Favorites of 2009

I just thought I would put a shout out to all my favorite books and CDs of 2009:

Favorite Fiction book (adult): Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago
Favorite Non-Fiction book: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Favorite new Poetry Book: My Index of Slightly Disturbing Knowledge by Paul Guest
Favorite newly re-discovered poet: The Dream Songs by John Berryman
Favorite non-fiction book about poetry: Close Calls with Nonsense: Reading New Poetry by Stephen Burt
Favorite Rock CD (tie): The Bootleg Series, no. 8: Tell Tale Signs by Bob Dylan; Microcastle by Deerhunter; and Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Favorite Jazz CD: The Bright Mississippi by Allen Toussaint
Favorite Young Adult Fiction: Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
Favorite Young Adult Non-Fiction: Claudette Colvin by Phillip Hoose

Please add your favorites in the comment section.

Hope you all have a great holidays- see you in the new year!

Winter 2010 Meetings

I can't believe 2010 is already here, but I have scheduled our Winter meetings for January through April (tho it better not be winter here come April).

All of our meetings fall on the first Wednesday of the month, so even if you forget the dates, it should be easy enough to remember. They go as follows:

• Wed., January 6th from 7-8 p.m.
• Wed., February 3rd from 7-8 p.m.
• Wed., March 3rd from 7-8 p.m.
• Wed., April 7th from 7-8 p.m.

Keep up the writing and check out some of our poetry books if you get a chance. The Best American Poetry for 2009 just came out. I haven't had a chance but it looks to include some oldie but goodies (Michigander Phillip Levine, Mary Oliver, Bob Hicock, John Ashberry) and some darn impressive newbies (Matthew Zapruder and Kevin Young- even he tho he appeared in last year's). It's in the New Non-Fiction section in front of the Reference Desk.

Favorite Lines from last night's meeting

Instead of recapping like I normally do, I thought I would put some of my favorite lines from last night's session (I won't include the complete poem, just in case some were worried about others copying their work). If anybody would like to add their favorite lines or comment on my favorites, please feel free.

Patrick: "The disturbing part / Is that it sometimes itches / And it sometimes pains / Man it can pain / So it's not very fair / Especially at the first / To gave that spooky tense scare ..."

Teri: "I've worked / hard enough / it's funtime / that's overdue."

Cheryl: "Husband retires / Lots of free time ahead ..."

John S.: "Like the Walmart Greeter on meds / Dressed in vest of retail red / Grins ear-to-ear showing teeth / Between the consumer the addiction / And the cheap imported relief ..."

Diana: "I could barely catch my breath at the conclusion / I was in a state of shock and mild confusion."

Plus Don did a spoken word performance of one of his poems and also read one that he had revised from last month's meeting.

All in all, it was great to see everyone and hear what they've been working on. Diana said she might even bring lemon bars next month- that would be the price of attending!