why you should be reading right now

It seems somewhat ironic that you are reading a blog for tips on why you should put down the tablet and go read that novel you just bought, but an article on Huffington Post caught our attention on 7 Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should Be Reading Books. 
The list is as follows:
1. Reading can chill you out.
2.It could help keep your brain sharp.
3. And it might even stave off Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Reading may help you sleep better.
5.Getting lost in a good book could also make you more empathetic.
6. Self-help books, on the other hand, can ease depression.
7. It’s Fun!
There is also a lot of research to indicate that it helps kids too!


This link has 20 reasons why you should get your kid’s into books at a young age too. The benefits include a better vocabulary, builds independence and self confidence, and increases knowledge. Which is likely true for every reader at every age!
Of course there are 1000 other lists of reasons to be reading, and you probably have your very own special reasons (SHARE BELOW) as to why it’s always a good time for a good read.
~Rebecca Robinson

Oscar Books

These titles that are up for the best movie of the year were at one point books. As lovers of books we always have to encourage the reading of books so here is a list of oscar reads to devour before or after the “winner” is announced.

Philomena

Now a major motion picture starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan and nominated for four Academy Awards: the heartbreaking true story of an Irishwoman and the secret she kept for 50 years
When she became pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent to be looked after as a “fallen woman.” Then the nuns took her baby from her and sold him, like thousands of others, to America for adoption. Fifty years later, Philomena decided to find him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Philomena’s son was trying to find her. Renamed Michael Hess, he had become a leading lawyer in the first Bush administration, and he struggled to hide secrets that would jeopardize his career in the Republican Party and endanger his quest to find his mother.
A gripping exposé told with novelistic intrigue, Philomena pulls back the curtain on the role of the Catholic Church in forced adoptions and on the love between a mother and son who endured a lifelong separation. ~Indiebound

12 Years a Slave

Now a major motion picture nominated for nine Academy Awards and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Alfre Woodard, and Quvenzhané Wallis, and directed by Steve McQueen

Perhaps the best written of all the slave narratives, Twelve Years a Slave is a harrowing memoir about one of the darkest periods in American history. It recounts how Solomon Northup, born a free man in New York, was lured to Washington, D.C., in 1841 with the promise of fast money, then drugged and beaten and sold into slavery. He spent the next twelve years of his life in captivity on a Louisiana cotton plantation.
 
After his rescue, Northup published this exceptionally vivid and detailed account of slave life. It became an immediate bestseller and today is recognized for its unusual insight and eloquence as one of the very few portraits of American slavery produced by someone as educated as Solomon Northup, or by someone with the dual perspective of having been both a free man and a slave. ~Indiebound
Wolf of Wall Street

Now a major motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio
By day he made thousands of dollars a minute. By night he spent it as fast as he could. From the binge that sank a 170-foot motor yacht and ran up a $700,000 hotel tab, to the wife and kids waiting at home and the fast-talking, hard-partying young stockbrokers who called him king, here, in Jordan Belfort’s own words, is the story of the ill-fated genius they called the Wolf of Wall Street. In the 1990s, Belfort became one of the most infamous kingpins in American finance: a brilliant, conniving stock-chopper who led his merry mob on a wild ride out of Wall Street and into a massive office on Long Island. It’s an extraordinary story of greed, power, and excess that no one could invent: the tale of an ordinary guy who went from hustling Italian ices to making hundreds of millions—until it all came crashing down. ~Indiebound

Captain Philips or A Captain’s Duty (book)

