Some Odds and Ends

Great Quote of the Day:
'Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of sh**.'

Seattle's book maven and star librarian has come into some controversy for partnering with Amazon to reissue some out of print books. I think it is a tempest in a teapot, myself, but here's the skinny from Shelf Awareness:

Nancy Pearl, the former librarian and bookseller, author of the Book
Lust series, NPR book commentator and champion of reading, libraries and
independent bookstores, is launching the Book Lust Rediscoveries
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz12406960 series with Amazon.com.

The series of about six books a year will consist of Pearl's favorite
out-of-print books that will be available "in print editions via
Amazon.com and as audiobooks via Amazon.com and Audible.com, at
bookstores, wholesalers and libraries nationwide and as eBooks in the
Kindle Store," Amazon said. The company's statement had no information
on how non-Amazon outlets might be able to obtain the printed versions
of the books. The books will include introductions by Pearl, a list of
discussion questions for book groups and suggestions for similar titles.

Pearl will donate part of the proceeds from the books' sales to the
Nancy Pearl Endowment for Public Librarianship at the University of
Washington's Information School. "Helping these wonderful books find new
readers is, for me, a joy and a delight," Pearl said, adding that she
has received many requests from readers who found some of her
recommended titles--a significant number of which are
out-of-print--difficult to find.

The first two titles in the series are:

* A Gay and Melancholy Sound by Merle Miller, to be published April 3.
("Joshua Bland tells the story of his life growing up in small-town Iowa
as a child prodigy to his career as a theater producer and his most
recent divorce: a life marked by a failure to love and be loved.")
* After Life by Rhian Ellis, which appears June 5. ("A charming novel
that's part psychological thriller, partly a story of mothers and
daughters, and partly something entirely original.")


The move has shocked some people in the industry. The Stranger, the
Seattle website, outlined why:
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz12406961
"Pearl built her fame on a career at Seattle Public Library and through
partnerships with local bookstores. Many of the local librarians and
independent booksellers who supported her can't stand Amazon.com, which
means that things could get a little awkward around here real soon."

And here's a charming video of what books do at night, when the library or bookstore is closed...it's a book ballet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8