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Shaker Hts., OH 44120
216.795.9800
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END OF SUMMERTuesday, August 26, 2008
Harriett
We were fortunate to have a full staff of students this summer, but now the summer is drawing nigh and off they go....
Juliet concluded her second summer here at Loganberry and is already back for her second year at American University in D.C. She gets high accolades for helping us empty the kitchen of book boxes in the nether regions of deep storage (only a few left to go!). Betty is also headed to D.C., but she's finished college at Duquesne, so this time it's for a "real job", after working here for -what?, 5 summers?!- wow. What?, no more dust jacket protectors? Elisabeth was instrumental in helping with the Local Author Book Fair this summer, creating some new Collectible Authors webpages, as well as reorganizing the religion and Americana sections. She'll be heading back to Vasaar soon. Katie was new this year, but since Cambridge University is on a slightly different schedule, I get her for a few weeks more. In addition to reorganizing the Cleveland section, she updated the Most Requested pages, which will be posted soon.
Many thanks to these fine collegiate bookies! The shelves are full and neat again, my cup runneth over!
That leaves me and Rebecca (book search expert), Jan (window dispay artist) and Sarah (who just inherited the Book Club job in addition to Book Stumpers). Brenda intends to go to Vermont as soon as the Sidewalk Sale concludes this Saturday. Yikes. I guess we'll just have to put Otis to work.
ANN GETS WHEELSMonday, August 25, 2008
Harriett
My sister-in-law has had a tough summer, but that hasn't slowed her down any. Instead, she purchased a motorcycle. After declining lessons from my brother, she enrolled in an official motorcycle class and is now officially licensed and raring to go. That's her above, riding circles around the class instructor. And, she tells me, she has outfitted the bike with a snazzy GPS because she gets easily lost, and bikes are all about journey and the back roads. So now, she's truly ready for life's journey.
FULL SERVICE BOOKSHOP Friday, August 22, 2008
Brenda
Here I am back at work, and it's obvious nobody missed me while I was away. The place has become a card shop with a world-class kitten attraction. Otis sleeps in a window full of Olympic sports books, people pass by and speak to Otis, then come in and buy greeting cards with cats on them. The book arrivals pile up on the floor, but everybody is adept at walking around them. Yesterday a man passing by came in to buy a sports book from the window just at closing time. He was hurried and distracted and asked for the phone number of a taxi company. Cleveland is not noted for good taxi service. Harriett found a number, but it seemed the cab could not arrive soon enough to get the customer back to his hotel in time to make a dinner engagement. So I did the easy thing and drove him back in my car. Good customer service goes along with the independent full-service bookshop, and I am glad to be back at Loganberry doing my part.
STITCH-FREEWednesday, August 20, 2008
Harriett
Otis got his stitches out today, hooray! He still has his blue "daisy hat" to keep him from licking his wounds, but he doesn't seem to mind it too much. His fur is growing back, and that's a good thing, too. He's allowed to run, jump, and cause chaos like kittens do. Yesterday he was a little grumpy. I hope he'll feel a little better today now that the itchy stitches are out.
UK POSTCARD 9: BLENHEIM PALACEMonday, August 18, 2008 (written 8/13/08)
[Brenda returned on Saturday, but the postcards keep coming]
Brenda
Pictured is small part of library of this grand "great house." Tour managed to abandon me here for a while & I had time to really examine many gorgeous books - including S[amuel] J[ohnson]'s big dictionary & David Roberts' Egypt, etc., plus fabulous bindings. Also enjoyed gardens, despite rain.
8/14/08
Arrived London 2:30. Took underground to tour of Clarence House (Prince Charles lives there, is now in Scotland). Walked too much, watched street performance at Trafalgar Square, ate quick supper, & spent 2+ hours at National Gallery, which closed at 9pm w/ us still there. Equally busy day today. But sun is back. No more Australians!
