Saturday, May 31, 2008

Book Notes

Well, I read the introduction to Liberal Fascism and then gave it to my husband who is more interested in it than I am. Jonah Goldberg is a decent writer and makes the point about liberals today (read Democrats) that they are direct descendants of the classical fascism of old, whatever that is - and even he can hardly define it. I leave it to him to figure it out.

Next, I finished off another book from the Read for a Lifetime list, Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard - story of a Mormon teenager who is an eyewitness to a horrible family tragedy and how she deals with it in subsequent years. Mitchard writes like a few other women popular fiction writers these days (Jodi Picoult, etc.) - takes a compelling story from current news and turns it into a novel. Although the sampling of titles I've read are all pageturners, I always feel manipulated by the authors at the end. There are always surprise plot twists, but everything is too neatly tied up at the end.

Finally, I feel like I have to explain why I'm reading Sandra Brown's romantic suspense novel, Ricochet. I'm actually reading my way through a list of suggested titles for self-education in adult fiction genres from the Adult Reading Round Table (ARRT), a group of Illinois librarians who are interested in improving their readers advisory skills. Sandra Brown is up next. I've also heard from reader's advisor librarians that no one should ever apologize for their reading tastes, so I'm going to read it and might even enjoy it! And I promise not to quibble about it if I do.

Friday, May 23, 2008

In the Enemy Camp

Note that I am now reading Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg. I heard about this author from a relative, who shall remain nameless - hee hee. Ever since William Buckley died, I've been hearing more about how Goldberg has inherited the conservative publishing throne. So, I'm going to see for myself. His editorials appear occasionally in our local paper (alternating with Garrison Keillor - how's that for an odd couple?), but the book should reveal more.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Strange but True Story

No. 5 on the Read for a Lifetime list is Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet - another glimpse into a new world, which is the best kind of reading for me. He has lived in a world of numbers that have definite personalities for him, but also in a world that has little connection to anyone else's world. That he was able to find a way to bridge the gap is an amazing story.

I had a chance recently to meet another young person with Asperger's Syndrome who also has high intelligence and many developed social skills that made it easy and fun to talk to him. Not sure what the future holds for him, but Daniel Tammet shows the immense possibilities.

Interesting brief sidelight to the story is Tammet's account of how he decided to become a Christian in his twenties (!), despite his inability to sit in a church for any length of time. This book is a trip!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Dinner in Cougar Country

Last week the family gathered for dinner at Piazza Bella, a little Italian restaurant in Roscoe Village. Somebody said that it was only 1/2 block from the place where the wild cougar was shot and killed by police last month. So, after dinner, we were taken on a trip through the neighborhood to see where this happened.

Houses in this area have only the legal minimum of 5 feet between them and the area is very busy with adults, kids, and pets around and about. It's amazing to think that a very large wild carnivore was on the loose here - and even more amazing that police would be able to corner it and shoot in such a crowded alleyway. Sad outcome.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Jesse White: IL Secretary of State/State Librarian - and Tumbler!

About 10 years ago at a high school fundraiser, I bid on and won a free lunch for 2 with Jesse White, the Illinois Sec'y of State and State Librarian (see 4/24/08 post). Many people know him for founding the Jesse White Tumblers, the group of kid/teen gymnasts who perform at sports event halftimes, state fairs, etc. See a YouTube clip of Jesse White doing his thing with the Tumblers here. He's the one driving the bus. The man is over 70 and truly amazing!

My library director and I (I invited her for brownie points at work) had a nice lunch with him at an upscale restaurant, but it was a very political affair. He was gladhanding lots of people at other tables and then showered us with pins, cards, bumper stickers and other promotional giveaways. A Chicago pol at work!