Library Love Fest

Parks and Recreation Hates Libraries

Just kidding.  Last night's show was pretty hilarious in terms of librarian jokes.  Did anyone happen to watch? Check out the clip. 

Happy Friday!

-Kayleigh

"Wild Wednesday" Madness

As you all know, we here at HarperLibrary are just WILD about our books.  We get even wilder when it comes to sharing them with you.  I have to tell you about this book…it is full of useful tips and information that I know will make your lives just a little easier.

Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon:  A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There, by Mark Di Vincenzo (on sale now) is a fascinating book that gives you information on everything you could possibly imagine…and a few things you didn’t.  Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon is a complete guide that tells you the best time of the day, week, month or year to do just about everything.  Whether you are contemplating the best evening to catch your favorite play or the best season to buy your favorite fruit, Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon will help you make the best decision that will comfort your mind and your wallet!

I enjoyed Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon so much that I just had to share some of the tips Mark Di Vincenzo provides with you.  Here are a few my favorites (with a brief description):

1. When is the best time of the day to buy shoes? (My all time favorite…you all know why!)
Late afternoon.  That’s when your feet have swelled and are at their largest size. Buying shoes in the late afternoon means they'll fit just fine in the morning when your feet are at their smallest.

2. When is the best time of the month to buy a car?
The end.  That’s when dealerships are most desperate to make their quotas.

3. When is the best day of the week to eat dinner out?
Tuesday.  Most restaurants don’t receive deliveries on Saturdays and Sundays and many are closed on Mondays…food deliveries start early in the week, so the food served on Tuesday is fresh.

4. When is the best time to go to a Department of Motor Vehicle Office?
Midmorning, mid-afternoon, middle of the week, and middle of the month.  The worst time of the month is the end…the worst day of the week is Saturday.

5. When is the best month to buy toys?
October or November.  New toys often arrive in stores in September, and retailers will wait a few weeks before lowering prices to try to beat their competitors’ prices.

6. Which is the best day of the week to shop for airline tickets?
Monday or Tuesday.  That’s when airlines often lower fares, and in fact, Tuesday is when most travelers buy tickets. Airlines raise fares later in the week.


I really enjoyed reading this book.  Given the times we live in…an uncertain economy, over the top prices and no clear end to it all, this book gives us ways to make life easier and hopefully better. 

I am SO wild about this book that I would love to hear your comments.  I will send free copies to the 25 lucky people who send us a comment or an email at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com  If you would be so kind as to send a brief review of the book, I would greatly appreciate it!  I hope you find Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon as informative and entertaining as I have.

Enjoy!

-Bobby

This Book is Overdue!

The buzz continues to grow for This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson.   Due out in February, this book explores the role of librarians today and focuses on the increasing demands to keep up with the onslaught of new technology.  This book is an homage to librarians everywhere – and it is long overdue! Check out this interesting Q&A the author did with The Desk Set, a site written by ‘a group of New York City area librarians, archivists, bibliophiles and other bookish types,’ and be sure to read the first chapter here.  
 
-Virginia

The Body in the Sleigh

The Body in the Sleigh, Katherine Hall Page’s 18th book in the Faith Fairchild mystery series goes on sale today.

This is a terrific page-turner that’ll keep you in your seat. Aside from the terrific plot, beautiful setting, wonderful characters and yummy easy-to-make recipes, the book has one more thing going for it:

It’s dedicated to librarians.

Read Katherine’s love letter to librarians which appears at the back of The Body in the Sleigh as well as on her website.  It’s heartfelt and beautiful.

If you’d like to write a review of this book, send us an email at librarylovefest dot harpercollins dot com and we’ll send you a copy.  I’ll be speaking with the author later today (Tuesday, October 27th at 3:00pm EST) on  Blog Talk Radio.  Write or call in with a question for Katherine, and be sure to register before the show starts.

Hope you can listen in. Thanks!

-Virginia

This Book is Overdue!

Are librarians irrelevant in the age of Google? Hell no. After years hanging out with a wide variety of librarians, Marilyn Johnson, author of the upcoming THIS BOOK IS OVERDUE!  How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All is convinced that the profession is more vital than ever.  We need libraries that embrace books and bytes -- that preserve the best of the past and help us keep pace with technology --and we need all you smart, savvy, connected librarians to help us organize and navigate them. Johnson, author of the entertaining and award-winning The Dead Beat, has written a lively and informative book about librarians in the digital age and talks about some of the (wildly) creative librarians she found who are meeting its challenges. 
 
We’re thrilled to have this book on our list.  Take a look at the first chapter and tell us what you think.  We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

-Virginia

Manhood for Amateurs

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  

Highest Duty, Amazing Video

By now just about everyone has seen the surreal footage of the US Airways plane that glided into the icy waters of the Hudson River in New York City last January in an emergency landing.   We saw the passengers standing on the wings of the plane – knee deep in water – waiting to be pulled into the boats that immediately converged on the scene.  It’s hard not to imagine what it must’ve been like for the passengers on that plane.   Harder still would be to imagine what it was like to be the man at the controls of that plane.

In his new book Highest Duty, Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airways flight 1549, details not only the events of that unforgettable day, but he also reveals the inner workings of his life: where he comes from, his military background, and the important people, places, and events that have shaped him. Sully has a very strong work ethic and has always pushed himself to achieve excellence in every endeavor.

FYI…a few weeks after the crash, Sully discovered that he’d lost a library book about professional ethics, Just Culture: Balancing Safety and Accountability, in the downed plane’s cargo hold. When he called the library to notify them, they waived the usual fees. Mayor Michael Bloomberg replaced the book when he gave Sully the Key to the City in a New York ceremony.  Check out this great video and fasten your seatbelts.  This is quite the story…

-Virginia

The Machine

Attention all you sports fans!  Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane with this exciting book by Joe Posnanski.  The Machine, on sale now takes a look at the 1975 Cincinnati Reds.  Considered one of the greatest teams in baseball history, The Machine explores everything the team went through to gain that status...the highs, the lows, the fights and the victories.  

Also, check out this great review from Brad Allen, Adult Services Supervisor for the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.  Here is the link:   http://tinyurl.com/yjzkc8q

Many thanks to Brad and everyone at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library!   I hope The Machine brings back fond memories of yesteryear or gives you the motivation to cheer on your favorite team.

Enjoy,

-Bobby
(GO YANKEES!)

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

Banned Books Week!

What reminds you of Autumn? Pumpkins, apple-picking, that first brisk chill in the air? How about Banned Books Week? BBW takes place every year during the last week of September and recognizes the efforts of booksellers, teachers, and librarians who ensure that we, as citizens, have open access to information.  It's a time to reflect on the vital importance of our First Amendment rights. Take a peek at what Ken Davis has to say about BBW, get more info from the American Library Association, and check out this list of frequently challenged titles, including To Kill A Mockingbird, Native Son, Rebecca, and Brave New World.  What's your favorite challenged book? 

-Kayleigh