“I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans.”
–President Barack Obama
It was just another day on the job for fifty-three-year-old Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, the United States-flagged cargo ship which was carrying, among other things, food and agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. The pirates didn’t expect the crew to fight back, nor did they expect Captain Phillips to offer himself as hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. Thus began the tense five-day stand-off, which ended in a daring high-seas rescue when U.S. Navy SEALs opened fire and picked off three of the captors.
“It never ends like this,” Captain Phillips said.
And he’s right.
A Captain’s Duty tells the life-and-death drama of the Vermont native who was held captive on a tiny lifeboat off Somalia’s anarchic, gun-plagued shores. A story of adventure and courage, it provides the intimate details of this high-seas hostage-taking–the unbearable heat, the death threats, the mock executions, and the escape attempt. When the pirates boarded his ship, Captain Phillips put his experience into action, doing everything he could to safeguard his crew. And when he was held captive by the pirates, he marshaled all his resources to ensure his own survival, withstanding intense physical hardship and an escalating battle of wills with the pirates. This was it: the moment where training meets instinct and where character is everything. Richard Phillips was ready. ~Indiebound

Happy Reading
~Rebecca Robinson

why we love social media

Social Media is a big deal in this day and age, not only is it a means for communication but is quickly becoming THE means for communication around the world. Not only does this mean you are sharing photos with your friends but also news, ideas, quotes, images, memes, gifs, jokes, events and many other exciting things. Here at the bookstore it works as all of those things are more.

My personal favorite part of social media in relation to books is the sharing of not onlt books to read, but the thoughts surrounding every bit of the book. Instantly I can read reviews, essays, even full blown thesis’s on an authors works. I can talk to many different people about books, about book selling, about book buying. I can meet scholars I would never have met otherwise. I can share with all of you wonderful booky people what I love about certain titles, how it helped me through a tough spot, the joy picking up a classic book from childhood cna bring. I get to share that with an infinite amount of people, in return and infinite amount of people can share with me.

Beyond books it offeres a chance to share art, quotes, home decor, and geeky t-shirts, because even though they are literary themed they are more than just a book shelf, a library, or a coffee mug.
What is beautiful about all of our social media is the fact that we can share many different things of beauty and interest. Many different formats, many different interactions and many different links to the world. Having those links to the world is very special to me and everyone that works in the bookstore, so that even if we never see your face in person, we know you cared, we had a moment, we shared pieces of human existence.

Because you care, we happy dance.


HAPPY SHARING!
~Rebecca Robinson

How To: survive college in a few simple reads

I am a senior at Colorado State University, set to graduate in December, a double History and Journalism major and totally overwhelmd by readings for every class. The good news is that there is always the option to step away from thick history texts and jump into more lighthearted fair. The books I have found over the last three years have been all over in their content and subject matter, but they all have helped me get through the stress that is being in University.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Totally not what you would expect a history buff to read, but as my current fiction this book rocks! It is well written, with beyond the whole vampire thing, few historical mess-ups. As long as you take it for fun, love a narration with flourishing characters, and need something different to enjoy, this is a book for you!
Bossypants by Tina Fey

I did theater in high school so this had a natural draw for me, along with the whole 30 Rock thing oh and Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey is a hoot and a half, the whole book left you laughing from page to page, maybe I related to the stories more than the average 23-year-old (I tend to be more socially awkward than most), but it is not to be missed and will take the edge off of that D you got on that paper you bled your heart into.

The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert


THIS fueled my love of history fires, though it is a fiction it is so well researched, written, pieced together and BEAUTIFUL that it deserves a place on this list. Read it, just read it, it helps with the whole escapism thing along with being very relaxing as you pretend you get to be in these places with the leading lady.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

If you are really overwhelmed this is a great read to calm your soul and think at the same time. The book is short and mobile, and perfect for late night stresses or your bus ride, or lunch break between classes.

Of course there are many other beauties out there, and poetry should not be overlooked, I delve into my Rumi, Robert Burns, and Emily Dickinson volumes quite frequently.

