Life Lessons

Books, Brunonia Barry, Collection Development, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Life Lessons, Relationships, The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places

The Map of True Places

MapOfTrue hc c I am always amazed at how an author can keep presenting one hit title after another.  Brunonia Barry is no exception.  She wowed us with her New York Times bestseller, The Lace Reader and now she's back again! I am so excited about her newest title The Map of True Places, on sale in May.  I presented this title at our Seasonal Book Buzz at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference this past January.  To hear my "buzz", click here!

I know once you start reading The Map of True Places, you will not want to stop! 

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Grandparents, Happiness, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Making Toast, Memoir

Review Round-Up: Making Toast

9780061825934 We love getting your feedback on our books, almost as much as we enjoy reading them! With that in mind, here are three new reviews of Roger Rosenblatt's Making Toast from our trusty readers.  And while you're here, don't miss Virginia's review

Our first comes from 20something Lauren Gibaldi, who blogs on halfdesertedstreets.com.  Lauren calls the book "an absolute beautiful read, a truly wonderful tribute." Her full review can be found here

Next up is Diane LaRue. of LaRue Marketing & Public Relations.  She writes: "Their story will touch (and sometimes break) your heart."  Her review is here

Nancy Renfro, director of the Watauga Regional Library, writes:

There never can be too many books on the subject of the death of a loved one.  We all mourn in different ways, and each memoir about death has its own perspective that lends credence to our own unique ways of suffering.  When faced with death, we need reassurance that others have made it through the first numbing days of sorrow, survived, and even created beauty out of their suffering.  Making Toast is a sad, but welcome addition to the growing list of titles of regular humans going about their lives with the people they love and then, unexpectedly, tragically, having the specter of death thrust upon them.  Some of the most readable, poignant and noteworthy of these memoirs are from already published authors.  They already are adept at writing, and thus can explain the emotional tangle they experience in a coherent way.  There have been several over the years  from well-known women authors: Isabel Allende ‘s moving tribute to her daughter “Paula”, Joan Didion’s heart wrenching “The Year of Magical Thinking”, where she deals not only with the death of her beloved husband John Gregory Dunne, but the continued care for her daughter in critical condition in the hospital.  But this memoir is different.  From the perspective of a father, it is less emotional and inward looking, and more a chronicle of how he, his wife, and extended family get through the day to day living that must go on after the death of a vital, healthy wife, mother, and career woman.  How does a parent bury a child in the prime of her life, and then continue to live and find meaning in the life that is left?  Rosenblatt answers that question through his own life and the lives of the family members left behind.  This book is highly recommended.

Abuse, Books, Current Affairs, Family, Libraries, Life Lessons, Push, Relationships, Sapphire

Push, by Sapphire

Push Here at HarperLibrary we love our books…I mean we REALLY LOVE OUR BOOKS.  Every now and then, you do have to give credit where credit is due.  I’m sure by now everyone has heard the major buzz about the movie “Precious,” which is based on the book Push by Sapphire.  I just had the opportunity to read Push and was BLOWN AWAY!

While reading Push, a multitude of emotions overcame me…anger, sadness, hurt, and hope.  I was angry and sad because of the realization of what this young woman truly had to endure.  Feelings of hurt came because in some way, I wish there was something that could have done to help prevent such a thing from happening in the first place.  Finally, I was hopeful because I realized that by telling Precious’ story, she is helping so many others overcome (and hopefully prevent) similar situations.  Push will help someone make a total turnaround, by turning tragedy into triumph. 

If you haven’t read Push, please make it part of your reading list…and go see "Precious"!

Enjoy,

-Bobby

Barbara Graham, Books, Eye of My Heart, Family, Grandparents, Happiness, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons, Relationships

Tune-in to Author Barbara Graham on Good Morning America! (New date and time)

EyeOfMyHeart hc c Yesterday, I posted about author Barbara Graham and her book, Eye of My Heart: 27 Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Bring a Grandmother

Barbara Graham's segment on ABC's Good Morning America, has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2009. This is definitely something you don't want to miss!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Barbara Graham, Books, Eye of My Heart, Family, Grandparents, Happiness, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons

Author Barbara Graham to be Featured on Good Morning America!

