Showing posts with label library books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library books. Show all posts

Friday, July 27, 2012

Summer Grab Bag, Library-Style

"Asked whether he liked books, Mark Twain said that he liked a thin book because it would steady a table, a leather volume because it would strop a razor, and a heavy book because it could be thrown at a cat." --Author Unknown


Library trips rarely turn out the way they're planned, do they? In a good way, of course. 

My list on a recent excursion to the closest branch included a bunch of historical fiction titles I've been wanting to read (and picture books I thought the little ones might enjoy). A quick search on our library's website had indicated the titles I targeted were on the shelf where I was headed. As so often happens, though, the books were already checked out upon my arrival.

Never fear. It didn't make me want to throw books. On the contrary, there are enough books crying "pick me!" to take their place, new releases, titles I'd never heard of, eye-catching covers, or a title from a familiar author not yet read. I came home with a stuffed bag, including four middle grades, four YAs, five picture books, and two poetry books. I had to pull myself away from the stacks or else I was going to have to find a wheelbarrow to get them to the car. 

In addition to the variety of genres in the pile, there was a wide variety of writing styles,too, including a novel-in-verse, first person POV, third-person past tense, third-person present, and--for the fun-lovin' lyrics--a rhyming book.

Yep, quite the grab bag. And, with all due respect to Mark Twain, I don't expect to use any of these books to steady a table or sharpen a razor. I plan to read them--and then go back for more

Been on any library binges yourself lately? What's in your grab bag of books?
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Worth Paying That Fine

I'm only here for a minute--gotta' make a run to the library with an overdue book. I can't renew it over the phone--it's on hold. Somebody else is waiting to read it.

And for sure, I want them to!

But first I had to finish it. And risk a fine in the process. The book is just that good. Lively. Imaginative. Humorous and magical on the surface, but with deeper truths of just how it feels to turn thirteen--and each person's specialness no matter our walk in life--at its foundation. I would have loved to have read this story when I was turning that age.

The book? Ingrid Law's Savvy--middle-grade fantasy, tall-tale, and 2009 Newbery Honor Book. Maybe you're familiar with Savvy but the title only recently crossed my radar screen. For which I'm glad.

So I'm off to the library before I have to pay any additional fines--and so the next reader can get her hands on it. But before I go, let me ask--what book has captured your fancy so much that you'd risk paying a fine in order to finish it?