A Day In The Life

For many of us, much of our waking time is spent at work (for better or worse), and every now and then, someone will decide to sit down and write about his or her experiences on the job. While memoirs from high ranking officials may get more buzz, readers often think of the heartwarming tales from veterinarian James Herriot or the brash, unapologetic stories from chef Anthony Bourdain. Workplace memoirs give us a deeper understanding of what it’s like to spend a day as someone else – the environment they work in, the challenges they face, and the interesting things that happen along the way. From the juicy tell-all to the fascinating look into a profession, these memoirs help us find new ways to relate to people, have a better understanding of their lives, and even provide us with a chuckle or helpful tidbit.

If anything, after reading them you can say, “thank goodness I don’t have that job.”

Check out these workplace memoirs:

How About Never--Is Never Good for You?: My Life in Cartoons by Bob Mankoff

Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama, and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet by Heather Poole

I Wasn't Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse edited by Lee Gutkind

Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, the Bad, and the Complicated by Paul A. Ruggieri

Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile by Nate Jackson

Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison [ebook]

Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian by Avi Steinberg

Waiting: True Confessions of a Waitress by Debra Ginsberg

Waiter Rant: Thanks For The Tip by The Waiter

Curtains: Adventures of an Undertaker-In-Training by Tom Jokinen [ebook]

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl

Summer Reads

Now that summer is almost here, I'm ready to dig into my pile of young adult books that take place during the summer. For me, there's something about books that take place during the summer that have a kind of magic that books set during the school year don't. Here are my top young adult summer reads.

Great by Sara Benincasa

Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard



13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi



I'm also looking forward to several books that are set during the summer.

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

What are you planning on reading this summer?

Book News

Several exciting things have been happening recently in the young adult book world. Today, I'm sharing the things I'm most excited about.

First up, the news about Dangerous Girls, by Abigail Haas, being optioned as a movie. Abby McDonald, the author, (Abigail Haas is a pseudonym) Tweeted about it in May.

DANGEROUS GIRLS is out in paperback, hurrah! And it's been optioned for a movie and I'm writing the script, double hurrah!
— Abby McDonald (@abbymcdonald) May 5, 2014

Just because the book has been optioned as a movie doesn't mean it will actually be made into a movie, but I'm hoping that in this case, it'll make it to the big screen, since it's one of my all-time favorite books.

Love Letters to the Dead, by Ava Dellaira, has also been optioned as a movie, with Dellaira set to write the screenplay. Ava Dellaira is from Albuquerque, and Love Letters to the Dead takes place in Albuquerque, so I'm hoping this means that if filming starts, it'll be filmed in Albuquerque.

Delirium, by Lauren Oliver, has been picked up by WIGS and Hulu as a TV series. The book was originally developed as a TV show for Fox, but the network passed on the series. WIGS and Hulu have picked up the show only for a month, starting on June 20.

The cover for Dangerous Boys, the companion to Dangerous Girls, has been revealed.

Three teens venture into the abandoned Monroe estate one night; hours later, only two emerge from the burning wreckage. Chloe drags one Reznick brother to safety, unconscious and bleeding; the other is left to burn, dead in the fire. But which brother survives? And is his death a tragic accident? Desperate self-defense? Or murder? Chloe is the only one with the answers. As the fire rages, and police and parents demand the truth, she struggles to piece together the story of how they got there-a story of jealousy, twisted passion, and the darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful of faces…

There isn't a U.S. release date for Dangerous Boys yet, but it comes out in the U.K. this August. 

(Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

The cover of Ensnared, the final book in A.G. Howard's Splintered trilogy was also revealed.

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles... and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—a parallel dimension filled with mutated and sadistic netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

(Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

The last thing isn't about a young adult book, but it is about a Stephen King book. I recently heard that the movie IT was going to be remade; the Internet Movie Database lists the remake as being in development. There's no word yet on when the movie might be released, but I'm still excited to see how it will compare to the original movie.

Is there anything happening in the book world that you're excited about? Tell us about it in the comments!



New & Novel: Books for Little Abecedarians

\ ey-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn \  , noun;  

1. a person who is learning the letters of the alphabet.

