Blog Post
Beatnik Chicks
by DavidQ
I didn't want to write another blog about a graphic novel, but.... it's the end of the semester, and they make a nice genre to read in between work and writing papers.
Harvey Pekar is most famous for his long-running comic book American Splendor, but he also writes interesting little graphic histories of topics that are near to his heart, usually falling at the intersection of radical politics and great American literature. Students for a Democratic Society is an anthology spear-headed by Pekar with graphic vignettes about the SDS and its place in the counter-culture of the 60's.
Now, he has given us The Beats:A Graphic History: a similar collection of short historical pieces about key figures in the Beat Movement. Written by Pekar himself and a group of other writers, the book of course treats the main figures of the movement like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs. These biographical pieces are brief, so I agree with many reviews I found online that complain of the thinness of the material. But I would say that it gave me a view of the beat landscape and definitely conveyed Pekar and his cohort's passion for their writing. Honestly, I have not read a lot of the books of these iconic writers, but Pekar's short biographies made me curious to know more about the wild lives that they lived and why their work has been so influential. I was especially glad to know more of some of the other names from the movement: Phillip Whalen, Gary Snyder, Michael Mcclure, Amiri Baraka, Philip Lamantia as well as many others. This is not a comprehensive history of the beats, but not a bad place to start.
But, why did I title this blog "Beatnik Chicks"? Pekar's wife Joyce Brabner writes a section about the women of the movement who, as often so sadly happens, are not given proper credit for their contribution. Knowing how famous these men are, it is refreshing to know about the women who were part of this vibrant artistic scene and lived expressive, passionate lives. Women like Diane Di Prima, Carolyn Cassady, Joyce Johnson, Hettie Jones, and Jay DeFeo seem like fascinating people, and Brabner's short but fiery tribute to them is well worth the read.
If you know someone looking to know more about the Beats, tell them about Pekar and Brabner.
Blog Post
Helping Hands -- Parent Magazine Update
by MariaK
It takes work to be a responsible parent, or even just a responsible adult. This month's parent magazine update focuses on magazines that give advice -- because we all need a little help now and then.
Home Education Magazine has advice for any parent who wants to be a little more involved with their child's education -- including an article on the National History Day contest, a guide to running a book club for boys, and a list of good books for teaching teens about money.
Working Mother Magazine features a list of the 100 most family-friendly companies to work for, a guide to purchasing life insurance, and an article on how to rid your home of scary chemicals often found in paint, upholstery and even toys.
American Baby Magazine provides a guide to recognizing signs of autism spectrum disorders in children and seven tips for managing tantrums.
Blog Post
The Case for Books
by SarahRose
Did you catch it? NPR's The Diane Rehm Show aired an interesting interview with Robert Darnton, director of the Harvard University Library and author of The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future, which just came out in October. Darnton and Diane discussed the history of the book, from scrolls to codices to kindles, and Darnton's predictions for the future of books and e-books.
AADL has some excellent books about books. The Coming Of The Book, Art Of The Printed Book, and A Short History Of The Printed Word are all first-class books for learning about the history of books starting with the invention of printing in the middle ages. If you are interested in even earlier books, our Ladies' Library Collection has some beautifully illustrated books about manuscripts. I found the plates in A History Of Illuminated Manuscripts really amazing.
Blog Post
Feast for eye and mind
by annevm
If you haven't yet visited The Future of Our Past: The Evolution of Multicultural Children's Literature, do it before this magical exhibit closes Nov. 29. Among books on display are In the Beginning and More More More Said The Baby: 3 Love Stories. This joint exhibit of AADL and the University of Michigan Special Collections Library includes books from the UM Children's Literature Collections and material highlighting world cultures. The exhibit is in the glass cases on the lower level of the downtown library. Don't miss it!
Blog Post
Young People’s Literature Award announced by NBA
by K.C.
Claudette Colvin: Twice toward Justice was given the 2009 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. This biography tells about African American Claudette Colvin who at age 15 refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama. Her action in 1955 was nine months before Rosa Parks’ famous refusal to give up her bus seat.
Author Phillip Hoose told the audience it was “his job to pull her story out from under history's rug”. Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history. Ms. Colvin now 70 years old joined Hoose at the podium to accept the award.
