The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato is one of those novels you fall into, and can't believe you could have missed. (I never saw the hardcover). This is a first novel, and it has alot of moments that feel personal, intimate, they actually happened to the author.
I love the city of Venice, so anything with this many wonderful reviews is going to grab my attention (thank you Library for having this book!). She absolutely captivates her audience from both the 1681 story of the venetian glassblowers who create the Versaille Mirrors for Louis XIV to the story of his present day descendent Lenonora who leaves London, her marraige and country, for her art and heritage. The history is excellent. The descriptions are delightful (I loved the page solely on her experience of listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons IN the cathedral it had been originally played in.) I loved the feel of present day Venice, as well as the whispers and deja vu of the past. The mystery, drama and intrigue, really will take your breath away. The history lives and breathes, which is what I often feel when I visit ancient sites. Expect to be transported, in both time and space.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Calling all BLUESTOCKINGS!!
On a blue note:Remember the contest to write a piece, take a photo, or generally be creative with your bluestockings - to show your literary side. The long weekend is a perfect time to put your thinking caps on and come up with some ideas. Remember you get to pick your prize book from our rather extensive bookshelf! We will try to find titles/authors/genre if we can. Deadline is 9th June!
NB I just finished my first summer beach read Soulless by Gail Carriger, and by page 10 the main character was defined as a 'bluestocking'! Now if I could just figure out how to make a photo of vampires and werewolves and bluestockings....!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Making Haste From Babylon
Making Haste from Babylon: the Mayflower Pilgrims and their world. A New History.
Nick Bunker (2010)
I couldn't imagine what more there could be to tell about the Pilgrims. I loved the recent Mayflower book, and tend to keep up to date with this historical era. I have even visited sites on both sides of the Atlantic. I have several relatives that came over on that ship (and many since then), so have alot of historical knowledge. And here is another book, that really DOES have more insight, and even more information. There is an excellent index, as well as footnotes to each chapter, with references should you chose to delve further. Some of them are well worth reading (e.g. the title!) but also just to see what sources he found. I understand all too well the attics he must have sifted through to find many of these documents. And saved them for posterity! It is a fairly dense read, involves a lot of economics, as well as politics, but really is fascinating. I might be biased, but I will return to reread sections of this book, and have recommended it to all my family.
NB the baby robins in the photo just launched themselves into the new world today.
Contest Official Rules
Official Rules:
All entries must be electronic and emailed to: friendsbookstorerochmn@gmail.com
All entries will be posted on the Friends and Friends’ Bookstore Blog where positive comments will help determine the winning entry.
Photographs must be original and all winning individuals must agree to sign a release form for publication within our newsletters and social media sites.
Winning entries may be published in newsletters and posted on our social media sites and displayed in the Library/Friends’ Bookstore. Winner(s) may remain anonymous if they so choose.
The content of the entry must be suitable for viewing by an audience of all ages.
No more than one entry per person per contest.
Only one prize per entry.
The prizes consist of donated books; a variety of children’s, young adult, fiction, non-fiction, etc. will be available to choose from. Every effort will be made to find a book of the winner’s choice.
If your entry contains any copyrighted material the entrant will be responsible for securing the licensing rights and giving appropriate credits.
A qualified panel will review all entries and decide the contest winners.
Each entry will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Quality of entry – style, content, and enthusiasm
2. Does the entry relate to the topic?
3. Creativity of entry
4. Blog Comments
5. Overall impression
All entries must be electronic and emailed to: friendsbookstorerochmn@gmail.com
All entries will be posted on the Friends and Friends’ Bookstore Blog where positive comments will help determine the winning entry.
Photographs must be original and all winning individuals must agree to sign a release form for publication within our newsletters and social media sites.
Winning entries may be published in newsletters and posted on our social media sites and displayed in the Library/Friends’ Bookstore. Winner(s) may remain anonymous if they so choose.
The content of the entry must be suitable for viewing by an audience of all ages.
No more than one entry per person per contest.
Only one prize per entry.
The prizes consist of donated books; a variety of children’s, young adult, fiction, non-fiction, etc. will be available to choose from. Every effort will be made to find a book of the winner’s choice.
If your entry contains any copyrighted material the entrant will be responsible for securing the licensing rights and giving appropriate credits.
A qualified panel will review all entries and decide the contest winners.
