Pricey Potter

Not sure about you, but my bid on this Harry Potter book came up about $17,500 short!

Additional Extended Hours for Harry

As I may have mentioned, plans are coming together for the coolest Harry Potter release party you’ve ever attended. Of course, River City Books will be open at midnight and into the morning of July 21 to distribute copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to all who wish to purchase them. I also [...]

Letting the Wind Rip Through My Hair

Ah, summer! I was just hanging out at the cool new Northfield pool and thinking about how much I love summer. The water … the warmth. … the cookouts … the tornadoes.
Wait. Which one of these things doesn’t fit?
Hey, it’s a fact of life in the Midwest. Our brand of storms are interesting to learn [...]

Take Home More Than Just Potter Book

As I mentioned the other day, plans are taking shape for the greatest book release party you’ve ever seen. At this point I should point out two more things about the Night of Harry.
First, the book is not the only thing you can pick up at River City Books that evening. There will be a [...]

Playing With Fire

Michael Ondaatje has called Sharon Olds’ poetry “pure fire in the hands.” The Raven is no poetry maven — even if he does rhyme all of the time — but he would agree with the author of The English Patient. Switching back to first person so as to no longer sound like a man who [...]

Will Harry Die?

There’s an interesting piece in the Times this morning. Apparently, some hacker out there believes he or she has learned how the final Harry Potter book will end. I am dubious, but thought you’d like to read the piece anyway, if you haven’t already seen it. Viewing may require a free login. Here’s a slice:
A [...]

Hoping They Promise Tax Cuts for Bird Seed

If you look at your calendar closely you’ll see that it is not, in fact, June 21 — the longest day of 2007. No, that is a mirage. In fact, it’s November 2008.
Well, at least it seems that way, given that the race for president is already in overdrive. And we’re just starting summer! Of [...]

Behind the Scenes at Party Central

I was lucky enough to be a fly on the wall — usually I just fly into the wall — last night when some of the movers and shakers got together to plan the biggest book bash in the history of Rice County. Or at least that’s my take. I’d be happy to be told [...]

Clear the Floor: The Poets are Coming

Sorry it’s been a couple of days. I just haven’t had any quality time in front of the machine. I wish I could say my absence was because I was out flying summersaults in the warm, sunny air that rained upon us this weekend. But if I said that it wouldn’t be accurate.
What is true [...]

A Pick With Dad In Mind

Continuing right along with the housecleaning theme … which reminds me, the nest could use a good sweeping … it’s been a spell since I reminded you to take a gander at the Book Sense list. And, as many of you are hunting for reading material to take to the cabin or to the beach, [...]