What are the books that helped you get through college?
-Rebecca Robinson

Geeky Garments

At the bookstore, all of us staff enjoy wearing favorite authors on our sleeves. Some of us have shirts, sweaters, tote bage, and buttons. The items have quotes and art reflecting a favorite snarky statement or beautiful cover art. And recently we have started to sell such items in our store. We have started selling different Out of Print shirts and tote bags. this is not only for the geeky employees but also so our dedicated customers can gladly sport a Very Hungry Caterpillar shirt in an adult size without feeling too much shame.
We all love the shirts! And we can order any from the company for a simple request, not to mention they're probably the nicest quality t-shirts I have ever owned or sold.
Of course this brings up more interest in, just what all is out there for literary geeks? Well dear reader this is what I found, an array of jouyous items on the interwebs for book geeks!
How about an F. Scott Fitzgerald magnet set?

Or a William Shakespeare bracelet

How about Hitchhiker's Guide Underwear?

This Hobbit inspired mug is pretty great!

Of course there is then a million and one Harry Potter items, but I was quite amused with this Polyjuice Flask!

My personal favorite finding from today must be this Oscar Wilde Clutch.

Do you have a favorite geek item you love to show off? Wear to parties? Pull out for parties?
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca Robinson

Laughter, Please

The thing I love about books is there ability to create an emotional reaction in me, whether laughter or tears, anger, hatred, love, sympathy or any other combination I want t book that makes me feel something. I imagine most of you are the same, and crave for any type of entertainment that sparks something, anything in the entertained. That would be the definition, right? That if anything is doing its job as entertainment- it entertains...okay well no duh.
Those that make you go...

Anyway, I am particularely thinking how much I love to laugh at books, and books that are so ridiculous I can't control myself from laughing a full belly laugh out loud, maybe in public, maybe in class, maybe on the bus. Of course it gives new meaning to "laugh out loud" when the crazy person on the bus starts laughing for no reason while reading, but oh well. I figure I am having a better day than anyone else if I can have a good laugh for "no reason".
Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series

Sarah Vowell, Take the Cannoli

Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Lousie Rennison, Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

William Goldman, The Princess Bride

What makes you laugh? Laugh until it hurts? Laugh until you cry? Laugh until your partner wants to lock you up? Makes you laugh in public and get weird looks?

At least this last gif should give you a giggle.

Collecting Books

Since I work at a bookstore, and since you are reading this you probably know I work at a book store, and thus that information was arbitrary.
Anyway, since I work at a bookstore…. I own a lot of books. The problem is as follows.
GREAT used book comes in, and I MUST have it, because it is a HARDCOVER version of DUBLINERS and I only have a cheap PAPERBACK version.
Advanced Reader Copy comes into the story by a beloved author, so I MUST take it home to read it…in about three years when it is already released because it is at the bottom of my reading list. Oh wait, here is another one with a cool cover about medical history….that one is coming home too.
NEW book comes in that everyone at the bookstore has read and loves loves loves, I’ll take one of everything,
It is a problem. I mean before I even started working here going into a bookstore was a dangerous idea, since I would empty out my wallet faster that you could say “George R.R. Martin killed another character” (I don’t read George R.R. Martin by mu co-worker said it would work in this instance). Since I started working here, it is only worse, naturally, I get a discount, I get free books, I get gifts of books from my librarian mother and history geek father, I keep text books that inspire me. I have an entire bookcase I JUST bought full to the brim with books I need TO READ. Most people have stacks, a shelf, a few they NEED TO READ, nope I have an entire bookcase. Welcome to my life, books in everyroom, every shelf, every corner, every table. And one day I hope to have this library:

What are your book collecting woes, habits, complaints and musings?
~Rebecca Robinson

Natasha Wing book giveaway!

‘Twas the night before my birthday…

Natasha Wing, author of The Night Before series and a friend to all of us here at Old Firehouse Books, is releasing the 17^th book (wow!) of her series for kids age 3-7. 

Her new book is titled, The Night Before My Birthday and is quite the party. Kids look forward to their birthdays almost as much as they do for holidays like Christmas. The excitement starts building from the very first day of your birthday month and reaches its peak the night before. Natasha Wing captures wonderfully the anticipation, excitement and joy that come along with the night before such a big event.

The book is written from the view of the birthday child. This is great, as it allows the child to really feel like they’re a part of the story, like their birthday is really tomorrow (and maybe it is!). This also allows the book to be gender neutral so it is perfect for any child!

