Redmond Library Blog

World and Town is the title of Gish Jen's new book about... yes, "City and Town Life." Sometimes you just can't say it better than the Library of Congress subject heading.  The book will be the topic of discussion at the next Redmond Book Group meeting this Thursday at 7pm. 

If you are familiar with Gish Jen's previous novels you know that she is exceptional at portraying the dissonance that immigrant families surely feel when they come to this country. In World and Town she focuses on a Cambodian refugee family's experience trying to settle in the fictional New England town of Riverlake -- a town that the book's main narrator Hattie Kong muses is "American before America was American."  

World and Town  is an ambitious novel about the importance of community in an ever-shrinking world. At the book group meeting we'll discuss, among other things, whether Riverlake and Redmond have anything in common. See you there! 

 

Did you know that the City of Redmond is celebrating its centennial.  Check out this website for more information.

25 Free things you can do at the Redmond Library:

1. Take a free computer class.
2. Use a study room for 2 hours of quiet time.
3. Feel good that you reused and recycled.
4. Hear a new language at a bilingual storytime.
5. Read back issues of the Redmond Reporter or the Sammamish Valley News
6. Look at Ancestry.com from a library computer.
7. Learn to identify the birds in your back yard.
8. Update your Facebook account.
9. Show proof of residence and get your own Library card.
10. Donate your used books to the Friends of the Library.
11. Curl up in a comfy chair by the fireplace.
12. Find a new recipe.
13. Check out a new or old television series on DVD.
14. Attend an Opera Preview.
15. Get materials 7 days a week, after work and on weekends.
16. Watch your young adult develop reading skills and confidence in the Read Three, Get One Free program
17. Research a term paper.
18. Volunteer.
19. Look at the latest fashion magazine.
20. Check out an album on CD from your favorite band.
21. Consult consumer guides to help decide which car to buy.
22. Pick up IRS tax forms and instructions.
23. Get Income Tax help on Fridays and Saturdays through April 15.
24. Use the WiFi anywhere in the library.
25. Renew items online, by phone, or in person.

 

Snowy weather two weeks ago has been a boon for procrastinators of the Evening Book Group at the Redmond Library. This means it's not too late to attend tomorrow's discussion of Jennifer Egan's A Visit From The Goon Squad. This will be perfect timing to discuss the book, because Jennifer Egan was speaking tonight at Seattle's Arts and Lectures. I heard her interviewed on KUOW during my commute to work. I liked the comment she made when asked to describe the structure of her novel. She likened it to music, and hoped people would see the collection of stories the same way one would think of a concept-oriented record album. If you would like to hear the interview in its entirety here is the link: The Conversation. See you all tomorrow at 7pm.

In this brave new age of blogging, it seems like every avid reader has a few favorite book blogs they check on a regular basis. Did you know there is even an annual convention of book bloggers?  Blogs are fine, but I prefer traditional newspapers. I wonder if I'm alone in that preference? Lately, I've been impressed by the Christian Science Monitor's Book Section. It has a nice mix of reviews, industry news, general interest stories about books, book-lists about random topics, and reader generated recommendations. On their website today you can peruse a list of Stephen King's 10 favorite books ; discover three good new coming-of-age novels; or read an article about the controversial republishing of Mein Kampf  in Germany.

Ironically, some of the content on the site is republished from various book blogs. That's okay by me. I appreciate the editorial filtering. If you're looking for something new, check out the Christian Science Monitor.

With the imminent release of the 1940 Census, many people are getting excited about investigating their family history. The King County Library System offers many resources for beginning your research. These include books, magazines and online databases. During the month of February the Redmond branch of KCLS will be offering a series of genealogy classes aimed at those who are just getting started investigating their family origins. These classes will focus on online genealogical resources available to the public. The topics will include basic tips, internet resources, types of records that will be useful and how to contact people and agencies who may have information that will help you. Visit the program link on the KCLS website for information on dates and times. Or call the Redmond Library.

