Pleasant Hill Book Club

May Book of the Month: We Band of Angels by Elizabeth Norman

2013-05-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

via goodreads.com:

Hailed by The New York Times Book Review as a "grippingly told" story of "power and relevance," here is the true, untold account of the first American women to prove their mettle under combat conditions. Later, during three years of brutal captivity at the hands of the Japanese, they also demonstrated their ability to survive. Filled with the thoughts and impressions of the women who lived it, "every page of this history is fascinating" (The Washington Post). We Band of Angels

In the fall of 1941, the Philippines was a gardenia-scented paradise for the American Army and Navy nurses stationed there. War was a distant rumor, life a routine of easy shifts and evenings of dinner and dancing under the stars. On December 8 all that changed, as Japanese bombs rained on American bases in Luzon, and the women's paradise became a fiery hell. Caught in the raging battle, the nurses set up field hospitals in the jungles of Bataan and the tunnels of Corregidor, where they saw the most devastating injuries of war, and suffered the terrors of shells and shrapnel.

But the worst was yet to come. As Bataan and Corregidor fell, a few nurses escaped, but most were herded into internment camps enduring three years of fear and starvation. Once liberated, they returned to an America that at first celebrated them, but later refused to honor their leaders with the medals they clearly deserved. Here, in letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts, is the story of what really happened during those dark days, woven together in a compelling saga of women in war.

Free Comic Book Day!

2013-05-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Free Comic Book Day (1st Saturday in May), and to celebrate the occasion I went to Flying Colors Comics in Concord, CA (2980 Treat Blvd) (flyingcolorscomics.com). Besides being one of the best comic book stores in the Bay Area, it is also where Free Comic Book Day originated!

Here were my prizes for waiting in line for an hour:

Free pink lemonade by a Trader Joe's employee dressed as Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

A photo of a guy in a pretty impressive Darth Vader costume (my oldest son now thinks I know the actual Darth Vader)

A free assortment of homemade cookies

An hour long conversation with few 5 star comic book fans. *FYI- These conversations should be avoided. Luckily, the conversation eventual shifted to the topic of Chinese urbanization. Though I did get some great recommendations on titles I should explore.

Autographs by several writers and authors that everyone in line seemed impressed with but I was clueless about. The one writer/artist I looked up that is pretty impressive is Gene Luen Yang (twitter @geneluenyang). He is the author of American Born Chinese (currently #31 on goodreads.com best graphic novels list http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/210.Best_Graphic_Novels#118944)

Additionally, he is the author of the Avatar: Last Airbender comic series and the graphic novels Boxers and Saints.

Finally, the comics. There were about 30 to choose from. We were allowed to pick 3. With my 3 picks and the 2 author signings I left with 5 in all. Some for me, some for my little ones.

April Book of the Month: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid

2013-04-06T07:12:00.001-07:00

via goodreads.com:

His first two novels established Mohsin Hamid as a radically inventive storyteller with his finger on the world’s pulse. How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia meets that reputation—and exceeds it. the astonishing and riveting tale of a man’s journey from impoverished rural boy to corporate tycoon, it steals its shape from the business self-help books devoured by ambitious youths all over “rising Asia.” It follows its nameless hero to the sprawling metropolis where he begins to amass an empire built on that most fluid, and increasingly scarce, of goods: water. Yet his heart remains set on something else, on the pretty girl whose star rises along with his, their paths crossing and recrossing, a lifelong affair sparked and snuffed and sparked again by the forces that careen their fates along.
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is a striking slice of contemporary life at a time of crushing upheaval. Romantic without being sentimental, political without being didactic, and spiritual without being religious, it brings an unflinching gaze to the violence and hope it depicts. And it creates two unforgettable characters who find moments of transcendent intimacy in the midst of shattering change.

BAM!!

2013-03-18T21:40:00.002-07:00

Kat Potente replies!

I sent an email to katpotente@gmail.com about my research into some of the historical figures in the book.

Below is the reply...

griffo gerritszoon == franceso griffo, yes! more or less.

gerritszoon the font is more like… garamond, maybe.

good sleuthing!

