Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

Amazon Adventures

I recently heard an NPR story about the new book, The unconquered, which tells of a tribe of several thousand people in the Amazonian rainforest that has never had contact with modern civilization.  My curiosity aroused about the Amazon region, I browsed the catalog and found  these three additional books that are similar in scope [...]

Historical fiction picks for late November

I like this time of year for curling up with a book.  It’s partly the rain and short days that make this appealing, and partly the need to take a little break from the frenzied holiday season.  Why not escape into the past with a good historical novel?

Holiday books . . . and holiday humor . . .

 There are holiday books for everyone this season, crafters, cooks, parents, decorators, pet owners, and those who hope for less consumerism.  And for those of us who don’t mind a little sarcasm with our holidays, there is holiday humor.

Meditation resources at the library

Are you curious about meditation?  One of my co-workers is taking a meditation class, and since it is something I’ve always wanted to try,  I decided to take a look at what the library has on the subject.

My most challenging book

This week I read critic Michael Dirda’s column Dirda’s Reading Room : Come talk about books  in The Washington Post.  His topic, “My most challenging book,” got my gray cells going about the work we undertake when we read books that are over our heads.

Cool author interviews–listen to the podcasts

The Library of Congress’ 2011 National Book Festival is September 24th and 25th in Washington, DC.  There is lots of fun information about authors and books on the  Festival’s website including some great interviews with three of the authors featured at this year’s festival.

The Help and other movies

The Help, which opens today at the Carmike Cinema in Corvallis,  is based on the bestselling book The Help by Kathryn Stockett.   Keep reading to find out what books are being made into movies.

Family book clubs

A few years ago my 14-year old niece who lives in Ohio asked some of her aunts and uncles living in Pennsylvania, Washington and Oregon, to “read a book with her”.

Poison Oak! Beware!

While clearing out some unwanted blackberry vines in my yard a few weeks ago, I ran into some poison oak.  I know what poison oak looks like and I thought I had covered myself up carefully, but I still managed to get a small rash on my wrist.

Summer in a book

Play Ball! I know baseball season starts in the springtime, but for me, baseball goes best with warm summer nights.