Bookstore Layover

  I was stuck @ PDX and spent a couple hours browsing through my favorite bookstore.  Powell's is such an eclectic gamish of new, used, unusual and oh so worthy books.    These quotes drew my eye.

SMILE Eugene

  This morning I sauntered down to the box to complete my post travel habit of checking out what's new in our little library.  As I walked up I noticed an officious looking typed page carefully wrapped in a plastic sheet protector and attached to the side of the box.  My first thought was "uh oh" we've had a complaint and the city's getting on our case.

  The notice started "Recently some neighbors have noticed unusual rocks mixed in the gravel at LFL 8481."  What is going on?  There's nothing wrong with this gravel, hey wait a minute what is that mixed in with the regular gravel the neighbors spread?  And just who put out this letter?

  Reading further the letter's mirth and sly manner was exposed.  Here's the full text for your own exegesis to make sure there's not something subtly nefarious at foot here.  Seriously it's great to be back in Eugene and see another spontaneous event around the box.

  Here's a quick review of a book I picked up from the Olive Street LFL: Finding George Orwell in Burma.  Did you know that George Orwell was actually a British Imperial policeman as a young man in Burma?  The connection from Orwell's young adult days, Burma (now Myanmar) and the protests of Aung San Suu Kyi is a fascinating memoir written by American journalist Emma Larkin.  Emma Larkin is actually a pseudonym and the writing is a detailed and enlightening account tying Orwell's life and writing to modern day events.  I'm almost finished and will pass this engaging read back to the box.  Cheers to All.

Read Books

  Today I woke up to a winter thunder and lightening display outside my window.  No I'm not in Oregon, although this is the final day of my visit to South Carolina.  My bags will soon be packed with a few books I collected at local little free libraries and a bevy of rich memories.

Reader Robot says...

  Along with rich family time getting to see two of my sons, their wives and grandson Neil, we managed to start and complete a new library.  The kid's at Buena Vista Elementary School in Greer, South Carolina now have a little free library to steward, enjoy and hopefully encourage them down the reading road.  Thanks to the efforts of Sean & Hayley Flanagan this creative project became reality.

New Years

  I'm on the road in the Carolinas visiting kids and enjoying grandson Neil.   Neil's a ways from joining the next generation of readers, but he has plenty of laps to nurture his love of story.   In fact he just happened to receive "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silversteen from his Auntie Lauren & Uncle Eli who joined us for the New Year's get together.

    Shel Silversteen was quite popular in my undergrad days and it's been a while since I've picked up one of his books.   The story, not dissimilar to so many great tales, is poignant and sad.   A child's love affair with a generous tree fades under adulthood's preoccupations.  There are so many great writers who remind us of how growing up seems to invariably press childhood out of our souls.

  And then one day you're a Grandpappy giggling with your adult kids and grandchild. And maybe you recall that magical tree you slept under, played hide and seek under, learned and grew up under, that tree which arched over your nascent days.  

  I love that our neighborhood book box is under a beautiful tree, that this is a giving place and that kids are discovering Whitty Storeys.

Blessings in the new year.

Stephen
W/S Library Steward