Beyond Binkies, Code and Make-Believe

Treasures at Powell's City of Books on the $1 Shelf

Oh my goodness!  What a great day. I shouldn't even give away my secret, but it was so much fun finding treasures today at Powell's on Burnside.  We stopped by to pick up the only copy of Mary S. Lovell's, "A Rage To Live."  I have the one from the library, but there's no way I'll get through it by my "deadline," even renewing a few times.  I just had to buy it.

While there the children wanted to spend some of their lemonade stand money and headed for the $1 shelves in the Children's book area at Powell's.  SCORE!

I found a first edition, 1932 by Amelia Earhart, "The Fun of It" written for a book club and Junior Literary Guild. It was written to inspire girls to consider flying or any other occupation previously dominated by men - $1. I know a lot about Amelia Earhart from another Mary S. Lovell book, "The Sound of Wings." Then, I found another, 1922 by Frances Jenkins Olcott, "Good Stories for Great Birthdays" with many stories about historical figures of the time and 100 years prior:  $1.

Our son found five treasures to spend his $5 lemonade money.  They were all delightfully illustrated and unique stories; mainly published in the mid 1980's.  We've been finding a lot of authors over the past few years seem to recycle classic books with a very obvious spin to not be a rip-off, yet they reek of it.

Today was fun.  I love the excitement our children show when they are surrounded by towers books full of possibilities of adventure.  The joy of plopping on the floor in an aisle at Powell's always guarantees finding a treasure - you just have to look in the right room.

Cast No Shadow by Mary S. Lovell

In 1997 I was going through some serious life changes and came across this book at an outlet mall on the bargain table. I spent $2.50.  After reading it, I would have paid more than ten times that amount for this book.  It renewed my interest in reading, gave me a new author to collect; and best of all gave me the story of a brave woman who made a difference in the history of the world. It was EXACTLY what I needed.  Thank you, Mary Lovell.

From Mary S. Lovell's website:  "The legend of Betty Pack is simple enough. She was a beautiful American spy recruited first by the British Secret lntelligence Service in 1938 and later by the American OSS. Her method of obtaining information was singular: seduction. In Cast No Shadow Mary Lovell, author of Straight On Till Morning, the internationally acclaimed and best-selling biography of Beryl Markham, gives us for the first time the complete story behind the legend of this modern-day Mata Hari, a story more astounding than the legend."

The Hungry Caterpillar Turns 40 Today

I had no idea this colorful character was 40 today.  Why didn't I have this book as a child?  That's right, we didn't have a lot of books and didn't read much.  That's a very different story from how we are with our children.  Here are some articles to celebrate the occasion:

It's time to celebrate Dr.Seuss

Our family needs a break from the school auction, the news, the rain.  "...to wet to go out And too cold to play ball.So we sat in the house.  We did nothing at all. So all we could do was to sit, sit, sit, sit..."

I thought about our author, Dr. Seuss and an appropriate, fun, off-the-wall way to celebrate his life, his contribution to literacy and the man.  My husband and I are going to come up with 5 - 10 activities and put them in ... a hat, of course.  It will be a combination of art activities, zany fun and food fun.

We love Skippyjon Jones

I had so much fun tonight using my very best "Spanish accent" to read a few of the Skippyjon Jones books by Judy Schachner.  Her books give us an opportunity to let go and just giggle with our children.  We can't wait for the next one and my have to buy one of her prints while they are still available.

I don't know which we like the most; each is sillier than the previous.  Thank you Judy Schachner for giving me a giggle at the end of the day.  We've been enjoying your books for nearly three years - keep them coming, please!

Franklin & Lucy: President Roosevelt, Mrs. Rutherfurd and the Other Remarkable Women in His Life

Excerpt from the NY Times:

In an era of well-publicized “bimbo eruptions” and gubernatorial call-girl visits, the main lesson here is one we’ve been taught before: that in the old days politicians — with the help of an obliging press and retinues of discreet enablers — did a better job of keeping their private lives private. They faithfully observed what Gladstone, complaining about the morals of other prime ministers, called the 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Get Caught.

Nor were we necessarily worse off back then for not knowing — not even suspecting — the kinds of things we think we know now. The Mercer relationship did not materially alter the Roosevelt presidency. The person it changed was Eleanor Roosevelt. But in the mostly grubby history of presidential liaisons, the persistence of the Roosevelt-Mercer connection suggests that this one was a genuine love affair — a meeting of soul mates, perhaps. For once, everyone behaved pretty well. And not just the guilty parties, but even the betrayed spouse gained a little something. In this last respect the Roosevelts may even remind us a bit of a more recent White House marriage.

Junie B Jones - I just don't get it.

I'm all in favor of fun silly books for children learning to read, but why do the children speaking have to be grammatically challenged?  Our daughter and her friends rave about the Junie B Jones series.  I didn't have them growing up so I needed to catch up.  I got caught up tonight - or should I say, "I got catched up."?

It was painful to read.  The underlying story was funny and endearing but reading through this child that no one has taught how to speak properly was maddening.  It threw our daughter off as she was trying to read aloud.  She asked me to finish, I had to correct as I read - it just hurt to read them as they are.

Billie Burke's, With Powder on My Nose

I ran across a treasure at Powell's book store the other day.  I was desperate for a new biography and wanted something light after just finishing, Helen Keller's full story.  Powell's organizes their biographies by topic.  I'm used to B&N grouping them in one section to make it easy for me.  I headed for the topics I enjoy when I need something light - Film and Dance.

Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon

Our daughter found this one for me one night at Powell's Book Sellers at Cedar Hills.  I was searching for a replacement biography/memoir book for the one about muses that was freaking me out. 

This book was a treasure of a find.  I'm not big on books recommended by Rosie and Oprah. I like to find my own, les "Pop" books. Our daughter liked the cover and the title.  I thought, "Why not, she knows my taste in things better than most."

Mockingbird - A Profile of Harper Lee

In spite of mixed, if not negative, reviews of this paperback, I enjoyed it. Early on a picture develops of a girl who would face down any bully, a nonconformist whose sorority roommates kicked her out after one semester but who made an impact on the campus with her presence.  She is a woman with a wicked sense of humor and a writer with a voice and themes of prejudice and justice that resonate. Students and curious fans alike will find material here to further their understanding of her work and life.