OTIS LOST A TOOTH Saturday, August 16, 2008
Harriett
It's bad enough breaking a leg, but losing a tooth?! Most mammals have baby teeth which fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. But we usually don't witness the event in other species. Jan did, however. She said Otis was rubbing his face against a chair, and then there was a tooth on the floor. She delivered it to me with full pomp and circumstance, and said I have to play tooth fairy tonight. It looks almost like a fingernail, actually. What do you give your kitten for losing a tooth?!
UK POSTCARD 9: EDINBURGHFriday, August 15, 2008 (written 8/10/08)
Brenda
Amazing city! Full of beautiful old buildings and way too many people. Festivals (& tourists) everywhere. Rain and sunshine every day. Great kilted guide for all-day tour. Sir Walter Scott (local hero) and Rbt L Stevenson lived here. Street performers. Cheap beer. Very expensive everything else. Lovely gardens, fabulous old street scenes.
Book fair started yesterday. Guide said he went & saw JK Rowling there; she lives not far from this hotel, which is in city center. I have no time for book fair. Very busy days. Walked to tattoo in rain, but then it stopped. Back to England tomorrow.
Hotel fire drill just sent me to basement & back again....
[Harriett says: you're there during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?! Get some theatre! Bring me a program and a map!]
UK POSTCARD 8: CRATHES CASTLE Friday, August 15, 2008 (written 8/9/08)
Brenda
Heather in full bloom everwhere!
Scottish raspberry = Loganberry :-) Grown commercially just around here.
Sunshine for 2 gorgeous gardens & Isle of Skye, but rain with us again today. Edinburgh for royal tattoo tonight.
[Harriett says: I hope that means you shipped a case of Loganberry preserves/jam/whatever home to Larchmere!]
BOOK CLUBWednesday, August 13, 2008
Harriett
Loganberry's book-of-the-month club is now in its second decade of delivering books all over the world (Britain and Australia included). Many are young members, sponsored by distant relatives, although there are also members in colleges and nursing homes, and some who treat themselves to the monthly pretty purple package. Pictured here are siblings Julia, Flint and Nathan holding their lastest selections: Hoban's The Little Brute Family, Otis' Toby Tyler, and Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox. Learn more.
UK POSTCARD 7: GRASMEREWednesday, August 13, 2008 (written 8/6/08)
Brenda
The Gingerbread Shop - Grasmere - the English Lake District - home of Sarah Nelson's Original Celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread since 1854.
Here we are NOW - and P.O. on way back to bus. Must return here. :-)
ETHAN
SPLASHES INTO KINDERGARTENTuesday, August 12, 2008
Harriett
Cousin-baby Ethan celebrates his first day of kindergarten . . . with fanfare! The weekend before, he threw a party for two dozen friends with a super-huge water slide in the driveway. I didn't know you could rent your own amusement park! But, it's been awhile since I was in kindergarten. I didn't know you could draw on the walls, either, but his new school looks like a lot of fun. And Ethan certainly looks ready for it. Bring it on, Teacher!
Okay, that really is some water slide. Cousin Chris says you have to have huge memories (translate: lots of photos) to coincide with a slide that big. Of course, one of my memories of Chris as a tot was being terrified of going down the big metal slide. His mom assured him that she would catch him at the bottom. So, he carefully climbed the stairs, screamed and cried at the top, and took the plunge. And there was Aunt Daphne at the bottom with open arms . . . and the kid flew right on past her arms and crashed at the bottom of the slide. Huge memories, yes indeed. There's a photo somewhere to prove it, too.
OTIS CONVALESCINGMonday, August 11, 2008
Harriett
Otis is convalescing nicely, having had two (now three) quiet days at home to focus on recovery. The nasty drugs have worn off, his even temper and kitty-playfullness have returned, and he doesn't understand why he's still in quarantine or has to wear this ridiculous daisy hat. But the hat keeps him from causing infection to his wounds while mistakenly trying to clean them, and it's a quite sporty fashion that wins him admirers from all the ladies. Yes, he can walk, but with a limp. Hopefully that will disappear too. I might have to bring him to the shop tomorrow so I can keep an eye on him, especially now that his great energy seems to be returning, but his leg still needs some gentle care.
