PaperCuts

On this day in the years 1812 and 1885, the authors Charles Dickens and Sinclair Lewis were born. Both used literature as a form of social criticism, criticizing the conventional people of both England and America as populations that is homogeneous in their philosophies and intolerant of those who think otherwise, respectively.

Read more about and books by Charles Dickens and Sinclair Lewis at the library.

Posted on February 07, 2007 by at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Novelist Norman Mailer is born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on this day in 1923. Mailer grew up in Brooklyn and attended Harvard. During World War II, he joined the army, then studied at the Sorbonne, where he wrote his first novel, The Naked and the Dead (1948), based on his own experiences in the Army. The book, which closely chronicles the lives of 13 soldiers stationed in the Pacific, became a popular and critical success.

Mailer's next two books, Barbaray Shore (1951) and The Deer Park (1955), were savaged by critics, but his subsequent journalistic memoirs fared better. The Armies of the Night (1968), a memoir of his participation in the famous Washington, D.C., peace march of 1967, won a Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction and the National Book Award in 1969. His novel The Executioner's Song, a fictionalized account of the life of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, won the Pulitzer for fiction in 1980. In 1991, his four-pound novel Harlot's Ghost explored the CIA from 1948 through the Kennedy administration.

Mailer's reputation as a hard-drinking, tough-talking anti-feminist made him a controversial literary figure in the 1970s and 1980s. His high-profile exploits included drinking binges, the alleged stabbing of his wife at a party, and running for mayor of New York City.

The above information was taken from The History Channel’s “This Day in History” website.  For more information about Norman Mailer, check the catalog here, or look in one of our literature databases. 

Posted on January 31, 2007 by at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I was younger and still living at home, one of my favorite Christmas traditions was to choose a book of holiday stories to read with my sisters.  Every night we would read aloud a poem and a story (or part of a story) with a Christmas theme. 
If reading is one of your holiday traditions, there is a lot to choose from, from perennial classics like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens to the contemporary tale of A Christmas Pig by Kinky Friedman.  The nice thing is most of these tales are short and sweet, such as this list featured in USA Today.  
And don't forget that listening to an audiobook of an old favorite can be a great way to put yourself in the Christmas spirit.  Nothing is better than popping in a favorite Christmas tale, sipping on a warm, fragrant beverage, and driving around looking at Christmas decorations.  Try Jim Dale's performance of A Christmas Carol or Dylan Thomas reading  A Child's Christmas in Wales (which is included in Dylan Thomas: A Caedmon Collection).  

Happy reading and merry Christmas everbody!!!

Posted on December 23, 2006 by Deb at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're like me and you've ever wanted to read a classic, but have no imaginable amount of time allocated in your busy schedule for this fun activity, read on!  A website called Squashed Writers by Glyn Hughes has you covered.

I found titles that I've been eyeing since graduate school but simply have not found the time to get to reading.  Some are over 300 pages long (I can generally read that in a day if I have ample free time), so that's my cutoff page length.  I also have a 50 page rule that goes something like this:  if it's not piquing my interest within 50 pages, I put it down for another book.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe, Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift, Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Undine by Friedrich Fouque are among some of my next "squashed" work choices.  I admit, it's not the most collegial way to approach these works.  In fact, it's rather akin to Cliff's Notes, but in general conversation some basic knowledge of these books always comes in handy for me.

Or, check out the regular length works on the library catalog.  Either way, you're reading classics, and that's a good thing!

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Anne at 08:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Celebrates today’s historic birthdays by checking out some of these notable authors' books from the library today! 

Oscar Wilde (Oct 16, 1854-Nov 30, 1900) - Oscar Wilde is born on this day in Dublin, Ireland. He grew up in Ireland and went to England to attend Oxford, where he graduated with honors in 1878. A popular society figure known for his wit and flamboyant style, he published his own book of poems in 1881.  In 1890, his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published serially, appearing in book form the following year. His plays, including The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), were successful and made him a popular and well-known writer.  In 1895, the Marquess of Queensberry denounced Wilde as a homosexual, accusing him of having an affair with the marquess's son. Wilde sued for libel, but lost his case when evidence strongly supported the marquess's observations. Homosexuality was classified as a crime in England at the time. Wilde was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to two years of hard labor.  Wilde was released from prison in 1897 and fled to Paris, where his many loyal friends visited him. He died of acute meningitis in 1900. (Adapted from This Day in History)

Continue reading "The Importance of Being Born…" »

Posted on October 16, 2006 by at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I recently sat down with Gina Millsap, our director of TSCPL. She shared some of her favorite reads of the past summer, books she’s looking forward to reading this fall, childhood favorites, vampire novels and her take on Banned Books Week. Check it out! (Editor's note: during the book talk of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, I say the main female character is from Texas, but she is in fact from Arizona. My apologies to Ms. Meyer!)

