Kasey Cox
(this was first published as a little book review in a local magazine, Mountain Home, in their July edition)
If you’re looking for detailed histories for a small town, or an old neighborhood in a city, look no further than Arcadia Publishing. In their series such as “Images of America” and “Then & Now”, Arcadia brings the history of an area to life, showcasing historic images and photos, explaining the stories behind each one. The writers, historians, and photojournalists who publish for Arcadia are people who have spent many years in an area, and have a unique perspective and appreciation for their subject. Recently, a Wellsboro-born writer Eric Smith – who now lives and works in Lock Haven – was honored with the invitation to create an Arcadia book on “Clinton County”, published last September to warm reception.
Now, for those of us who love the Finger Lakes area, Arcadia has gifted us with a new book from their popular “Postcard History” series. The book, just released at the end of March, is simply titled “Finger Lakes”. Being co-authored by Kirk W. House and Charles R. Mitchell adds to the many accolades this volume will receive. Mr. House is the former director-curator of the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, NY, showplace of early aviation history. Mr. Mitchell is the current curator of the Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society (which encompasses much of the area around Keuka Lake).
Having been blessed with grandparents who owned a small cottage on Keuka Lake, and having many of my own fond memories of the area, I was immediately excited to open this book and dive into fascinating historic photos of Ithaca, gorges in Watkins Glen, vineyards near Canadaigua, Taughannock Falls, the World-Record 28 foot griddle that still hangs in Penn Yan. Just leafing through it, I smiled like a sentimental fool, and also learned a lot of new things about an area I thought I knew well. This book will be a wonderful gift to anyone you know who has loved the Finger Lakes.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Relay for Life, Seasons of Life
Kasey Cox
We are coming into the season where local Relay for Life teams start kicking it into high gear, raising money and getting ready for the big event. Mansfield’s Relay for Life is on June 28 this year, and Wellsboro’s follows soon after on July 11. I always keep tabs on the Relay activities, and try to donate as much as I can. I feel a real kinship to cancer patients and their families, although I have never had cancer myself, nor has anyone in my immediate family. Why would I feel so connected to this cause, this journey that people take when they or someone they love is diagnosed with cancer?
Professor, popular lecturer, and recent author Randy Pausch provides an answer. Like the Lance Armstrong yellow plastic bracelets reminding people to “Live Strong”, Pausch’s book “The Last Lecture” focuses his message on LIVING. This most recent of inspirational books to top the bestseller lists, “The Last Lecture” is a true story, unfolding even as you read it, of a young professor, husband, and father, who has written this book as a lasting legacy to those he leaves behind. Pausch has stage four, terminal, pancreatic cancer that has significantly metastasized into his liver. Most likely, by the time most of us are getting out our winter coats again, he will be gone. Unfortunately, as many people involved with the Relay for Life will tell you, Pausch’s story is not unusual. We could read many books that would be variations of what is happening to Randy Pausch and his family. What’s different about “The Last Lecture” is the framework of the book and what Pausch has chosen to say.
The premise for his book, as well as the title, comes from a hypothetical question posed to many professors to be the basis of a lecture: what would you say to this audience if you knew this were your last chance to share your wisdom? For Pausch, this question is no longer an academic exercise, no longer in the realm of “what-if”. The fact that there are many “last lecture” series given on campuses intrigued Pausch, even as he began to plan for the unthinkable – that his youngest child may not remember spending time with her father.
So, the last lecture that Pausch delivered on September 18, 2007, focused on “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. A lot of the advice he shared – keeping a childlike wonder in looking at the world, thinking outside the box, accepting constructive criticism, accepting help, being the kind of person people want to help, the importance of persistence – is not new, but boy, does it sound different coming from someone who has achieved as much as Pausch, and who is facing death sooner than he ever thought.
Books like this run the high risk of being too maudlin, or overly trite, coming across like a melodramatic country song or a bad Lifetime Channel movie. I began reading “The Last Lecture” hesitantly, fearing I’d be pulling out the waders or the Kleenex too soon. I was pleasantly surprised at how upbeat Randy Pausch’s perspective is, and how practical his advice. The book itself is a quick read: after the first few chapters which set the stage and give the background to this story, the chapters are short, each one summarizing a lesson he wants to share. It would easy to zip through this book and think, “oh, that’s a sad story, with some good advice from a nice, intelligent man.” I think it’s actually best to let Randy Pausch pull you quickly through the first time you read his last lecture. But then make certain you go back through with the proverbial fine-tooth comb. Read one chapter, ruminate, talk with your family and friends about it, journal about it, apply it to working with your colleagues for a week and see what happens. Then bite into a little more. You’ll find that Pausch’s honed abilities as a professor have allowed him to organize and synthesis a lot of information into small packages, but each package, when opened, has a huge gift inside. Ultimately, there are a ton of gifts packed into this little book.
Why do we cheer for folks with cancer? For that matter, why are those country songs and Lifetime movies so popular, why do the stories about people who are struggling with a terminal illness touch us so much? For me, it’s not to sit down and have a good cry, although that sometimes happens. What’s most important is the reminder to live well, as Pausch says, “with the cards you’ve been dealt.”
We are coming into the season where local Relay for Life teams start kicking it into high gear, raising money and getting ready for the big event. Mansfield’s Relay for Life is on June 28 this year, and Wellsboro’s follows soon after on July 11. I always keep tabs on the Relay activities, and try to donate as much as I can. I feel a real kinship to cancer patients and their families, although I have never had cancer myself, nor has anyone in my immediate family. Why would I feel so connected to this cause, this journey that people take when they or someone they love is diagnosed with cancer?
Professor, popular lecturer, and recent author Randy Pausch provides an answer. Like the Lance Armstrong yellow plastic bracelets reminding people to “Live Strong”, Pausch’s book “The Last Lecture” focuses his message on LIVING. This most recent of inspirational books to top the bestseller lists, “The Last Lecture” is a true story, unfolding even as you read it, of a young professor, husband, and father, who has written this book as a lasting legacy to those he leaves behind. Pausch has stage four, terminal, pancreatic cancer that has significantly metastasized into his liver. Most likely, by the time most of us are getting out our winter coats again, he will be gone. Unfortunately, as many people involved with the Relay for Life will tell you, Pausch’s story is not unusual. We could read many books that would be variations of what is happening to Randy Pausch and his family. What’s different about “The Last Lecture” is the framework of the book and what Pausch has chosen to say.
