Looking at a little down home literature

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Air travel has never been this good.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and of course he was an hour late for my appointment, plus I was tortured with a bad news show in his waiting room. So I sat surreally listening to reports about what is wrong with our health care system.  

I never leave home without a book, so it was good to have the graphic novel, Air with me. Graphic Novels are great for waiting rooms. Just enough words to read comfortably, while being distracted, the illustrations were perfect.  I would highly recommend this graphic novel.

The heroine is an acrophobic airline stewardness. There are anti-terrorist terrorists. There’s romance that goes unresolved. A very interesting premise that a country can get lost because it’s been taken off the maps and all the people forgotten.  

Okay, why did I pick up this book? The illustrations just pop off the page. Plus everything looks light and airy ( pun intended). Some graphics just look so depressing from the opening page, but this one looks fun and romantic, and intriguing.  Start reading  and you find a lost country, a lost lover, and very strange military types trying to take over everything. And what’s the deal with the aztec air travel? The novel just whirs along and soon you will get to the end and want more. It certainly looks like the opening is there for a continuation.

It’s a great summer read. It makes me want more from G. Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker.

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Summer reading lists from Rebecca’s pocket and Jessamyn’s pen

Jessamyn West, one of my favorite library types, (somehow that doesn’t sound very complimentary but it is meant to be) has posted a link to this really amazing summer reading list from Rebecca’s pocket. Thank you very much.

Jessamyn has great enthusiasm for libraries and librarians. I like her practicality and she speaks from the library trenches. She was a keynote speaker at an open source library conference I went to in Georgia in May.

I still have a little bit to go on my graphic novel I’m reading, so don’t go far.

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To look or not to look, what does your author look like?

I think this article at Philly.com, why discussing the Hasselbeck diet book and perhaps plagarism, instead  points out an interesting concept in the publishing industry. Do we really care that our books are written by attractive people? 

 I agree with his statement,

“It’s why every celeb and pseudo-celeb has a biography or life philosophy on the shelves.”

That’s obviously true, but most have their 15 minutes of fame, and they are re-cycled, sold at library booksales and tossed to the curb. Does anyone that reads regularly, not a one off reader, seriously care what the author looks like? I’ll buy him/her again if I liked the first one, but do I hold up the back cover, or back inside and say, Yuck, that’s an ugly mug, I’ll find someone cuter to read. 

If the publishing industry is deciding on titles by the looks/personality of the author then no wonder they’re in serious trouble. Then I happened on this article about Jane Austen at the New York Times. So a British publisher photoshopped her, how strange is that. Does anyone who loves to read Jane Austen care? Would people like her books more if she looked like Kate Winslet or Emma Thompson or even Uma Thurman?

Stephen King is no looker, except perhaps to Mrs. King. I mean no disrespect, but most of us just look like an un-photoshopped image of ourselves. I’ve seen it estimated he has sold over 350 million copies of his works. So I doubt if he worries if he is the best looking author on the Bestseller lists.

Surely readers aren’t so shallow that they pick their books by the looks of the author. If we do then we’re in big trouble.

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Knitting and a good time go together

When my life is in chaos around me, I turn to crafts, so my newest find is Pints & Purls.

What could be more wonderful than knitting patterns you can drink by. The patterns are rated by the number of beverages that can be consumed before you are in trouble with the knitting pattern. If you see that you need a designated driver than you better put down that beer and concentrate on what you are doing. But the underlying philosophy is hey, so what if you drop a stitch or forget what row you’re on, you’re knitting in a bar, so just order another round.

I thought this was a very fun book, and it had many patterns I would be interested in making, some just because they have great names; i.e. zori coasters; drink like a fish beer cozy and drunken sweater. Of course I have treasured the advise of a long ago blogster who told me to put my red wine in a sippy cup so it wouldn’t spill on my knitting.

So drink up, knit some, socialize with other crafters.