EyeOfMyHeart hc c Earlier this year, Virginia wrote a post and added a video from HarperCollins author Barbara Graham, talking about her book Eye of My Heart: 27 Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a GrandmotherCheck out Virginia’s post and the author video here.

Make sure you tune in tomorrow morning (November 13) to ABC’s Good Morning America as Barbara Graham will be interviewed by Annie Pleshette Murphy, the parenting expert on the show.  Barbara will be talking about difficult relationships between grandmothers on the parental side and their daughter-in-laws as well as her book Eye of My HeartDon’t miss it!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Books, Brooklyn Public Library, Family, Libraries, Life Lessons, Manhood for Amateurs, Marriage, Memoir, Michael Chabon, Padgett Powell, Pittsburgh, Relationships, Religion, The Interrogative Mood, The Roaring 20s

Manhood for Amateurs

9780061490187 A couple of weeks ago, I was determined to see Michael Chabon during the New York leg of his book tour for Manhood for Amateurs.  (As you can see here and here, I'm a huge fan of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh.)  So it wasn't a big deal for me to hop on the 2/3 and make the hour-long trek into the deep reaches of Brooklyn.  Chabon gave a wonderful talk on non-fiction writing, reading a few essays from Manhood for Amateurs, which manages to be insightful, wonderfully written, and truly poignant.  He took questions from the audience at the tail-end of the event, and even mentioned an idea he has for a book based on the life of Queen's Freddie Mercury.  (Fingers crossed!)

The talk is part of a Brooklyn Public Library series curated by editor Matt Weiland on the Art of Non-Fiction.  The next event, this Thursday night, features Padgett Powell, author of The Interrogative Mood.  For more info on the series, click here.  And while you're at it, be sure to browse inside Manhood for Amateurs.  You can also read one of the essays here courtesy of the New York Review of Books. 

-Kayleigh  

Africa, Books, Current Affairs, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons, Malawi, Memoir, Readers Advisory Book/Review Swap, TED Conference, Television, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, The Daily Show, William Kamkwamba

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on The Daily Show!

We’ve been talking about The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind for months – telling everyone who’d listen how inspiring and downright unbelievable this story is.  A boy from a village in Africa – too poor to attend school – is inspired by a librarian to read.  He picks up a book on windmills and figures out how to build one out of scraps found in a junkheap.  He generates electricity and changes the trajectory of his life and the lives of his community.  From Malawi to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  What a difference a windmill makes.  Here's a link to our previous posts.  Take a look…

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
William Kamkwamba
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

-Virginia

Booklist, Books, Elizabeth Beckwith, Family, Life Lessons, Parenting, Raising the Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation, Women

Elizabeth Beckwith: Readers Advisory Book/Review Swap

9780061759574

Sometimes funny people write books that are meant to be funny but aren’t.  Elizabeth Beckwith is as funny on the page as she is on the stage.  Check out this great review in Booklist. Then check out the book itself.  Free copies to 25 lucky people who promise to send in a review – and tell all their friends about this funny writer.  Just shoot us an email at librarylovefest at harpercollins.com.
-Virginia

Beckwith, Elizabeth. Raising the Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation. HarperCollins. Oct. 2009. 256p. ISBN 978-0-06-175957-4. pap. $14.99. HUMOR
Comedian and actress Beckwith here takes a saucy tongue-in-cheek approach to parenting advice, complete with laugh-out-loud funny chapter summaries, discussion questions, and pseudo letters from readers. Via chapters titled à la "How To Scare the Crap Out of Your Child (in a Positive Way)," readers relive much of Beckwith’s youth in her Italian Catholic family and will chortle at many of her experiences. Covering such topics as raising a nerd, Beckwith advises, "Instead of being cranky that your son didn’t make the football team, breathe a sigh of relief that he is now less likely to be involved in an ill-conceived gang-bang." Touché, Beckwith; well done!

