Goodnight Moon: A Critique

Believe it or not, I just read Goodnight Moon for the first time the other day. I was babysitting, and it was the book that the kid picked out. Why I had never read it, I can't say. I know it's a classic, but it has never appealed to me, same with Runaway Bunny. I'm pretty sure it's the art. It just does not do it for me. Which is too bad really, because the words are lovely. The sentiment, the cadence- that I can really get behind. But the art...it just looks weirdly diabolical.

Well, I am pleased to report that I clearly am not the only person who feels this way. There is a hilarious, genius of a blogger over at The Ugly Volvo who has really taken Goodnight Moon to task. Give it a read. I promise it will brighten your day.

All of My Issues With the Goodnight Moon Bedroom by The Ugly Volvo

The most important section in the store

We've got ourselves a new section! All Stephen Colbert, all the time! Actually, I was just shifting some things around, to give our humor section a bit of room to stretch, but my love for Stephen sort of took over, and the greatest section in the store was born! Sadly, I doubt it will last long, so you better head over now!

And if you haven't, you really should listen to Stephen's latest book on audio. It's perfect. My review below!

America Again by The Reverend Dr. Stephen T. Colbert DFA

NATION! The only thing better than Stephen's latest book is the audio version of Stephen's latest book. Why? Because it's read by the author. That's right! Stephen Colbert reading Stephen Colbert. Actually, much of it is shouted, but that's okay too. It's outrageous and informative, and I think the best way to enjoy it. But even if you already have the version with words, the audio is well worth it. More than worth it! Really, you need this. But be warned, this will make you laugh. Out loud. So, if you are on a bus and listening, you will laugh on the bus. And people will look at you.

Bookstore Perils

The other day I was at the cash register, and heard a terrible crash.

Looks like Mark shelved one too many books. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, I was finding it difficult to laugh and hold the camera steady.

This incident got me thinking about the weight of books. So I googled "weight of a library" and found this great little piece on Snopes. Enjoy!

Bookshelves of Desire

It's been awhile since we've posted some book porn...you know, drool worthy photos of the library you might one day have, the reading nooks you can only imagine in your mind.  Let me tell you a little something about the internet...it will waste your time.  One of the best places to waste that time is on Pinterest.  Don't know what Pinterest is...don't worry.  You're better off to just pretend you've never heard of it and hold on to those 3 hours per day that will be sucked into the vortex that is Pinterest.  If it's already too late for you, have you tried a Pinterest search of bookshelves?  Well, go do it right now...better yet, I'll do it for you...there.  Beautiful, aren't they?

Sigh...

And don't even get me started on book nooks.

Words and Pictures

Do you ever hang out over at the Incidental Comics?  You should.  Cartoonist Grant Snider is doing some pretty great stuff, and a lot of it is book related.  Like this choice piece about bookshelves.  We can relate!

It's All Going to be Fine

Adam asked me to bring this to your attention.
Do you fear for the future of books, print, and paper itself?  You may be consoled by this clever ad.  We were.
 

It's Never Too Early for Great Literature

How much am I loving these?  So much!
Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver bring you these delightful board book "versions" of your favorite classics, perfect for introducing the heavyweights to the little reader in your life.  I know a certain nephew who is getting the entire set!

Little Miss Austen: Pride Prejudice: A Counting Primer

Little Master Dickens: A Christmas Carol

Little Master Carroll: Alice in Wonderland: A Colors Primer

Little Miss Bronte: Jane Eyre: A Counting Primer

Little Master Stoker: Dracula: A Counting Primer

Little Master Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet: A Counting Primer

And February brings three more titles:

• Moby Dick: An Ocean Primer  (YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!)
• Sense & Sensibility: An Opposites Primer
• Wuthering Heights: A Weather Primer

Shopping Local is Presidential

Call it whatever you want, Plaid Friday, or Small Business Saturday...did you celebrate your favorite, local, independent businesses this weekend?  Well, guess who else did too!

This past Saturday, the President and his daughters celebrated Small Business Saturday at One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia.  They purchased a bunch of children's books that will be given as gifts from the First Family.

There's still time to support your local business this holiday season.  In fact, we're even here all year!

Jello Phone

One of the great things about used books, besides the price, is the history.  With any luck, you've picked out a used book that's been read and loved by it's previous owner; maybe you're sharing a favorite book with a complete stranger, and you don't even know it!

