Pattern Recognition

It's been a while since William Gibson's Pattern Recognition came out, and I still haven't managed to read it. I enjoyed Neuromancer very much, but haven't been impressed by some of his other work.

Nevertheless, this interview in the Blackbird Archive is fantastic. Most of it, you'll notice, is an extended meditation on what constitutes Science Fiction. This is important. I know I can't give a real answer as to why it is- many more eloquent than me have tried. But I get so tired of the dismissive, "oh, I don't read scifi."

There is an extraordinary body of work that satisfies all the requirements of science fiction but is not marketed as such. The Time Traveler's Wife is about a time traveler, for example, but it's still in the Contemporary Lit section so everyone reads it. Likewise Gregory MacGuire's fairytale re-imaginings like Wicked would be perfectly at home in the scifi section - you wouldn't even have to change the covers. Hundreds of CIA and crime thrillers deal with future weapons and genetic engineering and spy technology - but they have lots of guns, so that's okay.

But more than the tropes listed above, science fiction is a way of thinking.

As the review says;

The next matter to be settled is genre. William Gibson is a science fiction writer, so is this science fiction? The answer is yes and no. Unlike Vonnegut, who goes to some pains to say he's not writing science fiction even when he is, Gibson never shies from the label, even though he's perfectly aware it's not so simple a tag as it once was. Pattern Recognition is set in the present with no aliens or secret technologies. The plot turns on nothing more exotic technologically than chat rooms and posted film clips in a very recognizable Internet. Recently, Neal Stephenson's Cryptomonicon, as fat as Pattern Recognition is lean, was largely treated as a science fiction novel by reviewers, bookdealers, and readers, even nominated for sf awards, though the main action involves the breaking of the Enigma code of World War II and isn't science fiction in the usual sense. China Mieville's Perdido Street Station, on another end of the spectrum, seems science fictional even though it takes place in a Dickensian steampunk world with no connection to ours.

Science fiction, in effect, has become a narrative strategy, a way of approaching story, in which not only characters must be invented, but the world and its ways as well, without resorting to magic or the supernatural, where the fantasy folks work. A realist wrestling with the woes of the middle class can leave the world out of it by and large except for an occasional swipe at the shallowness of suburbia. A science fiction writer must invent the world where the story takes place, often from the ground up, a process usually called world-building. In other words, in a science fiction novel, the world itself is a distinctive and crucial character in the plot, without whom the story could not take place, whether it's the world of Dune or Neuromancer or 1984. The world is the story as much as the story is in the world. Part of Gibson's point (and Stephenson's too for that matter) is that we live in a time of such accelerated change and layered realities, that we're all in that boat, like it or not. A novel set in the "real world" now has to answer the question, "Which one?"

Via Science Fictional. That post also has a link to this interview with William Gibson, equally interesting.

Autumn brings change

When I was young, I welcomed the start of autumn more than any other season. It meant new shoes and notebooks, colors and grasses dying back, and the daylight slipping away into night. Autumn still is my favorite time of year, as I find myself pulling on a sweater for warmth and searching for just the right book in which to lose myself.

I too am changing with the season, as far as reading preferences go. No longer do I want the quick light reads of summer; books that are easily picked up and set down as you carve out of few minutes to read between outdoor activities, vacations and muggy nights. No, autumn demands books with depth; tomes that draw the reader in and offers a respite. Animals begin their task and order of hibernation, preparing for months of quiet sleep. Ahhh...sounds blissful, huh?

So, what to read on this cold November night? I look forward to starting the latest E.L. Doctorow book, Homer and Langley (Random House). Although a novel, I like historical fiction. The lives of New York's fabled Collyer brothers will intrigue and hold my interest, much like Doctorow's Ragtime and City of God.

Then there are the well-noted titles that remain on "my list": The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Diaz; People of the Book, by the impeccable Geraldine Brooks; Out Stealing Horses by Petterson (I tried this in the summer; it's definitely a winter book); The Book Thief by Zusak...I am afraid my list goes on. I am never short of books to read, but find myself quite particular about the mood and timing of my choices.

