Interlude before the rush of school!

Welcome to August and the last few weeks before school begins! I want to share with you about a few books that you might read between now and then.  Let’s call it an interlude. The on-line Merriam-Webster Dictionary tells us that one of three definitions means: “A period of time between events or activities” (An Encyclopedia Britannica Company, found at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interlude).

During your interlude, I might suggest a new book entitled, “The Pearl That Broke Its Shell,” by Nadia Hashimi. Protagonist, Hashimi comes from a family originally from Afghanistan.  She however grew up in the United States. Her parents immigrated in 1970 just before the Russians invaded (back-flap). This book is about a young girl living in Afghanistan. She is forced to apply the bacha posh custom of dressing like a boy so that she can go to school and even go to such mundane things as going to the market.  As she grows older, the question becomes how will she transition to being a young woman in her culture, or even will she.  The author weaves this story in with a woman of an earlier generation who faced the same dilemma.  Read, learn and grow in the cultural difficulties of others around the world face daily.

Another book on this subject is one that is a must read for those who want to understand the time in Afghanistan prior to 9-11.  The citizens of that nation suffered long before we ever were affected by extremists.The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe,” by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. The author has a recent graduate with a BA. in teaching tell her  family's story.  The Taliban move into Kabul and take over the city.  Her brother is sent to Pakistan, her father and mother flee to the north in the tribal area of Afghanistan, and her little brother stays with the three young women.  This leaves the ladies without help.  They can not go to the market to purchase food without their little brother, they have no way to earn money. Their savings is running out and they do not know what to do.  Until the most recent graduate decides to learn to sew. This venture changes  the hopes of the family, women in the neighborhood and eventually those in the City.  A must read of strength, stamina and perseverance. 

July 4th and our day to celebrate freis edom may have come and gone, but I never tire of sharing materials that help others consider our history. A historical fiction item written by Steve Berry will bring readers to consider the

consequences of actions taken. “The Lincoln Myth,” by Steve Berry. It is book nine of the Cotton Malone Series. This historical genre starts out with President Lincoln talking personally to General Fremont’s wife, Jesse Benton Fremont.  She was representing her husband to Lincoln. She is no shrinking flower to politics nor power. She had served her husband when he ran as the first candidate for the Republican Party, and had been the daughter of a U.S. Senator. Her husband, John Fremont has been appointed general and commander of the West by Lincoln. Fremont had just taken some action that Lincoln disliked. The two were arguing about the next steps and consequences.  Frantic hours pass as others give their opinions. Lincoln is now facing the agony of a Civil War. Read the rest of the book, enjoy the way this best-selling  author weaves the story together.

A mystery with a bit of national theme is "A Promise At Bluebell Hill,” by Emma Cane. This is book four of Valentine Valley Series. Protagonist, Travis Beaumont is on assignment in Valentine Valley. As a Secret Service Agent for the President of the United States, he is working diligently to establish a safe haven for the wedding of the Presidents son. However, he has just observed gorgeous florist. As he entered the florist shop, self-employed shop owner, Monica Shaw was busy making arrangements. She looked up and saw this “square-jawed Captain American face,” walk into her shop (p. 2). She watched him walk out of the shop and go to the next business. Each time he went in, he came out with nothing. Monica thought this was strange and commented to employee Karista that the man was more than a tourist.  Monica decided she was going to follow him at a distance and find out why he was observing men and women intently. As he made his way to his hotel, he positioned himself to challenge Monica for trailing him. The dialogue ensues and the reader is drawn into a fun enjoyable novel.

Tomorrow we celebrate another year of our nation. When I watch the news or read reports on the Internet, I realize how blessed we are to live in the United States of America. With this thought in mind I want to tell you about a book entitled, “Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence,” by Joseph J. Ellis. Ellis became a Pulitzer Prize winning author with his book, “Founding Brothers,” (which we have on our shelves). He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts and “. . . is Professor of History Emeritus at Mount Holyoke College” (back flap). He believes that we cannot view the celebration of the forming of the United States without placing the military and political situations side by side. This way an uniform understanding of our history can be brought together (Preface, pp. ix-xi). This book is only 185 pages long and deals with the five month period between May and October; so you know it is a fairly short read and that you can digest it in a specific period of time.

