I highly recommend is http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/ if you're ever in the mood to whip a batch of 'edible eyeballs,' which I include in honor of tomorrow's baking date with my little sister. It's a great place to visit if you're the kid-friendly sort.

(Or, enjoy ingesting edibles that resemble eyeballs).

Library Skills for the Masses?

2007-09-27T09:01:00.001-07:00

"To imagine yourself as someone else is to waste who you are." -- Anonymous

Yesterday, while waiting in line at the grocery store, a new periodical caught my eye. Strategical placed amidst the latest sensational celebrity "news" (Spears--an unfit mother?! Pregnant Nichole's boyfriend cheats?! Angie, pregnant again?!) the cover's softly muted tones (& demure looking anonymous blonde) all but promised an oasis of calm...

Called, simply, "Organize," it's a magazine "dedicated to solely help people solve their organizational needs," the articles & advertisements offering an assortment of tools to help each of us evolve into the organized person we've long dreamed to be. A few highlights from this month's issue include a two page article on "Navigating the Superhighway of information,"(lots of links), tips on how to clean out that garage (should be lucky enough to have one), as well as a blurb that advocates the perks of subscribing to an RSS feed. (I've been meaning to get around to it...). Oh, and lest I forget, there's also a handy-dandy discussion of "A+" study spaces. Should anyone take a peek at either my work desk or home office they'd realize that I ought to subscribe indeed.

My first thought? Corny as all get out! I was, however, attempted to purchase one for curiousities sake--if not posterities, given the demise reate of new publications--but at $3.99 a pop, I'm inclined to spend my dollars elsewhere. Still, the idea's growing on me...As a woman with a solid track record for losing both her mental notes and hand-written ones (marbles?) I'm a poster child for the scatter-brained, but well-intentioned audience their aiming for.

(Note: The desks of my co-workers are as haphazard as mine. A sign that there's an awful lot of information out there to know for those of us who are supposed to be-in-the-know?).

My apologies...

2007-09-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

Shouldn't have messed with the color on that last post. A little hard to read. Sorry! :)

Random Factness (Inquisitive Minds Want to Know?)

2007-09-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a book I became privvy to this week, I'm compelled to begin with a few thoughts by persons far wiser than...

"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for us to grow sharper."

-- Eden Phillpotts

"It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry."

-- Albert Einstein

"The dumbest people I know are the people who know it all." -- Malcolm Forbes

Yet, despite all evidence to the contrary, I remain avidly enamoured with the pursuit of knowledge. Nothing beats the feeling of learning something new, no matter how seemingly trivial. So, because I'm feeling generous, thought I'd toss a few bits of random factness your way...

It's against the law to drive a motorboat down the street in Breton, Alabama.
The longest word in the English language to be typed solely with the left hand? Stewardesses
Coke (the soft drink) was initially green.
Struggling to come up with a word that rhymes with purple? Well, don't strain you're brain--you can't!
By the time we die, each of us has ingested approximately 8 spiders (ok, so we've heard this one before, but it's just disgusting enough to warrant further mention).
And, since we're on the subject of nutrition, swallowed gum does not sit in your stomach for seven long years--doing so, however, does feel a little weird.

Granted, I learn a lot more about life, the library, library life (and my role in it) while on the job and at school; so much so, in fact, that it sometimes feels as though I've got information bursting forth from the ears, and I can't be sure that I'm processing it all in equal measure. Still, it's pretty cool. Would I soon come to understand the nature of cataloging (the details! the details!) I'd be one happy camper. Alas, both the dewey decimal system and the construction MARC coding remain as elusive as algebra. Concrete thinking, it seems, defies me, and thus far (to borrow from Ophrah) the one thing that I know for sure is that I'm ardently anti-acronym.

Recommended Reading: The World As I See It by Albert Einstein. Cool hair. Cool dude.

Belated Addendum

2007-09-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

"It's a small world after all..." -- Walt Disney (or some other fellow in that camp)

Kikuyu (or Gikuyu)
Kenya's largest ethnic group, a traditionally agricultural people which, at present, has many members that contribute to an active online community, accessible via the worldwide web.

(It seems the spaces between us truly are shrinking--at least in some ways. An aspect of too-much-technology I can wholeheartedly appreciate).

Egads! Exhaustion, & Elephants, of course.

2007-09-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

"When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers." -- Kikuyu Proverb

I've never heard of the Kikuyu until now (I like the ring of the name though, & no doubt I'll be polishing those old reference skills by looking into shortly) nor does the aforementioned quote have anything to do what's on my mind; however, when I came across it today, I found it enticing enough to share. It's kind of funny--until you think about what it really means...

And, speaking of grass, the grass truly is greener on the other side. Over the summer, I managed to keep myself busy with busy work (& rather successfully I might add) while secretly longing to be forced to consistently use my brain again. (aka: school). It's a little too easy to be slack in an apt. that's 100+ degrees. I mean, I knew I'd be busy trying to juggle four grad classes and work, but it didn't sound too bad. It's not. Not bad that is. That much I admist, lest I prove myself the whiner that I am. There's just so much--so much to learn--and seemingly not enough time. The world of information is just too darn big. Better than small, true enough. Take, for example, my current endeavor at work. I'm in the midst of designing our library's first ever Teen Advisory Board, brainstorm feasible programs, & manage the YA collection while overseeing the reference desk, all of which is absolutely new to me. I revel in it, love it all (& readily admit that it has the potential to detract from homework); I'm also full of admiration for the people out there who manage to do so with gusto everyday. Thus, I must ask: Any tips on how as to get my bearings, manage one's time in order to achieve "mission accomplished," at least for the moment, and still step outside for a whiff of fresh air? Words of wisdom would be most appreciated.

Please forgive the many probable typos. The advanced hour of the day has dispelled any desire to proof. Ahh...the beauty of a blog...a person's own little realm of the world; so long as they momentarily pretend there's not a professor out somewhere out there reading this. :)

Greetings & Salutations

2007-09-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day:

"Let us read and let us dance--two amusements that will never harm the world." - Voltaire

I begin with a confession...

This is my first blog--ever. Most people refer to my by my given name, Anna, (though, no doubt, I've been referred to by others a time or two), & I'm currently in the process of wrapping up what my parents hope will be my final degree/year of graduate school. This particular endeavor is an offshoot of that--an optional requirement for reference course before I'll be awarded that sought after MLS degree--I figured there's no time like the present to teach myself the ropes. In lifetimes past, I've embarked on various other professions, but always returned to college with no clear view of the future truly in mind. Finally, a few friends said, "Enough already, become a professor--or a librarian. (Sidenote: Apparently, I look like one, courtesy of one beaded glasses chain). Thus, as the saying goes, a light clicked on, and here I am--a newly minted teen librarian who totally digs her new digs at the refernce desk. Turns out, it is possible to earn a living (however humble) while endlessly educating oneself.

Who woulda thunk? :)

As decreed, future posts shall be more (or less) related to the field of librarianship. However, a disclaimer: I'm bound to stray off topic, so consider yourself forewarned. That said, you can also expect the ocassional titlating quote, along with not so subtle suggestions pertaining to titles that you simply must, must read. :)