OTIS REPORTSaturday, August 9, 2008
Harriett
Otis has returned home, but he's not exactly happy. He has a bandage on his front forepaw where the IV was, his rear hind is shaved and sports a nasty stitch line and a pain-med patch, his balls are missing, and he has a noisy hood contraption around his neck to keep him from licking his wounds. Not to mention that his mobility on the rear end is still compromised. Sigh. We bought him a nice soft fluffy bed with low sides in which to convalesce, and he's there now sleeping (at home, not shop). I'm glad he's home (the wait was excrutiating). Time is now our best healing agent.
OTIS WITHDRAWS FROM
OLYMPICSFriday, August 8, 2008
Harriett
Today is the official opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. But Otis won't be competing. He apparently fractured his right hip bone last night. I honestly don't know what exercises he was attempting, but his pain this morning was obvious, so I rushed him off to the emergency vet clinic. An X-ray confirmed that his right hind leg was fractured near the hip socket. Apparently kittens have soft cartiledge in their joints to allow for growth, and these become bone as they mature. This also means there's a soft spot, and this is where Otis managed to rip his leg apart. The medical choices were fairly dreadful: put pins in his hip and then put the kitten in confinement for 2 months while it heals, or remove the fractured ball from the socket and allow ligaments and cartiledge to grow into a healthy hip socket. We chose the latter, in part because recovery is easier and generally more successful. I hear he got through surgery okay, and I can go retrieve him tomorrow. Squee.
UK POSTCARD 6: IRELANDFriday, August 8, 2008 (written 8/1/08)
Brenda
So, we've had 3 days of this kind of scenery. But one was so rainy the pictures I took are all water-logged. Wild flowers evrywhere are really gorgeous. Heather, gorse, and wild fuscia!
Long busy days -- dramatic coast line -- Ireland is gorgeous.
PS: Too much food; too little sleep.
SHAKESPEARE'S THEATRESWednesday, August 6, 2008
Harriett
Keeping with our British theme today is some exciting theatre excavation news. First found was the theatre built by Philip Henslowe and used by the Admiral's Men: the Rose (1587-1603). It was partially excavated in 1989, and you can now visit. Then, the most famous theatre, owned by the Burbage brothers where the Lord Chamberlain's Men (with Shakespeare) performed: the Globe (1599-1613 and 1614-1642). A tiny piece was excavated in 1990 and a reconstruction built nearby in 1997.
Now, there is James Burbage's The Theatre, which preceeded them both -- originally, that is -- on the other side of the Thames, in 1576. James Burbage was the father of the Burbage brothers who built the Globe, and the timbers from The Theatre were dismantled and used in construction of the new Globe. This recent excavation site is ironically for the new construction of a theatre building for the Tower Theatre. As such, the excavation will surely focus on fundraising rather than on restoration campaigning ('tis a relief).
ALL THINGS BRITISHWednesday, August 6, 2008
Harriett
Brenda may be in England right now (or is she in Ireland?), but she'll miss this impressive show, slated for the British Museum in 2011. Might be a good excuse to go back!
Apparently King George II donated almost 2,000 medieval and Renaissance manuscripts to the newly-founded British Museum in 1757, and the public has yet to admire them. This new exhibition will be worth the wait however: in addition to public viewing of 150 choice objects, 400 manuscripts will be researched to discover their patronage, artist and usage histories. The "Royal Collection" has been at the British Library since 1973, and the project has been funded by a £265,000 grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Within the collection are the illuminated manuscripts of the
medieval
and Renaissance library of the Kings and Queens of England,
representing the largest surviving collection of medieval and
Renaissance painting owned by English monarchs. Start planning
your trips to London now!
To help plan your trip, I offer a brand-new book to help fodder your love for Britain: The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall. King George has nothing to do with it.