Well, we love buying your used books because of all of the great things we find tucked inside and forgotten about in those books.  You can't even imagine how many bookmarks we've collected.  We have countless photos, loads and loads of postcards.  Sometimes we'll stumble upon a heartfelt note, or drawing.  You can see a lot of these treasures hanging on the walls around the used book counters in both of our stores.  Here is one of my favorites from the Ravenna store; a poem, handwritten in pencil on a scrap of paper.  We're not sure if it was copied from somewhere, but the scratch-outs seem to indicate the artistic process of the unknown poet.

J-e-l-l-o Phone

I do not want a telephone,

I'd rather have a Jello-phone.

Instead of button pushing behaviors,

We'd dial by licking yummy flavors.

So, if my number were 9-8-9...

My flavor would then be lime-grape-lime.

And you know how a hot phone on your ear leaves a welt,

Well, the jello-phone you see, it would just melt.

Or if you drop it on the floor,

It'll bounce right back where it was before.

And instead of a ring when you get a call,

It jiggles and wiggles right off of the wall.

And if you find telemarketers pernicious

just hang up and eat it...it's delicious.

Novel Costume Ideas!

Not sure what to be for Halloween?  Here are some spooky literary options for you.

How about James Joyce.  A dapper bow tie, an eye patch, some well-groomed facial hair, and a copy of Ulysses.
Companion Costume:  June 16th aka, Bloomsday.

Or perhaps Daisy Buchanan?  Recycle that flapper costume from 3 years ago. Pair it with a constantly lit cigarette and a copy of The Great Gatsby.
Companion Costume:  A yellow Rolls-Royce.

Captain Ahab?  Take a general pirate/maritime look, add a whale-bone leg, maniacal expression, harpoon, and a copy of Moby Dick.
Companion Costume: Bespectacled DJ, Moby.

Maybe Dickens is more your style...try Miss Havisham.  All you need is a decaying wedding, dress-maybe covered in spider webs, lifelong disappointment, and a copy of Great Expectations.
Companion Costume: Moldy wedding cake.

Where Star Wars and Books Collide

Why is there such a pervasive Star Wars/Book Culture?  Is it just that Star Wars creeps into simply everything, or is there more to it?  Are books and Star Wars just the ideal nerd cross over?  It must be.  Because the rash of Star Wars/Book collisions is far too frequent to be coincidental.  Here are a few of my recent sightings.

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Artist, Jason Peltz has combined Seuss and Star Wars in these clever and adorable mash ups.  More Here.

Man, don't you wish these were real books!  Hint, hint, Mr. Peltz.

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TPB bookseller Annie has an awesome blog that she co-writes with her friend.  The idea behind the blog is to re-read all those Star Wars Universe sequels and prequels and all kinds of quels, and then record their adventures.  Her is more in Annie's own words...

The authors, a long time ago...you get the idea

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...." These words still give me tingles for so many reasons, both personal and nerdy. I saw the Star Wars movies for the first time as a young girl and fell instantly in love with the characters, the universe, and the story. So much so, that when I met my dear friend Tess in elementary school and discovered she also adored Star Wars, we found a unique common ground.
  
Little did we know that bonding over the Force, Banthas, lightsabers, secret twin siblings, the Millennium Falcon, and nerdy books would lead us into a friendship spanning more than half our lifetimes. The Star Wars game we played in the woods at Tess's house and in my backyard ensured game nights at college, care packages when Tess moved to South Korea to teach English and when I went through chemotherapy, and many, many movie marathons when we saw each other in person. 

Star Wars didn't really create our friendship, of course; we did that ourselves. It just greased the s-foils a bit, if you will - helped us learn to embrace our differences because when the trenches of life came our way, it was "trusting our feelings," as Obi-wan would say, that helped sustain us and that continues on today. So this reading project and blog - which I'm sure to many non-Nerf Herders sounds completely silly - is just another way we celebrate friendship. After all, the Force is what bids us together and all that...

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And of course, all the awesome books being released recently.  Here is a very small list...

Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown

Star Wars Origami, by Chris Alexander

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee, by Tom Angleberger

And maybe, just maybe, I myself will pick up my first Star Wars Novel in many moons when this one comes out in December..come on, it's Han Solo-he was my first love, and you never forget your first love.

