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Chapple Langemack chats with Steve Waltar and Don Chandler after Friday’smeeting.
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The King County Library’s Reader Services Coordinator, Chapple Langemack, gave a light-hearted review of several fine new books available for summer reading. Langemack has been called the
“Chief Cheerleader for Books” in King County, “The Book Goddess,” and “The Empress for Reading and Pleasure.” Anyway you cut it, Chapple knows her stuff and presents a fun program.
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For those
who missed the program, here is Chapple’s Choices for Great Summer Reading.
All Over But the Shoutin’
by Rick Bragg
This Pulitzer Prize winning journalist
recounts his dirt-poor childhood in Alabama.
The Devil’s Teardrop
by Jeffrey Deaver
This is the thriller describing retired FBI agent and
documents specialist Parker Kincaid (no relation to Jim) who’s the best hope the Bureau has of capturing the Digger, a robot-like madman on a killing spree. A couple of members said
they’d read the book …and loved it!
Isaac’s Storm
by Erik Larson
A Seattle author, Larson tells the true story of the devastating hurricane that
struck Galveston, Texas in 1900.
The Last Days of
Summer
by Steve Kluger
Twelve-year-old Joey takes desperate measures to catch
the attention of famous third baseman Charlie Banks. A good read.
Meely LaBauve
by Ken Wells
While his Daddy’s hunting gators, 15-year-old Meely mostly looks after himself. He
does fine until nasty Junior Guidry torments him beyond bearing.
Voyage of a Summer
Sun
by Robin Cody
Portland writer Cody is doing a story about the source of the
Columbia River, when he reasons he could canoe the length of the river. He actually does it, while recounting all that he sees and passes. A late 20th century Lewis, or Clark.
Winterdance
by Gary Paulsen
A first-hand account of Paulsen training to run the Iditarod.
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“I have brought with me a sample of books I would recommend to you. My theory of book selection is ‘Whatever Floats Your Boats!’ You pick what you like and stick with it. Stay away from
‘best sellers.’” She asked her audience how many were regular readers and a good 70% raised their bookmarks.
Chapple also distributed a “Get Out of This Book Guilt Free” bookmark. What it says pretty well sums up the message from Chapple: “You’ve tried and tried, you’ve plugged along thinking it will get
better, thinking you should like this book, but you just don’t. Here’s a secret: if you’re not enjoying it, you don’t have to finish it. Use this special dispensation to
put this book down. Try another listed on the back side of this pass and see if you don’t like it better.” The Guilt-Free release is signed by Chapple.
In the Q & A session, Bob Moloney asked for Chapple’s assessment of the Harry Potter phenomenon. Chapple didn’t much see what the fuss was about, but a few of our members defended Harry
, which shows Harry appeals to any age.
Chapple allowed as how Oprah Winfrey has quite an impact when recommending books after interviewing their authors. She has seen requests for these books soar immediately after the interview ends late
on a weekday afternoon. Almost reminds us of the old method of gauging whether anyone was watching TV during commercials … the bathroom break, causing a major draw-down of the city
water supply and a corresponding tidal influx in the sewer system.
Chapple has credentials as quite a speed reader. When asked about the value of speed-reading, she replied that “if you’re doing it for information-gleaning purposes,
it’s great. But reading for pleasure and enjoyment should be taken at a pace that gives you pleasure and enjoyment … it doesn’t make any difference how fast you read, but the pace should be your own.”
A mighty fine way to begin a new Rotary year, getting a bookmark check on our reading habits. An upbeat presentation by an interesting lady. Thanks to Steve Goldfarb for his introduction.
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