The premise for his book, as well as the title, comes from a hypothetical question posed to many professors to be the basis of a lecture: what would you say to this audience if you knew this were your last chance to share your wisdom? For Pausch, this question is no longer an academic exercise, no longer in the realm of “what-if”. The fact that there are many “last lecture” series given on campuses intrigued Pausch, even as he began to plan for the unthinkable – that his youngest child may not remember spending time with her father.
So, the last lecture that Pausch delivered on September 18, 2007, focused on “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. A lot of the advice he shared – keeping a childlike wonder in looking at the world, thinking outside the box, accepting constructive criticism, accepting help, being the kind of person people want to help, the importance of persistence – is not new, but boy, does it sound different coming from someone who has achieved as much as Pausch, and who is facing death sooner than he ever thought.
Books like this run the high risk of being too maudlin, or overly trite, coming across like a melodramatic country song or a bad Lifetime Channel movie. I began reading “The Last Lecture” hesitantly, fearing I’d be pulling out the waders or the Kleenex too soon. I was pleasantly surprised at how upbeat Randy Pausch’s perspective is, and how practical his advice. The book itself is a quick read: after the first few chapters which set the stage and give the background to this story, the chapters are short, each one summarizing a lesson he wants to share. It would easy to zip through this book and think, “oh, that’s a sad story, with some good advice from a nice, intelligent man.” I think it’s actually best to let Randy Pausch pull you quickly through the first time you read his last lecture. But then make certain you go back through with the proverbial fine-tooth comb. Read one chapter, ruminate, talk with your family and friends about it, journal about it, apply it to working with your colleagues for a week and see what happens. Then bite into a little more. You’ll find that Pausch’s honed abilities as a professor have allowed him to organize and synthesis a lot of information into small packages, but each package, when opened, has a huge gift inside. Ultimately, there are a ton of gifts packed into this little book.
Why do we cheer for folks with cancer? For that matter, why are those country songs and Lifetime movies so popular, why do the stories about people who are struggling with a terminal illness touch us so much? For me, it’s not to sit down and have a good cry, although that sometimes happens. What’s most important is the reminder to live well, as Pausch says, “with the cards you’ve been dealt.”
Relay for Life, Seasons of Life
Kasey Cox
We are coming into the season where local Relay for Life teams start kicking it into high gear, raising money and getting ready for the big event. Mansfield’s Relay for Life is on June 28 this year, and Wellsboro’s follows soon after on July 11. I always keep tabs on the Relay activities, and try to donate as much as I can. I feel a real kinship to cancer patients and their families, although I have never had cancer myself, nor has anyone in my immediate family. Why would I feel so connected to this cause, this journey that people take when they or someone they love is diagnosed with cancer?
Professor, popular lecturer, and recent author Randy Pausch provides an answer. Like the Lance Armstrong yellow plastic bracelets reminding people to “Live Strong”, Pausch’s book “The Last Lecture” focuses his message on LIVING. This most recent of inspirational books to top the bestseller lists, “The Last Lecture” is a true story, unfolding even as you read it, of a young professor, husband, and father, who has written this book as a lasting legacy to those he leaves behind. Pausch has stage four, terminal, pancreatic cancer that has significantly metastasized into his liver. Most likely, by the time most of us are getting out our winter coats again, he will be gone. Unfortunately, as many people involved with the Relay for Life will tell you, Pausch’s story is not unusual. We could read many books that would be variations of what is happening to Randy Pausch and his family. What’s different about “The Last Lecture” is the framework of the book and what Pausch has chosen to say.
The premise for his book, as well as the title, comes from a hypothetical question posed to many professors to be the basis of a lecture: what would you say to this audience if you knew this were your last chance to share your wisdom? For Pausch, this question is no longer an academic exercise, no longer in the realm of “what-if”. The fact that there are many “last lecture” series given on campuses intrigued Pausch, even as he began to plan for the unthinkable – that his youngest child may not remember spending time with her father.
So, the last lecture that Pausch delivered on September 18, 2007, focused on “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. A lot of the advice he shared – keeping a childlike wonder in looking at the world, thinking outside the box, accepting constructive criticism, accepting help, being the kind of person people want to help, the importance of persistence – is not new, but boy, does it sound different coming from someone who has achieved as much as Pausch, and who is facing death sooner than he ever thought.
Books like this run the high risk of being too maudlin, or overly trite, coming across like a melodramatic country song or a bad Lifetime Channel movie. I began reading “The Last Lecture” hesitantly, fearing I’d be pulling out the waders or the Kleenex too soon. I was pleasantly surprised at how upbeat Randy Pausch’s perspective is, and how practical his advice. The book itself is a quick read: after the first few chapters which set the stage and give the background to this story, the chapters are short, each one summarizing a lesson he wants to share. It would easy to zip through this book and think, “oh, that’s a sad story, with some good advice from a nice, intelligent man.” I think it’s actually best to let Randy Pausch pull you quickly through the first time you read his last lecture. But then make certain you go back through with the proverbial fine-tooth comb. Read one chapter, ruminate, talk with your family and friends about it, journal about it, apply it to working with your colleagues for a week and see what happens. Then bite into a little more. You’ll find that Pausch’s honed abilities as a professor have allowed him to organize and synthesis a lot of information into small packages, but each package, when opened, has a huge gift inside. Ultimately, there are a ton of gifts packed into this little book.
Why do we cheer for folks with cancer? For that matter, why are those country songs and Lifetime movies so popular, why do the stories about people who are struggling with a terminal illness touch us so much? For me, it’s not to sit down and have a good cry, although that sometimes happens. What’s most important is the reminder to live well, as Pausch says, “with the cards you’ve been dealt.”
We are coming into the season where local Relay for Life teams start kicking it into high gear, raising money and getting ready for the big event. Mansfield’s Relay for Life is on June 28 this year, and Wellsboro’s follows soon after on July 11. I always keep tabs on the Relay activities, and try to donate as much as I can. I feel a real kinship to cancer patients and their families, although I have never had cancer myself, nor has anyone in my immediate family. Why would I feel so connected to this cause, this journey that people take when they or someone they love is diagnosed with cancer?
Professor, popular lecturer, and recent author Randy Pausch provides an answer. Like the Lance Armstrong yellow plastic bracelets reminding people to “Live Strong”, Pausch’s book “The Last Lecture” focuses his message on LIVING. This most recent of inspirational books to top the bestseller lists, “The Last Lecture” is a true story, unfolding even as you read it, of a young professor, husband, and father, who has written this book as a lasting legacy to those he leaves behind. Pausch has stage four, terminal, pancreatic cancer that has significantly metastasized into his liver. Most likely, by the time most of us are getting out our winter coats again, he will be gone. Unfortunately, as many people involved with the Relay for Life will tell you, Pausch’s story is not unusual. We could read many books that would be variations of what is happening to Randy Pausch and his family. What’s different about “The Last Lecture” is the framework of the book and what Pausch has chosen to say.
