Buried Treasure

Sorry for the absence last week folks. Things were a little crazy but have finally calmed down. Right. Let's get to this!

Books will often offer hidden treasures in their stories. But sometimes, you can find something more. Specifically, have you ever bought a used book and found someone else's shopping list tucked away between page 98 and 99? When I looked through one of my old books, I found the bookmark from the store where I bought it (the store had closed down years ago). Sometimes, my mom would use heavy books to press dried flowers. Musician Dan Zanes once used a book to store a prized possession given him by his mother — a rare photograph of J. D. Salinger, taken by Mrs. Zanes’s mentor, the German photographer Lotte Jacobi. Henry Alford wrote in The New York Times Book Review that one time even bacon was found within a book's pages. Though, I have to question that one.

So, how about any of you out there? Have you ever found some interesting item in a book? Any of you used a book to stash a little something?

In Library News

Local Libraries Seeing More Use

With the poor state of the economy, people are spending less money on books and heading off for their local library. In an article in The Cape Cod Times, contributing writer Laurie Higgins said:

"Public libraries are no longer just quiet places where people go to check out books or study. In the past 10 years, librarians have worked hard to respond to patrons' needs, and today many libraries are vibrant community centers offering information, education, modern technology and entertainment."

It's a great thing that libraries offer these services for their communities. Unfortunately, some could face the possibility closing due to state budget cuts. Let's just hope that this doesn't happen and that these library can continue to provide a haven for the many avid readers out there who are trimming their book buying budget in these tough economic times.

Fairstein's Latest Book Involves NYC Public Library

Speaking of Libraries, Linda Fairstein's latest book Lethal Legacy will bring readers into a fascinating world: The New York Public Library's rare books and maps archives. Lethal Legacy is the eleventh book in a series featuring Manhattan sex-crimes prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.

Author Linda Fairstein touring the NYC Public Library

That Perfect Gift

Are you a last minute Christmas shopper? Me too. So, if you're wondering what to get for someone, allow me to make the same suggestion other writers have been making: Books. New or used, they make great gifts, especially if you can get them signed or find a rare book. So, here are a few of my suggestions (some are newer books, some not so much, but I think they're all great):

Anything of William Shakespeare's

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff
When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder
Beloved by Toni Morrison
My Name is Will by Jess Winfield
Nox Dormienda by Kelli Stanley
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Once Were Cops by Ken Bruen
Boneyard by Michelle Gagnon
Just After Sunset by Stephen King
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The Complete Collected Poems of Mya Angelou
The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Okay, hopefully that list will give you a few ideas. And remember (even if I did link to Amazon for the book descriptions) please be sure to support your local independent bookseller.

Farewell Rebus

In a New York Times article, Ian Rankin's latest John Rebus novel Exit Music is referred to as a milestone. And it's with a very simple reason: this latest Rebus novel marks the end of the series according to Rankin. Although, (not having read the book myself) who knows? After all, unless Rebus dies in this book, there's always a possibility of return. And even "death" didn't stop Sherlock Holmes from returning.

Inked

I love books just as much as the next person. My shelves are starting to bow under the weight of the many tomes I've collected over the years. However, I don't think I'm quite as dedicated as some of these people. Talk about wearing your emotions on your sleeve.

Are you a writer?

Much like Jeff Foxworthy came up with ways to tell if you're a redneck (ie. you do your Christmas shopping at a truck stop), Adair Lara, who founded an on-line writing community called Matchwriters.com, compiled a book with signs to tell if you're a writer. It's titled, funny enough, You Know You're a Writer When...
So what are some of the signs?

You know you're a writer when...

• You drink coffee black because Balzac did
• You accidentally sign a check with your pen name
• The cafe won't lend you pens anymore
• Not writing makes you depressed
• You keep a notebook under your pillow

Any of this sound familiar?

I am Amazon, hear me roar!

Apparently, small presses are also now feeling the strong arm tactics by Amazon.com. This started with Amazon saying that any POD book that is sold on Amazon.com must be printed by BookSurge. Those who don't comply, will have the buy button on their page "turned off."

For those of you who may not be up to speed or want a quick refresher course of what exactly is going on, you can find out at the Writer's Weekly website.

Is that a fact?

Are you someone who enjoys strange facts and trivia? Then perhaps this book is for you. Secret Lives of Great Authors by Robert Schnakenberg reveals to the reader some lesser known facts of some very well known writers. Did you know that:

• After being given a bad review, Ernest Hemingway wrestled the critic to the floor
  
  
• F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda would sometimes show up at parties drunk and bark like wild dogs
  
  
• Toni Morrison is a fan of the show Law & Order
  
  
• Kurt Vonnegut once owned a Saab dealership

These are only a few of the interesting bits of trivia about some of the greatest writers, from Shakespeare and Lord Byron all the way to J.D. Salinger and Thomas Pynchon, found in this entertaining book.

Odds and Ends

All in the family
This month, two second generation writers will all have new offerings.

• The Genius by Jesse Kellerman
• Zapped by Carol Higgins Clark

Novel Writing
There are numerous books on how to write a novel, so why aren't there any books that tell you how NOT to write a novel? Good news. Now there is. You can check it out here.

Happy Birthday Converse!
I'm sure at some point in their life, many people owned at least one pair of Chuck Taylor canvas sneakers. Today, there are a multitude of colors and patterns. It may be hard to believe, but it's been 100 years since Marquis Mills Converse began making simple, rubber-sole work shoes in a factory outside Boston that would eventually lead to one of the most popular shoes of all time. Shoes have always come and gone, but those Chucks were always there.