Member: librarygeek50

Hi, Liz! I just went back to my bonniebooks2 home page for the first time in over a month and saw your note there. My apologies! I wasn't ignoring you, promise, I'm just waiting for the new "collections" feature and then I'm going to merge my two libraries. I'm not sure how it's going to work yet, but decided to stop adding books to my children's library until then. I'll go look at your children's collection. Hey, I have a question for you. Are you going to add every children's book you've read into your children's library, or just the ones you own(ed)? Bonnie

posted by bonniebooks2 at 3:55 pm (EST) on Mar 13, 2009

About working in a bookstore - exactly! Might as well work with what we love! Actually, when I first got the job at Chapters some of my friends were a little worried - said it would be like an addict working in a crackhouse. Well, they were right, but at least it's a healthier addiction.

Good luck with the job hunt. I did my degree at UBC and there's an emphasis on archives and records there, as well as with the library studies, so I ended up in records management. I like it, but I'm not ruling out a return to the library world at some point.

I see more and more recommendations for "People of the Book". I just read March last weekend and loved that as well, so I'm going to have to pick up "People of the Book" sooner rather than later.

Oh, I was just looking at your profile - you have a children's book collection as well?

posted by kjhill45 at 12:06 pm (EST) on Mar 1, 2009

I did read Year of Wonders and March, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize, as well as a non-fiction book she wrote about Muslim women. I liked Year of Wonders, although I didn't think it was as good as Doomsday Book (another book on the plague, by Connie Willis). Sometimes the main character acted too modern, in my mind, for the times and it was kind of annoying. March was interesting mainly for its connection to Little Women. I like People of the Book best. It's the one I read first, and inspired me to read the rest.

Where in Canada are you from? I'm from Maine originally and my grandfather is from Quebec. Now I live on the other coast and visit BC when I can.

posted by labfs39 at 11:19 pm (EST) on Feb 5, 2009

Whenever my husband begins to look a little overwhelmed by our book situation, I just remind him that there are lots worse habits then reading! And since I buy most of my books off from the library book sale cart or at sales, it's a cheaper habit than many too. :)

Wasn't People of the Book great? I loved how she was able to imagine a whole story around an, admittedly mysterious, historical artifact.

Good luck with the library degree. I finished mine in 2001.

posted by labfs39 at 1:36 pm (EST) on Feb 4, 2009

People of the Book is on my wish list actually - I can't wait to read it. I loved her Year of Wonders. I have a Picoult on my TBR shelf as well - another book sale find I haven't gotten to yet. I'll have to pick it up sooner rather than later. :)

I really liked working at Chapters, but it might have been a special case. I was living in St. John's at the time, and the store had a much less corporate feel than most I've been in on the mainland. I worked in receiving, restocking and publisher returns, so my exposure to the public was also limited - which was nice sometimes! The best part, besides the co-workers (it's always nice being around others who love books), was the discount. 30%! The only downside was sometimes my whole paycheque disappeared before I got out of the store.

What sort of library are you hoping to work in? Do you have a lot of school left?

posted by kjhill45 at 11:01 pm (EST) on Feb 3, 2009

Weiner is a bit of a recent discovery. I used to work at Chapters, and always scoffed when I shelved her books - guess I judged them a bit too much by their covers. I picked up a couple of hers, including Good in Bed, at the Vancouver Public Library's book sale (55 cents each, can't go wrong even if they're awful, right?) and finally got around to reading them. I've read 4 of hers now, and I do like them. Good in Bed is her best though... that's the one I'd recommend if you haven't read anything by her.

I read all sorts of things, but I do have a soft spot for Chick Lit when it's well written! The perfect way to escape, especially when I was in school and couldn't handle anything too heavy. Do you have any favourites?

posted by kjhill45 at 1:06 pm (EST) on Feb 1, 2009

Hi there! Thanks for adding me to your list of interesting libraries. I just had a quick look at yours, and we have a lot of books in common. Good luck with library school - it's a hard slog sometimes, and I'm so glad I'm finished, but it's worth it in the end. :)

posted by kjhill45 at 10:54 pm (EST) on Jan 28, 2009

Thanks for the recommendations. My granddaughter's birthday is this month and my intention is a gift of books to hopefully insprire a love of reading. I will certainly look for this book. I recently read Blindness by Jose Saramago and thought it was an outstanding book. I have the Historian in my tbr pile at home and hope to get to it soon.

Michelle

posted by moquinn2 at 12:21 pm (EST) on Jan 15, 2009