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Studying the T chromosome
The KUT news story about Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum's upcoming oral/visual history project caught my attention this morning. By way of accounting for Texans' deep and abiding interest in their state and in its stories, the spokesperson...
Defining moments
Reading first novels isn't just rewarding; it's practical. Unless the author inspires a media frenzy on his/her debut, you're certain to snag a copy of that as yet undiscovered gem. And consider the joy of recommending someone whom your friends...
What not to miss at the festival
What would induce someone to give up a day off to volunteer for Texas Book Festival? Probably not the official volunteer T-shirt. TBF uniforms feature a different classy color each year, along with, alas, the customary tubelike fit. Those of us who fall...
V is for...
Vampire lit is fashionable (and marketable) these days--not just Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga, but all sorts of standalone titles, paranormal romance series, mysteries, and even humorous romance fiction. A quick survey of the library catalog--I...
Readin' westerns now
Western novels don't rank high on my to-read list. They're too reliable. I can seek out the glamour of fiction debuts, bestsellers, etc,. knowing that Westerns (at least the ones that aren't checked out by more appreciative readers) will always...
Since You Asked...
What other six books would I recommend to President Obama? Imagining the Leader of the Free World strolling from the Oval Office to the family residence at the end of the day, probably encumbered with treatises on the economy and briefs on world events...
Reading is a capital idea
President Obama's widely reported "vacation reading list" has provoked me to wonder why there is no position for Presidential Librarian. This office, not to be confused with management of a Presidential library, would advise the Chief Executive...
Balzac and the Little Book Group
If you're a book clubber, you've probably noticed this, too: the most satisfying discussions result when some of the group didn't care for the chosen title and, in airing their grievances, point out facets the rest of us missed or perhaps...
The art of book reviewing
I've been reading on the job this week--not current fiction of my choice, alas, but dozens and dozens of book reviews. Distilling a useful critique into a brief paragraph represents such an admirable skill set; I rarely tire of scanning those little...
Everything in moderation, especially cats
You can spot library staffers by their official City of Round Rock badges. Otherwise, we're not easily identifiable for anyone expecting a crew of cardigan and sensible shoe-clad ladies of a certain age. Some library folks are male, many are young...
When nothing but second best will do
We're frequently asked for reading advice--which author to try if you've finished everything by your favorite writer, which book comes first in a series (and whether that matters)--but almost never queried for listening suggestions. Most readers...
Relatively cheap thrills
With regard to personal book collections, librarians fall into two camps: the "Need to own because I love them" faction and the "I work at a library , for heaven's sake!" cadre--that's my group. A veteran of numerous relocations...
Random acts of foolishness
Does this happen to you? You choose a book or movie on a whim, then right away you encounter another one with oddly similar characteristics. Suddenly, you're theme-reading when you just meant to be spontaneous. I pounced on Christopher Moore's...
My fitness partner is a prizewinner
The digital age offers so many tempting reasons to hunker down in front of the computer. Blogging and updating one's Facebook profile don't burn many calories, however, and neither does that equally fun and sedentary activity--reading. Enter the...
If film viewing is wrong, I don't wanna be right
Shannon's question (who is the better on-screen Sherlock Holmes: Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett?) may prove controversial, but here's my vote: Jeremy Brett. Rathbone's portrayal is intriguing and suggestive of hidden depths, but Brett's...
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