Archives for September 2016

September 26, 2016

The National Book Festival: A First-Timer’s Takeaways

A Little Free Library assembled in real time!

Before this weekend, whenever anyone brought up the Library of Congress National Book Festival, I would sheepishly have to admit I’d never been. Looks of shock and disbelief were the usual response, and I’d give a lame spiel about not wanting to brave the large crowds on the National Mall in extreme heat or rain. Time and time again, I would vow to go the following year, and this past Saturday, I finally came through.

The Library of Congress moved the festival to the Washington Convention Center last year and general consensus was that it worked much better in the new venue. Unaffected by weather, easier to navigate — the whole event was more organized and enjoyable. With most of my excuses eliminated by the location change, I felt it my duty as a reader and librarian to set my agoraphobic tendencies aside and get my bookish butt to the festival.

Kate Beaton took audience guidance as she drew live onstage.

There was a hiccup right when arrived — as soon as I got to the Convention Center, I got in line to see Colson Whitehead, but found out 15 minutes later that I was waiting to see Kristin Hannah — but overall, it was a great time. I saw mostly children’s authors (Melissa Sweet, Kate Beaton, and Aaron Becker) but I did squeeze in Justin Cronin, author of The Passage trilogy, just to remind myself that I am, in fact, an adult. I also entered a drawing for a Little Free Library (my fingers are crossed!) and talked the info booth folks to give me way more posters than they should have. Overall, I deem the experience a success!

Here are a few of my takeaways for anyone interested in going next year:

Before getting in line, ask staff at the stage entrance if it’s for the author you actually want to see.
Wear good walking the shoes. The Convention Center is huge and the festival spans all three buildings.
Bring only one bag. Security is tight and guards search bags any time you exit one building and enter another.
Get in line for popular authors at least half an hour before their stage time.
Do you research ahead of time by looking at the author schedule and venue map on the festival website. Choose the author you want to see during each time block along with a couple back-ups, keeping in mind where all the stages are in relation to each other.
Take the Metro (Green Line to Mt. Vernon stop). For once, the train ran smoothly and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the escalators lead right to one of the Convention Center’s entrances
Download the festival app. I didn’t realize there was an app until I got there, but now that I’ve fooled around with it a bit, I think it would have been really useful.
Give the jerk chicken in the food court a taste. It was unexpectedly spicy and delicious!

Have you’ve been to the National Book Festival? Leave tips or advice for future attendees in the comments below!

September 24, 2016

Literary Linking: September 19 – 23

My favorite bookish links from the week of September 19 – 23:

The Best Cities for Book Lovers
“A data-driven approach to measuring which cities were the best for book lovers.”

Why Do Books Publish on Tuesdays?
New books almost always pub on Tuesday. But why? Of all the anonymous days of the week, Tuesday is the most anonymous. It’s not the beginning of a long, dreary week, nor is it the end. It’s not yet hump day, seldom payday, rarely a holiday … Still, books have pubbed on Tuesdays.”

Grammar Nerds Can Now Correct People’s iOS Messages
“If you’re someone who hates misused apostrophes in text messages, someone has made an iPhone app for you: Grammar Snob lets you overlay corrections on top of people’s texts and send them back.”

Fictitious Dishes: Elegant and Imaginative Photographs of Meals from Famous Literature
“Food and literature have a long and arduous relationship … But nowhere does that relationship come alive more vividly and enchantingly than in Fictitious Dishes: An Album of Literature’s Most Memorable Meals.”

Brainy and Brave: A Salute to Hermione Granger
“There can only ever be one Hermione, but these other brainy, brave heroines from young-adult and middle-grade fiction remind us of her in some important ways.”

September 19, 2016

Literary Happy Hour: Beer and Picture Book Edition!

When I get home from a long day at work (I’m a children’s librarian, so that means eight plus hours of kids, books and overall awesomeness), there’s nothing better than cracking open a nice cold brew. While I’m sipping, I might chat with my husband or watch a little TV to unwind. I’ll often want to read, but even with just a little alcohol flowing through my system, I have a very difficult time concentrating on anything written above a second-grade level. So what do I do? Read picture books, of course! Beers and books go together perfectly when the ratio of words to page-space is nice and big. Here are some of my favorite pairings:

Rogue Sriracha Stout — ***Dragons Love Tacos*, by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri**

As the title suggests, dragons have a penchant for tacos, but give them salsa to go with it and you’re in for an incendiary surprise. Since I put Sriracha on almost everything I consume, Rogue’s Sriracha Stout seemed like a logical accompaniment for this hilarious taco-licious book. When the beer first hits the palate, it tastes like a traditional stout – strong espresso and dark chocolate flavors – but a few seconds later, the spicy Huy Fong Sriracha flavors surface and may make you feel like one of Rubin’s fire-breathing dragons. The beer’s 750 ml bottle looks nearly identical to the iconic green-topped rooster sauce container and is the perfect picture book condiment.

