Blogs

As you know from my blogs, I usually deal with children and young adult books. Reading in these genres has always been a passion of mine.  But today I need you to be in a comfortable spot, preferably sitting, since I will introduce you to something a little different: two adult poets. Yes. Adult. Both of these men are very different in their style of writing. But both are equally amazing.

Ted Kooser paints wonderful word imagery in Delights & Shadows.  Such gems as Tattoo; Mourners, Praying Hands, A Spiral Notebook and A Happy Birthday might be short in nature, but pack a real punch! The modern voice makes them perfect for long-time poetry readers and those being introduced for the first time. Kooser deals with many subjects, including his own mortality, but has created many poems that are truly alive!

Each poem deals with the every day, life, death, notebooks, tattoos, paintings, faith, even war and peace. Yet each one might have it look like he speaks of only a statue of praying hands or talking about how he celebrates a birthday, each one digs deeper than what is on the surface.

Lew Welch approaches poetry with a different delivery in Ring of Bone: Collected Poems (with Gary Snyder).

The world of one Beat poet is opened up in this collection. Written from approximately 1950 to around Welch’s presumed death in 1971, each shows you what is important to him and many of his generation. Explore the familiar (a walk across a make-shift bridge), the constraints of “normalcy” of the time (a man “should” have his hair short) to thoughts on his own mortality (his beard turning white when he is only 40) in haunting detail, depth and even simplicity of wording.  Comments by Gary Snyder and Welch’s own words about his work connect everything together.

Welch might not be as well known as his peers, but his insights into life and death are as powerful and thoughtful as any of the Beat writers. Welch is a voice fresh even after all these years.

And, as always, come into the Northshire Bookstore to find these and other poets that speak as strongly to you as Kooser and Welch have spoken to this reader!

Last month, just in time for Easter and general Spring celebrations, the Northshire Bookstore Children’s Department held a tea party.  We invited kids 10 and under to come to the store and make some springtime crafts and enjoy tea and cookies.  And, like any good party, we encouraged kids to come in costume.

First Whitney showed us how to make finger puppets from pipe cleaners.  We had fun glueing pompoms and googly eyes on our puppets to make them one-of-a-kind.  Next, Fran taught us all how to make little candy holders with cupcake paper and flower shapes.  Then, the best part, we ate homemade cookies (thanks Fran) and drank tea and juice.  After that, everyone sat down quietly and read books, or ate snacks, or went home, after thoroughly ruining dinner.

If you missed our wonderful event, never fear!  The department is planning to host a fun kid’s event every month for starting in May.  First up: crafting for mom on May 11th.  Mother’s Day is coming soon and we’d like to help kids get in the spirit.  Craft a gift for mom and listen to a book about how wonderful mothers are.  We’re also planning events for Father’s Day and then a scavenger hunt through the store!

All dates and times will be announced soon, but for now, mark your calendars for May 11th at 4pm and come join us for another fun event in the Children's Department!