Nancy Pearl, librarian, bestselling author, literary critic and all-around good egg offers up some great talking points when recommending books.
Check out her 2012 TED talk, Reading With Purpose.
-Virginia
It is a great honor to have four (omg!) books on Nancy Pearl's 10 Faves of 2012 list. How awesome is that?? I was going to quote some witty person on how having good taste is such a virtue, but apparently no one seems to think it was! Examples:
"Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing” – Pablo Picasso.
"A man of great common sense and good taste is a man without originality or moral courage.” – George Bernard Shaw
"Good taste is the excuse I've always given for leading such a bad life” – Oscar Wilde
So never mind that, but definitely check out her list because I know her HarperCollins picks are excellent, and I would wager good present buying money that her other picks are great as well.
– Annie
If you were at the ALA conference in 2010 you may have caught this great interview with Nancy Pearl and Mary Murphy, filmmaker and the author of SCOUT, ATTICUS & BOO. For an hour we were treated to clips from Ms. Murhpy’s documentary, HEY, BOO. It was one of the highlights of the conference.
Now Ms. Murphy’s documentary is airing in its entirety on PBS. Mark your calendars! Friday, April 2nd at 10:00pm. The documentary explores Lee's life and unravels some of the mysteries surrounding her, including why she never published again. Containing never-before-seen photos and letters and an exclusive interview with Lee’s sister, Alice Finch Lee, the film also brings to light the context and history of the novel's Deep South setting and the social changes it inspired after publication.
If you’re not going to be home, DVR this. You won’t want to miss it!
– Virginia
Like most of you, we consider ourselves to be Nancy Pearl devotees. And though we go to bat for all of our titles, there's an extra-special thrill when Nancy loves something we publish. This was just the case at the ALA Midwinter conference in San Diego, when Nancy tweeted about Caribou Island, one of our hottest titles: "Reading David Vann's gorgeously crafted Caribou Island broke my heart. Wow." Moments after Nancy's tweet went out, librarians filed into our booth and–happily–discovered a pile of hardcovers that we handed to the masses.
Another librarian-favorite also found favor with Nancy: Jacqueline Winspear's The Mapping of Love and Death. She wrote: "Forgot to tweet how much I ♥ Jacqueline Winspear's Mapping of Love and Death; can't wait to read the new one [A Lesson in Secrets] this April. You go, Maisie!"
If you'd like to join in the lovefest, check out the catalog pages for Caribou Island and A Lesson in Secrets, and be sure to follow Nancy on Twitter, @Nancy_Pearl.
Everybody’s favorite librarian/booklover/action figure doll has a GREAT video talking about her latest book, Book Lust to Go. Check it out:
Love her!
-Virginia
The wise and wonderful Nancy Pearl has just published another sure-fire bestseller, BOOKLUST TO GO. Travel the world with recommended reading from the woman who has an uncanny ability to remember details from every book she has ever read!
And if that’s not enough, check out this hilarious Nancy Pearl t-shirt that was created by and available from the brilliant minds at www.unshelved.com
Viva el Libro!
- Virginia
Nancy Pearl, everyone’s favorite librarian action figure and all-around amazing booktalker is going to be the guest of honor at a fundraising brunch in Brooklyn, NY! The event is a benefit for a new show entitled Terrible Things which is about Nancy’s pre-action figure life! The show is written by and starring her daughter, Katie Pearl. See below for more info on the benefit and the show!
You are invited to Brunch with
Nancy Pearl
Librarian, Action Figure, and Book Recommender to the World!
Saturday November 21st 11-1:30pm
At the Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn Heights, NY
To benefit the upcoming production of
TERRIBLE THINGS
A new performance by Katie Pearl and Lisa D’Amour
Premiering 12/4-12/20 at Performance Space 122, NYC
When you join us, you will:
Feast on local eats, coffee and cocktails
Indulge in book lust and conversation with Nancy Pearl
Luxuriate in the Cathedral-esque wonderland of the historic Packer School
SNEAK-A-PEAK at Nancy's OBIE Award-winning daughter's new performance, featuring stories from Nancy's pre-action figure life!
TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE BENEFIT BRUNCH WITH NANCY, CLICK HERE:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/87806
Ticket Information:
$35 – one ticket to the benefit ($20 rate available for students, artists, and the unemployed)
$50 – one ticket to the benefit, PLUS a ticket to opening weekend of TERRIBLE THINGS
$85 (15% off!) – two tickets to the benefit, PLUS two tickets to opening weekend of TERRIBLE THINGS
$250 – two tickets to the benefit, two tickets to any night of TERRIBLE THINGS, plus a one-on-one get together with Nancy!
The OBIE-Award winning team of PearlDamour turns PS122 into a low-rent IMAX in their newest dance theater piece TERRIBLE THINGS. Let them take you on a T-R-I-P inside the quarks, molecules, and memories of Katie Pearl and her Action Figure Mom. CLICK HERE for more info on the show, or visit us at PearlDarmour.com.
Hope to see you there!
-Virginia
