13015 Larchmere Blvd.
Shaker Hts., OH 44120
216.795.9800
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BIRTHDAY BAND Thursday, March 13, 2008
Harriett
It's Gene's birthday today, and she's playing at our monthly gig here with Gene's Jazz Hot. Stop on by for cake and swinging tunes. The sun's been out all day, Shaker Heights crew took all the snow mountains away, and we can dream of spring. (Other than that, I'm exhausted and daylight savings time in March has my body really messed up.)
NOBS
FORUMS Friday, February 22, 2008
Harriett
We had a great turn-out for the Charles Chesnutt lecture on Thursday night. Ann Olszewski gave an interesting talk on the archives of Chesnutt held at the Cleveland Public Library, as only an archivist would. She did not talk about Chesnutt's career in Cleveland, or literary criticism of his books, but of his life story as understood through the documents and photographs in the library's collection. It was fascinating to piece things together this way, like an archaelogical dig of a person's life. In the audience, we had some interesting book collectors, hobbyists, professionals, bookbinders and the like, as well as some Rowfant Club members, where Chesnutt was a member himself. It's fun when the audience can contribute to the lecture and bounce off the information given by the lecturer and vice-versa, and this was such a case. Thanks, Ann, for an informative evening in the world of books!
CHARLES CHESNUTTThursday, January 31, 2008
Harriett
Charles W. Chesnutt (1858-1932) has landed himself on a 41-cent stamp. It's about time he had some regonition: he is credited with being the first mainstream-published African-American writer, and a popular one, at that.
After earning the top score on the Ohio Bar Exam, Chesnutt worked as a court reporter. Later, he founded a legal stenography company and dedicated himself to his writing, mostly fiction with a moral mission of race-relation peace. Some of his books include The Conjure Woman, The Wife of His Youth, The House Behind the Cedars, The Marrow of Tradition and The Colonel's Dream. Oh, and did I mention he was from Cleveland? There was a big celebration downtown to commemorate the release of this new stamp.
Our third Thursday NOBS Forums this month features a talk on Chesnutt. Ann Olszewski is the preservation manager at the Cleveland Public Library, which holds quite a bit of biographical and documentary material on Chesnutt, as well as some of his books (first editions of which are now rare). (Berea College, KY, also holds some great materials, and hosts the Charles Chesnutt Digital Archive.) Come hear Olszewski talk on Chesnutt and his legacy in the book world. The talk will be on Thursday, February 21, 7pm, here at Loganberry. Also tune in to WCPN's "Around Noon" on Monday, February 18 to hear Dee Perry interview Ann Olszewski about Chesnutt.
NOBS FORUMS: SHOW AND
TELLThursday, January 17, 2008
Harriett
Usually for NOBS Show and Tell sessions, people bring old books, vintage tomes, and collectible curiosities and treasures. I decided to bring something brand new, something most of us hadn't seen before, and something that redefines the concepts of genre.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick just won this year's Caldecott Award, and it's a wonderful and curious thing. This 500+ page book won the highest accolades "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." Usually this is interpreted to mean picture books: slim volumes with pictures on every page and some text interspersed, perfect for reading aloud to a 4-year-old. This book does not fit this model. However, if was awarded the Newbery, generally speaking for young adult literature, it would be the writer who was awarded, not the illustrator, even if that is one and the same person, as it is with Hugo Cabret.
Brian Selznick has reinterpreted the relationship of words and pictures in this book. The pictures, pencil skteches with heavy black page borders, are not used to illustrate the words, but are part of the story itself. Like Lynd Ward's God's Man: A Novel in Woodcuts (1929), the pictures tell the story with no words at all. Except that Selznick trades off points of telling the story solely with pictures, and then giving us a couple pages of prose. The reading level might be appropriate for a 10-year-old, but I can't see a 4-year-old sitting through a story this long. I loved it, though, and I marvelled at the balance between words and pictures. The pictures read very quickly: they are sketches full of movement that beg you turn the page and follow the action, not to linger looking for details. The prose slows you down to figure out the finer plot points and plot twists, of which there are many. That doesn't mean all the action is put into pictures however: at one point in Part Two, a chase scene ensues told entirely in pictures, and a little while later, another chase scene is told entirely in words.
It's a wonderful read. It's already been named a finalist for the National Book Award (usually given to adult literature). What's most amazing is that the Caldecott Committee felt strongly enough to warp the boundaries of their award to include it in its prestigious circle. Congratulations to Selznick. Now, forget that someone calls this a children's book, and go read it.
STUMPER
MAGICIAN UPDATE Thursday, December 13, 2007
Harriett
I have now sent out 33 free books to Stumper Magicians, those wonderful people who help solve the Stump the Bookseller entries. New on the gift registry this year was a "crusty old tome," which has proven very popular. My hospital shelf has room on it again, hoorah!
Now if I could just bring all the Stumper Magicians to Loganberry, I could treat them to a concert by Gene's Jazz Hot, like tonight's, and wouldn't that be fun? But, alas, that is where the virtual and local communities differ. Both are nice, but they are not the same. Still, if you ever come to Cleveland, do make some time to hang out in the bookstore and come to some of our special events. Better yet, if you live here, come see what wonders lie in your own backyard. (Am I preaching to the choir again? Sorry.)
Larchmere
Holiday Stroll
Friday, November 23, 11am-8pm
Saturday, November 24, 11am-5pm
Sunday, November 25, 1-5pm
The 34th annual Thanksgiving weekend shopping spree continues on Larchmere. Three dozen locally-owned businesses on Larchmere Boulevard welcome the holiday season with good cheer and nostalgic fanfare. Come browse the boulevard and discover old-world shopping in your hometown neighborhood.
Like old time winter festivals around the world, a traditional horse and carriage will give free rides up and down the boulevard on Friday 12-4pm. Best Horse Drawn Carriage Service from Farmdale Ohio will provide the horse and buggy.
On
Saturday 1-3pm, Mr. Jingeling kicks off a new chapter with a book
signing
of a new book by Teri Arthur and Rob Sirn. Mister
Jingeling
Keeper of the Keys continues the tradition of the well-loved
Cleveland
character. Books both new and old entice the shopper into new
discoveries
at Loganberry, with one of the best bibliophilic collections in town.
Elsewhere on Larchmere, music, food, and great deals abound, from the crafts at Dancing Sheep to the Asian antiquities at John Young's. Enjoy classic good food at Larchmere Tavern or the brand-new Flying Cranes Cafe. The exquisitely wrapped packages at Elegant Extras are always a treat in and of themselves, and fine yarns at Fine Points are a craft lover's dream. New openings this weekend include Groovy Grooming and a personal trainer. Come discover these wonderful stores, and more, during the Larchmere Holiday Stroll.
No need to box yourself in huge stores this Thanksgiving weekend; instead get a breath of fresh air and come browse the boulevard. Treasures await you.
NOBS
FORUMS
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Harriett
Tonight at 7pm: Cathie Bleck on Scratchboard Techniques
N.O.B.S. Forums features an artist this month, alongside her Annex Gallery exhibition of scratchboard painting. Cathie Bleck studied design and painting at the University of Illinois. Her delicate yet powerful scratchboard carvings appear to dance into spirals which she describes as “the unseen swirl and flow of internal and external spirits that entwine us.” Cathie Bleck has lectured, conducted workshops and exhibited throughout North and South America and Europe. Sponsored by the Nothern Ohio Bibliophilic Society, $3 suggested donation.
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!
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.
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
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!]
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