Readings for Black History Month

Just found this article in the Herald & Review (Central Illinois):  Readings for Black History Month.  Journalist Allen Pierleoni suggests we celebrate Black History Month with a good book.  The Book Keeper thinks that is a fantastic idea.  In addition to his suggestions, I would recommend the following fiction books:  The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and Beloved also by Toni Morrison. 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

I hope your Black History Month reading list helps bring light to your life.  Happy Reading.

What the Book Keeper is Reading: Matchbook Magazine

"Matchbook seeks to inspire women around the globe to design a life they adore."

Well that statement of purpose certainly caught the Book Keeper's attention.  The inaugural issue is definitely worth browsing.  I am already looking forward to February's issue.

Matchbook Magazine

An Appropriate Selection for Today's Windy City Weather

 

I hope everyone is staying safe & warm!  Grab a hot drink and a good book and enjoy your snowy day.

Visual Thinking

I recently took a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry (in Hyde Park) to visit the exhibit, "Jim Henson's Fantastic World."  While this post has nothing to do with books per se, I found Henson's process of "visual thinking" fascinating and directly related to social and academic education.  Henson's most famous creations and his original songs continue to teach generations of children the fundamentals of reading.  Sadly, the exhibit left the Windy City on January 23.  However, if you have the opportunity to see the exhibit in another location, I would highly recommend it.  Where else could you expect to come face-to-face with Kermit, Bert, and Ernie?

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition: Jim Henson's Fantastic World

L-O-V-E

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have to admit I love the cheesy displays of classic love stories in the windows of the book stores on State Street.  I am always encouraged to re-read The Notebook , Pride & Prejudice, and The Time Traveler's Wife.  What love stories can you read over and over again?

Beyond Books: Blogs are in the Library too!

I am so excited about this new blog, Craftily Ever After, I found through a friend's blog. Today, Jessica is offering a Free Valentine's Day Subway Art Print. How nice!!! I cannot wait to get mine and put it up for V-Day!

Craftily Ever After: Free Valentine's Day Subway Art Printable

Russian Winter

In Russian Winter, author Daphne Kalotay takes readers behind the Iron Curtain to observe the life of prima ballerina, Nina Revskaya.  Through flashbacks to a Russian winter and scenes in present day Boston, a completely believable and captivating mystery unfolds.  A mystery involving the ballet, jewels, poetry, and a letter.  I loved this book for three reasons.  First, this book allowed me to learn about the constraints of Stalinist society from an artist's point of view.  Second, Nina's actions and reactions were incredibly true to her character.  Third, the mystery was completely believable.  While I love the ballet and jewelry, it is the raw feelings of regret and loss that made the story and its characters so authentic from beginning to end.

Goodnight Chicago by Adam Gamble

Tuesday's theory:  Books make great gifts.  The holidays are right around the corner.  Are you looking for the perfect gift for the cute little Midwesterner in your life?  The Book Keeper recommends Goodnight Chicago.  Joe Veno's illustrations are timeless.  It is the perfect selection for facilitating the process of learning to read; Goodnight Chicago is a boardbook so it is easy for a small child to hold and turn pages.  It is the Book Keeper's personal favorite!

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The Book Keeper was in love with this page-turner until the last ten pages.  The ending just did not "feel right."  I would still absolutely recommend this beautiful piece despite any disappointment I feel towards the novel's ending.  Lisa See captured the relationship between two sisters in such a remarkably realistic way that readers are left completely breathless at times.  Pearl and May became so real to me that I often picked up the book to read "just a few more pages" due to genuine concern regarding their well-being.  I still cannot help but wonder "what happened next."  What happened to Pearl and May after the Book Keeper turned the last page and shut the back cover? 
If you need yet another reason to read the book, other than the fact that See's characters are the sort Hollywood pines after, then read it for its historical significance.  The Book Keeper loves history - yeah, yeah, yeah.  We have been here before, huh?  Well, sort of.  As in Sarah's Key, this history is the type we are not so proud to learn.  See teaches an important lesson through Pearl and May's daily interactions that is, embarrassingly, unknown to many Americans.  Pearl and May journey to the United States shortly before America enters World War II.  The sisters endure prejudice on many levels.  Their personal experience with Angel Island Immigration Station (the Ellis Island of the West) is heart breaking, but it pales in comparison to the danger faced by being Chinese in America during the Red Scare.  A story of true perseverance, Shanghai Girls is definitely worthy of your time.

