My Year in Reading

Overall, this was not a particularly satisfying year for me in terms of reading. I read less than last year, thanks to acquisition of a computer, and what I chose to read didn't make me want to tell everyone about it. Before turning in for the evening, I found myself reading more about books (and music) on my computer than actually reading books. I still read every night before turning off my light, but was so tired that I was often only able to read a few pages before the head bobs began. Of course, last year was a particulary strong year and any other year would likely have been a let down. I had streaks of several books in a row last year that I just couldn't put down.

All that said, here is a list of the ten books I enjoyed the most in 2006, in order of when they were read. These were obviously not all published in 2006.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen

Intuition by Allegra Goodman

The Velvet Underground and Nico (33 1/3 series) by Joe Harvard

The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo by Peter Orner

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marissa Pessl
Random Family by Adrian LeBlanc
When Charlotte Comes Home by Maureen Millea Smith
Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi
The Yacobian Building by Alaa al Aswani

Christmas with the Devil's Music

I know it's a little late, but since I'm not posting the MP3s for these songs it doesn't really matter anyway! I present to you Christmas with the Devil's Music. My selection criteria, to throw in a little goofy library lingo, were: no crooners, no meaningful songs or renditions, and no overplayed versions(well...forgive me for throwing in Bruce, but it's so good!) The likelihood of inclusion increased significantly if the song was funny, up-tempo, or, better yet, both.

1. Jingle Bells (Greetings from Esquivel)—Esquivel
2. The Little Drummer Boy—The Dandy Warhols
3. Christmas in Hollis—Run D.M.C
4. Step Into Christmas—Elton John
5. Christmas with the Devil—Spinal Tap
6. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)—The Ramones
7. Merry Xmas Everybody—Slade
8. Father Christmas—The Kinks
9. Christmas at the Zoo —The Flaming Lips
10. Christmas Smorgasbord—The Swedish Chef
11. The Christmas Song—The Raveonettes
12. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town—Bruce
13. Christmas Reindeer—The Knife
14. Christmas Wrapping—The Waitresses

"You wouldn't believe what this guy..."

Everyday at the Information Desk, I am continually amazed at what people will ask of librarians. Does this shirt match these pants? I need the mailing address for the leader of Somalia so I can send him a Christmas card. And I am constantly appalled by the behavior of customers: they will answer their cell phone right as they are asking you a question or right as you are answering it; they will call and ask you to do the research for their son's final research paper and put everything on hold for them so they can pick it up in a few hours.

I complain vigorously about all of the above to my colleagues, making me wonder sometimes if I am in the right profession. But today I didn't have a shift out at the Information Desk, and I missed it. I do love learning something new every day and digging for information, but I've realized that I also truly enjoy complaining about demanding customers. I'm sure that the DSM-IV has a perfect way of describing this personality quirk, but there it is!

Strange Array

Here is the strange array of 2006 discs that captured the most of my attention this year (but there are so many I haven't heard yet!)

The Alarmists - A Detail of Soldiers
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
The Cherry Tempo - The Cherry Tempo
The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
Chris Koza - Patterns
Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home
Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
Spank Rock - Yo Yo Yo
Zero 7 - The Garden