We're deeply saddened to report that Fup, Powell's Books's store cat, died on October 25 at age 19. She was a longtime resident of Powell's Technical Books and her adventures were chronicled regularly on Powells.com.

View a touching tribute from Ron Silberstein, assistant manager of Powell's Technical Books, and many heartfelt comments from Fup fans everywhere on Powells.com.

The store asks that in lieu of cards or flowers, donations be made to the Oregon Humane Society in Fup's name.

CIROBE
Monday, October 29, 2007
Brenda

Chicago is full of great things to see, such as museums and parks.  For three days, all we saw were cavernous exhibition halls built underneath Michigan Avenue, crowded with books, sellers and buyers.  And, oh my, did we buy!  Big fabulous art books, charming children's picture books, histories of an amazing variety of peoples, places and things, and even some bookmarks and music cd's. 

We had lots of fun doing this, even though we ended up completely overloaded.  The books will be shipped to us from about 35 different vendors, some in Europe, and should arrive here well before the holiday shopping season. 

We eagerly  await the unwrapping sessions.  Come see what we bought!  Maybe we will even be willing to let some of them go.  They are all very beautiful, brand new, and priced below retail.  We can't wait to see them again! 

CATHERYNNE M. VALENTE
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Harriett

Join us this Saturday for local fantasy award-winner Catherynne M. Valente as she debuts Part II of The Orphan's Tales.  Part I, In the Night Garden, was nominated for the 2007 World Fantasy Award and was the Winner of the 2006 Tiptree Award.  Part II, In the Cities of Coin and Spice, promises even more of these Arabian Nights for our time -- a lush and fantastical epic guaranteed to spirit you away from the very first page.

The event will be a gala welcoming of the new book with the author, a display of fantasy artworks inspired by the first book, and a musical performance by S.J. Tucker. 

The event will be held at the Fine Points Carriage House, 12620 Larchmere Blvd., on Saturday, October 27th, 7-10pm.  Loganberry Books will be there to sell copies of both books.  Join us! 

IN MEMORIAM: PEG BRACKEN
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Harriett

My mother swore by her copy of The I Hate to Cook Book, often loudly, and sometimes with a cigarette and a glass of wine in hand, as the author would not only approve, but prescribe in her recipes.  Shortcuts and improvisation were the best tools taught in Bracken's irreverent manual, and no doubt succeeded in forming inventive and creative cooks as a by-product.  Her style is still very much in use in today's society, although the microwave and modern packaging have made quick cooking much easier and more common than it was in 1960 when her first book appeared.  It was a well-deserved bestseller, and we thank Peg Bracken for her insight, humor, and talent.

Also In Memoriam today is Elaine's husband Michael, a kind soul who preferred the company of his dogs to most people, and whose political acumen was fiery and sharp.  (Elaine's book review of the Dalai Lama's The Universe in a Single Atom appears on the blog entry for October 12).  Michael was also a scientist and a great cook, with a sense of humor to rival Peg Bracken's.  He will be missed.

PETER SONNENFELD RETIRES
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Harriett

After 30 years of running Expert Sewing Machine Repair, Peter has decided to hang up his tools and retire.  He has run an exemplary and old-world style of business, often chatting with friends over coffee before the official hours of the day began.  We will certainly miss him here on Larchmere!

CIROBE
Monday, October 22, 2007
Harriett

Gettin' ready for the Chicago International Remainder & Overstock Book Expo this weekend...  Over a hundred wholesale dealers, close to 500 tables, I'm not counting the number of books....  But we're sure to come home with some goodies, great bargains, and perfect holiday gifties.  And sore feet!  (Looking forward to it!)

DUMBLEDORE IS GAY
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Harriett

This is from the horse's mouth herself, live from Carnegie Hall.  A fan asked about Dumbledore's true love, and J.K. Rowling answered succinctly that "Dumbledore is gay."  Moreover, she gave the background to Dumbledore's infatuation with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated in a wizard's battle years ago.  Ah, the stories and the characters get richer and richer, even after the book series has ended!

