Flattened by the Dome

I just finished Under the Dome, the new book by Stephen King.  And by 'finished' I mean I read the first couple chapters, saw the way things were going and skipped to the last third of the book.  I am sooooooo lazy.  I didn't want to read the part where things got worse and worse I wanted to read the part in which the plucky band of good folks figure out how to fix things.  So I did!  I do think Mr. King is an excellent writer, or I wouldn't have picked up the doorstop that is his latest.  I found it very enjoyable in the self-abridged form.  If you too are daunted by the size of the Dome, you are most welcome to use my method.  Then you can talk about it with those who read the whole thing.  And say something like... "I don't quite remember, what was the story with the young woman who had the baby?"  If you find out tell me. 

Books to Read Together

Not necessarily with another person, although that could be convivial.  Especially if you read out loud.  These are just three books that struck me as entertaining and similar in theme.  They're fairly new books but not so new they have long waiting lists.  Perfect! Here they are: 

Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

The Lace Reader: A Novel by Brunonia Barry

What do these babies have in common, you ask?  They each have some sort of witchcraft driving the story, but you can drown in books on that subject.  These books are about 'recipes' passed down from generation to generation of women, hidden from the outside world.  In the case of Katherine Howe's novel the book of enchantments is pretty much misplaced.  Baker and Brunonia write of spell 'books' whose format is part of the puzzle.  Howe's book is a fairly straight-forward (highly enjoyable) potboiler, the other two more thoughtful and inventive. Yet fun!  The books differ in tone but, if you like one there's a good chance you'll like the others. I did!

French Covers

This is kind of fun.  Go to the French Book Cover Generator and ignore the instructions because they're in French. I know, I was surprised too.  In the empty box type a book title.  Personally I think it's funnier if you make one up, but that's just me.  Click 'go' (is that a French word?) and you get a book cover that I think translates your title into the French Language  The cover reflects whatever graphic the generator thought would be appropriate for your title.  But doesn't 'gourmandies' have something to do with food?  And 'fous' means fools, right?  So maybe they're just assigning random words  Still it looks cool and somewhat ominous.  For a jump rope instruction book.

French Book Cover Generator

Playaways? In case you've forgotten...

Sounds like a 3-year-old's dates at their friend's house. But this is way more fun! Playaways are little digital audio players that are pre-loaded with a book. You can find them listed in the catalog by typing in playaway. Don't type playaways, the 's' just confuses things. Check one out just like a book, put in your own AAA battery, plug in your own headphones and you are good to go. As a bonus, they are just as cute as a bug! Features: you can move back and forth in a chapter; it remembers where you stopped listening and picks up again at that spot. You can change the speed of the reader's voice! Wonder if you can get "War and Peace" read to you by a chipmunk? Word to the wise: don't pick Alvin.

Home Work

The kids are going back to school and summer's almost over.  Are you thinking home repair?  Who isn't! We have buckets of books dying to assist you in making your house the best it can be.  Given limited resources, that is. I'd like to highlight 3 for you.

How to cheat at home repair : time-slashing, money-saving fixes for household hassles and breakdowns

Money-wise makeovers : modest remodels and affordable room redos that add value and improve the quality of your life

Green $ense for the home : rating the real payoff from 50 green home projects

See?  They all want to help you with your home and maybe save you a little money in the process.  You check them out at the library for free, so you're ahead of the game right there.  As a bonus I'll throw in a link to links of lots of other repair books.  Sorry about the whole 'Dwellings' subject but what can we do?  The Library of Congress picked that out for us. A good library uses assigned subject headings and we are a good library.  Darn tootin'.
Other books on fixing or remodeling

Patricia Neal and Klaatu

You know Patricia Neal died recently.  She was one of the most beautiful actresses I've ever seen, and that purr of a voice!  Elegant yet earthy. Plus she could act up a storm.  Most newspapers and magazine articles have focused on her classy films, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Subject was Roses, Hud.  OK, maybe Hud isn't classy, but it's the one that snagged her an Oscar so it always comes up.  Not all of the articles mention The Day the Earth Stood Still, an iconic SF movie. She uttered one of the most famous lines in movie history:  "Klaatu barada nikto".  For years I thought  the robot's name was Klaatu.  It looks like a Klaatu.  But Klaatu is the alien that controls the robot.  Klaatu says clean up your room.  No wait!  It was  actually ... no one knows! There is no official translation. It's rumored that the author of the script, one Edmund H. North, said "Klaatu barada nikto" means 'There's hope for earth, if the scientists can be reached'.  Patricia Neal  said a mouthful.  She was a fascinating woman, if you get a chance we have a biography you can read:

Patricia Neal : an unquiet life

Album Art

It's just not the same with CD's,  those tiny little pictures smooshed into jewel cases.  Album art really was striking; a treat for the eyes if memory serves.  (And it should considering what I pay it. Hah!)
Here are my top ten favorite album covers that I can think of right now.  I reserve the right to change my mind whenever I remember another cover.  The numbers don't indicate which ones I like best.  I just think the list is easier to read when enumerated.  E-noo-mur-ate-ed.  It's worth saying twice.

1.  Little Feat, Waiting for Columbus.  The happiest, juiciest tomato you ever saw.  In a hammock.
1.  Supertramp,  Breakfast in America.  The happiest waitress you've ever seen.  On an airplane wing.
3.  The Moody Blues, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor.  I don't know what's going on with the boy and the old man and the crystal, but it's gorgeous.
4.  Kansas,  Masque.  Nothing like a guy made out of sea creatures.
5.  Styx,  The Grand Illusion. A forest, a face, a horse.  They're not kidding. 
6.  The Tubes, Completion Backwards Principle.  White T-pipe, blue background, sublime oddness.
7.  Genesis,  Duke.  Watercolor of a green man, blue sky. Nothing to do with the music.
8.  Janet Jackson,  Control.  Primo 80's art - HUGE hair, photo with squiggles, dramatic colors and space.
9.  Steely Dan, Aja.  I never notice the face, just the red and white ribbon(?), very striking.
10. Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark.  There's a hug and some vivid watercolor mountains.  Calming.
If you'd like to look at books with pictures of album covers, here you go:
The greatest album covers of all time

100 best album covers : [the stories behind the sleeves]

The book of hip hop cover art

Iowa State Fair Contests. LIBRARIES CLOSED 8/19-8/22

Here are a few more fun Iowa State Fair contests at which you can prove your prowess:
Yodeling.  Be prepared to yodel one tune for 3 minutes or yodel 2 different tunes.  I wonder how many yodeling tunes there are out there?
Whistling.  Same rules as yodeling.  But since you can whistle almost anything, finding 2 tunes should be easy!
Hog Calling.  No live pigs allowed!!!  How do you know it works?
Just a few of the fun things to see at the State Fair while we're closed!

Library Closure Details:
All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library are closed Thursday-Sunday, August 19-22 for a computer upgrade.  Two of these are unpaid furlough days for the staff.  Nothing will be due these dates and fines will not be charged for the closed days.  The Des Moines Public Library Website will be up, but the online catalog, online holds, online payment of fines and fees, Libby - the automated telephone circulation system - and our online resources will not be available.    Bookdrops will remain open.  We look forward to seeing you Monday August 23rd!

Iowa State Fair Contests - Decorated Diaper. Plus Library Closed

Now for your edification, a few facts about the Iowa State Fair Decorated Diaper Contest:  "1. Three categories will be judged: Most Creative Decorated Diaper, Iowa State Fair Diaper and Group Theme Diaper.    3. All babies must be in decorated diaper attire, disposable or cloth. Contestants may design a costume to coordinate with the diaper but the diaper must be visible for judging."  This last seems kind of obvious but I guess it doesn't hurt to spell it out. Then the Diaper Derby is a race!  The baby will crawl towards someone they presumably like, who will cheer them on.  Come on baby!  Who's a big girl!  Or maybe you just put your arms out and look welcoming.  Maybe there are strategies!  It's all a mystery to me.

Decorated Diaper Contest and Diaper Derby

Library Closure Details:

All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library are closed Thursday-Sunday, August 19-22 for a computer upgrade. Employees will take two of these days as (unpaid) furlough in conjunction with the city's budget reductions for FY 2010-2011. Nothing will be due these dates and fines will not be charged for the closed days. The Des Moines Public Library Website will be up, but the online catalog, online holds, online payment of fines and fees, Libby - the automated telephone circulation system - and our online resources will not be available. Bookdrops will remain open. We look forward to seeing you Monday August 23rd!