The Night Before My Birthday will be available on January 16^th. 

 

To celebrate the release, Old Firehouse Books is hosting a giveaway! Natasha is donating 5 copies of her book to giveaway to our patrons. To enter just send an email to oldfirehousemarketing@gmail.com, with the subject line, “It’s my birthday!” Be sure to include your name and phone number. Entering this contest will also sign you up for the Old Firehouse Books e-newsletter (which is where the winners will be announced).

Natasha was also kind enough to answer a few questions about her inspirations and upcoming work. Enjoy!

1. What made you decide to start writing children's books?

I was working in advertising and wanted to do something more creative, not just writing copy for ads. And I loved children's books, so I decided to try it, and if I didn't sell any stories, I'd go back to advertising.

2.  What was your most memorable birthday party as a kid? Were there ever any ice cream emergencies?

I was most excited when the boy I had a crush came to my birthday party (maybe my 7th?) and gave me a silver dollar for a present. No ice cream emergencies that I remember. That would have been terrible for a family whose relatives were in the ice cream business! I do have a cat, though, but she hasn't shown any liking for ice cream, like the cat in the book.

3.  Do you have any ambitions to write books for older audiences, such as young adult or teen readers?

Yes! I have a middle grade novel being shopped around. I do like writing for that age group versus writing for teens. And maybe a novel for adults some day. I'm in the process of reissuing a self-published cook book I did ten years ago about pie bakers and their recipes. I'm enjoying revisiting the stories and redesigning it for e-book and on-demand printing. New challenges.

4.  What made you decide to write books in the style of The Night Before Christmas?

I liked that book as a kid so when I wanted to write an Easter book (Easter was another of my favorite holidays - I love bunnies!) I thought of how waiting for the Easter Bunny was a lot like anticipating Santa's visit. So I flashed on using that story structure to tell the Easter story.

5.  Can you give our readers a hint as to what to expect from you next?

The Night Before Hanukkah is being illustrated and will come out this year. I'm also tossing around ideas for new Night Befores - the dance recital? 4th of July? I also have a manuscript with editors to consider about the founders of the National Park Service. The 100th anniversary is in 2016 so the book-making process needs to start soon. Cross your fingers an editor wants to publish it!

Among the million and one great things about books, there is always the aspect of a non-fiction or fiction telling you about a certain area in the world, a subject, a person, a story, a legend ex cetera. As I think on books I have read and what they have taught me there is a long list of great stories that have revealed aspects of the world to me.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt gave me a glimpse of extreme 20th century poverty in Ireland, and the perseverance of a people.
 

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff gave me a glimpse of the sophisitcated cross-cultural, wealthy, luxurious, political game that existed in the last century BCE.


Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert revealed the power of healing in travel, and self-exploration, that no matter hte heartbreak one can come back swinging.
 

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, though a fiction, gave me a sense of understanding suicide, and the feelings of wanting to leave, to escape, to drift and the impact that WWI had on England's skeleton. 


Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson informed me that my crazy thoughts are not so uncommon, and odd events just tend to follow some people around in their life.


Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald was a gateway into inspiring me to get up and travel the world without anyone's permission but my own.
 

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff reminded me to slow down and love on the little things in life, and not question every piece that comes flying towards me.


What books have taught you about the world? Got you to do something? Inspired action?

Stories from Childhood

Reminiscing on favorite tales from childhood usually brings up warm fuzzies. Feelings of joy, excitement, adventure, place, love, interest, and warmth (you probably have a few adjectives to add to that list). Lately I have been thinking about the books that helped define me from my youth. There is no doubt I would have become a reader without these titles, since my mother was a librarian and the house never appeared less than exploding with books. Yet these books helped push me forward in reading. They assisted in me jumping into the pool that is story-telling, the lands of adventure, the journeys of self exploration. They not only made me believe in characters and their abilities, but also in the beauty that was creating a great story for all ages to enjoy and cherish.