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Duvall and Jacob, beautiful children’s books

The writing and illustrating combination of Deborah Duvall and Murv Jacob have produced some of the most charming folk-tale and  legend children’s books in Oklahoma.  The Grandmother stories are a seven book collection of Cherokee legends. This collection won the Director’s Choice Award at the 2005 Oklahoma Center for the Book Awards. The illustrations are magnificent. They look like intricate woodcuts.

The Great Ball Game of the Birds and Animals

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

An ancient Cherokee legend, retold with lively dialogue and intriguing illustrations.

$14.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-2913-4

How Medicine Came to the People: A Tale of the Ancient Cherokees

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

Simply told and magnificently illustrated, this fable is the story of revenge taken by animals against the people that hunt them for hides and food. It details the origins of the Cherokee herbal medicine. With the heightened awareness of the threat of disease and the usefulness of herbal remedies this story will enrich children as well as any adult.

$14.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-3007-9

How Rabbit Lost His Tail: A Traditional Cherokee Legend

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

In this, the third volume of the Grandmother Stories, Rabbit, whose Cherokee name is Ji-Stu, loses his long tail which is covered with thick, silky fur.

$14.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-3010-9

The Opossum’s Tale

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

Opossum brags about his tail, but later regrets it.

$15.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-3694-1

Rabbit and the Bears

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

Instead of gathering food for the winter, Ji-Stu the Rabbit travels with Yona the Bear to Mulberry Place, the high mountain homeland of the bears where the bears have much dancing and celebrations.

$14.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-3131-1

Rabbit and the Wolves

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

Ji-Stu the Rabbit travels far from home to try to prove he can be a great singer.

$14.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-3563-0

Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting: A Traditional Cherokee Legend

Deborah L. Duvall

Murv Jacob , Illustrator

In the fifth Cherokee tale in the Grandmother Stories series, Ji-Stu the Rabbit thinks he has caught the Chief of the Wood Ducks, but soon wonders who caught who?

$14.95 ( hardcover )  978-0-8263-3336-0

Then there’s the Rabbit tales, continuing on with Cherokee trickster stories, starring Ji-Stu, as he goes on his many adventures. There’s How Rabbit Lost His Tail and Rabbit and the Well, Rabbit and the Bears, Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting and even Rabbit Goes to Kansas.  

Reading level: grade 4 and up. All can be purchased from the University of New Mexico Press.

If you haven’t seen these books you’re in for quite a treat.        

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Literati Indie Book Fair

Literati Indie Book Fair presented by rampage artists and individual artists of oklahoma

IAO Gallery     Literati Indie Book Fair Saturday, June 27 12:00PM-8:00PM 811 N. Broadway Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-232-6060   Calling all readers! Skip the chain stores and go straight to the source!   Rampage Artists and Wayward Poets are teaming up for the inaugural Literati Indie Book Fair to be held at the IAO Gallery at 811 N. Broadway. The book fair will feature state and regional authors across all genres from experimental fiction, poetry, children’s books to graphic novels. There will also be readings and music performances throughout the day and the Soapbox will give slam poets a place to spout truths to the passing crowds.                      There is an open call for authors, publishers and indie book stores to rent out booth space for $20, where they can sell their books and keep 100% of the profit. There is also a call for narrative and comic book-styled artwork. Visual art submission is free with 10% of the sale going to Rampage Artists and Wayward Poets.   Rampage Artists is an artists cooperative featuring an array of unique voices driven to innovate in their respective fields. Founded in 2007, the purpose of Rampage Artists extends beyond promoting its primary players to offering opportunities for other emerging fashion designers, artists, dancers, musicians and writers to express themselves and further their careers.   Wayward Poets is a poetry non-profit group under the umbrella of the Individual Artists of Oklahoma founded in 1998 when a group of despondent poets wandered the streets aimlessly reading at each other’s houses after their venue closed. Soon after, Galileo’s Bar and Grill in the Paseo opened their doors, becoming The Home for Wayward Poets hosting open-mic readings and poetry slams on Wednesdays for over 10 years. With the help of IAO, the Wayward Poets publish books and spoken word CDs, and also is a proud sponsor of Oklahoma City’s delegation to the National Poetry Slam each year. The members of Wayward Poets continue making the huge effort to cultivate and promote both aspiring and established writers, as well as bringing further regional and national literary attention to Oklahoma poets and writers of all genres.   Literati is a fundraiser for Rampage Artists and Wayward Poets, enabling the organization and promotion of future events locally and nationwide, as well as offering tour support to Oklahoma’s alternative voices.   Register at www.skiptheopeningact.com. For more information, visit www.iaogallery.org.

