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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

More Book-ish Stuff from Stephen Colbert.

Nice interview by Stephen Colbert with John Green, author of the excellent book, The Fault in Our Stars.

Colbert, "As far as I can tell, a young adult novel is a regular novel that people actually read."


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Fun Summer Read: Neil Gaiman's 2008 YA Novel, The Graveyard Book.

This weekend I finally read Neil Gaiman's 2008 young adult novel, The Graveyard Book. It is terrific. If you are an adult who enjoys the occasional YA book, read this one. It is an exciting mystery and fantasy story.

The Graveyard Book begins with the murder of a little boy's family. I found it chilling! (Note to parents, considering reading the first chapter yourself so you can determine whether or not your child is the right age for this story). The little boy escapes by accident and coincidence, toddling out the front door. He subsequently ends up down the road in a very old graveyard. While the ghosts in the graveyard consider what to do with a baby, the spirit of the boy's mother arrives and implores the ghostly community to take care of her boy. The murderer hasn't disappeared. He intends to get this child, too, no matter how long it takes. Moved by this plea, the ghosts decide to raise the boy and keep him safe from this threat for as long as they can.

How the boy grows up in the graveyard and the resolution of this threat to his life is the gripping story that spins out in the rest of the novel. A terrific story for a summer read, check out The Graveyard Book.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Books Turned into Shows

J.K. Rowling's book The Casual Vacancy is being adapted into a miniseries by the BBC/HBO. Variety reported that the show "will comprise three one-hour parts, with production slated to begin July 7 in South West England."


With respect to her post-Potter books, I prefer The Cuckoo's Calling over The Casual Vacancy and think Cuckoo would be a better miniseries. But then again, I am not a t.v. executive.

(Psssst! Read this one!)

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Words of Wisdom: Quotes from Maya Angelou

These are useful, lovely, and worth memorizing.


  • “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 


  •  “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude." 


  •  “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” 


  •  “Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.” 


  •  “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. 


  •  “If someone shows you who they really are, believe them.” 


  •  “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” 


  • “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. 


  • “If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.” 


  • “Nothing will work unless you do.”


Source: The Wall Street Journal 5/28/14

Monday, June 2, 2014

Audio Book Fans: Check Out This Year's Audie Award Winners

No disc? No problem. Check out the Audie Award winners.


From the Audio Publishers Association: Audie Award Finalists and Winners.

The Association named Billy Crystal's audio book, Still Foolin' Em, the book of the year.

No surprise there.