The premise for his book, as well as the title, comes from a hypothetical question posed to many professors to be the basis of a lecture: what would you say to this audience if you knew this were your last chance to share your wisdom? For Pausch, this question is no longer an academic exercise, no longer in the realm of “what-if”. The fact that there are many “last lecture” series given on campuses intrigued Pausch, even as he began to plan for the unthinkable – that his youngest child may not remember spending time with her father.
So, the last lecture that Pausch delivered on September 18, 2007, focused on “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. A lot of the advice he shared – keeping a childlike wonder in looking at the world, thinking outside the box, accepting constructive criticism, accepting help, being the kind of person people want to help, the importance of persistence – is not new, but boy, does it sound different coming from someone who has achieved as much as Pausch, and who is facing death sooner than he ever thought.
Books like this run the high risk of being too maudlin, or overly trite, coming across like a melodramatic country song or a bad Lifetime Channel movie. I began reading “The Last Lecture” hesitantly, fearing I’d be pulling out the waders or the Kleenex too soon. I was pleasantly surprised at how upbeat Randy Pausch’s perspective is, and how practical his advice. The book itself is a quick read: after the first few chapters which set the stage and give the background to this story, the chapters are short, each one summarizing a lesson he wants to share. It would easy to zip through this book and think, “oh, that’s a sad story, with some good advice from a nice, intelligent man.” I think it’s actually best to let Randy Pausch pull you quickly through the first time you read his last lecture. But then make certain you go back through with the proverbial fine-tooth comb. Read one chapter, ruminate, talk with your family and friends about it, journal about it, apply it to working with your colleagues for a week and see what happens. Then bite into a little more. You’ll find that Pausch’s honed abilities as a professor have allowed him to organize and synthesis a lot of information into small packages, but each package, when opened, has a huge gift inside. Ultimately, there are a ton of gifts packed into this little book.
Why do we cheer for folks with cancer? For that matter, why are those country songs and Lifetime movies so popular, why do the stories about people who are struggling with a terminal illness touch us so much? For me, it’s not to sit down and have a good cry, although that sometimes happens. What’s most important is the reminder to live well, as Pausch says, “with the cards you’ve been dealt.”
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Name of the Wind
Kasey Cox
Sometimes, the superlatives aren’t enough.
I have been accused of tending towards hyberbole. I have a hard time holding myself back, though: I say “H-U-G-E!”, drawing out the letters for emphasis; I say “awesome” and “amazing” quite a bit; I also like “fantastic” and “fabulous”. As a person who loves life and feels things deeply, it’s not unusual that my descriptions would be on the dramatic end of the spectrum.
This presents a bit of a problem, on occasion, when reviewing books. I love books. It’s easy to give all kinds of books an enthusiastic thumbs-up, employing any one of my favorite words noted above. But then what to do when a truly special book comes along? How to explain that this book, this author, the writing here, set themselves apart from anything else you’ve read in a long time?
Well, is that enough build-up, or have I exceeded my exaggeration threshold once again? If you can’t hear me on this, then look at what authors Ursula LeGuin, Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and Orson Scott Card – to name just a few – have to say about Patrick Rothfuss’s debut fantasy novel, “The Name of the Wind.” In just the short time since the first printing in hardcover in April 2007, Rothfuss has garnered praise from major newspapers all across the U.S. and Europe, Amazon’s “Best Pick of the Year 2007 … So Far” summer award, as well as earning starred reviews in The New York Times, the Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and The Onion A.V. Club. Reviewers didn’t just intimate that this was the next Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings series, they crowed it from the rooftops.
If you’re not a huge fantasy reader, you may still enjoy “The Name of the Wind” and the books to follow in ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles.’ Rothfuss’s writing is so mature, so capable, so smooth, that it transcends genre. In the same way that Tolkien wrote his Middle Earth books inspired by the legends of Classic Literature that he taught, so too, Rothfuss’s story reads like a modern telling of the heroes of old, the story of a man who became a legend in his own time. Rothfuss’s protagonist Kvothe reminds me of a Ulysses or Achilles, or more recently of Tolkien’s Aragorn. His story is by turns sentimental and sweet, intriguing, sad and desperate, triumphant, exciting, frightening. Both plot and the telling kept me turning pages well into the night.
If you are a fantasy reader, one who is still grieving the end of Harry Potter, or author Robert Jordan’s death before finishing his series … one who has been impatiently waiting the third installment in Christopher Paolini’s “Eragon (Inheritance)” series … one who re-watches the Lord of the Rings movies every year, and can provide a direct translation of all the Elvish phrases in Tolkien’s books … wait no longer. “The Name of the Wind” is just the book to sink your teeth into this summer. The only problem then: waiting for Rothfuss’s second installment, “The Wise Man’s Fear.”
Hobo, too, is hard at work on the second installment in his ongoing tales of a hero’s journey. In his first book, “Hobo Finds A Home”, the hero leaves his birthplace and begins his wandering and his adventures in the wider world. He just feels lucky he didn’t see any cottonmouth snakes! Who knows what he’ll see on his Summer Book Tour 2008? Check out his website for updates! http://frommyshelf.blogspot.com
Sometimes, the superlatives aren’t enough.
I have been accused of tending towards hyberbole. I have a hard time holding myself back, though: I say “H-U-G-E!”, drawing out the letters for emphasis; I say “awesome” and “amazing” quite a bit; I also like “fantastic” and “fabulous”. As a person who loves life and feels things deeply, it’s not unusual that my descriptions would be on the dramatic end of the spectrum.
This presents a bit of a problem, on occasion, when reviewing books. I love books. It’s easy to give all kinds of books an enthusiastic thumbs-up, employing any one of my favorite words noted above. But then what to do when a truly special book comes along? How to explain that this book, this author, the writing here, set themselves apart from anything else you’ve read in a long time?
Well, is that enough build-up, or have I exceeded my exaggeration threshold once again? If you can’t hear me on this, then look at what authors Ursula LeGuin, Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and Orson Scott Card – to name just a few – have to say about Patrick Rothfuss’s debut fantasy novel, “The Name of the Wind.” In just the short time since the first printing in hardcover in April 2007, Rothfuss has garnered praise from major newspapers all across the U.S. and Europe, Amazon’s “Best Pick of the Year 2007 … So Far” summer award, as well as earning starred reviews in The New York Times, the Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and The Onion A.V. Club. Reviewers didn’t just intimate that this was the next Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings series, they crowed it from the rooftops.