AMAZON
SWALLOWS ABEMonday, August 4, 2008
Harriett
I suppose it was inevitable, but the gobble-fashion is wearisome. Amazon.com has announced its intent to purchase AbeBooks.com, the Canadian used-book consortium website most popular amongst independent dealers and customers for used and out-of-print books. With consortiums being eaten by monoliths, it gives an independent bookseller shaky feet.
NERD DIALECTS Monday, August 4, 2008
Harriett
I guess if it's worth forwarding to friends and book nerds, it's worth posting. Would you like a Elfish phrase book to help you at Comic-Con? Okay, the convention is over, but there's always another year. Or another application. This Klingon illustration from Wired comes with following translations:
"You call this near-mint condition? It has a peanut butter stain!"
Elvish: Estatyes alahasta? Vahtana ná apsanen!
1337: nm!? roflmao, stainzzors!!1! wtf?
Klingon: pupbe' Dochvam. lam.
Pirate: Arrrh, this pamphlet's woefully besmirched, ye
scurvy knave.
UK POSTCARD 5:
IRELAND Saturday, August 2, 2008 (written 7/29/08)
Brenda
Killarney, Ireland, Tues. 4:30pm
Here we are in a very beautiful place - and it's raining :-(. Took boat ride (no cover) to Muckross castle in national park, where we all got drenched on all-day outing. Must come back here again. 2 more days of touring Kerry & Dingle peninsulas. Doing it all despite rain.
PS: music in pubs everywhere. 8pm - sun's out again!
UK POSTCARD 4:
SOMERSET Saturday, August 2, 2008 (written 7/26/08)
Brenda
Still warm & sunny. Globus guide & driver invaluable. Too many tourists in Bath for me, but I loved Wells. Also saw cathedrals in Glastonbury, Canterbury and Bath. But Wells really special, and saw some lovely houses & shops there. Everywhere are wonderful flowers. Went twice to Dartmoor moor & saw ponies, etc. Beautiful & wild: you'd love it. Now in Wales & go tomorrow to Ireland - by boat. Filled 1st camera card. :-)
BEIJING WEATHERSaturday, August 2, 2008
Harriett
You've probably heard of the environmental hurdles the officials of Beijing have dealt with to host this summer's Olympics, including moving many manufacturers out of the city entirely, and creating an every-other-day driving ban on the citizens (based on the last number of the license plate). But this latest is too much. I'll just quote the source here, which is the British newspaper Telegraph.
It's not just environmental and Olympic officials who are hoping that the skies stay clear. The biggest fear for the organisers of the opening ceremony is that it rains on Friday night, when China's leaders and foreign dignitaries including President George W.Bush will be among the 91,000 capacity audience at the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium. The ceremony is nearly always the most watched part of the Games and China is laying on a spectacle appropriate to its rising status as a superpower, as well as celebrating 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation.
With forecasters are already warning of a 41 per cent chance of rain that day, the Beijing weather office has mobilised some 32,000 people to man monitoring stations on the outskirts of Beijing, as well as fielding a battery of planes and artillery to try to manipulate the weather. Rain-bearing clouds that come within 30 miles of Beijing will be "seeded" by firing rockets and shells containing rain-inducing silver iodide particles, so they deposit the rain far from the stadium.
A LOVELY RARITY Friday, August 1, 2008
Harriett
It isn't uncommon for customers to "pick my brain" about a book they're interested in having rebound or repaired by Strong Bindery. I'll admit that if someone has to ask this question, the answer is often no. Not that I have any judge over sentimental value, mind you, but those with books of sentimental value generally know better than to ask the bookseller what she thinks it's worth.
Today, however, a customer thought she had a good thing, but wasn't really sure, as it had been a recent gift and she'd never heard of the author/illustrator. While I might be reluctant about giving free appraisals, I never turn down the opportunity to leaf through a treasured rarity, and I'm sure my jaw dropped as soon as I saw it.
