Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Pen/Faulkner Award announced, Sherman Alexie wins for "War Dances"

The prestigious annual award, presented by the Washington-based PEN/Faulkner Foundation, was given to Alexie because of his book's breadth of topics and innovative style, judges said. "War Dances" consists of short stories interspersed with poems.

Alexie, who lives in Seattle, won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2007 and this week, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas. He is a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian who grew up on a reservation 50 miles northwest of Spokane. Severely ill as a child, he overcame his conditions and set out for a life of reading and writing. In high school he was the only Native American and became a scholar-athlete, later writing about those experiences in "True Diary."

Many of Alexie's works have been honored, including a story collection, "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," which was a PEN/Hemingway Award winner for best first book of fiction. The attention led to a film, "Smoke Signals," which won two awards at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

Alexie, who receives $15,000 for the PEN/Faulkner honor, will be saluted May 8 on the 30th anniversary of the program.

The other finalists -- Barbara Kingsolver, Lorraine M. Lopez, Lorrie Moore and Colson Whitehead -- will also be recognized.

More>>>

Friday, March 19, 2010

Eat Pray Love - soon to be movie with Julia Roberts. Watch the trailer.


After months and months of waiting, the trailer for the adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, has finally arrived.

Here's a summary of the film from the NY Times:
A woman who once made it her goal in life to marry and rear a family finds her priorities suddenly shifting in director Ryan Murphy's adaptation of author Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir. In the eyes of many, Gilbert was a woman who had it all -- a loving husband, a great apartment, and a weekend home -- but sometimes one realizes too little too late that they haven't gotten what they truly wanted from life. On the heels of a painful divorce, the woman who had previously looked forward to a contented life of domesticated bliss sets out to explore the world and seek out her true destiny.


Although I didn't love the book as so many others did, I do find the trailer for the movie to be intriguing, perhaps the parts of the book that annoyed me will be condensed or eliminated, so I'll probably venture out to see it when it releases on August 13, 2010 or thereabouts.




Thursday, March 18, 2010

Elmore Leonard character of Kentucky lawman comes to FX channel in "Justified"


Check out this new series on FX Channel (check local listings). Created and co-produced by reknowned crime writer Elmore Leonard from a character in his short story, "Fire in the Hole" (you can read this entire short story here.) The series captures most of Leonard's tone and the new take on "lawman" is well worth a look. You might even say, it's "justified".
You can read more about Elmore Leonard here.
Here's what the FX website has to say about this new show:  