2. a beginner in any field of learning.

Alphabet books for beginning readers generally present the letters of the alphabet alongside words beginning with the same letter - think "A is for apple". According to Wikipedia, this tradition dates back to the hornbooks of Shakespeare's day and is considered to be one of the oldest genres in American literature. Alphabet books can be very straightforward - again, "A is for apple" - or have more creative formats, such as poems that use many words that begin with the same letter or stories told alphabetically, such as the Apple Pie ABC. Nowadays, there are even alphabet apps!

Besides introducing beginning readers to the alphabet, alphabet books also function to teach phonics, build vocabulary, introduce sequencing, help readers begin to recognize point of view, and more.

Here's a list of some fun ABC items for kids you can find in the ABC Library catalog:


Professor Whiskerton Presents Steampunk ABC by Lisa Falkenstern

The ABC of Fabulous Princesses by Willy Puchner

123 Versus ABC by Mike Boldt

ABC Zooborns by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland

Sign Language ABC by Lora Helle

V is For Vegan: The ABCs of Being Kind by Ruby Roth

An ABC of Pirates by Caroline Stills

El alfabeto de Dios by Sue Cochran [Spanish language]

ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill and K.B. Basseches ; wood sculptures from Oaxaca by Moisés and Armando Jiménez [Spanish language]
 
ABC x 3: English, Español, Français by Marthe Jocelyn and Tom Slaughter

Journey Around Chicago from A to Z by Martha Day Zschock

Museum ABC produced by the Dept. of Special Publications, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

For the Love of the Packers: An A-to-Z Primer for Packers Fans of All Ages by Frederick C. Klein [eBook]

Vietnam ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Vietnam by Theresa Alberti

123s and ABCs by Ella Jenkins [music CD]

I Love My ABC's: Animals  [DVD]


For more ABCs, try a subject search of "Alphabet books".

If you are interested in more adult abecedarian titles such as The ABCs of Bridge or The ABCs of Handwriting Analysis, try this search like this.

Clean, Organize, Simplify!

Oh, hey there and hello! If you're here it means that you've got a cleaning disaster on your hands.  Or maybe it means that you've decided it's high time to learn how to keep your bedroom looking like it belongs to an adult, not a fourteen-year-old with a burning desire to assert your independence and irritate your mom with the power of stacks and stacks of clothes piled all about the place.
~Jolie Kerr

We picked up a copy of Jolie Kerr's new housekeeping book and can't put it down! Kerr writes a column online called "Ask a Clean Person", in which no question is too grotty - from how to "divide chores so you don't kill each other" to how to "clean, preserve, and/or salvage your wedding dress" (visit her Tumblr to ask her your own question!).  Her book, though humorous, got us thinking about all sorts of housekeeping, so we compiled this list of some helpful guides from the library catalog.  We've tried to cover all the bases - get organized, simplify, household tips for men, tips from Jane Austen, for your studio, even weekend makeovers. Whether you have a specific question to answer or are just looking for helpful tips, we hope we've provided something to meet your needs!


My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag - And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha by Jolie Kerr

Living Simple, Free & Happy: How to Simplify, Declutter Your Home and Reduce Stress, Debt, and Waste by Cristin Frank [eBook]

Secrets of An Organized Mom: From the Overflowing Closets to the Chaotic Play Areas - A Room-By-Room Guide to Decluttering and Streamlining Your Home for a Happier Family by Barbara Reich

Clutter-Free Home Living: The How-To Guide by Eugenia Orr [eBook]

Clutter Rehab: Tips and Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It! by Laura Wittmann [eBook]

How to Be Comfy: Brilliant Ways to Make Your House a Home by Shannon Lush & Jennifer Fleming [eBook]

How to Get Things Really Flat: Enlightenment For Every Man on Ironing, Vacuuming and Other Household Arts by Andrew Martin

A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning, and Life by Nancy Peacock

Adopting the Minimalist Lifestyle by Ariel Horowitz

The Weekend Makeover: Get a Brand New Life By Monday Morning by Jill Martin & Dana Ravich

The Organized Kitchen: Keep Your Kitchen Clean, Organized, and Full of Good Food - And Save Time, Money, (And Your Sanity) Every Day! by Brette Sember [eBook]

Inside the Creative Studio: Inspiration and Ideas For Your Art and Craft Space by Cate Coulacos Prato

Jane Austen's Guide to Thrift: An Independent Woman's Advice On Living Within One's Means by Kathleen Anderson and Susan Jones

Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life By Reducing Your Waste by Bea Johnson
   

Find more titles with subject searches!  Helpful subjects are Orderliness, House cleaning, Home economics, Storage in the home, Organization.

