I have a half-dozen more substantive and/or reflective, work-related blog posts partially written in my drafts box, but it’s summertime and the warm weather, the slower pace, the better parking at work… well it just seems I can’t finish any one of those. So, as I looked at the pile of books on my coffee table this morning, I sent myself a note to make this week’s post another reading list – my summer reading. Here are some things I’m enjoying. Feel free to add yours in the comments section.
I was in high school in the 1970s and college in the 1980s, the perfect timing to become a HUGE fan of The Talking Heads. While they stopped making music together many years ago now <sniff>, I’ve remained a fan of each of the members as they’ve struck out on all sorts of other artistic endeavors. Former lead singer, David Byrne, has kept me well-entertained with music and writing since those band days. I picked up a copy of his book, How Music Works, back in the spring and absorbed myself in the first third of it, but then put it down for awhile – not because it isn’t a good book at all, but because it’s so interesting, well-written, and thought-provoking that I needed some time to mull over all that I’d read. Then, as things go in my reading life, I found something else and then something else and then… well, it’s on the top of the pile for completion this summer.
A few weeks ago, my family took a day trip to explore Concord, MA. We hiked the trails of Minuteman Park and enjoyed the quaint shops of the small, New England downtown. One of these shops happened to be The Concord Bookshop, a terrific independent bookstore. As we browsed the shelves, we noticed that the staff were setting up for an evening event. When we inquired who was speaking, we couldn’t believe the answer! Philippe Petit – THE Philippe Petit of “Man on Wire” fame – was in town. What luck! Both Lynn and I are fans of the documentary about his 1974 high-wire walk between the twin towers of New York World Trade Center. Circus act, daredevil, pickpocket, magician, artist… we were thrilled to get the chance to see and hear him talk about his new book, Creativity, the Perfect Crime. Of course, I picked up an autographed copy. Part instruction book, part autobiography; this is a great book to help get your creative juices flowing. What could be a better summer activity?
No summer reading list of mine is complete without a mystery! This summer, I have a couple in my pile. I have no idea what I’m going to do when Sue Grafton reaches “Z” and Kinsey Milhone rides off into the sunset of literary characters, but for now, I’ve still got 4 titles to look forward to, including W is for Wasted that came out this past winter. I’ve been waiting for the lazy months of summer to catch up on my favorite detective. Now’s the time.
Going from a very familiar author to the debut work of Stuart Neville, the very well-received, The Ghosts of Belfast. Guilt, redemption, political drama… I’m ready for it.
My friend, Suzy Becker, has a new book out for younger readers, Kate the Great. I am young at heart and Suzy is my hero, so I’ll be reading Kate. Best part… it’s the first in a series! I won’t have to say goodbye to Kate as soon as I meet her. Hey! Maybe I can convince Suzy to turn Kate into a detective so that she can fill the Kinsey Milhone hole when it inevitably appears.
And okay, okay… I do have a couple of work-related titles on my list.
Hot off the presses, this updated, revamped, wholly new edition of Health Sciences Librarianship will become required reading for those studying to become medical librarians and/or work in the information world of the health sciences. I have several friends and/or colleagues who authored chapters in this book, so that’s reason alone to read it. If you’re looking for the staff copy, I have it.
Finally, the Friends of the Worcester Public Library always have a cart of freebies at the entrance to the WPL. I’m forever finding real gems there, the latest being, Rosalind Frankin & DNA by Anne Sayre. Here’s the blurb from Amazon:
Rosalind Franklin’s research was central to the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. She never received the credit she was due during her lifetime. In this classic work Anne Sayre, a journalist and close friend of Franklin, puts the record straight.
I look forward to learning the whole story.
Enjoy your summer, everyone.
I sure hope you’ve got a good book!
A Librarian by Any Other Name 
I just finished a sweet book on mindfulness for kids called Sitting Still Like a Frog, by Eline Snel. Just imagine you are a frog, watching watching watching. There’s the fly, and your tongue shoots out! Mindfulness is like that. You don’t need to respond to everything. You can watch watch watch for a long time. (Let’s face it, eventually your tongue will shoot out–that’s my input, not the book). Lovely book for grown-ups, too.
On my desk is the newly released MLA Guide to Providing Consumer and Patient Health Information. As Sally said about a different book, lots of chapters written by colleagues, so it is a must-read for me. Plus, that’s my work. Consumer health.
Our “big read” for my book group is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time, about FDR and Eleanor’s work on the home front during WWII. Social services, labor movement, all that good stuff.
Lastly, I’ve been digging around for poems for my daughter’s wedding (July 12!) and found this lovely poem by William Cullen Bryant, brought to you by Project Gutenburg http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16341/16341-h/16341-h.htm#page57
All terrific additions. Thanks, Margot!
I recommend _The Astronaut’s guide to life on Earth_ by Chris Hadfield. Lot’s of inspirational examples of team building and the need for team work. I especially love the chapter on aiming to be a zero (a comptetent, hard working, contributor to the team’s goals), plus lot’s of neat stuff about floating in space. You’ll find lots of good ideas for posts in this book. Plus, it’s a fast read as he is an excellent writer.
Excellent recommendation, Alice! I read that one last year and agree wholeheartedly that’s it’s filled with great examples and ideas that are applicable to the work we do. Thumbs up!