The first and foremost story for me was Harry Potter, sparked from a 3rd grade teacher reading us the first book aloud and from the first page I was completely and utterly addicted to the story. I remember waiting all through the day for the moment she would read us the next chapter, and then when it was over I could hardly wait to read the second and third and....all the way to book seven, all eight movies and many fan books, mini books, and sheet sets later I am still an avid Potter fan. I will happily admit to owning a full Gryffindor house uniform and a wand and added a tattoo to my leg to commemorate my love for the stories. Regardless of the material objects and ink, I think there is something so remarkable in the way those books allowed me to daydream. They brought me great ideas, stories of my own, games to play with friends, and that I should never be ashamed of my poor vision, shortness, nerdiness, bookwormishness or any other parts of me; because those parts of me could very well save the world from "You-Know-Who".

On a totally different note Little House on the Prarie was greatly influential over the years my mother read my sister's and I all of the books. In less of a magic powers kind of way, these stories told me about how lucky I was to live in the age I did, but also how remarkable and commited people were to survival and that terrible circumstances could be overcome without magic powers. This most importantly taught me a respect for the people of the past and their hardships, and is probably a reason why I am a history major.

 

Back to the fantasy realm, I loved How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head. This books had a habit of scaring me at first when I was little, because who wanted the cute dragon to lose his noggin? Anyway, I think this story taught me the value of kindness, not judging a book by its cover, and that the scariest looking things can be the most wonderful on the inside. I like the idea of embracing gentleness over agression as well, even if the world is agressive to you; one simply has to let their goodliness and light shine through. I have also always wanted a pet dragon and this was probably one of the first stories to convince me what a wonderful idea that would be. Along with the movie Pete's Dragon my love for the large and scaly has been a lifelong adoration, which explains an interest in paleontology and love of lizards, but ironically not birds.

What books defined you as a kid and today? What books do you like to reread today or share with the kiddos in your life?

~Rebecca

Happy Holidays!

As you rush from store to store picking up gifts for the list you have complied we just want to send you a message of Happy Holidays! We really appreciate all of our loyal customers and everything they do to help us be the best store we can be. This has been a great year in sales and we hope 2014 will be even better. The best part is that we could not do it without all of you!

Our customers not only fund all of our expenses and pay for our salaries but they bring so much more to us. We try to make connections with all of our customers, and get a lot from doing so. Not only do we get book suggestions but we build friendships and connections with many of those that walk through our door. Seeing a favorite customer's smiling face makes our day brighter. Smiles are a contagion around here that we try to spread, along with knowledge, care, and joy. By having great customers we feel we are all not only better employees but better people.

So thank you. All of you that come back week after week, every month, or even once a year to pick up the newest novel from your favorite author, or do all of your holiday shopping in one giant go. Thank You!

We hope that all of you have a lovely closing to the year, with joy, family, laughter, and hopefully a new wonderful read!

Many Thanks,
Old Firehouse Books

What's so wonderful about The Luminaries?

This year's winner of the Man Booker Prize is The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. When I first espied this book, I was at once drawn to its invisible power, just as a lodestone is drawn to invisible force of our terrestrial poles. When I opened up the jacket, met the source of this power, my attraction was not in any way decreased. I opened the book and began reading at once, rapt in attention as a child is when first encountering a magician. What Ms. Catton has achieved in her novel is nothing short of an herculean task in the realm of modern literature. She has mimicked perfectly the style of the great mystery writers of the 19th century (e.g., Dickins and Wilkie Collins) but has also succeeded in creating something new with the integration of her own mode of modern formalism. The book consists of a dozen parts, each part half the length of the previous installment, very much following the waning lunar cycle. Keeping up with this astrological trope, each of these twelve parts corresponds to the astrological sign of a specific day, influencing the lives of thirteen men who become embroiled in the mystery of a missing gold bonanza during the New Zealand Gold Rush of the 1860's.