WWKIP

Knitting?  Don't only grandmothers do that?

Knitting is often thought of as a solitary activity, and can be.  However, just because it isn't visible it doesn't mean the craft has died.  Knitters worldwide have chosen the second Saturday in June to come out of their houses and yarn stores and bring visibility to their hobby.

This year June 14 marks WWKIP- or World Wide Knit In Public Day.  Started in 2005, has grown over the past nine years and this year there are 307 official events in 32 countries, including 113 in the U.S. alone.  Many other groups meet informally, spreading the fiber awareness in bookstores, coffee shops and brew pubs.

If you can't make it but want to learn or join a knit night, nearby yarn stores that have classes are Village Wools and The Yarn Store at Nob Hill.   UNM also offers beginning knitting classes as part of its continuing ed.  If books are more your style, there are 600+ in the catalog, including many good for beginners.  There's an entire YouTube channel devoted to Knitting Help! And, last but not least, don't forget to check our Fiber Arts LibGuide for library drop-in stitching clubs and more.

If you're a pro and can YO, K2Tog, fair-isle, intarsia and steek with the best of them, come and join us at Cherry Hills, Saturday, June 14 from 1 - 3 p.m..  If you're a newbie or just want to try, you're welcome too.  The members of our stitch group will be on hand, demonstrating techniques and offering tips.  We hope you enjoy this day and event.

New & Novel: Soccer Books - ¡Olé, Olé, Olé!

The World Cup starts tomorrow! Perhaps, if you haven't starting warming up yet for this month-long soccer extravaganza, you'd like to start now by reading some background material?  Here's some reading recommended for soccer fans, or for people who want to understand soccer fans:

For Kids

Zlatan by Illugi Jökulsson (see also Messi by the same author)

My First Soccer Book by Clive Gifford

Betty Bunny Wants a Goal by Michael B. Kaplan

Maisy Plays Soccer by Lucy Cousins

Saving the Team by Alex Morgan

For Young Adults

Keeper by Mal Peet

Now Is the Time For Running by Michael Williams

Soccer: The Ultimate Guide by Martin Cloake ... [et al.]   

For Adults

More Than a Team A Father, a Son, and Barça by Vicenç Villatoro

The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Soccer is Wrong by Chris Anderson and David Sally

Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano


Spanish Language

Porque el fútbol importa by Pelé; con Brian Winter

Goles: imágenes y testimonios de los momentos más felices de nuestra vida by Luis Villarejo


eBooks

History of the World Cup, 1930-2010 by Clemente A. Lisi

Africa United: Soccer, Passion, Politics, and the First World Cup in Africa by Steve Bloomfield

Chasing the Game: America and the Quest for the World Cup by Filip Bondy

The World Cup: A Very Peculiar History - With NO Added Time by David Arscott
Soccer Empire: The World Cup and the Future of France by Laurent Dubois

Mad For It: Short Stories on Football's Greatest Rivalries: Part 1, Manchester Utd. v. Liverpool - Seeing Red by Andy Mitten
This Love is Not For Cowards: Salvation and Soccer in Ciudad Juárez by Robert Andrew Powell  
La Roja: How Soccer Conquered Spain and How Spanish Soccer Conquered the World by Jimmy Burns

Attacking Soccer: Mastering the Modern Game by Peter Schreiner & Norbert Elgert


Also, did you know that Albuquerque now has a minor league soccer team in the Premier Developmental League (PDL) of the United Soccer League? Visit the website for Albuquerque Sol F.C. for more information!