Scoundrels, by Timothy Zahn

Share Your Shelf

A friend sent me this article, which then led me to this cool blog.  Am I the last person to come across this?  Well if I am, I blame you all for not telling me about it.  This fits right in with my public-transit-reader voyeurism.  This blog is filled with submitted pictures of readers' bookshelves.  I love it.  One of my favorite things about seeing bookshelves in movies or magazines, is searching for familiar or favorite titles.  Now I can search to my heart's content.  With the added bonus that these shelves are real and represent real people; filled not only with the books people love, but also the knick knacks and photos that find their homes along with those well-loved books.  Enjoy.

Funny, Ha Ha

Need a laugh this summer?  Here are my suggestions for some good giggles...

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The Emily Dickinson Reader:  An English-to-English Translation of Emily Dickinson's Complete Poems, by Paul Legault

This one is great for all you newly minted English undergrads.  Here's a great example:

Original:

Artists wrestled here!

Lo, a tint Cashmere!

Lo, a rose!

Student of the year!

For the easel here

Say repose!

Translation:

There's paint all over the place.

It looks like a couple of painters got into a fight and

got paint paint all over the place.  Actually, it's a sunset

See!  Super helpful!

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I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems By Cats, by Francesco Marciuliano

This is everyone's new favorite book.  EVERYONE'S.  All day long, people are picking this up and giggling and guffawing over it.  It really is literary genius.


Here's Ravenna Regular, Katie, with an impromptu poetry reading of her favorite poem.  THANKS, KATIE!

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The McSweeney's Book of Politics & Musicals, edited by those McSweeney's peeps

If you're into current events, this one is for you.  From the back cover...

Ever since John Hancock broke into song after signing the Declaration of Independence, American politics and musicals have been inextricably linked. From Alexander Hamilton's jazz hands, to Chester A. Arthur's oboe operas, to Newt Gingrich's off-Broadway sexscapade, You, Me, and My Moon Colony Mistress Makes Three, government and musical theater have joined forces to document our nation's long history of freedom, partisanship, and dancers on roller skates pretending to be choo choo trains.


And some of the good stuff you'll get:

• Fragments from PALIN! THE MUSICAL 
• Barack Obama’s Undersold 2012 Campaign Slogans 
• Atlas Shrugged Updated for the Financial Crisis 
• Your Attempts to Legislate Hunting Man for Sport Reek of Class Warfare
• Donald Rumsfeld Memoir Chapter Title Or German Heavy Metal Song? 
• Noises Political Pundits Would Make If They Were Wild Animals and Not Political Pundits 
• Classic Nursery Rhymes, Updated and Revamped for the Recession, As Told to Me By My Father And much more!

Comic Con Recon

Steve surviving the apocalypse

Two of our favorite booksellers had the opportunity to hit Comic Con this year in San Diego. Both Steve and Vlad are longtime devotees of science fiction, superheroes, fantasy, steampunk...you name it, and one of them has read it, seen it, or owns the DVD of it. Here are Steve's top three from their epic weekend along with some epic snapshots...

1.  Joss Whedon, Master of the Nerd Universe. I love Joss and everything he does--from Buffy The Vampire Slayer to Firefly to Dr Horrible to The Avengers. However, there was no way I was standing in a line overnight just to see the 10th Anniversary Firefly Reunion Friday morning. Luckily, we were able to squeeze into the auditorium later that day for what was ostensibly Joss talking about his various comic projects with Dark Horse Comics. Instead it turned into Joss being Joss with some of the best Q & A ever. Next up for the busiest man in show business? Finding distribution for his already filmed black and white contemporary version of Much Ado About Nothing. Yes, Shakespeare!

Everyone's favorite tribute

2.  Love and Rockets 30th Anniversary Celebration. Hosted by Gary Groth, the publisher of Seattle’s own Fantagraphics Books, this panel featured Los Bros Hernandez (Gilbert, Jaime and Mario) discussing their groundbreaking and now classic independent comic Love and Rockets. I discovered Love & Rockets in college during the late 80’s and still read it today when I can. It was a real treat to see these talented artist/storytellers discussing their work that remains a huge influence today. Case in point: seeing Mike Allred, creator of Madman and iZombie, completely gushing like a giddy fanboy during the Q&A. Adorable!

Lego Gandalf

3.  Hark! A Pleasant Surprise! I’m not sure how I have missed it all these years, but my new favorite-thing-ever from the con is Kate Beaton’s webcomic (and now book) Hark! A Vagrant. Beaton pens erudite and hilarious cartoons of historical figures and literary characters mashed up with modern sensibilities and clever ironies... and the occasional fat pony. I only went to this panel in order to kill time until the next thing on my docket and I was totally blown away. Plus, it was certainly the funniest powerpoint presentation on medieval art ever, or any subject for that matter!