If you’re not a huge fantasy reader, you may still enjoy “The Name of the Wind” and the books to follow in ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles.’ Rothfuss’s writing is so mature, so capable, so smooth, that it transcends genre. In the same way that Tolkien wrote his Middle Earth books inspired by the legends of Classic Literature that he taught, so too, Rothfuss’s story reads like a modern telling of the heroes of old, the story of a man who became a legend in his own time. Rothfuss’s protagonist Kvothe reminds me of a Ulysses or Achilles, or more recently of Tolkien’s Aragorn. His story is by turns sentimental and sweet, intriguing, sad and desperate, triumphant, exciting, frightening. Both plot and the telling kept me turning pages well into the night.
If you are a fantasy reader, one who is still grieving the end of Harry Potter, or author Robert Jordan’s death before finishing his series … one who has been impatiently waiting the third installment in Christopher Paolini’s “Eragon (Inheritance)” series … one who re-watches the Lord of the Rings movies every year, and can provide a direct translation of all the Elvish phrases in Tolkien’s books … wait no longer. “The Name of the Wind” is just the book to sink your teeth into this summer. The only problem then: waiting for Rothfuss’s second installment, “The Wise Man’s Fear.”
Hobo, too, is hard at work on the second installment in his ongoing tales of a hero’s journey. In his first book, “Hobo Finds A Home”, the hero leaves his birthplace and begins his wandering and his adventures in the wider world. He just feels lucky he didn’t see any cottonmouth snakes! Who knows what he’ll see on his Summer Book Tour 2008? Check out his website for updates! http://frommyshelf.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Twilight Series
Kevin Coolidge
This morning I woke up tired and naked on the kitchen floor with mud underneath my nails. Last night had to be another full moon. Being a werewolf may seem grand, but it’s just who I am. It’s not like Hollywood. Silver won’t kill me, and who can afford silver bullets anyway? Wolfs bane only makes me itch. I don’t run with a pack. I’m solitary by nature, and I don’t hang with vampires. Those are just the imagination of sexually repressed humans, but with a life span ranging into the centuries, I do have time to work on my stock portfolio and catch up on my reading.
I decided to delve into the young adult series, Twilight, by Stephanie Myer. She is the author of the books Twilight, along with the sequels New Moon, and Eclipse. The fourth book in the series, Breaking Dawn, will be released Aug 2, 2008. The Twilight saga follows the adventures of Isabella Swan (nicknamed Bella), a teenager who moves to Forks, Washington and finds her life turned upside down when she falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.
The series has gained a cult following among young adult readers. Fans have been offically dubbed “Twilighters”. Many dress up like the characters. They write their own fan fiction about them, post their tales on the Internet. When Stephanie Meyer appears at a bookstore, 3,000 people go to meet her. There are Twilight-themed rock bands. The small town of Forks on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State is a real town, and has thus received am unusual amount of attention, and now celebrates “Stephenie Meyer Day” on September 13, the date of character Bella Swan’s birthday, in honor of the author.
So, just why has this series become so immensley popular? As Shakespeare knew, love burns hotter when love is forbidden, and this pair of lovers is extremley star-crossed. Bella falls in love with beautiful Edward, and he returns her love. But Edward is having a difficult time controlling the blood lust in him, because well he’s a vampire. At any moment, his passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the mortal danger. Bella would rather risk death than be apart from Edward, and so she risks her life to be near him, and thus the novel smolders with an erotic tension from their dangerous, yet chaste relationship. Throw in a rival clan of vampires who want to drain Bella dry, and you have a book that will suck you in.
I did find the series something I could sink my teeth into, though there’s a little too much romance and overuse of adjectives for my taste. This book will have a strong appeal for the young adult, especially the female reader. Though, I feel that the writing and storytelling is strong enough to escape the genre. I personally enjoyed the sequels better and found the introduction of the love triangle with werewolf, Jacob Black and his pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire to be more suspenseful. The writing can be a bit melodramatic, but few readers will care. There’s a nice mix of romance, suspense with a paranormal twist that will leave you hungry for more.
So, where does a real life werewolf find love? There are few of us. I live among humanity, but our territory is so geographically vast that I seldom catch scent or scat of my kind. As we tend to be rather solitary, it makes dating pretty difficult. I mean. It’s not like I can just meet a nice bitch at the bar, or place a personal ad. Hmm, why not?
“LONE WOLF SEEKS PLAYMATE”
Single, professional, alpha male seeking a soulful, sultry female for continuing bloodline. I am long and lean with a dark, shiny coat and all my canines. I like to run through the woods, pay homage to Luna, and Wolf’s Bane and silver make me itch. You are sexy, playful and willing to learn a few new tricks…
Werewolves? Vampires? Or Both? Drop me an email at frommyshelf@epix.net. Seeking past columns? Pickup the trail at www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com Hobo wants his readers to know that he’s innocent. He’s wanted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for a crime he didn’t commit. He was framed by a three-legged polecat. He will see justice served, hopefully with a side of caviar.
This morning I woke up tired and naked on the kitchen floor with mud underneath my nails. Last night had to be another full moon. Being a werewolf may seem grand, but it’s just who I am. It’s not like Hollywood. Silver won’t kill me, and who can afford silver bullets anyway? Wolfs bane only makes me itch. I don’t run with a pack. I’m solitary by nature, and I don’t hang with vampires. Those are just the imagination of sexually repressed humans, but with a life span ranging into the centuries, I do have time to work on my stock portfolio and catch up on my reading.
I decided to delve into the young adult series, Twilight, by Stephanie Myer. She is the author of the books Twilight, along with the sequels New Moon, and Eclipse. The fourth book in the series, Breaking Dawn, will be released Aug 2, 2008. The Twilight saga follows the adventures of Isabella Swan (nicknamed Bella), a teenager who moves to Forks, Washington and finds her life turned upside down when she falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.
The series has gained a cult following among young adult readers. Fans have been offically dubbed “Twilighters”. Many dress up like the characters. They write their own fan fiction about them, post their tales on the Internet. When Stephanie Meyer appears at a bookstore, 3,000 people go to meet her. There are Twilight-themed rock bands. The small town of Forks on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State is a real town, and has thus received am unusual amount of attention, and now celebrates “Stephenie Meyer Day” on September 13, the date of character Bella Swan’s birthday, in honor of the author.