BOOK REC:  THE ATTACK
Saturday, October 20, 2007

Title: The Attack
Author: Yasmina Khadra (nom de plume of former Algerian army officer Mohammed Moulessehoul, author of three other novels published in English)
Publisher: Vintage Books (London), translated from the French by John Cullen, 2007.
Reviewer: Amy [of “Tell Me a Story” radio show]

The story of an Israeli Arab who works as a surgeon in a Tel Aviv hospital, representing integration at its most powerful and successful. Then Dr. Jaafie's world turns upside down when his beloved wife is found among the dead in a suicide bombing on Tel Aviv's streets. What begins as horror turns still more terrifying when the bomber is discovered and Dr. Jaafie returns to his Palestinian roots seeking answers. The author astonishingly represents every point of view so that the reader's world, like that of the protagonist, is constantly turned upside down and inside out. I couldn't stop reading, never stopped reassessing my own judgments about what and who is good, how to untangle the tangled web of longheld grievances.  good and bad, the entanglements of an impossible place and time. As the Literary Review wrote, the author is passionately moral but never sits in judgment--a rare treat. And the prose is as drop dead beautiful as the story is compelling.

MITZIE VERNE:  THE EMPEROR WAS MY NEIGHBOR IN JAPAN
Thursday, October 18, 7pm

Mitzie Verne will discuss her family and its lifelong work in the world of books and the arts, beginning with the well-known Verne Gallery of Japanese Art.  Her brother Bob Levine was the founder of Cleveland’s well loved Publix Book Mart. Her daughter Betsy Franco has written more than 80 children’s books published by Scholastic, Simon & Schuster and Candlewick Press.  Her son Michael wrote Quiet Elegance: Japan Through the Eyes of Nine American Artists published by Tuttle.  And her grandson James Franco is an actor who won the Golden Globe Award for his role as James Dean and has had leading roles in the Spiderman films.  Mitzie herself has published a lovely little book titled The Emperor Was My Neighbor.  Come hear more about this illustrious Cleveland book family. 
Sponsored by the Nothern Ohio Bibliophilic Society, $3 suggested donation. 

"TV ADS ARE OUR FRIENDS"
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Harriett

USA Today reports:  Fox showed novelist Stephen King reading a book — it turns out it was a suspense novel called The Ghost— between innings at the Cleveland Indians-Boston Red Sox American League Championship Series game Friday. King told reporter Chris Myers on-air that he "could read 18 pages between innings normally. But now that Fox is doing the games, I can read 27 pages between commercial breaks." Not a bad idea for home viewers.

OED
Monday, October 15, 2007
Harriett

Having mentioned "carbon footprint" yesterday reminds me of the news in Oxford-English-Dictionary land.  Last year, see, carbon footprint was one of the new words added to the tome.  This year, however, there are subtractions: hyphens.  Not just a mathematical symbol - and not puncuation - but the symbol that holds things together, especially those newly-constructed adjectives. 

More than 16,000 hyphens have been taken out in cases such as 'fig-leaf' and 'leap-frog,' after monitoring showed that "our world of fast keying and quick edits onscreen has largely given up searching for the hyphen."

Friends' Responses: 

• We old-school editors take a big-time dim view of this uncalled-for change.
• Unlooked-for news, but for the oft-confused layperson, perhaps a well-received shift. 
• That is reprehensible. What the heck is the word then??? Or is it two words?  Grrrrr.  No appreciation for real-world punctuation.

SOLAR EXHAUST
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Harriett

Here's a recent photo of one of Erika's solar installations.  It's a flat roof with lots of slightly-inclined PV panels in rows.  But the humor in this photo is the view of the Ford plant in the background, spewing its evil emissions.  Makes you wonder how much green energy it will take to even make a dent on this country's overall carbon footprint.

BOOK REC:  THE DALAI LAMA
Friday, October 12, 2007

Title: The Universe in a Single Atom
Author:  His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Reviewer: Elaine  [Former Director of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition, currently moving to D.C. to work for the Green Chemistry Institute]

This is a joyful exploration of the intersection between science and spirituality.  As a scientific layperson, the Dalai Lama recounts his dialogues with scientists as he explores modern physics, neuroscience and others.  Fearlessly, he seeks out the most renowned  scientists from all over the world to delve into what on the surface fascinates him.