What we are then left with is a question of whether the actions of these characters are predestined by the stars, or whether the characters are the agents of their own destiny. But what is all the more remarkable is that the story unfolds through the storytelling of each character--each of twelve characters describing his part in the mystery of this missing gold to the newcomer, Walter Moody. Each character approaches the mystery from his own set desires and fears, corresponding to their respective astrological signs, and what the reader is given is not fact as to how the events of the story have transpired, but perspective--human perspective (and therefore open to interpretation). Nobody sees the whole story. Nobody knows the whole truth. Everyone has an agenda. Like the stars and planets in the heavens, their positions change: friends become enemies and enemies may be allies; some celestial objects block our view while others line up in harmony. Nothing remains the same as the story unfolds, no truth stands absolute, and, by the end of this spectacular novel, the reader has completely revolved around the story through each character's tale to arrive at its foregone conclusion in a unified vision of the heavens.Thus we,as readers, have assumed the role of astronaut and visited the far expanses of this universe and come to feel a part of it (though we have no great story
of our own to tell, but are made all the more integral by glimpsing it).

The Luminaries is a tremendous feet of literature rising to astronomical heights and, like so many of those astronomical occurrences, will be seen in our lifetimes only infrequently. The question you must then ask yourself is: will I look up to the heavens and behold its splendor? Or will I cast down my eyes to the earth and miss all the wonders this book has to offer?

Holiday Shopping

Hello Book Lovers!

The holidays are coming! Not that you need us to remind you, but they are qucikly approaching and we at the Firehouse are getting excited and overwhelmed as we navigate our own lists of gift giving, shopping, parties and family get togethers.

However we all have exactly 11 days until Thanksgiving is here, rather late in the year than usual and that means that there are less "official shopping days" until the big Christmas day, at only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If you celebrate Hanukkah you really need to get a move on, the first night is November 27th, the day BEFORE thanksgiving!

Kwanzaa begins December 26th this year.

So in case these numbers frighten you, keep us in mind! We can be your one stop shop for everyone on your list. We have books for all age groups and interests, and if one is not a big reader we have games, puzzles, pens, magnifying glasses, humor picture books, book lights, gift cards, and much much more.

We aim to make your shopping trip easy, by having staff pick shelves, winter catalog selections (regional top choices in books for the holidays), knowledgable and committed staff, and rewards when you get a FREE membership (for every $100 spent you get $5 in store credit!). We also do special orders and have many great quality USED books for everyone's gift-giving budget.

So stop on by, do some book shopping, get a hot cuppa tea or coffee and joy at HAPPY LUCKY'S next door and help us spread some holiday love and cheer!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and SHOPPING!

~Rebecca

Read the Book, See the Movie, in that order please

Hello my Firehouse friends! I've missed you! A lot has been going on the last few weeks, both at the store and in my own life. But things are at last starting to calm down again...you know, until the Christmas season comes into full swing and we all lose our marbles. 

If you missed it, Kelsey posted a wonderful blog addressing the controversy surrounding the newly release Book of Matt by Stephen Jimenez. I recommend you give it a read.

Since I am still easing my way back into a fully function brain space, I'm going to keep this blog short and easy while keeping you up to date with bookish things.

Hollywood has been all about book-to-movie adaptations lately. Which is sometimes great and other times not so great. Kelsey and I both agree it would be nice to see some movies coming out that were fresh and original instead of adaptations and sequels. However, there are still some titles many of us here at the bookstore are excited for.

In order by release date, here are five book-to-move adaptations you can expect to see in theaters before the end of 2013.

Carrie by Stephen King, October 18

Carrie White may have been unfashionable and unpopular, but she had a gift. Carrie could make things move by concentrating on them. A candle would fall. A door would lock. This was her power and her sin. Then, an act of kindness, as spontaneous as the vicious taunts of her classmates, offered Carrie a chance to be a normal and go to her senior prom. But another act--of ferocious cruelty--turned her gift into a weapon of horror and destruction that her classmates would never forget.



Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, November 1

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, November 8

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.


