What to Read and What to Skip

Mostly, we’ve been talking here about recommended reading, especially our 10 Books to Read before You Die. But today I came across an entry from the Washington Post’s blog Short Stack that talks about what to skip in literature. The posting mentions a new book called Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature's 50 Greatest Hits. I have not seen this book, but it sounds intriguing. Its author, Jack Murninghan, has chosen fifty works of literature and goes through each suggesting parts busy readers can skip and parts people should not pass up. The Wahington Post blogger notes books where he went along with Murninghan's recommendations and one (Great Expectations), with which he disagreed.

Personally, I read every word. I don't feel I've read a book if I haven't read all of it. However, I know many people who blithely skim books, skipping parts they consider dull. As the Romans used to say, "De gustibus non est disputandum." If your Lain is rusty, that means there's no accounting for taste.

Summer Reading

Those of you who have gone though our 10 Books to Read before You Die and are looking for some further guidance might want to try Rebecca’s Pocket's Summer Reading 2009. This posting includes links to a variety of recommended reading lists including Smart Summer Reading from UC Davis and Excellent Summer Reading Recommendations for Brides-to-Be. Rebecca also has lists of books for Young Adults, such as Summer Reading for Tweens from the Kansas City Star.

Of course, once you find a book to read you can check our holdings in Merrick Library's catalog.

I found Rebecca’s Pocket listed on the Librarians’ Internet Index, a great source for useful websites.

Would Holden Caulfield Be on Facebook?

Checking my Facebook page, I came across a link to a posting on the Barnes & Noble blog Unabashedly Bookish. The writer notes that some students reading The Catcher in the Rye today say that the book's protagonist is just a whiny rich kid, who maybe should shut up and take his Prozac. The piece goes on to pose a question as to whether Holden Caulfield would be involved in social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter if he was a teenager today.

As Catcher is on Merrick Library's list of Ten Books to Read before You Die, we'd also like to know what you think about this question. Comments welcome.

Ray Bradbury and Libraries

The front page of today’s New York Times features an article about Ray Bradbury’s fight to keep a California public library open. A number of the state’s public libraries may be forced to close because of the current fiscal crisis. Bradbury is focusing his efforts on the H. P Wright Library in Ventura County, which has been told that it must raise $280,000, or it will be forced to close.

When he was young, Bradbury, now 88 years old, could not afford to go to college, so he went to libraries three days a week for ten years. “I don’t believe in colleges and universities,” Bradbury says, “I believe in libraries.” Though the author of such books as Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes didn’t make our list of 10 Books to Read before You Die, we’ll have to give Bradbury an honorable mention for his support of libraries and reading. Here’s to you Ray!

Beach Books Poll

NPR is asking its listeners to vote for the Best Beach Book of All Time. They define this category as follows: "When you read one, your surroundings recede, time bends and you're transported, mesmerized, enthralled. These are page turners to be sure, but that doesn't mean they're brainless." OK, you have to remember that these are NPR listeners they are talking to.

Go post your vote. Then leave a comment here letting us know about the book you suggested.

Best Books You Never Read

It seems that NPR is on the same wavelength on which we are operating, given that this is the second post referring to them today. In an NPR blog called Monkey See, correspondent Lynn Neary writes about 'The Shelf Of Constant Reproach': Best Books You Never Read." These are those classic books that one owns and has been meaning to read--without much success. Ms. Neary admits to Moby Dick, anything by William Faulkner, and Lolita. I know exactly what she means, as I have whole bookcases that fall into this category. Maybe someday.........

Reading during the Great Depression

In the midst of the current international economic crisis, there has been much harkening back to see what happened during the Great Depression. In this vein, National Public Radio recently broadcast a segment called "What Were People Reading during the Depression?" The people at NPR went through some issues of Publishers Weekly from the period to see what books were popular.

Though we often ponder how things have changed in the last seventy years, much seems to be the same in the area of popular reading-- chick lit, commentaries by noted politicians, vampire novels, and books about dogs, including a fictional biography of a dog named Flush, by Virginia Woolf of all people.

Oh, yes, and like today, public libraries back then recorded marked increases in their circulation statistics. So join the crowd. Come on into the library and borrow a book.