More Cool Findings (Maybe Spoilers, But Not Really)

2013-03-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

To begin, in case you couldn't tell by the recent deluge of posts, I am really enjoying this month's book. (http://pleasanthillbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-book-of-month-mr-penumbras-24.html)

Ok, now the reason for this latest post. From the reading I was inspired to flip through my copy of The Smithsonian Book of Books by Michael Olmert. As I opened the inside cover there was an inscription "Ex Libris" (meaning From Books) similar to the "Ad Libris" (To Books) we see in Mr. Penumbra. Cool, but not overly. Then, turning the page I see...

the Festina Lente mark (http://pleasanthillbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-is-festina-lente.html) of 15th century printer Aldus Manutius! Super cool!

While reading the entry about Aldus I came across an entry about the man who created the type face (font) used by Aldus and it is pretty similar to what is described in the book. Turns out that "Griffo Gerritszoon" the font creater from the book, is actually Francesco Griffo who was born in the same year as Aldus (1450) and died three years after him (1518).

The type setting "Gerritszoon", as far as I can determine, created by the real Griffo is actually "Times New Roman". This would fit based on the description of "Gerritszoon" (though I can't find a "Gerritszoon Display" version of Times New Roman) as found as Kindle type and the font found on every computer. The Smithsonian Book of Books also has a photo sample of Aldus' work which, to my untrained eye, looks very much like Times New Roman.

If it seems weird that a 15th century printer would be using something as simple as Times New Roman, I must note that Aldus is heralded for not only printing great classical writings, but "these books [became] widely available in small, affordable editions, [and] easy to read."(Olmert p. 130)

PS- I'm only 51% through the book. I'm sure I'll be posting more soon. Or I might only be writing this much because 3rd quarter grades are due and I am procrastinating. In which case I won't follow up until 2nd semester grades come due.

Hadoop! and Mechanical Turk

2013-03-17T08:23:00.002-07:00

Unlike many things mentioned Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hou Bookstor, Hadoop! and Mechanical Turk are real. Follow the links below to learn more.

http://hadoop.apache.org

https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome

I signed up to be a Mechanical Turk. It takes 48 hours to be approved. I'll update with details on the experience in the near future.

What is Festina Lente?

2013-03-17T07:26:00.002-07:00

via wikipedia:

Festina lente or σπεῦδε βραδέως (speude bradeos) is a classical adage and oxymoron meaning "make haste slowly" or "more haste, less speed". It has been used as the motto of many people including the emperors Augustus and Titus, the Medicis and the Onslows.

The meaning of the phrase is that activities should be performed with a proper balance of urgency and diligence. If tasks are rushed too quickly then mistakes are made and good long-term results are not achieved. Work is best done in a state of flow in which one is fully engaged by the task and there is no sense of time passing^. "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."

The emblem of the dolphin and anchor which has been used since Roman times to illustrate the adage. This example is the printer's mark of Aldus.

Punumbra Fact Checks and Other Thises and Thats

2013-03-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Before I begin, yes, I know this is a fiction novel...

and b), if you aren't as far as I am (33%), there are no spoilers below

1. Sadly, Grumble does not exist :( Not so much for the free pirated material, but the 3-D Sci-Fi universe map sounds cool

2. Still waiting for a reply from katpotente@gmail.com

3. Monkey Money does not appear to be an actual rising start-up. More like an online gambling site

4. As a Bay Area resident. It would have been nice if he called the trains "BART" and not just trains

5. The font Gerritszoon, mentioned several times in the book, does not exist

PS- go to www.robinsloan.com. He's got some short stories there and you can enter your email to sign up for "secrets, etc."

March Book of the Month: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

2013-03-07T19:48:00.001-08:00

via goodreads.com:

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead “checking out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he’s embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what’s going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.

With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the twenty-first century, evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that’s rare to the world of literary fiction. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious reader, no matter the time of day.