So, just why has this series become so immensley popular? As Shakespeare knew, love burns hotter when love is forbidden, and this pair of lovers is extremley star-crossed. Bella falls in love with beautiful Edward, and he returns her love. But Edward is having a difficult time controlling the blood lust in him, because well he’s a vampire. At any moment, his passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the mortal danger. Bella would rather risk death than be apart from Edward, and so she risks her life to be near him, and thus the novel smolders with an erotic tension from their dangerous, yet chaste relationship. Throw in a rival clan of vampires who want to drain Bella dry, and you have a book that will suck you in.
I did find the series something I could sink my teeth into, though there’s a little too much romance and overuse of adjectives for my taste. This book will have a strong appeal for the young adult, especially the female reader. Though, I feel that the writing and storytelling is strong enough to escape the genre. I personally enjoyed the sequels better and found the introduction of the love triangle with werewolf, Jacob Black and his pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire to be more suspenseful. The writing can be a bit melodramatic, but few readers will care. There’s a nice mix of romance, suspense with a paranormal twist that will leave you hungry for more.
So, where does a real life werewolf find love? There are few of us. I live among humanity, but our territory is so geographically vast that I seldom catch scent or scat of my kind. As we tend to be rather solitary, it makes dating pretty difficult. I mean. It’s not like I can just meet a nice bitch at the bar, or place a personal ad. Hmm, why not?
“LONE WOLF SEEKS PLAYMATE”
Single, professional, alpha male seeking a soulful, sultry female for continuing bloodline. I am long and lean with a dark, shiny coat and all my canines. I like to run through the woods, pay homage to Luna, and Wolf’s Bane and silver make me itch. You are sexy, playful and willing to learn a few new tricks…
Werewolves? Vampires? Or Both? Drop me an email at frommyshelf@epix.net. Seeking past columns? Pickup the trail at www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com Hobo wants his readers to know that he’s innocent. He’s wanted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for a crime he didn’t commit. He was framed by a three-legged polecat. He will see justice served, hopefully with a side of caviar.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Mark of Cain
Kevin Coolidge
The pub, the bar, the old watering hole: it’s where all the animals gather at the end of the day, but that also includes the predators. I met a gal with the nickname of “Lou”. Lou challenged me to arm wrestle and beat me two out of three, and me being a weightlifter and wrestler in high school. But in all fairness, I was distracted by the tattoos of bleeding skulls and naked women rippling down her biceps.
Tattooing is becoming much more commonplace and mainstream in today’s society. It used to be that very few women got tattoos. Those that did were the exception and usually a touch eccentric and rebellious, not to mention being able to hold their liquor. All that changed in the late 80’s when tattooing became much more socially acceptable, largely due to the many celebrities who publically sported tattoos. In the fall of 2006, a study was completed by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, which found that 24% of Americans who were between the ages of 18 and 50 had a tattoo. This is almost one in four people in the United States, including women.
Throughout human history, we have deliberately and permanently marked our skin. Tattoos have served as rites of passage, marks of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations of bravery, punishment, talismans of protection, to identify oneself with a particular group or gang, and as the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. Today, most people choose to be tattooed for cosmetic and sentimental reasons. No matter the reason – tattoos are forms of expression that carry meaning.
Perhaps you are thinking of getting a tattoo like my drinking buddy “Lou”, and you don’t know where to start. I recommend checking out The Tattoo Encyclopedia: A Guide To Choosing Your Tattoo by Terisa Green with illustrations by Greg James. This illustrated reference book has entries on the origins and meanings of nearly one thousand tattoo symbols that can serve as your guide for choosing a personally significant tattoo.
For people contemplating a tattoo, the choices can be overwhelming. Do you get a tiger, a dragon, or is a 13 ½* better suited for your current situation? Maybe a butterfly, flower, or cartoon character is more your style. Tattoos can be rich in symbolism or whimsical fashion statements. The Tattoo Encyclopedia presents concise descriptions of symbols both common and unusual, and provides information on their historic, religious, and cultural significance.
Most people and most cultures do associate tattoos with some deeper meaning. They can be an outward sign of inner transformation, an appeal to the forces of fortune, or a declaration of love, loyalty, or sometimes even hatred. They are reminders of events both grim and uplifting -- a glimpse into our past and the events and experiences that have shaped us. I’m thinking of getting a tattoo of the Phoenix, the mythological bird that rises from the ashes. I know I can beat “Lou”, and I’m going to challenge her to a rematch. Right after I pay for the next round…
*The number 13 ½ is a prison tattoo that stands for the judge (1), the jury (12), and the “half-assed” sentence. The number 13 in the same circumstances can represent a marijuana dealer or user. Sometimes it’s important to know what not to have inked on your body.
Ink, or no ink? What would you choose for a tattoo? Drop me an email at frommyshelf@epix.net. Miss a past column? Check out www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com for past reviews. Does Hobo have a tattoo? Check out his book, “Hobo Finds A Home” and see for yourself. It’s a children’s book about a cat who wanted more than scratchy hay and clumsy cows in his life.
The pub, the bar, the old watering hole: it’s where all the animals gather at the end of the day, but that also includes the predators. I met a gal with the nickname of “Lou”. Lou challenged me to arm wrestle and beat me two out of three, and me being a weightlifter and wrestler in high school. But in all fairness, I was distracted by the tattoos of bleeding skulls and naked women rippling down her biceps.
Tattooing is becoming much more commonplace and mainstream in today’s society. It used to be that very few women got tattoos. Those that did were the exception and usually a touch eccentric and rebellious, not to mention being able to hold their liquor. All that changed in the late 80’s when tattooing became much more socially acceptable, largely due to the many celebrities who publically sported tattoos. In the fall of 2006, a study was completed by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, which found that 24% of Americans who were between the ages of 18 and 50 had a tattoo. This is almost one in four people in the United States, including women.
Throughout human history, we have deliberately and permanently marked our skin. Tattoos have served as rites of passage, marks of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations of bravery, punishment, talismans of protection, to identify oneself with a particular group or gang, and as the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. Today, most people choose to be tattooed for cosmetic and sentimental reasons. No matter the reason – tattoos are forms of expression that carry meaning.
Perhaps you are thinking of getting a tattoo like my drinking buddy “Lou”, and you don’t know where to start. I recommend checking out The Tattoo Encyclopedia: A Guide To Choosing Your Tattoo by Terisa Green with illustrations by Greg James. This illustrated reference book has entries on the origins and meanings of nearly one thousand tattoo symbols that can serve as your guide for choosing a personally significant tattoo.