The Book Keeper Loves Scary Stories

Halloween is right around the corner.  You know what that means . . . SCARY STORIES!  Growing up the Book Keeper LOVED the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine.  There was nothing better than sitting in my parents' basement in front of the fire with a new scary story.  I could not get enough - especially during the Halloween season.

I was curious as to whether Goosebumps were still popular among preteens.  So, like any modern age book keeper, I simply googled "Goosebumps."  The books are still so popular that the stories are being made into movies now!  The official Goosebumps site categorizes the books into "Goosebumps Horrorland," "Goosebumps Classics," and "Goosebumps."  I automatically assumed that the titles I was looking for would be categorized as "Goosebumps Classics."  Out of 16 books, I remembered 6 in great detail.  In fact, I am not sure I should admit what I am about to write . . . but when I visited the Tower of London as an adult, the first thing that popped into my mind was A Night in Tower Terror.  Is it worse to also admit that I am not the slightest bit embarrassed to share that more than 15 years after reading it for the first time, just the cover of Night of the Living Dummy gave me, well, goosebumps?  On that note, it is only fair to mention the fantastic work of Goosebumps illustrator Tim Jacobus.  Jacobus is the talent behind the Goosebumps logo pictured.  It just sets the mood, doesn't it?

If Goosebumps was a part of your childhood, check out the official Goosebumps site at Scholastic.com for good old fashioned nostalgia:  Get Goosebumps

Tuesday's Theory: Love that Ended an Empire

The Book Keeper is a little bit of a history dork.  I love history.  I cannot help it.  I especially enjoy history dripping in fashion, jewels, and pageantry.  Therefore, I love reading about pre-revolution Russia.  If you also enjoy world history, I would highly recommend Nicholas and Alexandra:  The story of the love that ended an empire.What is interesting about this book is that I acquired it because a friend HATED it.  When she described it, I remarked that I thought it sounded like something I would enjoy.  The rest is, well, history.  The Book Keeper carried this HUGE hardcover book on and off the L for a month or so, savoring each and every word.  

Normally, the Book Keeper presents her own personal theories for "Tuesday's Theory."  HOWEVER, I thought it would be fun to highlight the theory of another.  Author Robert K. Massie brilliantly sets forth his theory that but for Alexis Romanov's hemophilia, the Revolution would not have occurred.  Specifically, as hinted at in the title, it was Alexandra's love for her son, and in turn, Nicholas' love for Alexandra, that was actually responsible for the fall of the House of Romanov.  Massie supports his theory with incredible research comprised of letters, diary entries, anecdotes, photographs, and government reports.  Most interesting, is that Massie points to his own personal experience with hemophilia as his inspiration to to research the world's most famous hemophiliac.  The biggest surprise? Nicholas and Alexandra's British family's refusal to allow the family to seek refuge in England.

The book is certainly not for everyone, but this Book Keeper found it fascinating.  

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

If you love a good mystery (and one that is well written), you will love this book!  I will not lie, it took me a good 75 pages to "really get into" the story.  The first 75 pages were interesting, just not captivating.  That being said, once you do "really get into" the novel, good luck trying to put it down before finishing the last sentence of the last chapter.

The basis of the book?  Margaret Lea, a bookseller's daughter, is contacted by the world famous author, Vida Winter.  The dying author hires Margaret to tell her own long-hidden life story.  The dramatic tale unfolds in the setting of two estates:  Vida Winter's estate in Yorkshire and Angelfield, Winter's childhood home.  Telling you anything more would be unfair; a reader should be left to enjoy each page without any sort of spoilers.

What I can tell you is that Setterfield's talent is every English literature teacher's dream.  The incredible detail of each scene can only be outdone by a strong personal memory.  It is evident that the tale takes place over a long period of time, but emphasis is always on the complexity of each character, rather than historical references.  Setterfield created believable characters and her sensible narrator keeps the dramatic tale grounded in reality.

Put this book on your list.  It is out in paperback; no excuses.

CRAFTING

I love love love crafts.  This past weekend I visited The Renegade Craft Fair.  It was AMAZING.  I picked up a pair of earrings, a gorgeous print, and a TON of ideas!  You will be sure that next year I will bring my camera so that I can share more with you!

Speaking of crafts, I am itching to start crafting thanks to two books I recently acquired.  The first book, Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts, was a birthday gift.

From this book, I crafted tissue paper pom poms for a friend's bridal shower that I hosted.

Now, I am focused on creating some crafts from the book  Craft Hope, a gift from a very thoughtful friend (and fellow crafter).