DORIS LESSING WINS NOBEL
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Harriett

Doris Lessing just won the Nobel Prize for Literature.  Two weeks shy of her 88th birthday, Lessing says she has won all the major European awards, and now she has "a royal flush." 

The Nobel Board reports that Lessing is "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny".  Congratulations! 

I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU!)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Harriett

Check out the Petition (excerpted below):

My dearest Oprah,

Congratulations! Out of nearly 300 million Americans, you have been selected to promote Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!) on your wildly popular television show. I'm writing to express my excitement on your behalf. This is the break you've been waiting for!  ...

Selecting I Am America (And So Can You!) for your Book Club will go a long way toward erasing the long-standing concerns and nagging doubts about your patriotism that have dogged you ever since they were first raised in this letter.

You can read the whole petition on Colbert's website.  I am amused (and so can you!). 

GENE'S JAZZ HOT 
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Harriett

We call Gene's Jazz Hot the house band here, but they were really regulars down the street at Cafe Limbo.  With the sudden loss of Cafe Limbo, Gene's Jazz Hot was feeling homeless, and that's just not right for the house band!  So, without further ado, we present Gene's Jazz Hot on the second Thursday of October and November, and see how it goes (subtext: come support the band and buy a book at intermission!).  Donations for the band gladly accepted. 

Concert: Thursday, October 11, 6:30pm-9:00pm

TRAVELS IN INDIA, PART 5
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Jan 

Damn, you forgot to warn me about the red fire ants. Too late now.

Sunsets aren't really spectacular here, [but] I hope I will have at least some interesting pictures. Jew Town is brutal. Those guys can really bargain. Spice market was interesting but i was not sure what i could and could not bring into the states.

The Jains are my favorite of all the peoples here. They run bird hospitals to treat injured wildlife and at noon have the major pidgeon feedout. Lovely sweet and gentle people. The Kereleans have butchered every last monkey.  The monkeys do damage the coconut crop but still....

Goats are used here to trim up the soccer fields. Last night I returned from a music concert late and a herd of water buffalo were having a late night snack on the crickit field.

Tomorrow I leave for home. I am both glad and sorry.

TRAVELS IN INDIA, PART 4
Monday, October 8, 2007
Jan 

Hello One and All.  We have survived houseboating on the backwaters of Kerela, a homestay in the junglish Kerela, a huge house spider that took up residence in our bedroom, the Kashmiri market and its cut throat venders, motorized and bicycle rickshaws, a trip to the Kochin (C) synagogue (about which I have a great story), the massive pidgeon feed at the jain Temple, and a few spats with each other.

I have been slathered in oil and other stinkly, gritty stuff several time for Ayervadic treatment and twisted into a preztle (forgive my spelling, blame it on the heat 90 degrees) during our Yoga classes. I am sinless as I have bathed in the Arabian sea and taken the Varkala mineral waters (which only caused the runs for a few days).

We are off to see our second Kathakali performance tonight. I am certain it will be less confronting than our last experience which while extremely authentic, left much to be desired. A few less bodies lying about pretending to be dead or ill in a very deserted theater would have been comforting. The performance began at 10:00 pm sort of... except one of the performers refused to go on for a reason only an Indian dancer would understand.

Anyway I must run or brave Kate's wrath.

TOBACCO BAGS
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Customer:  Lee

My husband and I visited your store twice a few weeks ago.  He actually mentioned that our poorer gas mileage on the return trip might have been because the car was weighted down with books!  We’re from Kansas City, MO, so it may be some time before we’re actually back. 

I subscribe to the blog, Curious Sofa Diaries, from a local “shabby chic interiors” shop, The Curious Sofa.  On Deb’s last blog entry, she showed a pair of Ralph Lauren pants with a little hanging tobacco pouch.  One of the books I bought from you was Soft Covers for Hard Times: Quiltmaking and the Great Depression by Merikay Waldvogel.  In it, the author shows a picture of a tobacco pouch and mentions that they were often collected by women to use in their quilts.  I left a comment that I had purchased this book at your shop and left your website address.  I just wanted you to know that if you got any calls from Kansas City, this may be the connection. 