Each entry will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Quality of entry – style, content, and enthusiasm
2. Does the entry relate to the topic?
3. Creativity of entry
4. Blog Comments
5. Overall impression
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Creative Social Media Contests
We are going to be holding literary contests for our social media patrons. Once a month we will have a topic for your creative talents to illustrate. Prizes will be awarded to the most original and imaginative entries.Our First Contest!
Calling all literary personnel (bookgroups)! We are looking for Bluestockings. Hint: Check out the Friends Bulletin Board in the library or the Friends and Friends’ Bookstore blog. Submit a photo of your favorite Bluestocking(s) with details of what you’re reading. The best entry will win a book of your choice from our prize bookshelf. Entries must be submitted by June 9, 2010.
Set your thinking caps for July’s contest, which will be favorite beach reads. The bookstore will have a display of beach reads if you need any.
If you have any ideas for future contests, feel free to email us: friendsbookstorerochmn@gmail.com
Tower of Prizes!
Official Rules:
All entries must be electronic and emailed to: friendsbookstorerochmn@gmail.com
All entries will be posted on the Friends and Friends’ Bookstore Blog where positive comments will help determine the winning entry.
Photographs must be original and all winning individuals must agree to sign a release form for publication within our newsletters and social media sites.
Winning entries may be published in newsletters and posted on our social media sites and displayed in the Library/Friends’ Bookstore. Winner(s) may remain anonymous if they so choose.
The content of the entry must be suitable for viewing by an audience of all ages.
No more than one entry per person per contest.
Only one prize per entry.
The prizes consist of donated books; a variety of children’s, young adult, fiction, non-fiction, etc. will be available to choose from. Every effort will be made to find a book of the winner’s choice.
If your entry contains any copyrighted material the entrant will be responsible for securing the licensing rights and giving appropriate credits.
A qualified panel will review all entries and decide the contest winners.
Each entry will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Quality of entry – style, content, and enthusiasm
2. Does the entry relate to the topic?
3. Creativity of entry
4. Blog Comments
5. Overall impression
Monday, May 24, 2010
Trenton Lee Stewart Book review
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Reviewed by Rhea Kohli
Eleven-year-old orphan, Reynie Muldoon, sees an ad in the newspaper asking, "Are you a gift child looking for special opportunities?" Reynie is convinced he is. Many other children are taking this test about bravery, logic, etc. Does he stand a chance? While he doubts himself, he passes all but the last test. He has to go through a maze and ring a bell. When he finishes this, he meets three other children who have also passed these series of tests. Finally they meet Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic who lives behind the maze and before he knows it, he's off to the Learning Institute of the Very Enlightened on a very important mission. He is sent with George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire. They must find and stop the man who wants to control the minds of people throughout the world with his evil machine. This seems very hard for even four gifted children.
To find out what happens next, read The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Eleven-year-old orphan, Reynie Muldoon, sees an ad in the newspaper asking, "Are you a gift child looking for special opportunities?" Reynie is convinced he is. Many other children are taking this test about bravery, logic, etc. Does he stand a chance? While he doubts himself, he passes all but the last test. He has to go through a maze and ring a bell. When he finishes this, he meets three other children who have also passed these series of tests. Finally they meet Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic who lives behind the maze and before he knows it, he's off to the Learning Institute of the Very Enlightened on a very important mission. He is sent with George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire. They must find and stop the man who wants to control the minds of people throughout the world with his evil machine. This seems very hard for even four gifted children.
To find out what happens next, read The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Beverly Nichols
Rhapsody in Green: The Garden wit and wisdom of Beverly Nichols ed. by Roy C Dicks. (2009)
"Welcome hilarity to the all-too-serious literature of gardening" NYTimes.
"Master of hyperbolic understatement"
Pen and Ink Drawings by William McLaren (these are a charming part of the book!)
"One doesn't read gardening advertisements in moments of cooler judgment. One reads them in an ecstasy of unquestioning faith. That is why everybody should buy shares in seed firms."
This book is TOO short! 128 pages of delight, of memories, of enchanting descriptions laced with wry wit. You keep turning the pages for the plant details, the lovely word photographs and the skewered individuals/gardeners!
I have to email quotes to various people: for the heathers, the white garden, the critics, Chelsea, cyclamen, bulbs, ....the list becomes dozens of people!
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