For people contemplating a tattoo, the choices can be overwhelming. Do you get a tiger, a dragon, or is a 13 ½* better suited for your current situation? Maybe a butterfly, flower, or cartoon character is more your style. Tattoos can be rich in symbolism or whimsical fashion statements. The Tattoo Encyclopedia presents concise descriptions of symbols both common and unusual, and provides information on their historic, religious, and cultural significance.
Most people and most cultures do associate tattoos with some deeper meaning. They can be an outward sign of inner transformation, an appeal to the forces of fortune, or a declaration of love, loyalty, or sometimes even hatred. They are reminders of events both grim and uplifting -- a glimpse into our past and the events and experiences that have shaped us. I’m thinking of getting a tattoo of the Phoenix, the mythological bird that rises from the ashes. I know I can beat “Lou”, and I’m going to challenge her to a rematch. Right after I pay for the next round…
*The number 13 ½ is a prison tattoo that stands for the judge (1), the jury (12), and the “half-assed” sentence. The number 13 in the same circumstances can represent a marijuana dealer or user. Sometimes it’s important to know what not to have inked on your body.
Ink, or no ink? What would you choose for a tattoo? Drop me an email at frommyshelf@epix.net. Miss a past column? Check out www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com for past reviews. Does Hobo have a tattoo? Check out his book, “Hobo Finds A Home” and see for yourself. It’s a children’s book about a cat who wanted more than scratchy hay and clumsy cows in his life.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Check out this awesome slideshow from my friend & fan Brian!
Bryan Robinson, special member at From My Shelf, nice man, fellow book fiend and writer, made a really cool slideshow of the bookstore!!! If you'd like to see all the things offered at the store, and lots of cool photos of how it looks this summer of 2008, check out this link:
http://www.slide.com/r/iU5efYdm6z-K-zsN8AJZKAjGPVY1UZRa?current_view=TICKER&previous_view=TICKER_MENU_SHARE&previous_action=SHARE&cid=1297036692699914154
You can copy and paste the entire link into your browser, I guess, because I can't seem to make it an active link here in this post. I'll work on that. OR you can go to the list to the left, where Hobo's favorite links are listed, and click on the one for "slideshow of the bookstore!" Yay, Bryan, and thanks!!
Cheers,
Hobo
http://www.slide.com/r/iU5efYdm6z-K-zsN8AJZKAjGPVY1UZRa?current_view=TICKER&previous_view=TICKER_MENU_SHARE&previous_action=SHARE&cid=1297036692699914154
You can copy and paste the entire link into your browser, I guess, because I can't seem to make it an active link here in this post. I'll work on that. OR you can go to the list to the left, where Hobo's favorite links are listed, and click on the one for "slideshow of the bookstore!" Yay, Bryan, and thanks!!
Cheers,
Hobo
Friday, June 6, 2008
Hobo's Summer Book Tour 2008
Hobo is on tour of Tioga County and the Twin Tiers this summer! Here's an update of all the places you can find Hobo in the upcoming months! Come pet the goofy golden boy, get your picture taken with him, let your kids cart him around, have him autograph a copy of his book especially for you!
To start the summer off right, Hobo returns to his hometown bookstore. That's right, Hobo is the kickoff author in the Laurel Festival week of author events at From My Shelf. Hobo will be at the store on Monday, June 16th, from 1 to 2:30 pm. We'll be reading his book several times and he will be available to play with the kids. Bring your cameras, he's a star!
Hobo will also be doing a children's story hour at Galeton Library on Saturday June 14th, at 1pm.
Besides his events with kids, Hobo has quite a line up of dates with local Senior Centers. Come visit the members of our community in their golden years and hang out with the golden boy!
Friday, July 11: 11am at the Wellsboro Senior Center
Monday, July 14: 11am at the Elkland Senior Center
Tuesday, July 22: 11am at the Millerton Senior Center
Wednesday, July 30: 12:15pm Westfield Senior Center
We'll let you know as more events are scheduled! If you'd like to have Hobo come to an event for your organization, email us or call:
from_my_shelf@yahoo.com
(570) 724-5793
To start the summer off right, Hobo returns to his hometown bookstore. That's right, Hobo is the kickoff author in the Laurel Festival week of author events at From My Shelf. Hobo will be at the store on Monday, June 16th, from 1 to 2:30 pm. We'll be reading his book several times and he will be available to play with the kids. Bring your cameras, he's a star!
Hobo will also be doing a children's story hour at Galeton Library on Saturday June 14th, at 1pm.
Besides his events with kids, Hobo has quite a line up of dates with local Senior Centers. Come visit the members of our community in their golden years and hang out with the golden boy!
Friday, July 11: 11am at the Wellsboro Senior Center
Monday, July 14: 11am at the Elkland Senior Center
Tuesday, July 22: 11am at the Millerton Senior Center
Wednesday, July 30: 12:15pm Westfield Senior Center
We'll let you know as more events are scheduled! If you'd like to have Hobo come to an event for your organization, email us or call:
from_my_shelf@yahoo.com
(570) 724-5793
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
When All Hell Breaks Loose
Kevin Coolidge
“If you are going through Hell, keep going.”—Winston Churchill
Once upon a summer day, a Grasshopper hopped and danced and sung to his heart’s content. An Ant passed, dragging a huge sack of powdered milk, beef jerky, and salt.
“Why not come and sing karaoke and do a Jell-O™ shot with me,” chirped the grasshopper, “Instead of breaking your back, working all day?”
“I am preparing for hard times ahead,” said the Ant, “and I recommend you do the same.”
“Why worry about winter?” said the Grasshopper. “There’s plenty of food right now.”
But the ant continued his hard toil. When winter came, the shivering grasshopper had no food and found himself slowly dying of hunger. So, he kicked down the Ant’s door only to find out that the Ant had completed a comprehensive martial art training regimen that focused on close-quarters combat and self-defense, and that food was not the only thing the Ant had packed away. Only then did the Grasshopper realize that…
It is best to be prepared for the days of necessity. Haven’t you ever stayed awake late at night running through “what if” scenarios? Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornados, zombies, asteroid strikes -- you didn’t build that bomb shelter in the backyard just for the kids to use as a playhouse. Well, grab your gasmask and a copy of When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes by Cody Lundin.
He is not another paranoid survivalist huddled in a cave spouting Bible verses and lovingly stroking his guns. Cody Lundin and his Aboriginal Living Skills School have been featured in dozens of national and international media sources, including Dateline NBC, CBS News, USA Today, The Donny and Marie Show, and CBC Radio One in Canada, as well as on the cover of Backpacker magazine. When not teaching for his own school, he is an adjunct faculty member at Yavapai College and a faculty member at the Ecosa Institute. His expertise in practical self-reliance skills comes from a lifetime of personal experience, including designing his own off the grid, passive solar earth home.
