Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Aki Con 2008


Calling all Anime and Manga fans! There's a new convention in Washington, and it's right in our backyard.

Aki Con 2008

When: November 7-9

Where: Holiday Inn, downtown Everett


Some members of the new Oak Harbor anime/manga club told me about it yesterday. Great to have something big so close to home!

crazy for texting

The New York Times says that text messaging passed up phone calls made from cell phones at the end of 2007, and from the looks of things, it will be double soon!

Teenagers ages 13 to 17 are by far the most prolific texters, sending or receiving 1,742 messages a month, according to Nielsen Mobile. By contrast, 18-to-24-year-olds average 790 messages. A separate study of teenagers with cellphones by Harris Interactive found that 42 percent of them claim that they can write text messages while blindfolded.

Sno-Isle Libraries is thinking about offering updates to teens by text message. Is we set this up as an option on our website, what choices do you think we should offer? Program reminders? New posts on this blog? ??? What would be most useful (or fun) for you?

Monday, September 15, 2008

Is it ever ok to laugh about suicide?

This week an author I really like committed suicide. To me, this is a gigantic super sad bummer, and a tremendous waste. I think there are always other options, other choices, and ways to get through and find a better life...even if that doesn't seem clear to people who are dealing with depression.

If you or a friend need someone to talk to, here are two great resources:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1.800.SUICIDE
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK

Then today I saw this article: China bans bunny suicide book. I have read this book. It is dark, but also very funny. The Chinese government is worried it will inspire stressed teens to kill themselves. But I think sometimes dark humor helps almost as much as good advice. What do you think?

Monday, September 8, 2008

sneak preview of Brisingr


USA today has a video clip up of Christopher Paolini reading from his sequel to Aragon and Eldest!

Paolini previews 'BRISINGR'

Want to go to a release party for Brisingr? Here is a book release party:

Saturday September 20th
1-3pm
Barnes & Noble
19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(425)-771-2220

We have a winner!


Big congratulations to Lynnwood Library patron Allison F. whose review for I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You was randomly selected as our grand prize winner. Allison will receive her laptop computer in a ceremony at the Lynnwood Library later this month.

Thanks to everyone who participated. We had over 5,300 entries this year, which is just amazing!

If you have suggestions for next year's summer reading program, please let us know!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

No Midnight Sun?

Fans probably already know, but due to a leak, Stephenie Meyer won't be publishing Midnight Sun in the foreseeable future. From her website:

"So where does this leave Midnight Sun? My first feeling was that there was no way to continue. Writing isn't like math; in math, two plus two always equals four no matter what your mood is like. With writing, the way you feel changes everything. If I tried to write Midnight Sun now, in my current frame of mind, James would probably win and all the Cullens would die, which wouldn't dovetail too well with the original story. In any case, I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on Midnight Sun, and so it is on hold indefinitely."

If you are wanting to read that incomplete draft, find it here. If you are just bummed that you missed the Breaking Dawn Concert when it was in town, perhaps the RGz TV (which Dawn mentioned on Tuesday) coverage of the event will give you your Twilight fix:



Do ignore the fact that Lorie Ann Grover keeps looking for me, and then finds me, and the fact that I'm all confused, and look it *sigh*. I was in the box below them, the one place they couldn't see - right next to B.H., the teen who won the tickets at the Lynnwood Breaking Dawn Party.

I'll try to be less...spazzy tonight when I attempt to tape the Sherman Alexie appearance...

UPDATE: They didn't allow me to tape at the Sherman Alexie thing last night. :(

--Jackie

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

HAMLET(FACEBOOK NEWSFEED EDITION)

As school starts again, I know a lot of you out there have been or will be required to read Hamlet. The ever funny McSweeney's has, well, let me just excerpt some:


HAMLET(FACEBOOK NEWSFEED EDITION).
BY SARAH SCHMELLING
- - - -
"Horatio thinks he saw a ghost.
Hamlet thinks it's annoying when your uncle marries your mother right after your dad dies.
The king thinks Hamlet's annoying.
Laertes thinks Ophelia can do better.
Hamlet's father is now a zombie.
- - - -
The king poked the queen.
The queen poked the king back.
Hamlet and the queen are no longer friends.
Marcellus is pretty sure something's rotten around here.
Hamlet became a fan of daggers. "


My favorite lines are: "Ophelia removed "moody princes" from her interests." AND "Polonius is no longer online."
It won't help you pass your test, but it's certainly a fun take on a famous play - and nice break from your homework. Read the whole thing here.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

YouTube channel worth checking out

Readergirz is an awesome website that connects teen readers with their favorite authors in all sorts of cool ways. And now they have a new one: a YouTube video channel! Go here to hear cool authors talk about their books, and what the readergirlz crew is reading themselves. Includes footage from Stephanie Meyer's Breaking Dawn tour, too!