New This Week
June 27, 2011
Column: At the Library
From: Cranbrook Public Library
By Mike Selby
Convinced that the American school system is failing, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows 5 disadvantaged students, hoping they win a place at an academically superior charter school. Titled “Waiting for Superman,” Guggenheim’s film is a harsh indictment into the U.S public school system, showcasing everyday students who want a better education but can\\\\\\\'t seem to get it.
Judy Moody fans should enjoy Megan McDonald’s “Judy Moody & the Not Bummer Summer,” a new Judy adventure based on this summer’s movie.
The Summer Reading Club is finally here! “Savour Each Word” is this year’s theme, and registration is currently underway. This year’s program includes cool crafts, awesome stories, savoury events, movie nights, music concerts, weekly draws and more. It is all free so what are you waiting for? Each reader will receive a reading log, brochure, bookmark, and a calendar of events. Please contact Jenna at 426-4063 for more information.
The Adult Summer Reading Club is also currently underway, with a record number of participants. Please contact Anna at 426-4063 for more details.
Don’t forget to check out our great history display, celebrating Ft. Steele’s 50th anniversary.
ADULT NEWLY AQUIRED SHELF:
Company’s Coming Most Loved Treats " Jean Pare (641.86)
In the Garden of Beasts " Erik Larson (943.086)
Lost in Shangri-La " Mitchell Zuckoff (940.548)
Traditional Garden Wisdom " Charlie Ryrie (635)
Blackberry All-In-One for Dummies " Tim Calabro (004.165)
HST or PST/GST: It’s Your Decision (336.2713)
The Ultimate Guide to Rally-O " Debra M. Eldredge (791.8)
The Mountain Bike Skills Manual " Clive Forth (796.63)
Windows 7 for Seniors " Marty Mathews (005.446)
Persistence: All Ways Butch & Femme (306.7663)
The Complete IBS Health & Diet Guide (616.342)
The Secret Lives of Hoarders " Matt Paxton (616.85227)
Fighting Cancer: A Nontoxic Approach to Treatment (616.994061)
Microsoft Office 2010 and 2007 for Seniors (005.5)
Rietveld’s Universe " Rob Dettingmeijer (724.6)
Dietitians of Canada Cook " Mary Sue Waisman (641.5638)
The Complete Guide to Greenhouses & Garden Projects (690.8924)
William & Catherine: Their Story " Andrew Morton (bio)
For the Love of Physics " Walter Lewin (bio)
Ice-T " Ice-T (bio)
Under the Afghan Sky " Mellissa Fung (bio)
Marlene " Charlotte Chandler (bio)
Exposure " Therese Fowler (fic)
The Paris Wife " Paula McLain (fic)
The Lake " Banana Yoshimoto (fic)
Sanctuary Line " Jane Urquhart (fic)
The Bride’s House " Sandra Dallas (fic)
Hope Rekindled " Tracie Peterson (fic)
The House at Sea’s End " Elly Griffiths (mys)
Bones Under the Beach Hut " Simon Brett (mys)
The Girl Who Disappeared Twice " Andrea Kane (mys)
Guilt by Association " Marcia Clark (mys)
The Gods of Greenwich " Norb Vonnegut (mys)
Assassin " Tom Cain (mys)
Hellhole " Brian Herbert (sci fic)
Except the Queen " Jane Yolen (sci fic)
Warm Bodies " Isaac Marion (sci fic)
Megamind (DVD)
The Miracles of Jesus (DVD)
The Bridges of Madison County (DVD)
Bonjour Tristesse (DVD)
Waiting For Superman (DVD)
The White Masai (DVD)
Curse of the Golden Flower (DVD)
YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN’S NEWLY ACQUIRED ITEMS:
The Truth About Dating, Love, & Just Being Friends (ya 241.6765)
Afterlife " Claudia Gray (ya fic)
Brutal " Michael Harmon (ya fic)
Merlin’s Harp " Anne Eliot Crompton (ya fic)
City of Fallen Angels " Cassandra Clare (ya fic)
The Dark and Hollow Places " Carrie Ryan (ya fic)
Al Capone Shines My Shoes " Gennifer Choldenko (ya fic)
The Throne of Fire " Rick Riordan (ya fic)
Steel " Carrie Vaughn (ya fic)
The Secret Fiend " Shane Peacock (ya fic)
Learn to Draw the Fairies of Pixie Hollow (j 741.5)
Learn to Draw Mickey Mouse and His Friends (j 741.5)
Learn to Draw Toy Story (j 741.5)
Learn to Draw the Fairies of Pixie Hollow (j 741.5)
Learn to Draw Tinker Bell (j 741.5)
A Butterfly is Patient " Dianna Hutts Aston (j 595.789)
Survivor Kid " Denise Long (j 613.69)
Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers & Eaters (j 641.5123)