Africa, AIDS, Collection Development, Current Affairs, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons, Malawi, Memoir, Readers Advisory Book/Review Swap, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

9780061730320

Librarians, we want to hear from you!  As you can see here, here, and here, we're wild about this book and we hope you will be, too.  Send an email to librarylovefest at harpercollins.com.  We'll send a copy of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind to you with our compliments.  The only thing ask for in return is a review of the book which we would then post on our blog. We know how busy everyone is these days so don't get hung up on the length of the review.  We just want to get the word out to readers about a book that has everyone buzzing in house.  Now we want the buzz to be outside the house! Thanks so much.

Now send us an email! (Please note, this particular offer is for librarians only.) Thanks!

Virginia Stanley
Director
Library Marketing
HarperCollinsPublishers
(212) 207-7592
virginia.stanley at harpercollins.com
www.librarylovefest.com

Books, Coop, Family, Libraries, Life Lessons, Marriage, Memoir, Michael Perry, Nancy Pearl, Population: 485, Truck: A Love Story

Nancy Pearl interviews author Mike Perry

Coop hc c The beloved author of Population: 485 and Truck: A Love Story moves to the country (with pigs, chickens, and a baby on the way). Read all about it in Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs and Parenting, a humorous, heartfelt memoir that revisits his offbeat childhood as a farm boy raised in an obscure religious sect.  Check out the full interview and be sure to visit Nancy Pearl's new blog.

-Virginia

Books, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons, Reinvention, Relationships, Women

Tune-in to Author Claire Cook on the Today Show! (New date and time)

Wildwater Previously, I posted about author Claire Cook and her new book, The Wildwater Walking Club.  For those who may have missed it, here’s the link to the article:

http://tinyurl.com/qnsuea

Claire Cook's segment on NBC-TV's "Today" Show, has been re-scheduled for Monday, September 7th in the 8 o'clock hour. This is definitely something you wont want to miss!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Alcoholism, Books, Current Affairs, Family, Family Lineage, Kaylie Jones, Lies My Mother Never Told Me, Life Lessons, Memoir, New York Times

Kaylie Jones Gets a Rave from The New York Times

LiesMyMother hc c We are so thrilled with the response to Kaylie Jones' memoir, Lies My Mother Never Told Me.  In this weekend's New York Times Janet Maslin calls the book "A bright, fast-paced memoir with an inviting spirit." Here's a longer excerpt from the review:

"When an editor suggested deleting 350 profanities from the manuscript of “From Here to Eternity,” Jones responded: “You know there is nothing salacious in this book as well as I do. Therefore, whatever changes you want made along that line will be made for propriety, and propriety is a very inconstant thing.” His daughter has learned that lesson: she doesn’t let propriety blunt her memories." 

Check out Bobby's first post on Lies My Mother Never Told Me, which includes a fabulous video of Kaylie discussing her reasons for writing it. 

-Kayleigh

Beach, Books, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons, Reinvention, Relationships, Women

Tune-in to Author Claire Cook on the Today Show!

Wildwater Claire Cook, author of The Wildwater Walking Club, (on sale now) will be featured on NBC-TV's "Today" Show.  Claire Cook's segment is scheduled for Monday, August 17th in the 8 o'clock hour. 

The Wildwater Walking Club is a hilarious and heartwarming story of three very different women, all living in the same beach suburban town, whose walks take them in new and surprising directions.

On Monday, June 29, NBC-TV’s “Today” show taped a home visit with Claire Cook, while she and correspondent Amy Robach went for a walk on the beach.  “Today” also filmed Claire giving a talk and doing a signing at her local store, Front Street Bookstore in Scituate, MA. 

The “Today” Show is filming Claire as part of a story on reinvention – and who is more perfect to discuss this than Claire? – who wrote her first book (at age 45) while sitting in her minivan outside her daughter’s swim practices.  Claire literally reinvented herself as a novelist in mid-life and this theme factors in all of Claire’s novels, which will be mentioned on air. Claire gave her workshop on reinvention at the bookstore that evening, so this segment should fit nicely into their story about how to tap into your creativity if you are out of work in this terrible economy.