The next book is entitled, “Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution,” by Nathaniel Philbrick. This writer tells the story of seven year old John Quincy Adams (the son of John Adams) watching from a hill in Boston, the British bombing the troupes and buildings around Boston Harbor. John Quincy Adams lost his beloved family physician, Joseph Warren. Warren was more than a friend of the family; he was also the overseer and patriot commander leading the hostilities at Lexington Green and Bunker Hill. At his death, the men following his leadership went into despair, and confusion ensued. George Washington was forced to deal with this situation. This book also describes two generals of the British command, and many other important leaders in the community of our forming nation (Preface, xiii-xvi). Best-selling New York Times author tells us that, “. . . I hope to provide an intimate account of how over the course of just eighteen months a revolution transformed a city and towns that surround it, and how that transformation influenced what eventually became the United States of America” (Preface, xvi).

Another historical non-fiction item is entitled, “Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War,” by Les Standiford. This author has written 20 other items such as: “Bringing Adam Home,” “The Man Who Invented Christmas,” and “Last Train to Paradise.” Standiford is writing about the Sons of Liberty; men who brought us to readiness for the invasion of the British. He uses letters, newspapers, historical accounts and other materials to write this work. He tells us that “. . . there was almost simultaneous eruption within American colonies of cells of a secret radical society committed to imposing forcible change upon the established government” (p. xvi). Standiford shares that these desperate men did not necessarily become the leaders of the new nation. They were not always understood by many loyalists of the British Empire that so controlled the lives of the colonists. These men after the war while heralded with many masterful strategies and victories were not entrusted with oversight and leadership of the nation. From his description, I would say statesmen they were not, but revolutionaries willing to give their lives, they were.

“The Traitor’s Wife: The Woman behind Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America,” by Allison Patakimay be of interest to you. The author tells the story of a beautiful young woman, Peggy Shippen, who attracts General Benedict Arnold. The two marry. Her knowledge of the plans of the revolutionaries, allow her loyalties to the British to be used by a British spy. General Arnold is wounded and their fortunes change. It is a household help who might be credited with saving the day. I bet you never heard this part of the nation’s story before. Read this historical fiction book and learn about other intriguing characters that made a difference in small but powerful ways. I think this book can show us it is the issues of the heart that lead us to greatness or betrayal. We need not be the greatest person of influence to make a difference in our community and nation. The smallest, most insignificant person can truly change the destiny of a nation. Will you be that person for our nation today?

Before we complain too loud!

I am on my way to the American Library Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada!
As I walked through a Casino's on my way to ALA (June 2014) Conference, I commented to my companion that people in today's world complain about kids and young adults playing their games on their computers, phones and tablets should not be howling so loudly. We adults started it when we began playing the slot machines many years before.  Adults have very little room to criticize young people when many sit for hours dropping coins in to win at their favorite slot machine! I am not criticizing others for playing, just be aware that we had our own vices and things we did or still do may be similar in nature!

Selfies!

I was browsing through the advertising resource "Library Intelligence" published by Library Resources (June 2014 issue) when I saw this great cartoon by Jeff Stahler. I just laughed and laughed!

I also just read an article about a man in who took 445 pictures of himself over three decades 

(http://news.rutgers.edu/feature/identity-revealed-man-who-took-445-photobooth-portraits-over-30-years/20140615#.U6z3fW1yyCo).   Now that is a true selfie!

It's all in our perspective!

I recently read a book, "The Four Doors," by Richard Paul Evans. He talked about how his daughter was finishing an assignment in her class.  The teacher had asked each child to finish the statement. I have a dream . . . .  His daughter said that "She had a dream that handicapped people could park where they wanted to." Isn't that just amazing? Here we have people who have battled for specific accommodations for those with handicaps and special needs over the last 50 years or more, and we finally have begun to really make access easier to some measure. This innocent child sees it quite differently!

How does our experiences color our view of our world around us?

FCC Rules = May 2014 to allow Internet ISP's to create fast lane for the big and powerful.

Now large companies that provide broadband will be able to charge more money for a special fast lane on the web. Companies that provide digital downloads services to Netflix, Amazon, Walmart, Hulu, Vudu, etc. will have to pay more for their ability to provide faster service. I imagine these companies will learn to play the game and benefit from this ruling real soon.  

It also means the rest of us will be relegated to the slower lane of traffic.  If you are a small business or individual you will be affected.  Libraries and the general public will be affected. NGO's, non-profits and other organizations will also loose. 

I know what was sold to the FCC (The U.S. Federal Communications Commission) but in this case were were sold down the river.  

Small broadband providers in rural environments will fair no better.  We already have very few companies that provide people in rural environments with access to the Internet. The large companies that get the benefit from this FCC deal will not venture into our neighborhood.  They don't make enough money.  

This will create a deepening digital divide not only in the USA but around the world. 

The public needs to sent an email comment (openinternet@fcc.gov) to the FCC or file your concerns online: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display.