Gina’s books of the summer.
Gina’s lifetime favorites.
The worst book ever written?
Fall reads and vampire fiction.
Gina’s take on Banned Books Week.

Swing by the East Wing to check out our brand new Horror display! For a complete list of books and authors mentioned, click on the link below.

Continue reading "What the Director is Reading: a TSCPL Podcast" »

Posted on September 29, 2006 by Meghan at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

At long last our much used CD version of To Kill A Mockingbird can get a well deserved rest.  For many years we were not able to order a new copy because the prior version was out of print and Harper Lee, the author, had not agreed to release the audio rights to a new publisher.  This is something librarians and booksellers have been anxiously waiting for, as this much requested classic is so popular that used copies were hard to come by, and quickly snatched up even when they were $100 or more.  Lee finally agreed to let Harper Audio re-record a new version with award winning actor Sissy Spacek as the narrator.   Does Spacek do this much beloved book justice?  Read the Publisher's Weekly review for their opinion, or check it out for yourself.   You can also see this press release for more information about the re-release.  Happy listening!

Posted on September 23, 2006 by Deb at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From UPI.com:

Angelina Jolie seems to be opting for more serious film roles, including Dagny Taggart in the film adaptation of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged."

The "Tomb Raider" action-adventure franchise star also will be appearing in "Beowulf" and Robert Deniro's "The Good Shepherd," as well as playing Marianne Pearle, the widow of journalist Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and killed in Pakistan, TMZ.com reported Thursday.

Lions Gate Films is trying to do what other film companies have tried to do for years in bringing "Atlas Shrugged" to the big screen. Faye Dunaway was actually once considered for the same role Jolie will be playing.
Continue reading this article here.

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Meghan at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arrrrrgh, Mateys!

Bein’ as today is National Talk like a Pirate Day, me thinks you should check out some of these piratey activities on the great sea of the interweb.  Arrr, this website will turn any text int' pirate talk, argh!  Ahoy, har’s a link t' what our public webpage would look like.  Ahoy, har be some links t' some pirate name makers: har, har, and har.  And, here be a link t' t' original Talk Like a Pirate Day website.  And don’t ye forget to point your mouse here for some good advice in order t' celebrate t' best day o' t' year.

Arrr, also, in celebration o' National Talk like a Pirate Day, we have a fine display o' pirate related books at the New Books desk this week.  Aye, be sure t' stop in and check out some o' these titles.

Pirattitude!: So, you wanna be a pirate? Here’s How! by John Baur

A General History of the Pyrates by Daniel Defoe

Jolly Roger with an Uzi by Jack Gottschalk

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805 by Richard Zacks

The End of Barbary Terror: America’s 1815 War Against the Pirates of North Africa by Frederick C. Leiner

Pillaging the Empire: Piracy in the Americas, 1500-1750 by Kris E. Lane

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allen Poe

Pirate by Fabio

 

Posted on September 19, 2006 by at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Go and vote for your favorite banned book here through the American Library Association's website. 

If you're like me, you're interested in which books have been banned.  Are they some of your favorites?  I was surprised to find some titles that I found to be profoundly helpful to me, particularly in my growing-up years.  Go vote for your favorite banned book title and spread the word to your friends so they can go vote for theirs as well.

Or, check out some information on Banned Books here at TSCPL.

Here are a few to whet your appetite:

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Blubber by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Or, check out the entire list of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-200 here.  Read one today!

Thanks to staffer Jeff I. for this entry!

Posted on September 13, 2006 by Anne at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From The Yorkshire Post:

It is a turbulent tale of love, hate, revenge and tragedy. A classic Victorian novel set on bleak Yorkshire Moors.