826 Oakland?

2013-03-04T09:22:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday I went to see an interview with Dave Eggers in Lafayette for the LAMORINDA One Book, One City program. Their 2013 selection is Eggers' A Hologram for the King.

While the talk was incredibly interesting as he spoke about the genesis of some of the more interesting parts of the book, the existentialism and symbolism of certain other parts, and a snap-shop synopsis of the evolving Saudi culture, the biggest take-away was the mentioning of 826 Oakland.

If you've never heard of the 826 program please read below.

via 826valencia.org:

"826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our work is based on the understanding that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success and that great leaps in learning can happen when trained tutors work one-on-one with students.

We offer a range of programs, all free of charge, for students, classrooms, and schools in the Bay Area. Our project-based approach allows students ownership over the writing process, and strengthens their ability to express themselves clearly and in their own voice. By making writing fun, by demystifying the process, and by creating gorgeous books, magazines, and newspapers that honor their work, we can inspire young people to gain critical skills and write with confidence. For a more in-depth look at our recent programs, check out our 2010-2011 annual report.

826 Valencia was founded in 2002 by author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari. Read more about the history of the organization. Dave Eggers also tells the story about 826′s inspiration, early beginnings, and ensuing momentum in a TED Talks video."

Since opening in San Francisco ten years ago, '826' has tutored thousands of students across San Francisco and Bay Area with great success. An incredible 96% of students surveyed said that after a year of the tutoring program (which is free!) they feel confident in completing writing tasks assigned to them.

They have expanded to several cities across the country (Boston, DC, New York, and others) and now are hoping to bring their program to the East Bay.

There will be a town hall meeting this Monday from 6:30-8:00 at Oakland City Hall (1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612). 826 is looking for as many educators and community members to come out to support their effort as possible.

To learn more about 826, please visit:

http://826national.org/

and

http://826valencia.org/

A little bit of funny found on the interwebs

2013-02-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

Contra Costa Library turns 100!

2013-02-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

For information on various 100th year celebrations happening all over the CCC Library system check out http://guides.ccclib.org/100thbirthday.

2013-02-16T07:00:00.002-08:00

via madmagazine.com/blog

Happy Valentine's Day from Edgar Allan Poe

2013-02-14T20:00:00.002-08:00

46th California International Antiquarian Book Fair

2013-02-09T16:34:00.000-08:00

The 46th California International Antiquarian Book Fair is soon approaching. This great event is being held at the Concourse Exhibition Center (635 8th Street in San Francisco) from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday, February 15; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 16; and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 17.

Your humble blogger was given a media pass to attend this three day event. This will be my first ever book fair so I'm not exactly sure what to expect. The closest experience I've had was reading The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett and attending the the San Diego Comic Con about ten years ago.

I was recently given a list of 13 of the rarest books that will be at the convention. The two that I am dying to see are a first edition of The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith ($125,000) and an incredible set of first editions of all 85 Federalist Papers by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton ($382,000).

For those that aren't History/Economics teachers you may find the autographed, hand written original manuscript from chapter 20 of a A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain ($79,000), original John Lenin sketches ($134,000), or a rare copy of Birds of America by John James Audubon ($32,000) more interesting.

At those prices, of course, I'll just be looking. But we these items as the headliners, this should be a fun weekend of window shopping.

Three-day admission tickets are available online at www.cabookfair.com or at the door on Friday for $25. Tickets purchased online or at the door for Saturday and Sunday are $15 each and allow return admission for the remainder to the fair. For more information about tickets or exhibiting, visit www.cabookfair.com.

For more information about tickets or exhibiting and access to pre-sale discount tickets, please visit the website at www.cabookfair.com or the ABAA website at www.abaa.org; or call (415) 962-2500, (800) 454-6401.

February Book of the Month: The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss

2013-02-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

via goodreads.com

David Liss’s bestselling historical thrillers, including A Conspiracy of Paper and The Coffee Trader, have been called remarkable and rousing: the perfect combination of scrupulous research and breathless excitement. Now Liss delivers his best novel yet in an entirely new setting–America in the years after the Revolution, an unstable nation where desperate schemers vie for wealth, power, and a chance to shape a country’s destiny.