Victory Brewing Co. Golden Monkey Ale — ***Caps for Sale*, written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina**

Golden Monkey Ale is my absolute favorite beer and I would recommend it for any and all activities, but it pairs especially well with a reading of Caps for Sale. Similar to the cap-stealing monkeys in the book, Golden Monkey has a tricky nature. It is a Belgian-style tripel ale, which means it is brewed with three times the malt as typical Belgian ales and is known for high ABV levels. When brewed well (as Golden Monkey is), the alcohol flavor is well-hidden, creating a deceptively potent potable. A classic monkey-see-monkey-do denouement to Caps for Sale saves the peddler protagonist from losing all his wares, and with its spicy smooth finish, this tripel also delivers a happy ending.

Full Sail Session Premium Lager — ***The Princess & the Pony*, written and illustrated by Kate Beaton**

Need a fat, flatulent pony in your life? (You know you do!) Then give Kate Beaton’s The Princess & the Pony a read. Princess Pinecone desperately wants a gallant steed to help her become a warrior princess, but when her parents give her a chubby pony with a gas problem, she’s not sure she’ll ever win a battle with him at her side. I’ll admit the primary reason I chose Full Sail Brewing Company’s Session Lager as this book’s pairing is because its short, stout bottle reminded me of the pony’s physical attributes, but Session Lager’s numerous medals from the World Beer Championships make the beer an even more fitting choice. At the end of the book, the pony is instrumental in winning a great battle for Princess Pinecone and they take home top prize. This malty lager and incredibly entertaining book are both winners!

Eylsian Dayglow IPA — ***I Really Like Slop!*, written and illustrated Mo Willems**

If you spend a fair amount of time with kids you’ve probably heard, “Don’t yuck my yum,” at the dinner table or in the cafeteria (Adult translation: “Don’t talk smack about my food, especially if you haven’t tried it.”) and it’s the primary theme of the inimitable Mo Willem’s latest Elephant & Piggie installment, I Really Like Slop. In the story, Piggie extols the culinary virtues of “slop” and desperately wants Elephant Gerald to try it. Gerald is a fantastic friend and even though slop isn’t exactly his speed, he gives it taste. Does he like it? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but I was inspired by Gerald’s willingness to take a risk and decided to pair this story with a beer I’d been too chicken to try until now.

The tiger eyes shooting rainbow lasers on the Elysian Dayglow IPA bottle had leered at me from the craft beer shelves of my liquor store for a while, so I gave it a whirl, and I’m so glad I did. Dayglow has a forward hoppiness without being overpowering and a refreshing grapefruit fragrance that would go well with most dishes, possibly even slop. In the spirit of this book, I challenge you to take a walk on the wild side and sample a beer that might be a yuck, but hopefully ends up a yum.

September 17, 2016

Literary Linking: September 12 – 16

My favorite bookish links from the week of September 12 – 16:

Dictionary Fans Might Squee: OED Adds New Words, Because YOLO
“A fusty old tome? Fuhgeddaboudit! The Oxford English Dictionary regularly updates to reflect English’s evolution.”

There’s Something about Airport Bookstores
“Because I follow my own version of the Boy Scout Code as applied to books, “Be prepared with at least one, preferably two more books than you need,” I’ve never had occasion to buy anything from an airport bookstore, and yet it gives me great comfort to know they’re there.”

First Word: The 14th Librarian of Congress
“Carla Hayden discusses her decision to become a librarian and her plans as the new Librarian of Congress.”

Why Roald Dahl Never Sugar-Coated His Stories for Kids
“What Dahl understood is that the most frightening thing for a child is to be lied to, and to know you’re being lied to, because the horrors of the child’s imagination are always capable of conjuring scenarios far more terrifying than the truth.”

19 Secrets Librarians Will Never Tell You
“We don’t shush people all day, TBH.”

September 12, 2016

6 Ways to Squeeze More Reading into Your Crazy Busy Life

When I was in high school dreaming of adulthood, my fantasies generally centered around the freedoms that would come with it. I’d think about living in an amazing apartment, meeting my soul mate, traveling the world… basically, I imagined being one of the ladies from Sex in the City. Amazingly enough, “work-life balance” did not make it into my teenage daydreams, but I’ll be darned, it seems to be one of the absolute biggest challenges that we adults deal with. And if you’re a book nerd like yours truly, you know that fitting recreational reading time into daily life can be difficult.

I wish I could add more hours to your day, but sadly I don’t have Hermione’s time turner. What I can do, however, is share the tricks I use to maintain a steady reading pace, while still getting to all the boring adult-y stuff I need to.

