SAXTON B. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
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SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
Rainy Day Reading

    Blah. It's a gray, rainy- scratch that- REALLY rainy, Friday. And it's supposed to rain all weekend too. Blah, blah, blah.

    I have a new puppy at home, so this morning when I suited up in boots and an over-sized raincoat to tramp around my flooded yard so he could 'do his business,' I was cursing the rain. But now that I am here in the library, surrounded by books and listening to the rain pouring down outside, I am actually looking forward to a lazy, indoors, reading kind of a weekend.

    Right now, I'm a few short stories away from finishing Armageddon in Retrospect, the new (posthumous) collection of previously unpublished writing on war by Kurt Vonnegut. Most of the stories were written before his major success, many about the destruction of Dresden during World War II, an event in his life that later inspired Slaughterhouse 5. I'm a HUGE Vonnegut fan, and this read has been really interesting. It's not quite what you expect from him, so far there has been none of the science fiction elements that normally accompany his writing. I am enjoying it, it gives insight into Vonnegut as a developing writer and thoughtful reflection on war, peace, and violence. Although, if you've never read Vonnegut, don't start with this one. Try Galapagos, Cat's Cradle, or Sirens of Titan first to get a real feel for his writing.

    Once I finish Armageddon in Retrospect, I have our next Book Thieves Book Club novel to start, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. (The Book Thieves is a new Book Club here at the library for those ages 10-13). Its a big thick book, but from what I hear it won't take that long to read because the story is told through both writing and pictures. In fact, it won the Caldecott for it's illustrations this year. I am very excited to get started on this one. Hopefully, with all this sloppy weather, I'll start AND finish it this weekend!

    So, for all of you stuck inside this weekend, stop by and get your fill of books, DVD's, and audio books. And, being a Children's Librarian, I can't resist throwing some rainy day children's books up here too, so check out the following books on rain, mud, and rainbows! Have a great (wet) weekend!

Red Rubber Boot Day, by Mary Lyn Ray

Drip Drop, by Sarah Weeks

Mud, by Mary Lyn Ray

The Rainbow, by Felicia Law


In the Rain with Baby Duck, by Amy Hest



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Comments

Mercedes said, on Sep. 30 at 10:47AM
Congratulations on your new puppy! I can't wait to hear more. It was an awful rainy weekend but I did just as you suggested and read, read, read. I'm intrigued by your descriptions of Vonnegut. I've not read him but I think I'll have to give him a try. Thanks for the tip! P.S. - I'm sure you finished Hugo over the weekend...Quick read and definitely intriuging with its meld of words and pictures. I really enjoyed it.

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Pat Gallagher said, on Oct. 3 at 6:16AM
Loved your posting and your writing style. I have not read Vonnegut but may have to give him a try, maybe on another of those rainy weekends Know you do reading and story. telling with children, do you do any writing exercises with them? Your skill is too good to keep to yourself!

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