World Book Night is almost upon us!

World Book Night is exactly two weeks from today! I'm giddy with anticipation! I'm also looking forward to seeing the books themselves. Apparently they will look a little different from the normal sale editions, with WBN promo information all over them. I hope they don't look lame because of it.

I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to be handing books out yet, so I'm open to suggestions. I don't, however, anticipate having a whole lot of trouble getting rid of 20 copies of The Hunger Games.

The list is kind of weird. I can't for the life of me figure out why they would hand out copies of the 17th book in a series (Q  by Sue Grafton). The Stand is massive, also not a book I would have chosen for those who don't read all the time. I'm all about the diversity of the list though, Ender's Game is classic Sci-Fi that is a great gateway into the genre. Friday Night Lights is great for non-readers and Because of Winn Dixie is a fantastic kids book. 

I would have liked to see some less know titles on the list. Maybe sub out The Stand for Horns by Joe Hill, or The Bean Trees instead of The Poisonwood Bible. I'm not entirely sure The Lovely Bones hasn't out lived it's hype, I would not have included it in my list of thirty.

What book would you have liked to see on the list?

A Guest Post or A Concise Review of The Hunger Games From Someone Who Hadn't Read Them.

For a long time, I sold books for a living.

I started when Harry Potter was beginning its world domination. Over the years, I watched as the HP crowd finished the series and picked up Twilight, Percy Jackson and the Inheritance Cycle. And while I relished putting books of any kind into the hands of the Facebook obsessed, I did not read these literary blockbusters myself. When the world’s attention turned to Hunger Games, I didn’t blink an eye.

I read Economics. I read Business books. I read…Self Improvement. Basically, everything that attracts a reader - like, say, Meg - to a book is exactly what I am not into: dragons, fairies, character names with y’s where there should be i’s. Point of fact, I just typed my name into an Elven name generator, and I got Cadothyel. Yeah - go in peace, but no thanks. As soon as I learned that we were dealing with a Katniss, I knew I would not be partaking in the trilogy.

But everybody else on earth did partake, and momentum gathered. Eventually, I came across the trailer for Hunger Games at the theater, and I felt...strangely excited. Wait, it’s a futuristic dystopia? I can watch teenagers battle to the death? And everyone has normal ears? This seems more like Orwell and Margaret Atwood than Stephanie Meyer.

And when I saw it, it was great. Without ever having cracked the book, I followed everything in the movie with ease. The world of Panem was fascinating as translated to the screen. Great performances, riveting story, lots of gore. A great movie all around.

The best part? I’ll probably pick up Catching Fire the book. I’m hooked. Score one for Young Adult!

Hunger Games: A Rambling Review

So, I went to see The Hunger Games with a few companions this past weekend. I found it to be an overall emotionally fulfilling experience. It didn't quite match my vision from reading the books, but it came closer than most of the Harry Potter films to matching the world that the author had created.

I read the books when I worked at Borders. We were going to have a book club events for them and I was the most likely candidate for hosting them. I'd been procrastinating about reading them, I got about 20 "You must read this book!" recommendations a day.   Even I'm not that good no matter how hard I try, so they languished in my ever expanding 'to read' list until someone in the corporate office bumped it up in priority for me. I do not regret my procrastination. If I had read it when it was suggested originally, I would have had to wait years to finish the trilogy and might have just died of anticipation. As it was I had to wait three weeks for Mockingjay to come out and that was torturous!

I did not reread before I saw the film. I know many did (including Kristen Cashore, who wrote a very good blog about her reread, sparking my desire to reread her own books before Bitterblue comes out in  May.  So excited!) but I felt no over whelming compulsion to reread them whatsoever, so I read books that I had never read before instead.

All that being said, the film captured the feel of books flawlessly without having the advantage of taking place as a first person narrative. I did have to explain a few details to one companion who did not read the book because they were a little vague, but they were periphery details for the most part.

The world itself didn't quite match my vision. District 12 was a little less Depression era and a little more forced conformity, in my mind. Other areas were really enriched for me, I loved seeing the people of the Capitol, and the costumes were fantastic and came across as abundantly right.

Lenny Kravitz did not ruin the movie. I had been more than a little concerned. I love my rock stars as much as the next girl, but mostly they should stay on stage and out of films except for tiny cameos. I would have even been happy to see a little more of him to be honest. 

There were a few changes to the actual story that stood out. The origin of the mockingjay pin is different, which seems like a time saver more than anything else. I guess some things had to give to make the book fit into the much shorter movie. I will miss the back story of it that shows up in Catching Fire.

 Want to know what it is? You'll have to read the book,  I'm not telling.

The other bit that they changed is super spoilery so I can't tell you what it is. If you come in on a Thursday when Vickie isn't here (or if she'd just read them already!) we can talk about it. Until then, my editor and overlord has forbade me from writing things that will ruin the story for her and I must oblige, as she is after all the Literary Overlord and must be obeyed.  
Any how, I'm getting rambley. The bookseller verdict is, read the book because books are always a good use of time, but if you really feel no compulsion to do so you can watch the movie and be okay.