This book is AMAZING.  The book is FULL of darling crafts:  dolls, quilts, scarves, pillow cases, soft blocks, aprons and tons, tons more!  The best part of the book is that each craft is linked to a charity.  Check out the website The Craft Hope Book to learn more about this incredible publication.  

Happy Crafting!

Eloise Inspires The Plaza Hotel

Fanciful Friday is here at last!

Books inspire so many people in so many ways: costumes, movies, amusement parks, and television shows.  If you are not familiar with the Eloise books, you should be.  The stories are darling.  Eloise is a six-year-old girl who lives in the "room on the tippy-top floor" of the New York landmark Plaza Hotel with her nanny, her puppy, and her turtle.  Eloise has inspired made for television movies and an animated series.  Recently, Betsey Johnson found inspiration in Kay Thompson's pint-size resident of the Plaza Hotel.  Obviously drawing from Hilary Knight's beautiful illustrations, Betsey Johnson took her first professional stab at interior designs.  From the picture featured in Elle Decor's article, she hit a home run!  A whimsical night in this fabulous suite at the Plaza Hotel starts at $995.00, but it is free to view Eloise's famous portrait in the hotel lobby!

Here is the picture from the Elle Decor website provided courtesy of the Plaza Hotel.

Please do check out the article!  It is too cute!  Elle Decor: A Pint-Size Plaza Suite

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010 by Bob Sehlinger with Len Testa

This Book Keeper LOVES travel books!  This love most likely stems from a strong desire to learn from someone else's mistake, rather than my own.  When my husband and I set out to take our nieces to WDW, I knew immediately that I would be making a visit to the bookstore.  I was not prepared for the vast amount of options.  Luckily, a friend (and fellow book club member) had just returned from a trip to WDW.  She recommended The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010.  

I purchased the book two months before taking our trip.  It was the perfect amount of time to work through the 850 pages.  Of course, not every page was applicable to our family or the purpose of our trip.  I truly enjoyed reading about all the new rides and shows not in existence during my childhood.  I used the tips to plan all of our meals, which saved a ton of money (we did not opt for the Disney Dining Plan).  The biggest benefit of the books?  The touring plans!!!  The touring plans were invaluable to our trip!!!  I would recommend that anyone taking a trip to WDW purchase the book if only to gain access to these touring plans.  I would also suggest that readers pay attention to the unofficial tips set apart from the main text (these tips are printed in blue and can be found in the margins).

Thank You Unofficial Guide!  You were amazing!  Thank you, Laura, for recommending this priceless gem of information!

Stay tuned:  I will post pictures of some of the shows and rides we were able to enjoy with the help of this book.

Devil in the White City: A Book and Tour

It is FRIDAY!!!  I am constantly day dreaming on Friday about all the fun things I could do during the weekend, especially in a city like Chicago!  Recently, my day dreaming took myself and three others on a bike tour of Hyde Park.  The tour was titled "Presidential Bike Tour" and it was presented by the company, Bike and Roll (in many cities).  Our group had a great time biking through Hyde Park on a beautiful Saturday morning.  The tour was nearly 3 hours long and our guide, Emily, was darling.  Of course, I expected all of the random facts about President Obama's life in Hyde Park (including visiting the location where he and the First Lady shared their first kiss), but I was pleasantly surprised to find that a large majority of the tour covered locations and facts related to the 1893 World's Fair.  Our guide constantly referred to sections of the book, Devil in the White City, by Eric Larson. 

Devil in the White City examines "the greatest fair in history - a place where incredible dreams came to life alongside darkest nightmares."  Random House.  I highly recommend this book to all readers with any general interest in architecture, history, crime, or a preference for (murder) mystery novels.

While my group got our tickets for $21 per person, tickets are normally priced $39.  The tour was definitely worth $21.  The tour included the guide, a bike and helmet, and admission to the DuSable Museum.  I am not sure if I would feel the same satisfaction if I paid $39.00.

Another tour that has been strongly recommended to me is the Chicago Architecture Foundation Devil In The White City Companion Bus Tour.  I have taken the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise Tour and must admit that it was fabulous.  The CAF Devil in the White City tour is $55.00, but there are discounts available for seniors, students, and CAF members.