Ethan Saunders, once among General Washington’s most valued spies, now lives in disgrace, haunting the taverns of Philadelphia. An accusation of treason has long since cost him his reputation and his beloved fiancée, Cynthia Pearson, but at his most desperate moment he is recruited for an unlikely task–finding Cynthia’s missing husband. To help her, Saunders must serve his old enemy, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, who is engaged in a bitter power struggle with political rival Thomas Jefferson over the fragile young nation’s first real financial institution: the Bank of the United States.

Meanwhile, Joan Maycott is a young woman married to another Revolutionary War veteran. With the new states unable to support their ex-soldiers, the Maycotts make a desperate gamble: trade the chance of future payment for the hope of a better life on the western Pennsylvania frontier. There, amid hardship and deprivation, they find unlikely friendship and a chance for prosperity with a new method of distilling whiskey. But on an isolated frontier, whiskey is more than a drink; it is currency and power, and the Maycotts’ success attracts the brutal attention of men in Hamilton’s orbit, men who threaten to destroy all Joan holds dear.

As their causes intertwine, Joan and Saunders–both patriots in their own way–find themselves on opposing sides of a daring scheme that will forever change their lives and their new country. The Whiskey Rebels is a superb rendering of a perilous age and a nation nearly torn apart–and David Liss’s most powerful novel yet.

atari.com/arcade

2013-01-27T07:53:00.001-08:00

enjoy.

Atari Files For Bankruptcy

2013-01-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly this story is from 2013 and not 1985

via CNN Money:

The U.S. arm of Atari, the iconic video game company that created "Pong," filed for bankruptcy on Monday.

But Atari will live on. The move is aimed at breaking the American branch away from its unprofitable French parent company.

In particular, Atari U.S. is looking to "secure independent capital for future growth, primarily in the areas of digital and mobile games," the company said in a written statement.

Over the next three to four months, Atari U.S. will seek buyers for some of its assets, including the Atari logo and the company's games catalog. Atari as a whole owns or manages more than 200 games and franchises.

The gaming landscape has changed dramatically since Atari was founded in 1972. Atari scored hits with groundbreaking gaming consoles and classic titles like "Pong," "Centipede" and "Asteroid," but later lost its dominance to rivals like Nintendo. The brand has bounced around through several different owners.

France's Infogrames Entertainment acquired a stake in Atari in 2000, then bought out the company in 2008 and changed its name to Atari S.A.

Since then, the rise of casual gaming on PCs and mobile devices has cut into the video game industry as a whole. Atari S.A. has been unprofitable for years, and warned just last month that it will book a "significant loss" for its fiscal year 2013.

The biggest headache for Atari S.A. is the suspension of its credit line with BlueBay Asset Management. Atari owes 21 million euro ($27 million) to BlueBay, with the balance due on March 31. The company says it is "starved for funds" and hasn't found another principal creditor to take BlueBay's place.

The New York-based U.S. arm wants to be free of its French baggage. Atari U.S. said it will "conduct its normal business operations" during the bankruptcy proceedings, and it's been approved for $5 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Tenor Capital, a firm that specializes in distressed lending.

Hobbitt Sequel Trailers!!!

2013-01-21T07:37:00.000-08:00

On the Dying of the Newspaper

2013-01-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

I saw this video a day after I realized that while my young sons can name even the most obscure animals on the African Savannah, they had no idea what a newspaper was.

Slow Hand BBQ

2013-01-04T06:42:00.000-08:00

Over the last 5 years or so the PHBC has met at several different places. Our latest meeting spot may, however, be the best one. Slow Hand BBQ is located at 1941 Oak Park Blvd in Pleasant Hill and has some of the tastiest BBQ I have ever eaten. Every month I look forward to chomping down on some delicious brisket or pulled pork. Their coleslaw is also probably the healthiest/tastiest I've ever had.

And if that wasn't enough, the owner, Daniel Frengs, also has some great ideas about future books we should check out. The most entriging of which is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.

