Library Love Fest

Wishing Shakespeare a Happy Birthday

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

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

 

Debbie Phelps' Memoir Hits Shelves

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

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.

Start 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.