Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Escaping Reader's Rut
When I was a Girl Scout, we'd sing a little tune that went
Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver and the other's gold!
Years later, I find that not only are the words true, but they apply to more than real life human friends. They apply to books and other media as well.
Up until a couple of years ago, when I heard “graphic novel,” I pictured the only kind I'd ever seen before-- just a giant comic book, usually involving a man with a tiny waist and huge biceps wearing a cape. Having never been interested in comic books, and considering myself a lover of good literature, I was not interested in reading any graphic novels. Then somebody-- somebody whose taste in books I greatly respected-- handed me a copy of Blankets by Craig Thompson. Here was a graphic novel that didn't involve superheros at all, but told the story of a young man's path to discovering his own beliefs, and of his first love. I gave it a chance, and lo and behold, my love of good literature came to include graphic novels. After Blankets, I found Maus by Art Spiegelman, and more and more titles seemed to come to me the more graphic novels I read. I even found a couple involving superheros that I came to love.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a comfort zone, even in a rut, as far as our consumption of media goes, be it books, movies, or music. It can be compared to sitting in one spot on the couch for too long-- it started out comfy, but after a while it just starts to make you feel stiff and achy and lazy. Sometimes it even takes a conscious effort to get out of it. You might even feel reluctant to get up at all. But the good part is that when it comes to getting out a media rut, you don't have to go it alone. Here at the library, there are always folks at the desk happy to give their recommendations and steer you toward something new and exciting. Stepping outside your comfort zone could lead you to a new favorite.
Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver and the other's gold!
Years later, I find that not only are the words true, but they apply to more than real life human friends. They apply to books and other media as well.
Up until a couple of years ago, when I heard “graphic novel,” I pictured the only kind I'd ever seen before-- just a giant comic book, usually involving a man with a tiny waist and huge biceps wearing a cape. Having never been interested in comic books, and considering myself a lover of good literature, I was not interested in reading any graphic novels. Then somebody-- somebody whose taste in books I greatly respected-- handed me a copy of Blankets by Craig Thompson. Here was a graphic novel that didn't involve superheros at all, but told the story of a young man's path to discovering his own beliefs, and of his first love. I gave it a chance, and lo and behold, my love of good literature came to include graphic novels. After Blankets, I found Maus by Art Spiegelman, and more and more titles seemed to come to me the more graphic novels I read. I even found a couple involving superheros that I came to love.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a comfort zone, even in a rut, as far as our consumption of media goes, be it books, movies, or music. It can be compared to sitting in one spot on the couch for too long-- it started out comfy, but after a while it just starts to make you feel stiff and achy and lazy. Sometimes it even takes a conscious effort to get out of it. You might even feel reluctant to get up at all. But the good part is that when it comes to getting out a media rut, you don't have to go it alone. Here at the library, there are always folks at the desk happy to give their recommendations and steer you toward something new and exciting. Stepping outside your comfort zone could lead you to a new favorite.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Book Lovers Needed
That's the catch-phrase that caught me when I went to check out what World Book Night is all about. Turns out it is an opportunity for book lovers to promote reading in their own communities. Here's the goal: on 1 night, April 23, 2012, all across the country, 50,000 volunteers will give out 1,000,000 free books. They want volunteers - "givers" - to choose a book they have already read and loved from the 30 available and to share that book with 20 strangers who are light readers or non-readers. And when you apply to be a volunteer, you can tell them where you want to give the books away, to whom, and why.
Want to participate in this million book giveaway to promote reading? Be a volunteer book giver on World Book Night, April 23, 2012. Sign up at www.worldbooknight.org by Feb. 1.
I hope I can give out A Prayer for Owen Meany - one of my favorite novels of all time. When I first read it, I understood that reading was so much more than just a school requirement. Reading that book was a soaring pleasure and an escape to a whole new world. I'd love to share that treasure with someone who has yet to discover the joys of reading.
Which book would you want to give, and why?
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
- Kindred by Octavia Butler
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
- Little Bee by Chris Cleave
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Blood Work by Michael Connelly
- The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
- Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
- Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
- A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
- Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
- The Stand by Stephen King
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
- The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
- Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
- My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
- Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
- Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
- Just Kids by Patti Smith
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
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