Some people say they will read whatever they can get their hands on. I tend to be more selective. Perhaps that leads me back to my thoughts on autumn and books. As a child we gathered by the fire on cool fall evenings and my father read the poetry of Robert Service and James Whitcomb Riley to my siblings and me. I can see the leaves falling outside the farmhouse window, watch the corn stalks die back after harvesting, hear the cattle settling in the barn...yes, autumn is about change, but perhaps more than not, it remains the same.

Lovely Poem

The Summer Day by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I was extremely fortunate to have a wonderful teacher share this poem with me over the weekend. Even though it is not summer it holds meaning for all seasons. There is not much to say about this except that have learned a lot from this poem and the context in which it was given. I will always remember and refer to this poem in times when I know that changing the self is a necessary process. To be able to change ones perspective and admit ones faults seems extremely essential to me. I think this poem represents the frailty and ever changing life in and around us all. I love it and I'm sure it means different things to different people. For me it is a precious gift and a wonderful reminder.

Anthology

Anthology Book Company is the name of this store, but it is not just a name. One of my favorite things here at Anthology Book Company is explaining to customers how to spell anthology. Even better, I quite enjoy getting to explain to customers what anthology means. Quite surprisingly, I have many people who ask what anthology means. Sometimes customers think that anthology is a made up word that sounds like a fancy name for a bookstore. While it is a fancy name for this bookstore anthology is so much more than a name.

According to dictionary.reference.com anthology means:

"1. a book or other collection of selected writings by various authors, usually in the same literary form, of the same period, or on the same subject: an anthology of Elizabethan drama; an anthology of modern philosophy.
2. a collection of selected writings by one author."

From this definition we can deduce that anthology is not just a fancy name for a bookstore. Anthology is a definition that helps to categorize the literary world. Anthology is also so much more than a name for this store. Anthology is a haven for book lovers as well as the Loveland Community. There is so much that goes on in this store besides the selling of books. Just last week a woman came in to our store to thank Teresa. This woman was from out of state and was so grateful that Teresa is able to fulfill her needs by sending her the books that she loves. Our goal in helping our customers is that they will become lifelong readers and truly enjoy the magic that books hold. Anthology is a definition but it is more than this. It is something special in our community as well as the literary world.

Happy reading Anthology customers!

Fall Events at Anthology Book Company

It's been a busy fall with many exciting things happening in the book world of Loveland. In late September, Stephanie, Teresa and I attended the Moutains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show in Denver. Two days were devoted to learning more about social marketing, surviving in this economy, hearing from publishers as to the "top picks" in new books; it was a great experience! We came back enthused and encouraged to broaden our marketing focus, find ways to attract and retain loyal customers and with a list of books to read/sell at the store.

Then two great events happened the first week of October, with Loveland Loves to Read hosting Wyoming author, Craig Johnson. His first novel, The Cold Dish, was a hit with a wide variety of readers and the Rialto Theater was filled with a welcoming crowd of folks who were eager to snatch up his other 4 novels, including the latest, The Dark Horse.

Later that week, the US Poet Laureate(1997-2000) Robert Pinsky came to Loveland as part of the Loveland Poet Series. He offered an informal talk on his poetry project, Americans' Favorite Poems, held at the Loveland Museum and Gallery. Later that evening, following a sponsors' reception, he spoke to a packed house at the Rialto. Dave Beegle performed acoustic guitar in an opening number, then was brought back by Pinsky to join him in the reading of the poetry. It truly was a magical evening, and what a delight to see so many people appreciating the art of poetry.

Anthology hosted another special event, on the 9th of October, bringing Bhanu Kapil and Aakash Mittal together for an evening of original work. Bhanu read from her latest book, Humanimal, while Aakash and his ensemble performed improv jazz, drawing from his East Indian roots. "Rhythm is melody" was the underlying theme of the collaboration, as I introduced the artists to a welcoming audience of about 40 individuals. The lovely fall day turned to a brisk and snowy evening, yet folks lingered and sipped coffee well until closing time. This Night on the Town event brought out the best of Loveland's supportive locals, and visitors from as far away as Boulder and Denver.