But enough about what I think about it, The Contra Costa Times published a review of the restaurant yesterday that I think does it justice (although I think the Mac and Cheese is way better than they describe).

Here is a link to the article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_22275038/review-slow-hand-bbq-pleasant-hill-is-smokin

Another Review by Grub Street San Francisco:
http://sanfrancisco.grubstreet.com/2013/01/slow-hand-bbq-pleasant-hill-dan-frengs.html

Like them on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Hand-BBQ/120036794696480

Follow them on Twitter:
@slowhandbbq

PS- Their business cards also make great bookmarks!

Merry Christmas!

2013-01-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

It's a little late, but thought it was still worth posting.

Here are 15 Christmas/Holiday related covers from Marvel Comics. #10 is my personal favorite.
Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly (ew.com)

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20657579,00.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entertainmentweekly%2Fbooks+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+Books%29

January Book of the Month: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

2013-01-03T06:45:00.001-08:00

After two previous appearances on Book of the Month ballots (losing out to Ender's Game and Bitter Seeds) Ready Player One has finally been chosen as the Book of the Month!

Description via goodreads.com:

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

Book of the Year Award 2012

2013-01-03T06:38:00.003-08:00

Last night at a black-tie gala held at Slow Hand BBQ in Pleasant Hill (1941 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill, CA 94523) the Pleasant Hill Book Club met to vote on the winners of the presitgious Best and Worst Book of the Year Awards!

and the winners are...

The winner of the the PHBC Best Book of 2012 goes to...

Unbroken! (A true-life accounting of Louis Zamperini's WWII experience)
(2nd Place- Before I go to Sleep)
(3rd Place- Devil in the White City)

The recipient of the PHBC Worst Book of 2012 goes to...

A Night of Horrors! (A straight to e-book quasi-fictional account of the Lincoln assassination)
(2nd Worst- Communion)
(3rd Worst- The Jefferson Key)

Congratulations to Garrett D. for choosing the Best Book of the Year! Congrats also go out to Bryan S. for choosing our Worst Book of the Year! Both are first time reward recipients.

2013 Reading Challenge

2013-01-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Readers!

With the start of the new year comes the New Year's reading resolutions. Last year I set out to read 30 books and 10,000 pages. I finished with 44 and just over 12,000 pages. Not too shabby. Here is some additoinal data on the books I read (made very easy to calculate thanks to goodreads.com)

31 of 44 were tangible books
I always thought my ratio of real to 'e' was 1:1, I guess I still favor the low tech a bit more.

2 of 44 were e-book only publications
both were not very good, straight e-book still not a good sign of quality. hope that changes at some point

9 of 44 were non-fiction
Again, always thought my ratio was 1:1, guess not

7 of 44 were graphic novels
Locke & Key series (5 of my 7) is a must read for any sci-fi fans, even if you're not a graphic novel reader

Longest book read: Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (512 pages)
meh.

Shortest book read: Survival Tactics by Al Sevcik (22 pages)
also meh. (it was one of the straight to e-books)

Most Read Authors:
Joe Hill (5) Locke & Key Vol. 1- 5
Kurt Vonnegut (4) Mother Night, Look at the Birdie, Timequake, God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian

Four tied at 2: Orson Scott Card, Michael Crichton, Dean Koontz, Michael Lewis

Least Read Authors:
Millions tied at 0.

Favorite Non-Book Club Book:
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Least Favorite Non-Book Club Book:
The Lost Millennium by Florin Diacu

Anyway, back to the 2013 Reading Challenge. This year I am challenging myself to read 100 books! Here's the catch though, 12 of those 100 will be book club selections, about 4-5 will be other novels on my to-read list, the final 85 or so will be graphic novels. My real goal is to read the entire top 100 of the greatest graphic novels ever written.

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/210.Best_Graphic_Novels#138398

I have a good chuck already read, but many on this list are only the first volume of a series and I'm sure I wind up reading many of the complete series.

To set your own goal click on the link below and share the details in the comments section of this post!

http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/940-2013-reading-challenge

Happy Reading!!