Beverly Cleary, Books, Jezebel, Libraries, Life Lessons, Lois Duncan, Shelf Discovery, Lizzie Skurnick, YA, Zoe Heller

Lizzie Skurnick Loves Libraries!

Shelf Discovery The following is a love letter to librarians from Lizzie Skurnick, author of the recently published Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading,  a sentimental look-back to the children’s and YA books we loved in our youth.

Who could forget Beverly Cleary’s Fifteen and Lois Duncan’s When the Bough Breaks — books that dealt with the lives and dramas of adolescent girls on their own terms, in their own worlds?
 
Shelf Discovery is a funny look at these important and, for many adolescent girls, life-changing books. It includes essays from other writers on their favorite well-and little-known teen books and authors, in-depth essays about the leading teen authors, a cover gallery, “extra credit” reading lists, plus an online component with Q&As from famous YA authors featured in the book, vintage cover art, a “plotfinder” section, recipes for unforgettable meals from YA books (Harriet’s tomato sandwich, anyone?), book club guides, and a place for readers to post their own memories and insights.

So…to the lucky first 25 who reply to this post, we will send a complimentary copy of Shelf Discovery.  We’d love to hear what you think of this trip down memory lane, so send in your reviews and we’ll gladly post them.  Happy Reading!

Dear Librarian,

I can still remember the exact cover of the book (pink plastic dust jacket, fraying) and where it was shelved (fourth bookcase on the right towards the back, middle of the second shelf from top). The spine had long since been rubbed to illegibility, and, looked at from the side, the crumbling pages were jagged, like teeth. The condition of the book may have been due to the fact that my grade school library in Englewood, NJ simply was in dire need of funding. But I suspect I inflicted much of this damage personally—since for a period of some months, that copy of Louisa May Alcott’s An Old-Fashioned Girl was, twice a week, the only one I ever stamped out.

Books, infidelity, Julie Metz, Life Lessons, Love, Marriage, Memoir, Perfection

Perfection

Perfection When you discover the life you were living was all a lie, how do you start over?  Graphic designer Julie Metz had to figure that all out when she was faced not only with the sudden death of her young husband but the discovery that he had been unfaithful to her during their marriage.

Perfection is a deeply honest and intelligent memoir that deals with the complexities of forgiveness and betrayal when a young widow discovers her husband's infidelities after his death.

Elizabeth Gilbert wrote this: "It's wonderful–clean, clear, honest, heartbreaking, lucid, fair and thoughtful. And it will help women whose husbands have convinced them that they're frigid or crazy or manic…it is another brick laid on the roadway toward truthfulness."

-Virginia

Books, Daniel James Brown, Libraries, Life Lessons, New York Times, The Indifferent Stars Above

A Guest Blog from Daniel James Brown

Today we have a guest blog from Daniel James Brown, author of The Indifferent Stars Above, which just received a great review in the New York Times.  Dan writes: "Recently, almost forty years after the fact, I came back to the library that changed my life, perhaps even saved my life, in 1969…"

   

Books, Chris Gardner, Family, Happiness, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons

Chris Gardner Speaks…

StartWhereYouAre hc c Last month, I wrote about Chris Gardner’s amazing follow up to his New York Times bestseller, The Pursuit of HappynessStart Where You Are: Life Lessons in the Pursuit of Happyness, on sale in May of 2009 gives over forty lessons on how to not only make your dreams reality, but help you navigate on this crazy road we call “life”.  After each lesson there are “assignments” or exercises that you can do to fully understand that lesson and make it a part of your life.   Check out Chris Gardner’s video where he talks about the motivation behind Start Where You Are and how you can gain that needed push to start your life anew.  Enjoy!

-Bobby

Africa, Books, Current Affairs, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Memoir, The Daily Show, This Child Will Be Great

Jon Stewart Loves Ellen Johnson Sirleaf!