I think their announcement pretty much says it all. Support your Indie Booksellers! And a visit to IAO will be an added plus.

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Books in the News. Big Ambition gets Bigger

I started thinking quite a while back about reading Blind Ambition again by John Dean, having heard him wax long about our national political conscience on some late night Olbermann show. Being a college student in the seventies and remembering later buying and wearing a t-shirt that said “Don’t buy a book from a crook!” I’m a little perplexed at our homage to John Dean, even though he has jumped ship and gone to the other side.

So when I saw the National Archives folks had asked him to speak at the Richard Nixon Library, I thought if anything it was a bit tacky. Sorta like asking Ken Starr to speak at the Clinton Library.  And I’m not sure what I think of John Dean, yet again he seems to be making a huge amount of money and getting a lot of attention for  his  past bad behavior. 

Am I jealous of this “expert” or still jaded against this opportunist? I guess I’ll just have to read it again, maybe a few new books by him and see what the fuss is still about. 

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Mega book signing of Western Writers right here in OKC

 Sounds like  fun.

Additional details from the folks at the Museum:

The books will be available for purchase through The Museum Store, but the event will take place inside the magnificent Sam Noble Special Events Center. Guests are encouraged to make a full evening of their visit by making dinner reservations at the Museum restaurant, Dining on Persimmon Hill. Reservations for the special evening buffet are requested and can be made by calling (405) 478-2250, Ext. 281. (Buffet must be purchased separately.)

Books may be pre-purchased through The Museum Store by calling (405) 478-2250, Ext. 268.  I think you can get books at the event also.

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Come Full Circle.

Great job Full Circle!

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The answers are…..

Day three of our 2009-2010 Oklahoma Almanac celebration. Did you think I would leave you all weekend without the answers, along with the Almanac page number where you will find the answer.

1. Oklahoma means “Red People” in the Choctaw Language. (Page 2)

2. Northern Oklahoma and much of the central part of the state are in the drainage basin of the Arkansas River. The remainder of the state is in the drainage basin of the Red River. (Page 12)

3. The Oklahoma Rose is the official State Flower. Mistletoe, the oldest of Oklahoma’s symbols, is the State Floral Emblem. (Page 57)

4. Fourteen flags have flown over our land. The first flag was the Royal Standard of Spain, brought to Oklahoma by Coronado in 1541. (Page 60)

5. The six tourism countries are: Frontier Country (central Oklahoma), Great Plains Country (southwest), Green Country (northeast), Kiamichi Country (southeast), Arbuckle Country (south central), and Red Carpet Country (northwest). (Pages 49-55)

6. Chickasaw storyteller Te Ata was named the state’s first Cultural Treasure in 1987. (Page 40)

7. The five Oklahoma Counties with names beginning with the letter “G” are Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant and Greer. (Pages 428 to 437)

8. Osage County is the largest at 2,303.8 square miles. The smallest? That title goes to Washington County at 424.15 square miles. It beats out the larger Murray County (424.92 square miles) by just a fraction. Also-ran Marshall County has 426.95 square miles. (All kinds of comparative facts and trivia can be culled by browsing the Almanac’s section on Oklahoma Counties beginning on page 375.)

9. Oklahoma did not have a first lady from 1911 until 1919. Chickie LeFlore Cruce died before her husband, Lee Cruce, became Governor. His successor, Governor Robert Lee Williams, never married. (Page 765)

10. Sixty-two Sooners have been named Rhodes Scholars by the University of Oxford, England. (Pages 918 and 919)

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