But now one of the greatest works of English literature has been given a radical makeover by a local writer and an artist, who have transformed the story into a comic book novel.

Emily Brontë's original Wuthering Heights was scorned by critics when it was first released but the passage of time often shows critics to be wrong.

Next month commentators will be able to cast a critical eye on a modernised version when it is released as part of the Radical Brontës Festival, to be held in Bradford.

The book, adapted by Yorkshire-based poet and playwright Adam Strickson and illustrated by Siku, one of the country's leading graphic artists, who has worked for Marvel comics and 2000AD, was commissioned by the festival.
Continue reading this article here.

Posted on August 28, 2006 by Meghan at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The lightning rod salesman heralds the approaching storm to the two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade. This is no ordinary storm but a carnival that arrives at three in the morning with calliope music of distorted hymns. Will and Jim go to the carnival and discover the truth behind the Hall of Mirrors, the merry-go-round and the owners, Mr. Dark and Mr. Cooger. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is an atmospheric story that is creepy, but the story is also complex. It is the classic struggle between good and evil and the fears and desires that can entrap us.

Turning 86 today, Ray Bradbury has spent a lifetime of writing. His best known works are Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Throughout his career he has written science fiction, fantasy, and noir mystery. He is considered a master of short stories and has numerous collections. The winner of numerous awards, Bradbury continues to write and delight readers.

 

Posted on August 22, 2006 by Christina at 08:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Interested in classic works of literature like I am?  After watching an A&E special on the Bronte sisters, I am once again hooked.  The library has a variety of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne’s works if you’re interested in holding the book in your hot little hand.  Or, check out an online version of many of your favorites at Bibliomania and read it online. 

More into watching a movie about the book or learning about all of the Bronte family?  Check out Jane Eyre , the Brontes of Haworth or the Bronte Sisters.

Posted on August 14, 2006 by Anne at 08:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

James Earl Jones loved The Cat in the Hat, Stephen King also liked Dr. Seuss as well as Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Paul Newman enjoyed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.  Almost everyone has a favorite childhood book (for a list of more celebrity favorites click here).  Mine, or at least one of mine, would have to be The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.  This book is memorable to me because it is the first book I can recall staying up all night long to read!  I was still in school at the time, and I remember the dread and excitement that came over me when I realized that I had stayed up all night.  I may have been really tired in school the next day, but I just couldn't put the book down until I had followed every last one of the adventures of Rat, Mole, Badger and Toad.  By the way, I did try reading William Horwood's The Willows in Winter, which he wrote as a sequel to Grahame's classic novel, but I don't remember enjoying it half as well as I did the original.
So what was your favorite book as a child?  Click on the comments link below this post to let us know. 

Posted on August 12, 2006 by Deb at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

August 2^nd has been a good day for Hollywood. 

On this day in 1905, Myrna Loy was born.  She started her entertainment career as a showgirl at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, but really made it big in 1934 with the first movie in the “Thin Man” series with William Powell. Read up on Loy’s career in the biography Myrna Loy: Being and Becoming and check out some of her films from the Media Center.

Thin Man series
Wife vs. Secretary (also starring Clark Gable & Jean Harlow)
Libeled Lady (also starring Spencer Tracy, William Powell, & Jean Harlow)
The Best Years of our Lives (nominated for 8 Oscars, won 7, including Best Picture)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (also starring Cary Grant & Shirley Temple)
The Red Pony (based on the novel by John Steinbeck, costarring Robert Mitchum)

Also on this day in 1933, the great actor Peter O’Toole was born. O’Toole was born in Ireland, but raised in Leeds, England. He originally thought he wanted to be a reporter, but he wound up attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts after two years in the Royal Navy. Some of his classmates became renowned actors as well: Albert Finney, Alan Bates, and Richard Harris. Although he has been nominated for seven Oscars, he has never won one. Check out books about O’Toole here and look in the Media Center for some of these movie titles:
My Favorite Year (nominated for best Actor)
The Lion in Winter (costarring Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, & Timothy Dalton)
Becket (costarring Richard Burton, first role for O'Toole as Henry II, second time was in the movie The Lion in Winter)
Lawrence of Arabia (also starring Alec Guiness & Anthony Quinn)

And, last, but not least, on this day in 1955 the film To Catch a Thief debuted. Starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, this film directed by Alfred Hitchcock tells the story of a retired cat burglar (Grant) living the high life on the Riviera.  There has been a rash of burglaries very similar in nature to Grant’s own sordid career and he must track down this copy cat in order to keep the authorities from pinning the crimes on him. Grant is aided in his efforts to catch a thief by an American Heiress (Kelly), who isn’t entirely sure that he didn’t commit the crimes.

