December 2010

  • Torgny is #1

    There are a lot of wonderful things to say about the Swedish author Torgny Lindgren. However, we don’t have room here, and so I will simply say that Mr. Lindgren is the greatest living novelist. Of course that is only my opinion; others might suggest prolific writers such as James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates, or… Continue reading

  • Reading about writing

    Reading about writing

    Who would think that books about grammar would be so inviting? Sister Bernadette’s Barking Dog: the Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences is delightful because it fully engages the reader in the odd history of diagramming, from its birth in the mid 1800s to Gertrude Stein’s love of diagramming. People schooled in earlier times will… Continue reading

  • A Day in the Life with the New Catalog

    A staff member’s day with the Library’s new catalog: 12:33 PM: While on a break, I want to do a quick post to my blog about a documentary I watched last night, but can’t remember the name. I type “dogs unconditional” into the new catalog’s search box and the film pops up as the very first result: My… Continue reading

  • Christmas Music for Grinches

    Ok, I’ll admit it: I am a Grinch. Christmas is my least favorite holiday. Why do I despise Christmas? Well, one reason is the music. Most Christmas music is cheesy commercial schlock that gets stuck in your head and torments you for days on end. Worst of all, starting on Black Friday, it is virtually inescapable… Continue reading