If you are not interested spending between $40.00 and $60.00 on a tour, here is my advice.  Read the book because it is fabulous.  After finishing the book, do a little research of your own and create your own tour.  Visit Hyde Park on a beautiful Saturday morning and bring your walking shoes.  When you need a break, take a seat under the dramatic arches of the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel (on the University of Chicago's campus) and reflect.  When you need a bite to eat or something to quench your thirst, stop in the Medici Bakery and Deli on 57th (the almond horned butter cookies are my favorite).  Just don't forget to walk over the water using the beautiful moon bridge in the Oska Garden to rid yourself of any evil.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Our book club has three new members and I was so happy that A Reliable Wife was the first book we discussed together!  While it is true that this story contains several "bodice-ripping" chapters, this book is a fabulous selection for a book club for so many different reasons.  First, the characters are quite complex.  Goolrick took great care in creating each of his fascinating characters.  A reader cannot help but become emotionally involved in each character's plight.  Hate, love, and empathy, but NEVER indifference.  Second, the author painted such a descriptive landscape for each setting/location, that you could not help but speak about symbolism.  [Insert congratulatory message to all high school English literature teachers here:  your students really were listening!]  The contrast between the frozen life the characters faced in Wisconsin and the general moral corruption of St. Louis is beautifully presented.  Third, the overall story is one of forgiveness; something all readers can relate to in some way.

The Baby-Sitters Club

A little slow on current book news, a friend just informed me that The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin has been re-released. Apparently, this announcement was made way back in January of this year, but I completely missed it!

The re-release was kicked off by the publication of The Summer Before, the prequel to the series.  The prequel was written by Ann M. Martin herself and details what Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Ann were up to before they started the infamous club. 

As a member of the Babysitters Club generation, I am very excited that this series is coming back into publication.  While the technology will be updated, the stories that emphasize friendship, family, and work ethic will be the same.  In the modern world that we live in today, a relatively scandal-free series is exactly what young girls should be reading.  As my mother used to say, "You are only (insert age) once.  Enjoy it."  When young girls are encouraged to grow-up too quickly, they miss a vital piece of their childhood that can never be reclaimed.  Although I am (overall) glad that my tween years have concluded, I am excited to read the prequel and re-visit that time where life was so much simpler. 

Check out the book and let me know what you think.  Personally, this information has me reminiscing about the great excitement I felt each time I would go to the library or bookstore knowing that I would be coming home with the newest book in the series.  The memories really do last a lifetime.


P.S.  If you liked this post, you should check out the BSC Headquarters blog I added to the blog list today.  

The Help

"In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another." kathrynstockett.com

During our book club discussion of The Help, one woman posed the question, "do you think you would have abided by these unspoken rules if you grew up during the 1960s?" Of course, growing up in a different time period would present extremely different opportunities and experiences for a child. If I grew up during the 1960s rather than the 1990s, I would not be "me."

That being said, I immediately thought of a related question: Are there lines that we abide by TODAY that we would be ashamed to admit?

I highly recommend this book. And I think you will recommend it to others, too. According to Ms. Stockett's website, the book will soon be a major motion picture. So read the book NOW to ensure that you are ready to scrutinize Dreamworks' film adaptation. Click on the link above for a synopsis.

Predictive Analytics

I have often joked with my Mother that it is HER picture on the wall in every marketing firm's conference room; she is the target audience. I recently read the book Little Bee by Chris Cleave. It was a fantastic book. I am not the only person who thinks it is a fantastic book. The book was published in 2009. It is currently #4 on the New York Times Paper Back Bestseller's List. Without talking about the story (the publishers specifically direct readers not to share any details), I will say that there is a little boy who wears a commercial Batman suit - complete with the cape, utility belt, and mask.

As I was watching television this week, I could not help but notice the little boy in the cute little garden yard watching his father pull out of the driveway in a brand new Subaru. I don't know what the little boy looked like because he was wearing a commercial Batman suit - complete with the cape, utility belt, and mask.

It is not that I think that dressing up as a superhero is a unusual activity for a little boy. For me, it was more than the costume that led me to my theory. The scenery, the age and the underlying message about the father-son relationship consumed my thoughts until I finally sat down at the computer to write. The theory? Predictive Analytics.

According to Wikipedia, "Predictive analytics encompasses a variety of techniques from statistics, data mining, and game theory that analyze current and historical facts to make predictions about future events. Predictive analytics (and a lot of computer programming) are responsible for helping Borders tell you what books you would most likely enjoy. You know what I am talking about . . . If you liked Little Bee, "you may also enjoy": A Reliable Wife, The Last Child, Look Again, The Forgotten Garden, and The Little Giant of Aberdeen County.

This Book Keeper is positing that the wonderful people at Subaru (or the advertising firm representing Subaru) might have gotten their hands on a predictive model showing that the the target audience for a new Subaru "may also enjoy" the book Little Bee.

Of course, this post is just a theory.