Bookshelf
Building relationships with books
Reading is mostly a solitary activity, but it has the power to create relationships that would unlikely be formed otherwise. During my lunch break at the BDN, I can usually be found in the break room with my nose buried in a book. People in other departments took notice, and soon a colleague from inside sales began bringing me her recommendations.... »
Read up on FamilyFest speaker
Students in Beloit’s middle and high schools are reading “Of Beetles and Angels: A True Story of the American Dream” by Mawi Asgedom in preparation of his appearance at FamilyFest this month. Set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17, FamilyFest is a combination of last year’s StoryFest and the Parent Involvement Conference sponsored by the School District of Beloit. Organizers... »
Science books? Not for me
By Ashley Rhodebeck I’m in over my head. I recently started reading “The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality” by the Dalai Lama. It wasn’t a book I chose. Rather, it’s one my science-minded sister loaned me last Christmas. Unable to decide which book I wanted to start next, I figured I might as well work toward getting... »
A TV character after my own heart
I don’t know if I’ve ever related to a TV character as much as Rory Gilmore. While “Gilmore Girls” premiered on the now-defunct WB earlier this decade, I didn’t begin watching it until after I visited the Warner Bros. studios — the place where the show was filmed — last summer. Not only is Rory smart and cares about her grades, but... »
Fallen out of library habit
My library visits began with weekly storytime visits before I was old enough to go to school. Afterward, my mom would buy me a Happy Meal from the McDonald’s drive-thru. I became a regular library visitor throughout my childhood. I would play computer games in the children’s section and check out an armful of books. In the summertime I would bike to... »
The genre not tried
There is one type of book I haven’t gotten around to trying: the graphic novel. Sure, I’ve read comic books (my best friend and I in high school devoured the Buffy the Vampire Slayer installments) and comic book collections (Zits, Luann). I even read a novel — Jodi Picoult’s “Tenth Circle” — that incorporated such elements. But the graphic novel eludes me. I’ve... »
“Bother” makes laughs
If you’re looking for a quirky, humorous read, try “A Spot of Bother” by Mark Haddon, author of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” “Bother” centers on a family of four whose lives are thrown off balance when the daughter announces her engagement to a man her parents and brother aren’t fond of. While Haddon provides insight to all... »
Hopes diminish reading enjoyment
My enjoyment of a book is sometimes hampered by what I want out of it. Three examples come to mind: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” by J.K. Rowling; “The Lovely Bones,” by Alice Sebold; and “New Moon,” by Stephenie Meyer. I purchased the last Harry Potter book the weekend it... »
Discover new reading spots
A bench under a leafy tree on a cool summer day reminded me of the simple joy to read outside. My standby reading places include the break room at work, the Beloit Public Library and my apartment. A recent visit to Beloit College to interview the new president, Scott Bierman, opened my eyes to another place: the campus’ Poetry Garden. I have passed... »
How do you read?
How do you read a book? OK, that may seem like a dumb question, but not everyone reads books cover to cover. I know people who skip chunks or flip to the end. Except for instances of required reading for school, I am not that kind of reader. Sure, I may quickly skim sections I find dry, but skipping paragraphs or even pages? I... »