JUSTIFIED is the story of Deputy U.S. Marshal RAYLAN GIVENS (Timothy Olyphant), a true-blue hero and something of a throwback, given to wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots, carrying his sidearm in a hip holster – a weapon he only draws when he has to, and when he does, he shoots to kill, because, as he sees it, that’s the purpose of a gun. something of a throwback, given to wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots, carrying his sidearm in a hip holster – a weapon he only draws when he has to, and when he does, he shoots to kill, because, as he sees it, that’s the purpose of a gun. JUSTIFIED is the story of Deputy U.S. Marshal RAYLAN GIVENS (Timothy Olyphant), a true-blue hero and something of a throwback, given to wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots, carrying his sidearm in a hip holster – a weapon he only draws when he has to, and when he does, he shoots to kill, because, as he sees it, that’s the purpose of a gun. USTIFIED is the story of Deputy U.S. Marshal RAYLAN GIVENS (Timothy Olyphant), a true-blue hero. JUSTIFIED is the story of Deputy U.S. Marshal RAYLAN GIVENS (Timothy Olyphant), a true-blue hero and something of a throwback, given to wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots, carrying his sidearm in a hip holster – a weapon he only draws when he has to, and when he does, he shoots to kill, because, as he sees it, that’s the purpose of a gun. 
Raylan was born and reared in the hill country of eastern Kentucky.   It was in Harlan where he played ball, chased girls and dug coal.  And it was from Harlan, at age 19, that he ran, determined to become a U.S. Marshal.  Now, years later, after shooting a gun thug in a Miami hotel and thereby incurring the wrath of his Marshals Service superiors, Raylan has been sent in punishment (and by fate?) to the one place to which he vowed he would never return – Kentucky.
The character of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens was created by America’s pre-eminent crime novelist Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Out of Sight) and is played by Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Live Free or Die Hard).  The Chief Deputy of the Lexington U.S.M.S. office is ART MULLEN, played by Nick Searcy (Cast Away, From the Earth to the Moon).  Working alongside Raylan are fellow deputies TIM GUTTERSON – played by Jacob Pitts (The Pacific) – and RACHEL BROOKS – played by Erica Tazel (Life, The Office).  Raylan, Art and the other deputies do what all U.S. Marshals do – chase down fugitives, protect witnesses, transport prisoners.
But, being back in Kentucky, Raylan will also have to confront a past crowded with enough skeletons to choke a graveyard.  There’s his old friend and fellow coal-miner, now fugitive bank-robber, BOYD CROWDER (Walton Goggins - The Shield).  There’s AVA CROWDER (Joelle Carter - Monk, CSI: Miami), the cheerleader from his youth he always had a crush on.  There’s ex-wife WINONA (Natalie Zea -Hung, Dirty Sexy Money).  And, looming largest of all in Raylan’s past, there’s his career criminal father ARLO (Raymond Barry - Cold Case, Training Day).ething of a throwback, given to wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots, carrying his sidearm in a hip holster – a weapon he only draws when he has to, and when he does, he shoots to kill, because, as he sees it, that’s the purpose of a gun.
Raylan was born and reared in the hill country of eastern Kentucky.   It was in Harlan where he played ball, chased girls and dug coal.  And it was from Harlan, at age 19, that he ran, determined to become a U.S. Marshal.  Now, years later, after shooting a gun thug in a Miami hotel and thereby incurring the wrath of his Marshals Service superiors, Raylan has been sent in punishment (and by fate?) to the one place to which he vowed he would never return – Kentucky.
The character of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens was created by America’s pre-eminent crime novelist Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Out of Sight) and is played by Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Live Free or Die Hard).  The Chief Deputy of the Lexington U.S.M.S. office is ART MULLEN, played by Nick Searcy (Cast Away, From the Earth to the Moon).  Working alongside Raylan are fellow deputies TIM GUTTERSON – played by Jacob Pitts (The Pacific) – and RACHEL BROOKS – played by Erica Tazel (Life, The Office).  Raylan, Art and the other deputies do what all U.S. Marshals do – chase down fugitives, protect witnesses, transport prisoners.
But, being back in Kentucky, Raylan will also have to confront a past crowded with enough skeletons to choke a graveyard.  There’s his old friend and fellow coal-miner, now fugitive bank-robber, BOYD CROWDER (Walton Goggins - The Shield).  There’s AVA CROWDER (Joelle Carter - Monk, CSI: Miami), the cheerleader from his youth he always had a crush on.  There’s ex-wife WINONA (Natalie Zea -Hung, Dirty Sexy Money).  And, looming largest of all in Raylan’s past, there’s his career criminal father ARLO (Raymond Barry - Cold Case, Training Day).

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Great international bookstores pics:


Selexyz Bookstore in Maastricht, Holland. The bookstore is installed in an old Dominican church.  Photography by madcrow Flickr.com



The coffee shop of the Selexyz Bookstore in Maastricht is settled in the altar of the church. Photography by edwin_wisse Flickr.com



Borderlands Science Fiction Bookstore in San Francisco is home to this hairless Sphynx cat.  
Photography by massdistraction Flickr.com



Shakespeare & Co. Antiquarian Books, Paris.  Probably the most photographed bookstore of the world. 
Photography by Simple Dolphin Flickr.com


 A view from inside the bookstore Shakespeare & Co in Paris. Photo by Toshio Kishiyama Flickr.com



On the third floor of the bookstore Shakespeare & Co. in Paris, you'll find this bed and the motice board behind. 
Photography by Glynnis Ritchie Flickr.com



The Art Nouveau facade of the Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal. Photography by pedrosimoes7  Flickr.com



The Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal, is open since 1906 and is surely one of the most beautiful bookstores of the world. 
Photography by delviking Flickr.com



This is the entrance of the bookstore Le Bal des Ardents in Lyon, France
Photography by punkinmom_{caroline} Flickr.com and www.butterflymoments.fr



As you know if you frequent this blog, we love great bookstores wherever we can find them. More examples from around the web will be posted soon. Please check back and thanks for supporting your local library or bookshop!

More Creative Bookshelves

We had such a huge response for a previous posting of creative bookshelves, we've pulled together a few more examples from around the web. Enjoy!


Friday, March 12, 2010

'Wolf Hall' By Hilary Mantel Wins National Book Critics Circle Award


Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall," winner last year of the Man Booker Prize in London, was honored Thursday night on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
The novel, set in the age of King Henry VIII, won the National Book Critics Circle Prize for fiction. It's a compassionate narrative of royal adviser Thomas Cromwell, a leading enforcer of the English Reformation and a rival of Sir Thomas More.
More>>>

Founded in 1974, the National Book Critics Circle Award is among the US's most prestigious literary prizes, along with the Pulitzer and the PEN/Faulkner, for books published in English including translations. Last year's fiction winner was Roberto BolaƱo's 2666, which was published in English translation in 2008.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Books as Art: Carol Owen's mixed media

Carol Owen has been a professional artist for 30 years, working initially as a weaver and papermaker, and now in mixed media. She has exhibited throughout the United States and her work has appeared in many publications, including Collage for the Soul, and magazines including Mary Engelbreit's Home Campanion (Dec/Jan 2008), Somerset StudioLegacy and Country Living. 