This book is not going to teach you how to wrestle an alligator, or try to convince you that all you have to do is gaze into your backyard to find endless amounts of wild edible plants, or that wild game is there for the taking. Hunting and trapping are true arts and require practice, the right equipment, and the proper environment to be successful. What this book will do is provide the knowledge to help you survive the standard survival scenario, which lasts about seventy-two hours, in the most practical, affordable, simple and realistic way possible.
The book is divided into two parts. Part one deals with the psychological aspect of surviving. According to the author “surviving a life-threatening scenario is largely psychological on the part of the survivor(s). Get this fact into your head now that living through a survival scenario is 90 percent psychology, and 10 percent methodology and gear.” He covers how to define your survival priorities with his “Pyramid of Needs” and great checklists for preparing you physically, mentally and emotionally, as well as spirituality and the equipment you are going to need. This section will give you the common-sense foundation upon which to base your survival plan.
The second part of this basic survival guide contains the information to keep your physical body alive. Specific chapters on emergency sanitation, water, food, first aid, communication, and more are presented in the most practical detail as possible. Entire books have been devoted to each of the above subjects. So, don’t expect this book to cover every possible aspect of these skills, but appreciate the excellent overview..
Perhaps the greatest survival skill of all is being able to keep calm in the face of chaos. This is accomplished by being sensibly prepared and not scared. It may sound romantic to live off the fat of the land. You may have a great yearning to live wild and free. I sometimes get the urge to grow a beard, live in a cave, and become a combination of Grizzly Adams and Daniel Boone, and then I realize that many indigenous peoples died young and died hard. No one plans to find himself in a survival situation. That’s part of what makes those situations so terrifying when they happen. This book can be a useful for keeping you and your family alive, or you can pray and wait for FEMA…
Are you an Ant, or a Grasshopper? Email me at frommyshelf@epix.net Check out past columns at www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com Hurry, before the world ends: get“Hobo Finds A Home”, a children’s book about a cat that didn’t wait to inherit the earth. Grab your popcorn and get ready for “Hobo: The Motion Picture”, coming in 3D and Dolby surround sound.
“If you are going through Hell, keep going.”—Winston Churchill
Once upon a summer day, a Grasshopper hopped and danced and sung to his heart’s content. An Ant passed, dragging a huge sack of powdered milk, beef jerky, and salt.
“Why not come and sing karaoke and do a Jell-O™ shot with me,” chirped the grasshopper, “Instead of breaking your back, working all day?”
“I am preparing for hard times ahead,” said the Ant, “and I recommend you do the same.”
“Why worry about winter?” said the Grasshopper. “There’s plenty of food right now.”
But the ant continued his hard toil. When winter came, the shivering grasshopper had no food and found himself slowly dying of hunger. So, he kicked down the Ant’s door only to find out that the Ant had completed a comprehensive martial art training regimen that focused on close-quarters combat and self-defense, and that food was not the only thing the Ant had packed away. Only then did the Grasshopper realize that…
It is best to be prepared for the days of necessity. Haven’t you ever stayed awake late at night running through “what if” scenarios? Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornados, zombies, asteroid strikes -- you didn’t build that bomb shelter in the backyard just for the kids to use as a playhouse. Well, grab your gasmask and a copy of When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes by Cody Lundin.
He is not another paranoid survivalist huddled in a cave spouting Bible verses and lovingly stroking his guns. Cody Lundin and his Aboriginal Living Skills School have been featured in dozens of national and international media sources, including Dateline NBC, CBS News, USA Today, The Donny and Marie Show, and CBC Radio One in Canada, as well as on the cover of Backpacker magazine. When not teaching for his own school, he is an adjunct faculty member at Yavapai College and a faculty member at the Ecosa Institute. His expertise in practical self-reliance skills comes from a lifetime of personal experience, including designing his own off the grid, passive solar earth home.
This book is not going to teach you how to wrestle an alligator, or try to convince you that all you have to do is gaze into your backyard to find endless amounts of wild edible plants, or that wild game is there for the taking. Hunting and trapping are true arts and require practice, the right equipment, and the proper environment to be successful. What this book will do is provide the knowledge to help you survive the standard survival scenario, which lasts about seventy-two hours, in the most practical, affordable, simple and realistic way possible.
The book is divided into two parts. Part one deals with the psychological aspect of surviving. According to the author “surviving a life-threatening scenario is largely psychological on the part of the survivor(s). Get this fact into your head now that living through a survival scenario is 90 percent psychology, and 10 percent methodology and gear.” He covers how to define your survival priorities with his “Pyramid of Needs” and great checklists for preparing you physically, mentally and emotionally, as well as spirituality and the equipment you are going to need. This section will give you the common-sense foundation upon which to base your survival plan.
The second part of this basic survival guide contains the information to keep your physical body alive. Specific chapters on emergency sanitation, water, food, first aid, communication, and more are presented in the most practical detail as possible. Entire books have been devoted to each of the above subjects. So, don’t expect this book to cover every possible aspect of these skills, but appreciate the excellent overview..
Perhaps the greatest survival skill of all is being able to keep calm in the face of chaos. This is accomplished by being sensibly prepared and not scared. It may sound romantic to live off the fat of the land. You may have a great yearning to live wild and free. I sometimes get the urge to grow a beard, live in a cave, and become a combination of Grizzly Adams and Daniel Boone, and then I realize that many indigenous peoples died young and died hard. No one plans to find himself in a survival situation. That’s part of what makes those situations so terrifying when they happen. This book can be a useful for keeping you and your family alive, or you can pray and wait for FEMA…
Are you an Ant, or a Grasshopper? Email me at frommyshelf@epix.net Check out past columns at www.frommyshelf.blogspot.com Hurry, before the world ends: get“Hobo Finds A Home”, a children’s book about a cat that didn’t wait to inherit the earth. Grab your popcorn and get ready for “Hobo: The Motion Picture”, coming in 3D and Dolby surround sound.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Texting Pomp and Circumstance
Kasey Cox
Ah, it’s that time of year again: lawnmowers roaring up and down at every hour of the day and night; flowers in profusion from every tree, bush, prom-goer’s wrist, and grocery store display; and “Pomp and Circumstance” being practiced in band rooms and on high school football fields in anticipation of the big day. And, while most new graduates like to see the gift of green bills in “Congratulations” cards, most givers also like to give something a little more concrete, something that lasts a little longer than a gallon of gas to drive to one day’s work at the summer job. Books are often the next choice, since we are hoping that the graduate learned to read and perhaps may use this skill again in the near future.