Smells Like Treasure " Suzanne Selfors (j fic)
Smells Like Dog " Suzanne Selfors (j fic)
That Boy Red " Rachna Gilmore (j fic)
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer " Megan McDonald (j fic)
Ella Enchanted " Gail Carson Levine (j fic)
The Indian in the Cupboard (j DVD)
MIKE’S BOOKNOTES:
It was the 1983 publication of “Pet Sematary” which alerted the public to a previously unknown Stephen King book "“The Gunslinger”"igniting a cloudburst of protest among readers who felt they had somehow been cheated by their favourite author. The controversy lasted for 5 years, until King agreed to have the book released to the mass market, which finally calmed his outraged fans.
What they didn’t know"not even the most diehard ones"was that King had been privately publishing a handful of items over the years; unknown books not readily available to the public, including some that would never be.
While fans were busy venting their anger about “The Gunslinger,” King released another book which the public didn’t know about. “Cycle of the Werewolf” was published in 1983 by the Land of Enchantment Press. Fully illustrated in colour, only 250 signed editions were printed. Once again, this book was only made available mail order customers.
While most if not all King fans had read 1980s “Firestarter,” few knew that it had been previously published in a fully illustrated, signed and lettered edition, printed with an aluminum-coated and asbestos cloth cover. Only 26 of these editions were published. This was the same for the Mysterious Press print of “Cujo,” which was issued with an acetate cover and slipcase.
Also in 1980, the Everest House Press published only 15 copies of King’s “Danse Macabre,” a full year before a trade edition was available to the public (and then only 60, 000 copies were printed.) A company called Lord John’s Press published the 64 page story “Dolan’s Cadillac” as a book, bound in marble paper and sticking to the 26 lettered print run.
One of the oddest books King had privately published was for “My Pretty Pony.” King had given the story to the Whitney Museum of Art, and they promised to publish a limited run of an attractive and artistic book. What was produced was awkward looking book bound in stainless steel and leather, with a digital clock glued to its surface. The museum printed 280 of these, and was asking an insane price $2,200 for each.
Then there was “The Napkins,” which was written for an audience of one. Dismayed that his 13-year-old daughter hadn’t read any of his books, he wrote one just for her. Of course, having written it, he wanted it published. He set up his own press in his office, and printed off a few hundred copies of it, changing the title to “The Eyes of the Dragon.” It is a large, brightly illustrated book, and bound in linen napkins.
As rare and unknown as they books were, King"always sympathetic to frustrated fans"has made sure all of the above titles became available through the mass market publishing houses. King “didn’t do these small print runs to antagonize booksellers and frustrate his fans,” stated his biographer; “He honestly believed that his mainstream “constant readers” would perhaps not be as interested in these odd works.”
But then there is “The Plant,” the rarest and most sought after King book of all time. Published in three hardcover books in 1982, 83, and 85, “The Plant” was given out to King’s friends in lieu of Christmas cards. 226 names were on his wife’s list, so 226 editions were printed each year. Still not trying to drive anyone crazy, he released “The Plant” as an ebook in 2000. Occasionally one shows up on eBay, but not for less than $10,000.
Unfortunately for fans, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are three full unpublished novels on deposit at the University of Maine’s Library Special Collections. There are also all a host of shorts stories, magazine articles, and his college newspaper column (Steve’s Garbage Truck) on microfiche. You can read all of these, but you have to go there to do so.
