For years I had refused to read the Twilight books.  Students returning copies to the library would gush about Edward and tell me I just HAD to read them.  So knowing the final book in the Twilight series was being released this summer, I finally gave in.  All I can say is….I cannot believe I waited so long.  I devoured Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse within 10 days.  And waited not so patiently for Breaking Dawn to be published.  Now one of the best things about being a librarian is being able to get your hands on books BEFORE they are released to the general public.  Well…I was able to secure a copy of Breaking Dawn on the Tuesday before it came out.  I read all 756 pages within a 45 hour period.  Part of me wanted to savor it knowing that this was it; there would be no more.  However, how can you put it down when the story is so mesmerizing?  You CANNOT!

I love the series.  It is a timeless story of young love, sacrifice, and finding your place in society.  And although Breaking Dawn was a thrilling final chapter, I have to say I was disappointed.  For three books we learned and accepted that you must sacrifice for love, but it turns out in the Bella’s case she didn’t have to sacrifice anything.  She gets it all!  I hate tidy little endings.  They are not realistic and they don’t leave you hungry for more.  You’ll have to read the series to see my point.  I refuse to give anything else away.

An aside: I have mixed feelings on the movie.  All too often the world the book so vividly creates is lost in translation to the screen.  My fingers are crossed that it is an accurate portrayal.

Author of Me Talk Pretty Someday and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris, is back with a new book of essays.   And I believe this might be his best collection yet.  When You are Engulfed in Flamescovers such topics as David’s parents art collection, his maddening, spiteful (yet sympathic) neighbor, his purchasing a skeleton as a gift and his successful (thus far) attempt to quit smoking.  As always with Sedaris you have to read it to believe it.  My favorite passages that made me bust a gut are:

“When it came to decorating her home, my mother was nothing if not practical. She learned early on that children will destroy whatever you put in front of them, so for most of my youth our furniture was chosen for its durability rather than for its beauty. The one exception was the dining-room set, which my parents bought shortly after they were married. Should a guest eye the buffet for longer than a second, my mother would notice and jump in to prompt a compliment. “You like it?” she’d ask. “It’s Scandinavian!” This, we learned, was the name of a region—a cold and forsaken place where people stayed indoors and plotted the death of knobs.”

AND, this one from the essay where he talks of working with a medical examiner:

“…after lunch I accompanied a female pathologist to a murder trial.  She had performed the victim’s autopsy and was testifying on behalf of the prosecution.  There were plenty of things that should have concerned me -the blood-spatter evidence, the trajectory of the bullets- but all I could concentrate on was the defendant’s mother, who’d come to court earing cutoff jeans and a Ghostbusters T-shirt.  It couldn’t have been easy for her, but still you had to wonder: what would she consider a dress-up occasion?”

Whenever I finish reading a Sedaris book, I am always left with the desire to have him as my uncle who would make Thanksgiving dinner all the more special.  Look for When You are Engulfed in Flames on our shelves in September when we return to school.  Happy reading this summer!

This ghost story might not be for everyone.  At first I didn’t think it would be for me.  I’m a huge fan of books, but not of “classic” literature.  I like eerie settings and mysteries, but I don’t like to be scared.  So, opening this book I wasn’t expecting to finish it.  Much to my surprise I devoured it!

Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades telling fictional accounts of her life and past.  Now sick and near death, she is ready to tell the truth about her extraordinary life and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long. Vida calls on Margaret Lea, a young biographer, to hear and write her life story. Margaret is mesmerized by the author’s tale of gothic strangeness — featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the crazy twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess,a topiary garden and a devastating fire.

The plot twists and turns with surprises around every corner.  Just when you think you have unlocked the mystery, another one crops up.  Give it a try, just like me you might be surprised to find you loved it too!

Choose a novel from the FICTION section in the HHS Library Media Center. Read it in its entirety and then write a BOOK BLURB which includes your name, the book’s title, author, and date of publication at the top of your post, and a thorough, analytical review. Don’t spoil the ending for future readers, but do share specific elements of plot, character, setting, and theme in your discussion. This is not simply a thumbs up or down, it is your opportunity to share what you especially appreciated (or not) about your novel.

Next, read the book blurbs of others and post at least one response. Keep track of your own posting and be sure to respond to those who comment.

To post your book blurb or to comment on another’s post, simply click the COMMENTS link at the top of a post, write the book blurb, fill out the few must-have fields like your name and email and click SUBMIT COMMENT to publish.

This assignment is due no later than Wed., April 30th!

Finally, after two years of waiting, much speculation and frenzy anticipation, the seventh and final Harry Potter book was released on July 21. I like so many others could not wait for the book release and was one of those rabid fans at Borders Books at midnight. Borders handling of the midnight crowd was extremely disappointing (I ended up getting my book at a 24-hour ShopRite), but J.K. Rowling did not.

Without giving away too much plot, the book has many revelations relating to characters’ pasts especially Dumbledore and finally puts to rest the Snape Friend or Foe controversy. Sometimes the plot was a little to convenient as odds and ends were wrapped up too neatly, but most people want resolution and that is what Rowling delivers.

I will admit that I read the final pages first. I know, I know, I am one of “those” people. The epilouge seems to be equally divided between those who love it and those who think it unnecessary. I LOVED it, but I am afraid that it leaves open the possibility for a Hogwarts: The Next Generation series. Only time will tell.

It might come as a surprise that a literary lady such as myself LOVES Dog the Bounty Hunter.  I find this man’s (and his wife’s) show so amusing and addictive.  Dog was at Book Expo signing posters for his forthcoming biography.  Beth, his wife, was also there in all her short shorts, stilettos and spandex glory.  I think I might have “scared” him a bit being a spitfire in a sea of wet blankets.  Regardless, it was a highlight of Book Expo to meet and chat with him.

Held in the library on March 29, Open Mic was a fab chance for students and teachers to share and showcase their artist talent.  I’m looking forward to the Open Mic in April for National Poetry Month!

Bonus: Mrs. Matlack will offer extra credit for posting a book blurb.  See the librarian (me!) or Mrs. Matlack for more info.