It is the beginning of a new year. Even if you don't make an official "resolution" it might be rewarding to challenge yourself with a reading goal for the year.

For example, many years ago I promised myself that I would read at least one chapter each night before I turned off my light. Some chapters are very sort while others seem to never end but I have stayed true to my promise...mostly. My list of books read is impressive in my estimation. I also keep a log of the books I read and/or listen to.

Our library system encourages young people to read with Summer Reading , Ready Set Read (they keep a log  as they read 20 minutes a day and are rewarded with a book of their choice) and Read 3 Get One Free (Teens write 3 reviews and choose a book as their reward). We have a program that encourages adults to Take Time To Read!

There are lots of blogs and websites where people pledge 100 books a year or  one book a week. How about trying 25 Classics this year?

 Reading a book a day would be daunting for me! But Nina Sankovitch started reading a book a day as a way to cope with her grief after losing her sister. You can read about her year of reading in  Tolstoy and the purple chair: my year of magical reading.

 

Or check out Sara Nelson's So many books so little time: a year of passionate reading

My point here is, make a goal or a promise to read. Make it something that works for you. Amaze yourself in December 2012 with how much more you add to your very own list of "books I have read".

Redmond's evening book group will be discussing Jennifer Egan's A Visit From the Goon Squad in two weeks, on January 19th. If you haven't already picked up your copy, then the Redmond Library has a dozen or so copies available for you. Just ask for the book at the Information Desk.

While looking for information on Jennifer Egan I came across a mildly interesting column in the online version of The Atlantic called "Media Diets." Jennifer Egan is featured in one of the columns, so I thought I'd share it. 

Basically, it asks well known writers what their daily reading habits are, and whether or not they read any newspapers and magazines on a regular basis. 

 What's your media diet like?

In late 2011 the City of Redmond amended their "backyard chicken" ordinance to reflect the growing popularity of raising chickens in suburban settings. The new amended ordinance will allow home owners to keep a greater number of chickens in their yards, and removes the previous restriction of requiring chicken owners to have lots of half an acre or larger. Chicken lovers should be aware that the King County Library System has LOTS of books on keeping chickens. Here are some of the more recent ones:

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care, Breeding, Facilities

A Chicken in Every Yard: the Urban Farm Store's Guide to Chicken Keeping

Backyard Chickens: Guide to Coops and Tractors

Chicken and Egg: a Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes

Art of the Chicken Coop: A Fun and Essential Guide to Housing Your Peeps

City Chicks: Keeping Micro-Flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Creators...

Chick Days: An Absolute Beginners Guide to Raising Chickens From Hatchlings

Chicken Breeds & Care: A Color Directory of the Most Popular Breeds and Their Care

The Joy of Keeping Chickens: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Poultry for Fun or Profit

Choosing and Raising Chickens: The Complete Guide to Breeds and Welfare

For even more titles try searching the catalog with these subjects: Chickens; Chickens--Housing--Design and Construction; Chicken Breeds

I appreciate the role that publishers play in helping me make sense of the yearly flood of new books. I especially appreciate the small, independent presses. Whenever I see a new book from a favorite publisher I stop and take notice. Because many publishers have specialty niches, niche-minded readers are able to keep up with what's new. So, if you're interested in fly-fishing; or feminism; or flash fiction ...well, there is probably a publisher for you!  The determining factor in my choice of favorite publishers has as much to do with the authors they choose to publish as much as anything else. Here are some of my favorites:

For fiction: Anansi Press & Groundwood Books & Algonquin Books  & LSU Press

For nonfiction: Copper Canyon Press & Storey Publishing & August House

Publisher websites will always have links to their newest releases, as well as a way to surf titles by topic and author. It's also a great way to find out what's new before it appears in the KCLS catalog. The library always appreciates purchase suggestions. Do you have a favorite publisher?