The Ship That Sailed to Mars is the only book by William Timlin, published simultaneously by Harrap (London) and Stokes (New York) in one single edition in 1923. Only 2000 copies were produced, of which 250 were distributed in America by Stokes. It is quarter-bound in white vellum with 48 gorgeous color plates tipped onto gray art paper, interspersed with sheets of calligraphic and poetic text. It is invariably on the top-ten list of classic illustrated books, as well as a classic in fantasy fiction. But aside from a glossy reprint done in 1993, there's only that limited first edition.
So who was this guy? William Mitcheson Timlin was born in Northumberland, England, and studied art in Newcastle before following his parents to South Africa in 1912, where he completed his studies in art and architecture. He then practiced as an architect, designing a number of major public buildings in Kimberley; at the same time he worked as an artist, producing paintings, etchings and pastels of conventional subjects, in addition to the watercolor fantasies for which is he best known. He also wrote stories and music, and did periodical illustrations. He credits the influences of Aubrey Beardsley, Edmund Dulac and Arthur Rackham. In 1923 he published The Ship that Sailed to Mars which he wrote out in calligraphy and lavishly illustrated. He was apparently planning another book before he passed away, and although film rights were sold, a film was never produced.
Aside from its fame for illustration, it has also become a fantasy classic. The story follows a man who solicits help from fairies to construct a ship which takes them to Mars where they encounter a magical world. While the storyline is minimal, the exotic descriptions and beautiful illustrations have garnered it much fame and collectibility. Is this one worth restoration? Heck, yeah.
UK POSTCARD 3: CARDIFF CASTLE, WALES Thursday, July 31, 2008 (written 7/27/08)
Brenda
Aboard ferry from S. Wales to Ireland, tonight's hotel is in Waterford. Beautiful weather continues, sunny but windy here on top (11th) deck of big ferry, where I'm at picnic table in breeze. The Chapmans are inside out of sun & wind. Many people babbling in too many languages all around. This morning's tour of Cardiff Castle lots of fun. It's a fantastical place. Guide belonged on stage & had responsive audience w/ us. Drive through beautiful countryside to coast. Our Globus guide is Welsh & has a good voice in nice humor & loyalty to Wales. Played traditional music for long drive. Getting used to New Zealanders & Australians (60% of group) & their reference to rugby heroes. Not much free time at all, & busy days.
[Harriett says: in case you can't tell, that's a fully-fanned peacock in the foreground.]
LARCHMERE
IMPROVEMENTS Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Harriett
Larchmere Boulevard, just east of the commercial strip here from N. Moreland to the crazy intersection at Shaker Lower Lake, has been repaved, halleluiah! We've been referring to this part of the road as the "cobblestone menace" of late, and it required low speeds or wheel realignments to navigate. But just yesterday, the project was officially finished, and the street is smooth enough to satisify even rollerbladers and bikers. Hooray.
AND, to make it even better, Shaker Heights has decapitated the parking meters on the Shaker side of Larchmere, so parking in front of Loganberry is currently free! (Can't tell you what new heads these meters might grow, but take advantage of the freebie while you can.)
SNEAKY FURRY Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Harriett
It's time for an Otis update, I think. Yes, he's outgrowing some baskets around here, and sometimes opts for just lounging over the books themselves (especially in the front window, which is too cute for words). He's certainly still a kitten, but he has those adolescent lanky-legs now, and a cat-like gait (when he isn't playing sneaky furry attacks). He's mostly independent but friendly, especially with children (he'll wake up when he hears children in the store and go say hi). And he may yet win over the other Furry Fatsos at home, where he persists in kitten antics and invitations to play, despite any superficial growling and impatience. I guess that's what makes kittens so irresistable.
SUZIE'S
CAT!!Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Harriett
I just got pictures of my goddaughter's kitten, Cleopatra. I must share! Ok, world, here is Cleo! What a cutie. Suzie is off at camp at the moment. I'm sure she misses Cleo, but is having a blast all the same.
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