Librarian to the Highest Bidder

Yesterday I had my "lunch with a librarian" date with Harry to discuss Everything is Illuminated (book and movie). We had a nice time. I'm glad we got this over with, not because I was dreading lunch, but because books are starting to pile up again. On Saturday I arrived at work to find a DHL envelope on my desk indicating an assignment from LJ. Curiously, the due date on the enclosed form letter was July 13. Suspecting an error I pulled the shipping sheet out of the front pocket and found it dated 6/28/07. Had DHL lost the package or had someone at LJ meant to write July 23 on the letter? I immediately dashed off an email to my editor. Before tackling this new book I still needed to finish my book discussion book by Wednesday and I was 300 pages shy and I haven't cracked the spine on In Cold Blood for the Librarian Boulevard Book Discussion Blog. Turns out, DHL did lose the book but Wilda is giving me until the 23rd. On the plus side, I reviewed the author's first novel and found it highly readable so if this second novel is as good as the first, I should be able to steam through it. The cool part is that the publicity that accompanied the advanced reader's copy includes my blurb about the first book, which also made it to the paperback. So...Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die! on Wednesday, Raymond Khoury's second novel (The Sanctuary) due Monday, start In Cold Blood, then A French Country Murder for next month's book discussion.

The Highest Tide

Last week I held my June book discussion. The book was Jim Lynch's The Highest Tide. We had a great book discussion with 9 in attendance. That has to be a record for me for a non-One Book One Community event. The neat thing about my small but devoted group is that that they are not seasonal and seem to be growing. Several of my members are from Philadelphia, my favorite city, my grandmother's hometown, and my point of emigration to Florida. I'm originally from New Jersey (the nice part) and some of my members are from New Jersey. In fact, one couple is from my hometown...Small world! Recently we have been joined by our Head of Circ. who is finishing library school and wishes to experience a book discussion. Jane, like me, an R.N., has a connection to the Princeton/Philly area. Each month, invariably at some point during the book discussion we veer off course and start talking about New Jersey or Philly and where certain landmarks were when. During The Highest Tide we all contributed stories of visiting the beach, some Ft. Myers Beach before it was developed (two locals in my group), and some the Jersey Shore. I was glad I went shelling with my friend, Ann, as part of my 43 Things because it helped me appreciate the book. I had the best time this month.

Returning from Vacation

I am freshly returned from a glorious Mexican vacation. Right before I left, I read my June book discussion book, The Highest Tide. Quite an interesting book, especially given my recent shelling experiences. Also before I left, one of my loyal book discussion patrons called me to request that I read (and view the film) Everything is Illuminated because he would like to have a personal book discussion session with me about it. He offered to take me to lunch because I always provide treats during my monthly adult book discussions. This offer made me think of two things. The first was that when I was a freshman in high school I scheduled a special meeting with my English/Latin teacher to discuss Faulkner's As I Lay Dying. I had decided to read it as my foray into Faulkner and didn't get it so I asked Mrs. Beck to meet with me to discuss it. Mrs. Beck was a Wellesley graduate, had a house on Nantucket, a basket that she called "Corbula" (Latin for basket) that she carried her stuff in, a pen named "The Red Slasher," and a cat who sat on our papers - preferring some over others. She was formidable and liked the word "foibles." I took 2 years of Latin because my mother said, "of course you will take Latin!" followed by "there's no point to having only 1 year of Latin!" I'm glad her logic stopped there. When Harry asked for his private session, suddenly, I became Mrs. Beck. The second thing I thought of was those fundraisers where dates with eligible escorts are auctioned off to the highest bidders. This struck me as a funny twist...pimping oneself out for book discussions.

While I was away I was able to read 4 books for me. Until LJ comes calling again and I begin my July book discussion book, Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die, I am reading The Sushi Economy and Rethinking Thin.

New Book Club Blog

This morning I created a new blog for the Librarian Boulevard Book Club. I thought that if we were to give the experiment the best shot at succeeding, we should have a proper forum. The blog format has to be a team blog so that we can all post directly so I will be sending invitations by email to those who might participate. If you wish to participate, you will respond and create a Blogger account if you do not already have one. Of course, participation by comments are still welcome.

Musical Chairs with Books

I have been playing literary musical chairs for a couple of weeks. That is to say, reading as quickly as possible all of the books that are required of me or that I want to read because I never know when I am going to find a DHL envelope on my chair containing a book to review from Library Journal. This week the music finally stopped. I put The Fountainhead on hiatus to read Giraffe: A Novel for my adult book discussion for today's session. When I was ready to return to Rand, sure enough, DHL had delivered. The turnaround time on reading and submitting reviews is 12 days. Fortunately, my editor would have a great career as readers' advisory librarian because the books she sends me are books I would otherwise read. This newest book is the second book in a trilogy and it turns out I read the first book when it came out 10 years ago. For a while I was receiving a book to review each month. That pace was a little hectic. It has been fun, though. My reviews are starting to make it to book jacket covers. Of course, my name isn't there, but I know that "...-Library Journal" means me. When I go to Mexico next month, I'm bringing a stack of books just for me (I emailed my editor to tell her...she recommended a book).

Book Discussion Blogging

The question has come up of how we will actually conduct our book discuss in this format. Of course, I have attempted some research. Libraries have dedicated book discussion blogs that branch off of their Web sites or library/branch blogs. Eventually, our library system may move to that if we prove successful. Individual book clubs also make their own blogs. My guess is that in these situations, the blog is arranged so that everyone is invited to register with administrative privileges so that all comments appear on the front. In our case, only my mine do. I envision a discussion that bounces along at its own jagged pace. I plan to make comments about the book and if someone wants to, then I hope she (or he) will just post a comment whenever and not wait to do it as a reply to mine. We will all notice that a comment has been added and will eagerly read it. Quite honestly...this blog doesn't get too much traffic, so any number in the Comment line is notable :) We can then have a dialogue in the Comments section about a particular issue, as needed. That method may not be ideal, but we can experiment with it for awhile. What do you think?

Busy Week

This past week has been very busy. I have really been enjoying Sally's blog and have, myself, been a multi-tasking reader. The Fountainhead is progressing. I am far enough in to be engrossed by the characters plus I feel as though I am learning a great deal about architecture. According to World Literature Criticism, Rand did extensive research for the novel including working for some time in the office of a famous New York architect. I put The Fountainhead down to start Giraffe: A Novel, my June book discussion book. It is a work of fiction based on the true story of the 1975 slaughter, by Czech secret police, of the largest captive population of giraffes in the world. The book begins with the birth of one of the giraffes told from the giraffe's perspective. Very unusual. I have also just started Lee Iacocca's new book, Where Have All The Leader's Gone? His book is a scathing assault on the current administration, one he acknowledges to have initially supported, and what other leaders of our time represent.

On another note...turns out the letter "N" was realllllly, realllllly hard. We only had 41 bands and that included checking MP3 players and including Swedish Christian metal band "Narnia," which was found by guessing a band with that name might exist. I could not have imagined such a precise genre, however. This week..."F."