Squeeze in more reading by:

Listening to Audiobooks

Audiobooks are fantastic because they allow for multitasking. Chores, working out, driving — all these activities become infinitely more interesting while listening to an engaging book.

There are two primary sources I use for my audiobooks. The first is Audible, a subsidiary of Amazon that has hundreds of thousands of audio titles available for purchase. Since I have a three-hour commute, I can justify spending $14.95 each month for a subscription that provides one audiobook download and 30% off all additional downloads. If you don’t want to commit to a subscription, you can still buy books individually, but the prices are a tad high.

The second place I get audiobooks is Overdrive, a service offered by public libraries that lets you borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from their digital collections. The best part about Overdrive is that it’s FREE! For those of you unfamiliar with Overdrive, I have an upcoming blog post with info on how to take advantage of your public library’s digital offerings, including step-by-step directions for downloading eBooks and audiobooks.

And for the purists out there who might worry that listening to audiobooks isn’t really reading, fret no more. Audiobooks aren’t “cheating.” CNN says so.

Creating a “To Be Read List” (TBR)

One impediment to reading is not knowing what to pick up next. Avoid this by taking some time to create a TBR. I like to think that I have a pretty good memory, but if I didn’t record the titles I want to read, they would be lost to me forever. Besides the fact that I’m a nerd with a penchant for lists, I love my TBR because as soon as I finish a book, I can choose something new right away and avoid losing reading momentum.

My online TBR creator/reading-tracker of choice is Goodreads, but there are some other options. LibraryThing, Listy, or Booklikes might tickle your fancy, but you could even *gasp* write out a list on paper or on a spreadsheet – so retro!

Choosing Compelling Books

This might seem obvious, but it’s a zillion times easier to finish books that actually interest you. I’ve found that many people try and force themselves to read books they feel they should read instead of reading books they want to read.

If you really want to get more reading done, choose books that entertain you, make you laugh, thrill you, compel you to keep turning those pages. These might be steamy romances, murder-filled suspense novels, or literary fiction – whatever floats your boat. I am giving you permission to give in to your guilty pleasures. Own what you enjoy. It’ll make your reading experience much more enjoyable and make you want to read more.

Joining a Book Club

I am a complete introvert and love spending time alone, but throwing a social element into my reading life is very motivating. Have you ever read a book that’s annoyed the crap out of you or blown your mind, but had no one else to talk to about it? Being in a book club guarantees an audience for whatever griping or gushing you need to get out of your system. Plus, knowing that you’ll be part of a group discussion will push you to finish the assigned book in time for the meeting. Another perk? Wine 🙂

Picking Shorter Books

Now this is a bit of a cheat, but seriously, a short book is still a book, my friends. And just say the word “novella.” Doesn’t it sound sophisticated? Read one of those and you can say you’ve finished a book!

All joking aside, short books are great for keeping reading momentum up. It feels great to finish a book, and once you have one under your belt, what’s to keep you from getting to the last page of more? Just like weight loss, set realistic goals. It’s insane to think about losing 20 pounds in two weeks, and it’s just as crazy to think you could read Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 in the same amount of time. Books like that have the potential to weigh you down (literally!) and prevent you from reading other fantastic titles that will do a better job of moving you forward in your reading goals.

Just a note – I loved 1Q84 but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. All I’m saying is, don’t stick with a book that isn’t doing it for you, especially if the act of holding it up might cause carpal tunnel.

Carrying a Book with You All the Time

I don’t know about you, but I always choose the wrong line at Sam’s Club, and when I do, I’m so grateful to have books on my phone. With today’s technology, it’s so easy to have a book with you at all times. Just get the Kindle or iBooks app, download a few books, and voila, you’ll never be bored in line again! (Of course, non-eBooks do the trick too.) Fill those little pockets of downtime with reading, and you’ll be getting through more books in no time.

Do you have any tips for fitting more reading into the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day? If, so please enlighten us in the comments!

September 10, 2016

Literary Linking: September 5 – 9

My favorite bookish links from the week of September 5 – 9:

Moomins and Tintin are great, but where are new translated children’s books?
“While we readily pick up books from the Anglosphere, a world of children’s literature in other languages is undiscovered because they have not been translated. Let’s fix that.”

The Librarian’s Gift
“For nearly 50 years, Robert Morin ’63 worked as a cataloguer in Dimond Library. He was known to live simply, and few suspected he had quietly amassed a $4 million estate. When he died just over a year ago, he gifted his estate to UNH.”