The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, November 22

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. They should be happy. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Now rumors of rebellion are spreading, and the Capitol wants revenge.







The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug by J.R.R Tolkien, December 13

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.


---
 
As you probably gathered from the title of this blog, I usually stand by reading the book before seeing the movie...you know, unless you accidentally see the movie because you didn't know it was a book first...

All of these books (except Carrie) are on our shelves right now. If you click on the title, it will take you to our website where you can order the book right from your home! And since I've told you all of these movies were adapted from books, you have no excuse not to read them before you watch them.

I have plans to see three of these five movies (and yes, I've read all the books). What about you? Are you excited for any of these movies or do you prefer to stick with the book?

Until next week my fellow book/movie lovers.

Happy reading!

~Ren

Why We Will Still Host Stephen Jimenez

As you may or may not know, Old Firehouse Books has recently come under fire for our decision to host an event for Stephen Jimenez, author of The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths Behind the Murder of Matthew Shepard. Jimenez's book claims to have uncovered new data about this horrendous crime that the media had previously ignored; these claims often contradict most of the widely held beliefs on the murder. The initial controversy was sparked by a blog from Media Matters that claims to debunk the book entirely. The controversy has increased as a result of a petition posted on Change.org by the activist Jamie McGonnigal asking bookstores across America to cancel their events with Jimenez.

As the event coordinator for Old Firehouse Books, I would like to briefly express my personal sentiments on this issue. Freedom of speech is a complex right; one easy to defend when the speech is palatable and familiar. Freedom of speech is most important when it is most difficult for us to uphold. How can we ever expect to strengthen our idelogies unless we ocassionally allow them to be challenged? Stephen Jimenez deserves the chance to his explain his position, and our community deserves the chance to question him. I could go on, but Christopher Finnan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, has explained the situation much more eloquently than I could hope to recreate. I've shared his open letter to McGonnigal below.

If you would be interested in attending the event, whether or not you agree with Jimenez's assertions, we will be hosting him at the Council Tree Library on November 5th at 7pm. Jimenez will be speaking and reading from The Book of Matt, followed by a question and answer period.

-Kelsey Myers, Old Firehouse Books Event Coordinator

                                                                                                                                         October 9, 2013
Jamie McGonnigal
TalkAboutEquality.com

Dear Mr. McGonnigal,
I am writing on behalf of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE). It has been brought to our attention that you have started a petition on Change.org urging bookstore owners to cancel appearances by author Stephen Jimenez for his book, The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard. ABFFE believes that your petition demonstrates a poor understanding of bookselling and has the potential to stifle discussion of a significant historical event.
Bookstores that provide a public forum for controversial authors often become the target of protests. While most critics would not go so far as to advocate banning the offending works, some draw the line at allowing the authors to read from their books and answer questions. Like them, you allege in your petition that booksellers who host these events "are in it only for the book sales.”
But bookstores are not like other stores. Because books contain ideas, bookstores play an integral part in the process by which ideas are disseminated and debated. Debate is essential in a free society, and we take seriously our responsibility to offer access to ideas, including those that we might personally oppose. We do this in a variety of ways–by suggesting titles to customers who are looking for books about particular subjects, recommending books to reading groups and announcing new releases in our newsletters. Hosting authors for readings and autographing is an important part of the process. It gives customers a chance to ask questions and even to disagree. We are not primarily doing a favor for the author, who may, after all, fall flat on his face. We are providing our customers with an opportunity to make up their own minds.
The most mistaken notion about author appearances is that providing a forum for controversial authors always "sells books.” Controversial ideas inevitably alienate some people, and when those people include some of our customers, we can lose business. While we do not wish to offend anyone, we cannot allow a minority to censor either the books we sell or the authors we host.
We believe that you have a right to your opinion. But the appropriate response to Mr. Jimenez’s book is to refute his argument, not to deny him the opportunity to speak in bookstores.