Join us in November when award-winning young adult author Laura Resau offers a chat and signing of her latest book, The Indigo Notebook. Laura will join us for Night on the Town, November 13, 2009 at 7 pm at Anthology. Her books, bio and other information may be found at www.lauraresau.com This is the perfect opportunity to bring your pre-teen and teen readers, to meet an accomplished writer who understands and relates well to the young adult reader. A child who reads will be an adult who reads, and always be a life-long learner. Plan to have a light dinner out on the town in one of our fine restaurants in Loveland, then join us at 7 pm to meet Laura Resau.


Happy reading!
Bridget

Online Resources for Book Lovers

The internet is awash with websites having to do with books, for books, and about books. I have yet to actually read a book on my iTouch because I cannot bear the thought of not having the feel and smell of a physical book in my hand. I have downloaded a few classics in case I am without a book and I'm standing in line at the grocery store. I haven't actually made the effort to read an e-book though.

I won't bore you, dear readers, with my paper-in-hand philosophies but I will tell you of magical places on the internet where I like to go. There are three websites that I frequent regularly that have helpful advice to support my book addiction.

The first website is www.Goodreads.com. This website is dedicated to helping you keep track of what you read. You can also review the books you read and invite all of your bibliophile friends to see what you've read. Maybe you would like to keep track of what you would like to read. Goodreads provides you with a personal queue of the hundreds of thousands of books you want to read in your lifetime. Goodreads is a magical place where book lovers can frolic in recommendations or join specific forums for topics that interest them. The website is free. There are advertisments but let me tell you that they are not obnoxious. You don't even really notice they are there because they are book related.

The second website is www.LibraryThing.com. This for the hard core bibliophile who cannot ignore the urge to catalog and catergorize their entire personal library. Like Goodreads, it connects you to other people who share your similar interests in books. If you have anti-social tendencies and don't care who shares your interest in similar books, LibaryThing can be an online resource you use store the soft copy version of your library. I live for organizing my books. All 2,518 of them. LibraryThing helps me manage this addiction. Let's talk prices. You can store up to 200 titles for free. An annual membership is $10 per year. The lifetime membership $25and there is no limit to how many books you can add. It really is a lovely place to utilize.

Now to complete the trilogy of booklover websites. LibriVox.com is a website dedicated to bringing readers the audio version of books that have passed their copyright (pretty much anything before 1923). These recordings are available to listen to for free. These recordings are read by average people like you and me who volunteer their time and voice. Someday when my two year old allows me to have some free time I will volunteer my own voice.


I would LOVE to learn about some of the websites that our readers utilize when it comes to their reading habits. Happy reading!

Recently, I have joined a book club that reads more than one book a month, and these books follow a theme. In September, we read books that had been translated into English. They were all fantastic reads, by the way :) This month, in honor of fall and my favorite holiday (Halloween) we have chosen to re-visit some of the timeless horror novels. We have chosen to read Pet Semetary by Stephen King, The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, Swan Song by Robert McCammon, and a personal choice between Darkfall or Intensity by Dean Koontz.
To be honest, I have never read any of these books, and only recently have I seen the movie versions of "The Exorcist" & "Pet Semetary". (To go off on a tangent, "The Exorcist" scared me so bad that I slept with the light on and my phone gripped tightly in my sweaty fist just in case I had to make an police call at 4am.) Working in a bookstore, I see numerous copies of different King and Koontz books leave the store but personally I have only ever read some of Koontz' work.
Our reasoning behind selecting these books, and not others, are just personal reasons. I wanted to read The Exorcist to see if the book is more frightening than the movie, which I think it will be and I will spend many a night with the lights on. A fellow book club member recommended Swan Song, stating it was her favorite McCammon book and that it still gives her the creeps, even though she has read it numerous times. Pet Semetary was a mutual choice, given that King is a master of horror tales and the fact that raising the dead for selfish reasons is scary. (Again, on a tangent, the little boy (Gage) in the movie version is so terrifying, to me, that I get the chills just thinking about his creepy face :)
Swing by the store during the month of October to check out our Horror section, and our Fall/Halloween display. See if you can't find a book that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up!