Books from the “inspirational” section are, of course, an excellent choice for a graduation gift that hopefully keeps on giving. Words of comfort and wisdom to reflect on, at this major crossroad and milestone, and for all those in the future. Timeless titles, often passed on with words like “my mother gave this to me when I graduated”, include Anne Morrow Lindberg’s “Gifts from the Sea”, Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet”, Antoine St-Exupery’s “The Little Prince”, and more recently, Mitch Albom’s books like “Tuesdays with Morrie” or “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” When I graduated, the newest book on this scene was Robert Fulghum’s “All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”, still a favorite of mine. Certainly, I’ve also mentioned several times now how much I love Ruth Gendler’s lovely and transcendent descriptions in “The Book of Qualities.” I’m also very partial to the gift of a highlighter and Barbara Ann Kipfer’s “14,000 Things to Be Happy About”. All of these books serve readers well to remind them what’s important in life, to lift them up a little, to help them refocus when the way seems cloudy and the path steep. My review and my words about these books are trite, but the books themselves and the words they share breathe life and beauty across the years.
There’s usually some good advice in graduation speeches, but who remembers what was said at their graduation? Luckily, some of the best of that advice has been captured. Choose one of your favorite writers, like the inimitable Dr. Seuss, whose “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” was penned as a graduation speech; or Ann Patchett’s “What Now?” Or, avoid choosing one favorite and embrace parts of many with Sandra Bark’s collection: “Take This Advice: The Best Graduation Speeches Ever Given.”
If you’re looking for something a little more practical for your graduate, think cookbooks. Once given only to women about to be wed, families who are afraid their young loved ones may only ever eat fast food or Ramen noodles have many gift options. For some college-bound folks, the Better Homes & Gardens or Fanny Farmer Cookbook your family always relied on may need to wait a few years when an apartment replaces a dorm room, but there are things that can be cooked in a dorm kitchen, and ways to eat healthy from the college cafeteria, as attested to in books such as: “The Smart Student’s Guide to Healthy Dorm Living” and “College Cooking: Feed Yourself and Your Friends.” Although I have not yet had a chance to read this book, I’m betting the advice-and-inspiration guide “No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide: Straight Talk on Jobs, Money, Balance, Life, and More” to be a pretty solid choice. (Even though my last 20-something birthday is a few years behind me, I might just have to buy a copy of this book for myself). For the truly desperate, or for those with a weird sense of humor, perhaps Paladin Press’s tome on “Survival Poaching” is the just the ticket for your graduate.
The last kind of book I usually recommend that people consider gifting to those about to fly the nest is a book about the nest. We have some wonderful local authors, and a lot of special books about the area. What better way to send them on their way then to remind them where they came from?
Hobo remembers his home, his roots and his journey, in his memoir, “Hobo Finds A Home”, soon to be arranged with interpretative dance. Set to “Pomp and Circumstance”. Check out production dates, as well as other arrangements for his Summer 2008 Book Tour, at http://frommyshelf.blogspot.com
Ah, it’s that time of year again: lawnmowers roaring up and down at every hour of the day and night; flowers in profusion from every tree, bush, prom-goer’s wrist, and grocery store display; and “Pomp and Circumstance” being practiced in band rooms and on high school football fields in anticipation of the big day. And, while most new graduates like to see the gift of green bills in “Congratulations” cards, most givers also like to give something a little more concrete, something that lasts a little longer than a gallon of gas to drive to one day’s work at the summer job. Books are often the next choice, since we are hoping that the graduate learned to read and perhaps may use this skill again in the near future.
Books from the “inspirational” section are, of course, an excellent choice for a graduation gift that hopefully keeps on giving. Words of comfort and wisdom to reflect on, at this major crossroad and milestone, and for all those in the future. Timeless titles, often passed on with words like “my mother gave this to me when I graduated”, include Anne Morrow Lindberg’s “Gifts from the Sea”, Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet”, Antoine St-Exupery’s “The Little Prince”, and more recently, Mitch Albom’s books like “Tuesdays with Morrie” or “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” When I graduated, the newest book on this scene was Robert Fulghum’s “All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”, still a favorite of mine. Certainly, I’ve also mentioned several times now how much I love Ruth Gendler’s lovely and transcendent descriptions in “The Book of Qualities.” I’m also very partial to the gift of a highlighter and Barbara Ann Kipfer’s “14,000 Things to Be Happy About”. All of these books serve readers well to remind them what’s important in life, to lift them up a little, to help them refocus when the way seems cloudy and the path steep. My review and my words about these books are trite, but the books themselves and the words they share breathe life and beauty across the years.
There’s usually some good advice in graduation speeches, but who remembers what was said at their graduation? Luckily, some of the best of that advice has been captured. Choose one of your favorite writers, like the inimitable Dr. Seuss, whose “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” was penned as a graduation speech; or Ann Patchett’s “What Now?” Or, avoid choosing one favorite and embrace parts of many with Sandra Bark’s collection: “Take This Advice: The Best Graduation Speeches Ever Given.”
If you’re looking for something a little more practical for your graduate, think cookbooks. Once given only to women about to be wed, families who are afraid their young loved ones may only ever eat fast food or Ramen noodles have many gift options. For some college-bound folks, the Better Homes & Gardens or Fanny Farmer Cookbook your family always relied on may need to wait a few years when an apartment replaces a dorm room, but there are things that can be cooked in a dorm kitchen, and ways to eat healthy from the college cafeteria, as attested to in books such as: “The Smart Student’s Guide to Healthy Dorm Living” and “College Cooking: Feed Yourself and Your Friends.” Although I have not yet had a chance to read this book, I’m betting the advice-and-inspiration guide “No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide: Straight Talk on Jobs, Money, Balance, Life, and More” to be a pretty solid choice. (Even though my last 20-something birthday is a few years behind me, I might just have to buy a copy of this book for myself). For the truly desperate, or for those with a weird sense of humor, perhaps Paladin Press’s tome on “Survival Poaching” is the just the ticket for your graduate.
The last kind of book I usually recommend that people consider gifting to those about to fly the nest is a book about the nest. We have some wonderful local authors, and a lot of special books about the area. What better way to send them on their way then to remind them where they came from?
Hobo remembers his home, his roots and his journey, in his memoir, “Hobo Finds A Home”, soon to be arranged with interpretative dance. Set to “Pomp and Circumstance”. Check out production dates, as well as other arrangements for his Summer 2008 Book Tour, at http://frommyshelf.blogspot.com
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