                                                                                                                      Sincerely yours,
                                                                                                                      Christopher Finan
                                                                                                                      ABFFE President

A Chance to win Neil Gaiman schwag!

Hey my Firehouse friends! Today is a special Saturday blog update because we have an exciting opportunity for all you Neil Gaiman fans! 

We just so happen to have some awesome Neil Gaiman schwag at the store right now. And we are giving it away! 

The awesome schwag includes:

Five Neil Gaiman books, including a signed copy of FORTUNATELY, THE MILK, and a poster for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (also signed!)

If you would like to enter to win, just e-mail oldfirehousemarketing@gmail.com with the subject line I LOVE NEIL GAIMAN and put your name and phone number in the body of the email. 

Entering this contest will sign you up for the Old Firehouse e-newsletter. This part is very important as the winner will be announced via the newsletter. 

Contest ends October 31st so don’t delay! 

(Yay silly pictures!)

~Ren

Review of Kurt Vonnegut's 'Cat's Cradle'

Oh, Kurt, how I love you.

Last night I finished my third Kurt Vonnegut novel. I’ve attempted once before to write a review of a Kurt Vonnegut novel.

I’ll be honest; it was a bit of a challenge.

I feel like this attempt will be a bit easier as Cat’s Cradle doesn’t jump around quite as much Slaughter-house Five does. Also, this review isn’t for a grade…unless there’s something Justin and Kelsey aren’t telling me…

When I was about halfway through reading Cat’s Cradle I had a realization. That realization was what it is about Vonnegut’s writing that I love so much. Vonnegut is well known for his satirical commentary on a broad array of events. But what I realized about his commentary is that it is so subtle you barely even notice it. If you’re not paying much attention you can straight up miss it.

I found myself doing this on occasion while reading Cat’s Cradle. The first line of the book jacket description is, “Cat’s Cradle is Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical commentary on modern man and his madness.”

Before I go on, I’ll give a brief synopsis of the book.

Jonah, the voice of the story, is gathering information for his book, which is all about the day the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. His endeavor leads him to meet a grand assortment of people, including the three children of Frank Hoenikker, father of the atom bomb, each of whom posses a particle of the deadly ice-nine.

Each supporting character in Vonnegut’s book plays a part in giving some insight to the madness of man the author is attempting to highlight. The Hoenikker children are mad enough to flit away bits of ice-nine in order their obtain their own personal wants. “Papa” Monzano, President of San Lorenzo, perpetuates a government in a place that neither needs it or really wants it.

There is an apparent futility and self-indulgence in many of the actions of the characters. I found myself thinking on multiple occasion how silly all these people were, how foolish. But then I realized that I am not so different. No human really is.

In the book the reader is also introduced to Bokonon, a calypso singer who creates his own theology, a theology that every citizen of San Lorenzo prescribes to. Bokonon understood that the truths people had to deal with were terrible. So instead he made up wonderful lies for them. But the curious thing is, there is an awareness of the lies.

There is a couplet, taken from The Books of Bokonon that Jonah describes as, “…capturing…the cruel paradox of Bokononist thought…”

            Midget, midget, midget, how he struts and

                        winks,

            For he knows a man’s as big as what he hopes

and thinks!

How do we know what we believe is true? Perhaps some of life’s greatest truths are lies we tell ourselves. But maybe sometimes it is our awareness of the lie, our acknowledgement of the harsh reality and our choice to turn away from it, that makes the lie come true.

Since it is Banned Books Week and Cat’s Cradle is my banned book pick, I figure it would be smart to tell you why this book is banned.

It was first banned by an Ohio school district in 1972. The reason, you ask? Well, the best explanation I could find is that Cat’s Cradle was banned in tandem with Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater after a board member had read part of the latter and found it to be “completely sick” and “garbage.” It seems likely that none of the board members opposed to Cat’s Cradle had even so much as looked at it. It has also been speculated that people might have taken issue with Vonnegut’s apparent anti-war stance.

Don’t let someone else make your decisions for you.

See the cat? See the cradle?