Blog Post
World Fantasy Awards
by lucroe
Created in the mid-1970s, the World Fantasy Awards, associated with the annual World Fantasy Conventions were established as a fantasy counterpart to the SF-oriented Hugo and Nebula Awards. If you enjoy reading/watching/writing fantasy or science fiction, the annual conventions are definitely for you! Think about attending the 2010 convention. It will be close by in Columbus, Ohio on the weekend of October 28-31. A great way to celebrate Halloween by dressing up as your favorite fantasy character- a Volturi anyone?
Here are the winners for best novel:
The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford: In the wake of a classmate's disappearance, a sixth grader and his older brother observe strange events in 1960s Long Island, including the appearance of a man in a large white car and the deteriorating mental state of the school librarian.
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan: A young woman who has endured unspeakable cruelties is magically granted a safe haven apart from the real world and allowed to raise her two daughters in this alternate reality, until the barrier between her world and the real one begins to break down.
Best Anthology:
Paper Cities, by: Ekaterina Sedia, ed.
A collection of urban fantasy stories featuring cities--whether real or imaginary and throughout history--and how they affect the lives and experiences of their inhabitants.
Best Collection:
The Drowned Life by: Jeffrey Ford: In this mesmerizing blend of the familiar and the fantastic, multiple award-winning New York Times notable author Jeffrey Ford creates true wonders and infuses the mundane with magic.
Blog Post
Teen Stuff: Feed by M.T. Anderson
by Caser
This weekend at a U of M hockey game I sat behind someone that texted, talked, and googled non-stop on their phone for the entire 2 hour game, not once looking up to follow the live action on the ice. This is not a commentary, merely an observation. But I couldn't stop thinking about M.T. Anderson's novel, Feed, which follows a futuristic group of teenage friends, all of whom have 'The Feed' implanted in their brains from a young age.
The Feed functions like a search engine, complete with instant message capabilities and streaming advertisements catered to (or shaping) their personal interests. The characters live their lives unquestioningly until Violet enters their scene, sans Feed, and illuminates the unsettling cost of information overload. Listening to the book on CD is especially engaging, since part of the narrative is the sound of The Feed, channeled directly to the listener.
Blog Post
Master of the true story
by Maxine
Today, November 12, is the birthday of writer Tracy Kidder who was born in New York in 1945. When he returned to the States after serving as a lieutenant in Vietnam, all he wanted to do was write. And he's been producing highly readable, insightful books on a variety of topics ever since. From The Soul of a New Machine to Mountains Beyond Mountains, Kidder has given us intimate portraits of the people behind significant cultural, political and social movements. His latest, Strength in What Remains, is a moving portrait of Deogratias, a medical student from war torn Burundi who arrives in the U.S. almost penniless but with determination and the kindness of strangers, continues his education and helps his people recover as he too must recover from the traumas of war.
Note: Mountains Beyond Mountains was the book chosen for the 2007 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads program.
Blog Post
Ann Arbor Conversations
by manz
In September the Ann Arbor Conversations series started its run at the Michigan Theater. The Conversations are presented by Michigan Radio and are meant to bring the audience diverse entertainment and discussions with culturally relevant personalities. First up was Kevin Smith, last week was Anthony Bourdain, and yet to come are Post Secret creator Frank Warren and best-selling author David Sedaris. If you missed Smith, check out An Evening With Kevin Smith, and if you missed Bourdain, check out his TV show - both on DVD at AADL.
Frank Warren will be reading postcards from his always entertaining blog and sharing the the stories behind them, on Friday, December 4 at 7:30pm. While David Sedaris will be reading stories and sharing recollections, followed by a book signing, on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30pm. See the theater’s event descriptions for ticket details, and follow all the A2 Conversations action on Twitter while you wait.
Blog Post
Arab American Book Award
by MariaK
On November 7, the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn presented the third annual Arab American Book Awards, celebrating "the publication and excellence of books that preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American community by celebrating the thoughts and lives of Arab Americans." This is the only award of its kind in the nation. The winning books for 2009 include:
In the fiction category, "A Map of Home" by Randa Jarrar -- presents the story of Nidali, a rebellious young woman, and her family's journey from Kuwait to Egypt, and ultimately, to Texas.
In the nonfiction category, "How Does It Feel to be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America" by Moustafa Bayoumi explores the titular question through seven real-life accounts of young Arab American New Yorkers. Honorable mention "Palestine Inside Out: An Everyday Occupation" by Saree Makdisi depicts the everyday life of the thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.
Finally, in the young adult category, "Honeybee", a book of poems by Naomi Shihab Nye explores themes of love and cooperation.
Get a new perspective on the world, and on the Arab American experience. Don't miss these award winners!