Here are some links to books about Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, and Alfred Hitchcock. Also, check out the Media center for more movies starring and directed by these Hollywood icons.


The Awful Truth (starring Cary Grant & Irene Dunne)
Bringing up Baby (with Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn and directed by Howard Hawks)
His Girl Friday (with Cary Grant & Rosalind Russell and also directed by Howard Hawks)
North by Northwest (directed by Hitchcock, starring Grant & Eva Marie Saint)
High Noon (with Grace Kelly, Gary Cooper, & Lloyd Bridges)
Rear Window (costarring James Stewart & Raymond Burr, also directed by Hitchcock)

Posted on August 02, 2006 by at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From This Day in History:

Novelist William Faulkner starts a five-month stint with Warner Brothers on this day.

Faulkner had already published several literary novels, including The Sound and the Fury (1929), Light in August (1932), and Absalom, Absalom! (1936), but his novels were not commercial successes. Faulkner wrote two critically acclaimed films, both starring Humphrey Bogart: “To Have and Have Not” was based on an Ernest Hemingway novel, and “The Big Sleep” was based on a mystery by Raymond Chandler.

Screenwriting provided income for many novelists from the 1930s through the 1950s. With the development of talking pictures, starting with “The Jazz Singer” in 1927, the demand for writers to create convincing movie dialogue and story lines brought many novelists to Hollywood. Other prominent writers who did their time in Hollywood include Raymond Chandler, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, and Nathanael West. West's novel The Day of the Locust is considered one of the best novels about Hollywood in the '40s.

Posted on July 26, 2006 by at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heath
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages),
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

It’s amazing that after so many years out of high school, I can still remember these lines from the prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. We were made to memorize these lines as well as the opening lines to Beowulf, both in the original languages that they were first written.  It was hard wrapping your lips around the guttural Old English and a bit easier with the Middle English, but it was a lot of fun. I can remember the lines, but I’m drawing a complete blank on my teacher’s name.  I think it started with a “D”. I digress!  The point of today’s blog is to let you know that on this day in 1389, Richard II named Geoffrey Chaucer the chief clerk of the king’s works.  It is also speculated that Chaucer began work on the Canterbury Tales during this time frame.  He originally intended for the book to have 120 tales, but died before he had written them all in 1399 with only 22 stories completed.  If you haven’t read Chaucer’s Tales before, or it’s been some time since you have, you should pick them up.  The stories cross the spectrum of the social classes that were around in the late 14^th century with tales of heroism, chivalry, piety, and humor.

Posted on July 12, 2006 by at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

There is always a reason to celebrate every day, from historical events to birthdays to holidays.  Check out some of today’s past events in history and the books you can find here at the library to learn more about those events.

1687- Isaac Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica was published on this day stating his theories on the laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation.

1865- William Booth founds the Christian Mission, later to be renamed The Salvation Army.  Read about Booth in the biography Blood & Fire: William and Catherine Booth and their Salvation Army by Roy Hattersley.

1937- Spam was first introduced by the Hormel Foods Corporation; learn more about in the biography Spam by Carolyn Wyman.

1945- In World War II news: the liberation of the Philippines is declared.  Read this book, In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines by Stanley Karnow, which won the Putlizer Prize for history in 1990.

1958- Today is the birthday of Bill Watterson, creator of the Calvin & Hobbes cartoons.

1971- On this day in 1971, President Richard M. Nixon formally certified the 26^th Amendment, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.  Read more about constitutional amendments in the book Explicit and Authentic Acts: Amending the U.S. Constitution, 1776-1995 by David E. Kyvig.

1989- Oliver North was sentenced today to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines, and 1200 hours of community service for his part in the Iran-Contra Affair.

1989- Also on this day in 1989, “Seinfeld” aired its first episode.  Check out the whole series from the library.

1996- Today is the birthday of Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal. For more information about Dolly and cloning, read