What Ducks Read

If you are a frequenter of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, you have probably made the acquaintance of our delightful duck couple.  You'll usually find them waddling around the parking lot, or hanging out by the delivery door for the Honey Bear Bakery.  Emily sent me this adorable picture of our resident ducks waiting to get a 'quack' at all those great books.  (apologies for the pun.)

There's been some debate about what this lovely couple would read.  How about...

or...

can't be this one...

Definitley, this one...

Cover Judging

I stumbled upon a a great blog post today on Strollerderby, via Babble.  Incidentally, is Strollerderby not the greatest name?  Anyhow, the blog post is a photo slideshow of classic book covers, and descriptions of the books.  But the real genius is that the books are described by the blogger's six-year-old daughter.  She recounts that on their many trips to local bookstores her daughter is constantly asking what certain books are about.  She tries her best to describe them, but eventually asks her daughter what she thinks they are about.  The result is hilarious and quite charming.  My personal favorite is the description of Jane Eyre:

"This is about a girl that goes mining. 

I don’t know why, but she looks like she would go mining, mining for gold. "

 Brilliant. Read the entire blog here.

Books for GIANTS

Isn't the internet amazing...sometimes...I guess when it's not wasting your time.  Anyway, I stumbled upon this cool thing whilst paddle boarding the web (I'm tired of the phrase "surfing the web," so I'm trying something new, feel free to spread the word).

It's called the Community Bookshelf and is located in downtown Kansas City. The giant bookshelf runs along the south wall of the Kansas City Central Library's parking garage.  The 22 book spines stand about 25 by 9 feet.  I wish Seattle had one of these!  So neat!

Here's more info on the Community Bookshelf, as well as a list of the featured titles.

Happy Weekend!

Here's a great shot of used book buyer Kestrel, and a cuddly, chummy shark to start your weekend off right.  Come check our other great sidelines, including all the other Squishables.  I can attest to their superior cuddliness!

Christopher Walken Reads You a Bedtime Story

This is absolutely worth the nine minutes if only to hear Christopher Walken ruminate on why Maurice Sendak puts "bug ears" on the flowers. Thanks to Emily for digging this up. Might not be suitable for the kiddies...

Reading with Cats

Books and cats just seem to go hand in hand.  Perhaps it's the calm and stillness of a napping cat that makes them the ideal lap companion when snuggling into that new favorite read.  We know a lot of you out there love your cats... almost as much as you love reading so here are some fun, kitty tidbits.

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We've got a great event coming up on Sunday, March 18th at 5:30 PM.  Come meet Carolyn Banguero, author of Paolo's Adventures : The Tale of a Very Brave Kitty.  Banguero tells the story of Paolo, a brave little cat who finds himself at MEOW (Mercer Island Eastside Orphans and Waifs) Cat Rescue.  Follow Paolo's journey in this sweet tale about a cat on the mend and the people who help him.  And best of all, a percentage of the net proceeds will be donated to MEOW.

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Do you love kitties but struggle with allergies?  Well, do we have the answer for you!  Knit your own cat with Knit Your Own Cat : Easy-to-follow Patterns for 16 Frisky Felines by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne.  This book is packed with a litter of woolly cats to cuddle and love.  Fantastic photos and clear instructions make this a great idea for the cat-lover OR the knitter in your life.  

Or would you like to take your crafting to another level?  Are you clamoring to include your kitty in your crafting pastimes?  Well, look no further than Crafting with Cat Hair : Cute Handicrafts to Make With Your Cat.  Kaori Tsutaya has put together a  crazy collection of crafts made from...that's right, cat hair.  Tsutaya has found a way to transform every cat-lovers curse into crafts fit for any stylish, crafty boutique. You've got to see these adorable creations to believe them.    

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Third place staffers certainly know that cats make the ultimate reading companion.  A while back we did a poll  and counted a number of those purr-fect pals among the staff.  Here is one of the newest editions to the reading family.  It's Zipper, and he loves cuddling up for a good read with his human companion, Steve.

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And finally, check out this pretty awesome cat/book sculpture from Catsparella.

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So, as winter winds give way to a sometimes fickle Northwest spring, curl up with your favorite, feline friend and enjoy a fabulous book.