Some Book Recommendations For Your Not So Wintery Winter

Winter is generally a time to curl up in front of a roaring fire, under a blanket (I prefer down) and catch up on a neglected to be read pile.  Although this has been a somewhat different sort of winter, that does not mean books should be ignored.  With that I have some recommendations to transport you as we wait for the winter to end, and the sweet rebirth of spring to commence.  As luck would have it, we have all of these books available at the bookstore, in either new or used incarnations for your reading pleasure.

Storm Front, by Jim Butcher.  

I cannot stress how great the Harry Dresden series is.  The secret here, like most fantasy, is you absolutely have to read past the first book.  It is good, but the series itself is great.  Harry Dresden is the country's only opening practicing Wizard.  The Dresden Files has an amazing ensemble cast, with a hard-boiled private detective in the lead.  Who just happens to be a wizard.  There are also werewolves, vampires, fairies, clairvoyants, ghosts, necromancers, demons,  and a host of other supernatural beings.  I often bill it as Harry Potter for grownups.  Although it is a little more based in our world typically than a fantasy world, I think, the comparison still holds true.  

Jim Butcher has written 13 Dresden books, and a short story collection, and he's not done yet.  He will release another this year, and for many years to come.  So if you run out, he'll make more.

We typically try to keep most of the series in at any given time new, because although it began over 10 years ago, I have only seen one copy of the first book used.  People love it and don't give it up.  You can't have my copy.

Also an amazing series, The Dark Tower, by Stephen King.  This one starts with The Gunslinger.  This is another series that once you read the first book, you absolutely immediately have to pick up the second and move on.  You will not regret it.  The Dark Tower is epic fantasy, and doesn't really hit it's stride until the second book when King has introduced us to most of the main characters.  It is about Roland Deschain's quest for the Dark Tower, but more than that it is about the journey.  This we do have it available used, but make sure you pick up the first two, and not just the first one.  It would be a great tragedy if you read the first and then stopped. 

Although the series is technically finished, King has written a novel that bridges the gap between the 4th and 5th books that will be released in April.  There is also a two volume concordance and several graphic novels. 

I'll leave you with these two for now, as between the two series they amount to over 21 books.  That should keep you busy.  And if fantasy is not your cup of tea, there is always something we can recommend for you.  We take recommendations very seriously, so give us a shot.  Are there any great books you have read lately that you would like to tell us about?

World Book Night 2012

World Book Night 2011 is scheduled to debut in the United States on April 23rd 2012.  World Book Night is an annual even where people give free books away to people who wouldn't ordinarily read a book.  It's a great way to foster reading, and there's still a very small window of opportunity to sign up to be a book giver by the deadline of February 1st.  Please take this opportunity to consider signing up.  It promises to be fun time where you get to give free copies of one of 30 outstanding titles, at absolutely no cost to you, other than some of your time.  For more information please go here http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/ .  We know we'll be doing it, how about you?

A Few Bookish Links For Your Morning.

Here is some breathtaking book art that is surreptitiously popping up in various libraries in Scotland.  I cannot imagine having the patience to painstakingly create the magical works of art, although I admire the artist for giving them away, and his/her love of the written word.

Here are 5 Books from 2001 that stick with you.  As the year winds down, there are many best of lists floating around the Internet, and what are the best books, if not those that leave an indelible mark on your soul?  We haven't read any of these yet, have you?

According to this article, via GalleyCat, over 3 billion words were written during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November.  Be honest, did you try to write a book this year?  How did it turn out?

And the works of William Faulkner are coming to HBO.  I admit that As I Lay Dying, is one of my favorite books, but I'm not sure how stream of consciousness will translate into TV.  Faulkner's books are sometimes best understood by reading them aloud.  Has anyone tried to tackle Faulkner?  I will admit to multiple failed attempts at The Sound and the Fury.  How do you think Faulkner will adapt to TV?

That's all for now, please leave any responses in the comments.

Small Business Saturday is November 26th

We thought we'd start to spread the word about Small Business Saturday on November 26th.  Small Business Saturday is in its second year, and we'd like to take the opportunity to invite you all to join us, and support the small businesses in our communities.  Big businesses have Black Friday, online businesses have Cyber Monday, and now Small Businesses have Small Business Saturday.  So we urge you to go here  http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/  and pledge to support the small businesses in our community on November 26th.


More than anything else, business owners say they need more people coming into their
shops and buying their goods and services.  
Here’s how you can help:
 
• Learn more about this effort by visiting the
www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday.  Join the 1.5 million people who
“like” Small Business Saturday on Facebook.  You can also give a shout-out for
your favorite local shops and restaurants and encourage those in your social
networks to shop at small businesses on November 26.


• Most of all, I encourage you to do some of your holiday and everyday shopping
at small businesses, especially on Small Business Saturday.
More than 200 partners are working together to build on the success of last year’s
inaugural event that drove millions of dollars to small businesses.


 Please join us in participating in the second annual Small Business Saturday.

Thank you.