Her creations, which she calls "altered books," have a "found-object" and Victorian feel.


Her interview with The Baltimore Sun is reprinted below:

How long have you been working with books and/or paper? I’ve been working with paper for a long time. I made my own paper for several years, and created wall pieces with it. And with the shrine Spirit Houses I do, I use handmade Japanese rice paper, and collage with various papers.
What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? I got into altered books about 5 or 6 years ago. I’ve always had a love of books, since I was a child. And with the altered books, people are fascinated with holding a book in their hands and turning pages to reveal the art work.
Name a favorite book, and tell us why you liked it. Nick Bantock’s books, specifically the Gryphon and Sabine series, started me on my fascination with altered books. And I collect Robert Sabuda’s pop-up books.
What have you read lately that you’d recommend? I’m in a book club (actually, I’m in two book clubs!), and my favorite read lately was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It really grabs your heart.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Teachers promote reading with a flash mob dancing to new lyrics of Black Eyed Peas song!

Teachers and administrators at Ocoee Middle School in Florida promote reading with a flash mob dancing to new lyrics of Black Eyed Peas song!




Students and faculty at Ocoee Middle School who made a music video to promote reading -- changing the lyrics to a song by the Black-Eyed Peas -- shared the spotlight with Diane Sawyer on the Oprah show this afternoon.

The "Gotta Keep Reading" music video by Ocoee Middle featured students and staff dancing and singing, while holding books, in the school's courtyard.

Oprah Winfrey had a segment of her show filmed on the campus this morning, where she announced that she and Target would pay for a "wall-to-wall" makeover of the school library, including new furniture, new computers and 2,000 books.

"They managed to get almost 1,700 kids pumped up about something you know I love," Winfrey said during the broadcast. The Ocoee song includes the refrain, "This book's going to be a good, good book to read."

Principal Sharyn Gabriel said the school was thrilled with the attention from the national talk show and hopeful the experience would make reading seem cool to sometimes reluctant teenage readers.

"We really, really wanted to get kids excited about reading," Gabriel said.

The video idea started with the school's reading coach, Janet Bergh, who thought it would be fun to do something similar to the "flash mob" video The Oprah Show had done in Chicago.

"Students have a lot of other interests. Oftentimes, reading takes a back seat to that," Bergh said on The Oprah Show, explaining why she thought a "flash mob" video might inspire. "It's not always real cool to be seen with a book."

The school secured copyright information from the Black-Eyed Peas, and music and drama teachers then set out to write lyrics to the band's "I Gotta Feelin" song and to choreograph dance moves. Students practiced the dance in their physical education classes, and then shot video, with help from Full Sail University, in December.

Great idea to get kids interested and excited about reading!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Want to see Carnegie Libraries in California - including the old Corona Library?


This picture makes us sad because our childhood library was torn down in a misguided attempt at "urban renewal" by the City of Corona in the 1970's. Here's the details:

Corona Public Library
opened 1906
Public library from 1906-1971
demolished, 1978

grant amount: $11,500
architectural style: Classical Revival (Type B)
architect: F. P. Burnham

The architectural significance of the Corona Public Library as Corona's only example of the Classical Revival style, designed by prominent architect F. P. Burnham, and built by S.L. Bloom, was acknowledged by its placement on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the building stood "boarded up and vacant while the city raged about what was to be done with the building" from 1971 to 1978. It was demolished in 1978 and the Heritage Room at the new library was "started as a compromise between keeping the city's history alive and having a new library building." Corona's library history dates from an 1893 WCTU reading room, replaced by an 1895 YMCA library, in its turn taken over by the Women's Improvement Club and finally transferred to the city in 1900. The early libraries occupied a succession of rented rooms until Carnegie funding of $10,000 was obtained in March,1905. This was increased to $11,500 due to the intercession of J. A. Flagler of New York, who apparently had ties in Corona in addition to being a close friend of Andrew Carnegie. Ground was broken in August and the building was dedicated July 2, 1906. The building was demolished in 1978.




You can check out other examples of Carnegie Libraries in California  and elsewhere here>>>

photos courtesy of the Heritage Room, Corona Public Library

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Coolest Bookcases

We love bookcases. We love perusing our friends', we love organizing our own, and we love how having books all over the house personalizes it in a way that furniture rarely can.

Your bookcase can illustrate your personality and the importance (or not) of books in your life.


Check out these pics of more of the coolest bookcases.


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