What's A Blog?

What is blogging? It's nothing more than an online journal. Being the community's bookstore, we want to talk books - what we're reading, what we're doing. So here's what I'm reading now...

First, I'm engrossed in our book club book, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. It's a new kind of story for our book club and I'm glad we've selected it. It has some mystery, a dysfunctional family and lots of books integrated into the storyline. I've heard there is a surprise twist at the end so I can't wait to finish it and discuss it.

While I'm finishing up The Thirteenth Tale, I'm halfway through my new favorite novel, Open Me by Sunshine O'Donnell. Open Me is about the secret world of professional wailers. That's right, women who earn money from crying at funerals. It's a fascinating underground community that exists between mothers and daughters. And if the daughters cannot perform, then their mother leaves them. Sunshine will be one of the many authors participating in our Spring Author Reception on March 6 and I can't wait to ask her more about her research for the book.

Winter's Finally Here!

And that's not necessarily a good thing (especially when you have to drive!). But overall the winter season is always something I look forward too, especially when it involves lots of snow (the better to ski on!). And of course everybody in school is already counting down the days to Christmas break, I've already started mine. Christmas is great because I finally get all those books that I saw all year that looked really great, but didn't get at the time. Though I'm still fighting through my list of AP Composition books (I'm currently reading Jude the Obscure, I like it a lot), I'm almost done, and I'll be ready for the books that I really want to read by Christmas.
Here's what's on my xmas list:
World War Z by Max Brooks- Anything written by Mel Brooks' son must be good right?
27 Short Plays by Christopher Durang- I love theater, and the plays that Durang writes are refreshing and downright hysterical!
Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk- He's an excellent writer, and I loved his book Survivor, so I'm hoping this one will be just as great!

Logan

Remembering the Holocaust

Souderton's fall play this year is The Diary of Anne Frank. The play was based on Anne Frank's actual diary which we have here in the store. The version of the play that we are performing is the newer version adapted by Wendy Kesselman in 2000. In this version of the play, the ending is much more realistic.

The reason you haven't seen Logan and I at the bookstore very much is because we've been working very hard on the play. Logan plays one of Mr. Frank's employees who brings our family news and I play Anne Frank who narrates the story through her diary.

I highly recommend reading this book as a reminder of our world's past. It's difficult to believe that the Holocaust didn't happen all that long ago. The Diary of Anne Frank is a reminder that we need to keep our eyes open and be ready to stand up for what we believe in when we know something is not right.

--Sam

60+ Girls Come out for the American Girl Event

This past weekend, we had our Teen Night with Catherine Murdock on Friday and our American Girl Disco Party on Saturday.

Those who came to meet Catherine Murdock came with pencil and paper in hand to talk about writing. Catherine shared her thoughts on how to inject humor into a story, her experiences and even gave us some clues as to what happens to DJ in the 3rd book book about the Schwenks.

Saturday was crazy as we danced and made friendship bracelets at the American Girl Event. The Rafferty girls were our lucky winner of the Julie Doll. All the girls crowded around to play our trivia game and anxiously await the name of the winner.

Stay tuned for more great events this week. Little ones are invited to come in costume for our Family Halloween Party on Friday night (10/26). Miss Betsy will be showing off the true art of storytelling with "spooky" stories. Everyone dressed in costume will have a chance to win a prize! I expect to have a great time!

This Saturday, 10/27, is Horror Night! with Jonathan Maberry. Winner of the Dram Stoker Award, his new book The Cryptopedia: A Dictionary of the Weird, Strange and Downright Bizarre has EVERYTHING you want to learn about the paranormal and living world. Come in costume for another costume contest. This event is for ages 13 and older. Don't miss it. It will be downright horrific!

Stephen Colbert: I Am America (and So Can You!)

Stephen Colbert just released his book I Am America (and So Can You!) and Nicole and I are completely ecstatic! We sold out of the book on the day it was released and more are being shipped right now. The Colbert Report on Comedy central must be one of the funniest political humor shows on the air. If his book is anything like his show, it will be full of political satire that anyone (well almost) can appreciate. His announcement on Tuesday that he's running for president is a welcome twist to America's favorite night show host. So stop in and pick up a copy of this greatly anticipated new book!

Logan

AP Composition: How to Survive

The only downside to working in a bookstore is that you see every new good book before it hits shelves and an avid reader like me, I naturally want to read them all. The downside to taking AP Comp second semester is that you simply don't have time to read the books you want to read, but the books you have to read. So here is a user's guide for all those crazy high school students like me that just want to finish their AP Comp books to get to the good stuff:

1. Do some research. Don't pick a book by the size of it's spine, because if it's the worst book on the list, it doesn't matter how short it is, you won't finish it.
2. Start now! Get your comp books finished so you can get onto something you're more interested in. Procrastinating will only get you back later.
3. If you really are cramped for time and need some short reads here are my favorites:

• The Stranger by Albert Camus. A thoroughly interesting read with a main character who has an incredibly unique mindset. That, and it's only 123 pages.
• Demian by Herman Hesse. A book about one child's transition into manhood and the escape from innocence. One of the most interesting views on manhood I've ever seen. That and more in only 145 pages. (This was recommended to me by Sam, she loves it too!)
• And if I've also heard that The Once and Future King is excellent, if you can make it through all 832 pages ; )

Logan

Summer, Fall and Holiday Reading

Even though it's now the end of September, I'm still making my way (slowly) through my summer reading list. Each time I finish a chapter or two of Great Expectations, I feel like I deserve a break. So lately I've been re-reading T.H White's The Once and Future King, as well as the yet-to-be released Smile When You're Lying by Chuck Thompson.

In honor of our upcoming horror event with Jonathan Maberry, I hope to start reading The Cryptopedia, a compendium of "the weird, strange and downright bizarre." I don't know much about horror writing, so this seems to be a great place to start learning. Besides, where else will I find out what an etheric body is? Logan and I are still trying to figure out what costumes we'll be wearing to the Halloween party on the 27th, but I can guarantee that tons of fake blood will be involved.

I noticed recently that my favorite children's author will be coming out with a new book. Jon J Muth writes and illustrates some of the most beautiful stories I have ever seen, and his newest creation, Zen Ties will be released in February. Before then, I'd highly recommend checking out Zen Shorts, The Three Questions and Stone Soup if you're in search of a meaningful gift for the holidays.

-Nicole