Books in the News

Are things turning a corner in the book world? I'm not saying that books are flying off the shelves or anything, but I am encouraged by recent book launches that have made national news.
First, I received many emails in my inbox from mainstream media outlets, alerting me to Khaled Hosseini's new novel that will be published in May. And the Mountains Echoed will center around the themes of family and generations, subjects that he also visited in The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
And, although I am not a fan, Dan Brown introduced his new book on the Today show this week. Titled Inferno and once again featuring symbologist Robert Langdon, the novel also will debut in May.
The "big reveal" was preceded by a social media event on Facebook and Twitter that asked fans to guess which "major literary masterpiece" would be the inspiration for the title.
Even though Dan Brown has "legions" of fans (according to most coverage of the event), the campaign had the unintended consequence of giving his critics a good laugh as they came up with some title suggestions. My favorites: The Bleak House Code, Harry Potter and Demons, and Fifty Shades of Robert Langdon. I even submitted The House with the Seven Demons.
I contend I was closest to the mark because both my guess and his actual inspiration (Dante, of course) are no longer widely read "masterpieces."
While I still say Dan Brown needs a good editor, he definitely scored with his PR team.
McDonald's also entered the literary news recently (using the term "literary" loosely) with the announcement that all Happy Meals in Britain will now contain books rather than toys. That has the good-news-bad-news issue that the Dan Brown announcement also had, but I like the idea that more kids will have books in their hands, particularly since McDonald's says it will hand out 15 million books by the end of 2014.
Now that makes me happy.

Ode to the Library, Part III, Little Version

So far my ode to the library has gone big – featuring one of the largest library systems in the country, and a world-renowned presidential library.
It's time to downsize, with a big idea that is changing the world in small ways.
The Little Free Library project started in 2009 with the mission to offer free books to anyone who wanted them, and to promote literacy for all. Looking much like an oversized birdhouse, the little library was a cheery neighborhood repository where people could pick up a free book, or leave a book for others.
Today, there are over 5,000 Little Libraries in 36 countries – an amazing achievement for a "small" idea. In fact, that's more libraries than Andrew Carnegie endowed.
The ability to provide books, and the joy of reading, to communities that are too small, poor, or remote for a traditional library is an incredible gift. I was quite happy to discover that there are two in my town, including the one pictured above, and I have donated a few books to them for someone else to enjoy.
And now I'd like to do more. I've set a goal to raise enough money to fund a Little Free Library. If you're interested in joining me, email me at readeatthink (at) gmail.com. Or you can click through the link above to the Little Free Library fund and donate today.
It's a small way to make a big difference.

Passing on a Love of Books

While on a business trip in LA last week, I took two quick tours just for me. The first was to the Los Angeles Public Library, an amazing edifice with a lovely garden in front. Unfortunately, there's a sad population who literally call the front steps home, which made my visit more melancholy than I expected.
The second trip was down to Spring Street to visit The Last Bookstore, a funky book-filled space in a former retail building.
The front desk was constructed of books (above left), the music was indie-fabulous, and the shelves featured handwritten signs for interesting sections such as "Sherlockian." The Last Bookstore offers used books for sale as well as new titles, and has an area specifically designed for albums. My friend Todd would have found some gems in there.
I want everyone to feel the way I do when I'm in a library or bookstore, as if they are about to find their next great adventure.

That's why I'm joining World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday, March 7. Organized by LitWorld, last year's event reached 60 countries and all 50 states, with over 200,000 participants reading aloud to kids.
I started reading to my daughter when she was (as my husband would say) in the larval stage, and we continued reading to her throughout her childhood. That includes the infamous time that I read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire out loud for about 12 hours straight on a car trip to Florida. Can you say laryngitis?
But I do know that every book, from Hooper Humperdink to Harry Potter, gave my daughter the same love of books that I have.
So pass on your love of books by joining World Read Aloud Day. Click here to learn how.