We're loving Jon Stewart's interview with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and the author of This Child Will Be Great.  In her stirring memoir, Sirleaf shares the inside story of her rise to power, including her early childhood; her experiences with abuse, imprisonment, and exile; and her fight for democracy and social justice. Stewart referred to her "remarkable journey," and went on to say "You've got to read this book." Check out the clip below, browse inside the book, and let us know what you think!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M – Th 11p / 10c
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Economic Crisis Political Humor

-Kayleigh 

Books, Current Affairs, Libraries, Life Lessons, Shakespeare

Wishing Shakespeare a Happy Birthday

9780061493515

Though April 23rd is not historically-proven to be Shakespeare's birthday, we can be sure he was christened around this time, hence naming April 23rd his official birthday.  I know die-hard fans (myself included) will cherish any excuse to celebrate the man, the bard, the genius.  Proving my point is 'Talk Like Shakespeare Day' in Chicago, an official city-wide holiday in which people can quote the bard to their heart's content.  With that in mind, the perfect book to recommend to your patrons today is, unsurprisingly, Barry Edelstein's Bardisms: a collection of Shakespearean bon mots for all occasions.  Edelstein has quotes for everything–from global warming to break-ups, and everything in between.  Bardisms is a wonderfully compact look at some of Shakespeare's greatest lines, all of which can fit to accommodate occasions or life events in 2009.  The section on wedding toasts is particularly helpful– especially if you're sick of hearing people read from Corinthians.  Now, fly hence, and browse inside.

-Kayleigh

Barbara Graham, Books, Family, Life Lessons

Eye of my Heart

Check out this great video for Eye of My Heart: 27 Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother by Barbara Graham. This wonderful collection on ‘grandmothering’ includes writings from Anne Roiphe, Jill Nelson, Judith Guest, Ellen Gilchrist, Jill Viorst.  Each has a terrific, insightful and brutally honest take on their role as grandmother.  Thought provoking essays by baby-boomer nanas. We’d love to hear your thoughts…


-Virginia



 




Books, Current Affairs, Debbie Phelps, Michael Phelps, Family, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Memoir, Sports

Debbie Phelps’ Memoir Hits Shelves

9780061780011 In 2008, an astounding 157 million people watched The Beijing Olympics.  Many of them, myself included, watched in the hopes of seeing Michael Phelps break Mark Spitz' record.  But when Michael achieved the impossible with his record-shattering eight gold-medal wins, Debbie Phelps nearly stole the show. Few could forget the homage that Michael consistently paid to the one person most responsible for making it all possible: his mom. While Beijing will forever beremembered the world over, very few know the behind-the-scenes stories as lived by the members of Team Phelps—a roller-coaster ride full of dramatic ups and downs, heartbreaks, and disappointments, yet one guided to triumph by vision, courage, and tenacity. Now at last, in A Mother for All Seasons, we're given the untold story as lived by the mom on the team.  Check out this Associated Press story on A Mother for All Seasons, and Debbie's interview on the Today show. Be sure to let us know what you think of this buzz-worthy memoir!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

-Kayleigh

Books, Current Affairs, Family, Happiness, Inspiration, Libraries, Life Lessons

Start Where You Are

Do you ever have those moments where you allow your mind to wonder about life?  Do you think about where you are and where you are going?  Have you ever thought about a dream you once had, but allowed it to become a distant memory?  Start Where You Are gives realistic strategies on how to put a new spring in your step.

StartWhereYouAre hc cStart Where You Are: Life Lessons in the Pursuit of Happyness, written by Chris Gardner gives over forty lessons on how to not only make your dreams reality, but help you navigate on this crazy road we call “life”.  After each lesson there are “assignments” or exercises that you can do to fully understand that lesson and make it a part of your life. 

Start Where You Are, the follow up to his best-selling memoir The Pursuit of Happyness, answers the two questions he is asked more than any others…”How did you do it” and “How can I do it too?” Start Where You Are, on sale in May of 2009 gives us even more inspiration by showing us examples from Chris Gardner’s life experiences.

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