I’m hoping to not have to go back to the Cleveland Clinic, but if we do, your shop will definitely be on our list of places to visit.

SOLAR TOUR 
Friday, October 5, 2007
Harriett

This weekend marks the 12th annual National Solar Tour, where you can drive around looking at renewable energy in action at homes and businesses near you.  The national sponsor is ASES, and in Ohio the Tour is coordinated by Green Energy Ohio.  I haven't seen any press on this year's tour, but GEO does have a rather cumbersome website, and that's probably the place to go for more information.  Loganberry has a single PV panel that operates our exterior sign light, but that's too small potatoes to be included on this tour. 

EVENING EVENTS
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Harriett

We're gearing up for not one, but two events this evening.  Beginning at 6pm, we have an opening reception for local photographer Lori Molesky, whose nature views are just perfect.  Perfectly content, serene, beautiful, focused.  Perfect for everyone on your holiday gift-giving list (it's not just a sales pitch, it's true).  They're also a bargain.

At 8pm, join us for folk musician Rachanee from Lansing, Michigan.  She has two albums out now, and several impressive awards.  This is the start of her tour, and the warm intimate space of the LitArts room here at Loganberry should be perfect for a girl with guitar!  [Oops - Rachanee didn't like my Halloween decorations....  read her blog!]

BEST OF ALL TIME
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Harriett

We made the Free Times' Best Of Cleveland issue! Yea!  Here's what they say about us: 

This used book store is a maze of comfortable rooms with the well-worn feeling of an old library and plenty of nooks and furniture to just sit and browse. It's packed with books both popular and obscure, and you're bound to discover at least one essential book you never knew you needed. It's especially strong in the arts, and features lots of art on display, and for sale, as well.

As this is a reader's poll, we thank everyone who took the time to vote for us! And thanks to the Free Times for supporting local businesses. 

KANDINSKY
Monday, October 1, 2007
Harriett

Well, I took a couple cats to the vet this morning for routine hellos, and decided, since I have Kandinsky in a box already (a feat in itself), I might as well go to the shop and see if I can get a decent postcard shot (he's the only cat who hasn't been featured on a postcard to date, despite an excellent photo session in the old shop back in 2000).

He wasn't so sure of the new space (he's never been here!), but we went back to the LitArts room and closed the doors.  The first thing he tried to do, of course, was hide.  Not only was there a good corner shelf with room behind the books to hide in, but he managed to squeeze his 15 pounds under the shelf completely (who says he needs a diet?!). 

I urged him and coaxed him to some better photo ops, but I'm not sure I have a postcard pix yet.  He's a great ladder boy, but metal ladders just aren't as postcard pretty as wooden ones.  And one interesting shot gives a nice view of the room as a whole, which is a jimble-jamble of chairs at the moment.  So, all in all, Mr. K cooperated, but the room is a mess and that's not his fault.  We might try again some other time.

You can see the best of the first round results.

TRAVELS IN INDIA, PART 3
September 30, 2007 
(original message lost; posted later) 
Jan 

The two day train ride was an endurance test. Two German girls shared our compartment. They hated air conditioning and couldn't even tolerate the fan. The last few hours of the trip Kate and I escaped into an empty compartment.

We have met with unbelievable kindness and helpfulness every where we have traveled. Kate left her camera in a shop last night. When she walked in the store this morning the owner held out her camera and said that he had been awaiting her return. Last night a waiter took one look at my arm and insisited on doing an ayervadic treatment on the spot and would take no money for it.

We are in Kerela. The air kisses your face. It is of course hot  and humid, this is jungle, but a cool breeze blows in constantly off the Arabian Sea. It is very beautiful in this place.

This morning I braved a massage, very oily, but pleasant. I could teach them a thing or two and they could teach me also.

Tomorrow we leave for a two day houseboat trip into the backwaters and then we have a family stay so I will most likely will not be near a computer for several days.