There Is No Such Thing as the Young Adult Novel
“There are, of course, novels written about teenagers and novels that focus on coming of age, novels that that skirt the subjects of sex and drugs and death or, alternatively, focus on our first experiences of them, what the world feels like when you’re just learning its brightest and darkest corners. But when you try to define the category, it remains slippery and elusive…”

As a Boy, I Was Obsessed With the Baby-Sitters Club Books. I Have No Regrets
The first time I ever saw a Baby-Sitters Club book, I was 7 years old, browsing the spinning racks at the public library near my house. It was Baby-Sitters Club No. 2: Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls…The book called to me on a primal level.”

Meet the Parents Who Won’t Let Their Children Study Literature
“Forcing college kids to ignore the liberal arts won’t help them in a competitive economy…For me, there’s nothing more depressing than meeting incoming freshmen at Mason who have declared themselves as accounting majors.”

September 5, 2016

What Would a Modern-Day Anne Shirley Say?

I’ve been a die-hard Anne of Green Gables fan since elementary school — I devoured the book, watched the movie countless times (oh, Gilbert *sigh*), and was lucky enough to visit Prince Edward Island as a 9-year-old — but hadn’t read it in ages. So, when my dad asked for my help with an Anne-themed presentation he’s giving on a cruise traveling through Nova Scotia and P.E. Island, I was thrilled to help. It was lovely having an excuse to ignore my TBR pile and reread one of my favorite books of all time.

I admit I was a little afraid that I wouldn’t like the book as much this time around, but I needn’t have worried. I loved it all over again and reading it as adult allowed me to truly appreciate Montgomery’s lush language and touching portrayal of an untraditional, but incredibly loving family. I also enjoyed the understated humor more fully as a grown-up reader. Anne is beyond hilarious and I desperately want her to be my BFF, or shall I say BBF (best bosom friend)! This got me thinking: what would it be like having Anne as a close gal pal today? How would she respond to situations that come up in modern daily life?

Using quotes from Miss Shirley herself, here’s what I came up with:

Situation: The Starbucks barista has butchered my name once again. Should I say something?

Anne’s response: YES! The way a name is spelled is of utmost importance.

“When you hear a name pronounced can’t you always see it in your mind, just as if it was printed out? I can; and A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished.”

Situation: A truck has just cut me off and there’s a Trump sticker on its bumper.

Anne’s response: No cursing or angry hand gestures – just utter despair at the current state of U.S. politics and today’s drivers.

“My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes. That’s a sentence I read in a book once, and I say it over to comfort myself whenever I am disappointed in anything.”

Situation: For me, high-waisted jeans = 1980s mom, but they’re what’s in right now. Do I get pair?

Anne’s response: Duh. Following fashion trends, whether it’s puffed sleeves or jeans that come up to your boobs, is a must.

“…I’d rather look ridiculous when everybody else [looks ridiculous] than plain and sensible all by myself.”

Situation: I haven’t finished the most recent season of Game of Thrones, but really want to know how it ends.

Anne’s response: Hurry and up and binge watch. No spoilers!

“Wild horses won’t drag the secret from me … How would wild horses drag a secret from a person anyhow?”

Situation: I have a girlfriend whose boyfriend is super clingy and wants to join us during our Outlander marathon-watching sesh.

Anne’s response: Bleh. This dude needs to learn that sometimes women just want to hang with their girlfriends (and enjoy Jamie’s lovely physique together).

“Young men are well in their place, but it doesn’t do to drag them into everything, does it?”

Do you need Anne’s advice or insight for an issue that’s plaguing you? Post in the comments and I’ll see if my BBF can help you out!

September 3, 2016

Literary Linking: August 29 – September 2

My favorite bookish links from the week of August 29 – September 2:

Food Manga: Where Culture, Conflict And Cooking All Collide
“In Japan, nearly every interest has a manga dedicated to it, whether it’s sports, music or shooting pool. So it’s no wonder that food, which has always been tied to Japan’s cultural identity, has skyrocketed as a genre of manga, which represents about 40 percent of all books published in that country.”

Kwame Alexander on Children’s Books and the Color of Characters
“When we segregate literature, we focus only on mirrors. Certainly, seeing yourself in books is necessary and crucial to the development of identity … but not allowing those same books to serve as windows into the lives of others will most certainly limit imagination and possibility.”

‘Book Ninjas’ Are Hiding Free Books on Melbourne’s Trams, Trains and Buses
“Book ninjas’ have been leaving hundreds of free books – classics, bestsellers and new releases – on Melbourne’s inner city train, tram and bus lines, in a subversive attempt to bring reading back to workers’ commutes.”

Glare of Disdain
Gene Luen Yang, the national ambassador for young people’s literature, writes a comic piece about books’ ability to be both windows into other people’s lives as well as mirrors of our own.

The Furry Faces of Bookselling: Bookstore Pets
“With bookstore companions ranging from cuddly cats and friendly dogs to guinea pigs, birds, and potbellied pigs, indie booksellers around the country foster a sense of warmth and community in their stores while also setting themselves apart.”