Talking in the Library

New Leisure Reading Books

Here are the newest books in the Leisure Reading Collection.  They can be found on the east end of the 2nd floor - to the right when you come in the main doors.  Pick out something to read over Thanksgiving break!

Reinterpreting Goodnight Moon

Please note that if you love Goodnight Moon, and want to treasure your memories of reading it to the children in your life, you may wish to bypass this review from Bookgasm.

If you're enrolled in English 355, Literature for Children, and have been methodically working your way through The Carrot Seed, Lon Po Po, and Skippyjon Jones and the 84 other children's books on Reserve, this may be the perfect "reset" for your brain.  This review is also good for those who are a little bit twisted.

May I suggest the Statistical Abstract of the United States?

Hello to everyone who is searching for historical numbers about the United States, like, say, women in the workforce.  I think you will be delighted with this annual publication, Statistical Abstract of the United States.  We have access to editions going back to volume 1, 1878.  Clicking on the Get It button from the link above will let you link out to the 2009 edition.  Click on Earlier Editions to access, yes, earlier editions!

This should qualify as a "library resource" as it is a book that has been scanned as a pdf and posted online by the publisher (in this case, the U.S. Census Bureau).

Former US Poet Laureate to visit K-State

Looking for something poetic? Perhaps different than the poetic you may be used to?

What: Poetry Reading by Billy Collins
When: Wednesday, October 21st, 5:30 PM
Where: K-State Alumni Center Ballroom

This cool cultural event is sponsored by several cool groups you may be familiar with: Department of English, the Office of the Provost, K-State Libraries, Manhattan Public Library, Claflin Books and Copies, Kansas Association of Teachers of English, and K-State's First-Year Seminar Program.With these folks on board, you can't go wrong!

Be there or be square

Flying monkeys? Tornadoes? Seek shelter in Hale

...where we have a great exhibit, "Outside Oz: The Other Works of L. Frank Baum" on display in the 5th floor gallery (open M-F 8-5).  The exhibit complements the International Wizard of Oz Club’s Annual Convention, "Recreating Oz," hosted by K-State's Program in Children's Literature, October 2-4.

"Outside Oz" features selections from our Richard L.D. and Margaret J. Morse Department of Special Collections written by Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, that are not set in Oz. Based on the fact that K-State Libraries has at least 332 items in our collection authored by Baum (admittedly, some are the same title, different edition), that's what we in the library biz call "A goodly number." According to the fabulous literature database, Literature Online, Baum authored 74 books.

Our exhibit is free and runs through December 31st. Also, tomorrow night there is a lecture that is free and open to the public: Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, creators of the new Marvel Comic Wizard of Oz series. Speaking Oct. 3rd, 7:30 pm. Alumni Center Ballroom.

Audiobook recommendations?

I'm a huge audiobook fan. I tried books on tape years ago and wasn't impressed. The narration was so so and it seemed like so many of the books were abridged. That's not the case anymore, so if you weren't impressed in the past, I would recommend trying them again. 

This may seem weird, but I pick all my audiobooks by narraror instead of author. A good narrarotor is like a good storyteller. Most of what I listen to are books I've read before. Hearing them read by someone makes the story new again. 

I get 90% of my audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas' "Audiobooks, Music, and More!" website. I don't know if that is the official name, but I like to call it that. All you need is a Kansas Library Card. You can get that at your local library or online. While they don't have everything, I think the selection is great. You can download stuff to iPods or other such devices. And the best part is that everything is free. FREE! Yay!

Here are some of my favorites:

Susan Ericksen-In Death series by J.D. Robb

Stephen Colbert-I Am America And So Can You by Stephen Colbert

Stephen J. Dubner-Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt

Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet Oz-You: The Owner's Manual by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet Oz

Johanna Parker-Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris 

I'm always on the lookout for a new audiobooks. If you have any recommendations, please share!

Oprah's Pick--Say You're One of the Them

Say You're One of Them, a story collection by Uwem Akpan, is Oprah's latest Book Club selection.

 We at K-State Libraries like to stay ahead of the curve, so we already own the book. Manhattan Public Library, fyi, is just as cool as we are and also has a copy. 

Listen to the puppets

New Leisure Reading Books

Here are the newest additions to our Leisure Reading collection.  It's in its new location on the east end of 2nd floor.

Sisters and Husbands by Connie Briscoe

Knockout by Catherine Coulter

Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson

Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff

The Devil’s Punchbowl by Greg Iles

Soul of a Dog by Jon Katz

Relentless by Dean R. Koontz

A Rogue of My Own by Johanna Lindsey

Robert Ludlum’s the Bourne Deception by Eric Lustbader

Heartless by Diana Palmer

Swimsuit by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Killer Summer by Ridley Pearson

Wonder Woman: Love and Murder by Jodi Picoult

Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel

The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham

New Leisure Reading Books, HOORAY!!

The Leisure Reading collection is back!  It has moved to the east end of the 2nd (entrance) floor - that's to your right as you come in the building. 

Let us know how you like the books you find in the collection.  What else would you like to see there?

Here are the latest books we have added to the collection: