Must Read Book-Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete

I'm not much of a sports fan but I am a BIG fan of exceptional people and after reading Pete Maravich The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete by Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill I have a new respect for an extraordinary athlete and family man, the basketball legend "Pistol Pete". Authors Federman and Terrill write an authorized biography of a man with an awe inspiring talent who deeply loved his family and his faith. The book is meticulously researched and written with details that aren't just facts from interviews but from the rare privilege of collaboration with Pete's widow. The beautiful family photographs, the inclusion of personal letters and the quirky personality traits (Pete's wearing of large stretched out gray socks for 9 seasons because he thought they made his feet appear smaller and made him feel faster) are all included in Pete's story and create a book that is hard to put down. Not only are his athletic accomplishments mind boggling (he is considered by many to be the greatest college basketball player of all time and is a 5 time NBA All Star) but his dedication to his health (he was vegan, grew his own vegetables and ate soy and juiced before it was mainstream) and his family (wife Jackie and 2 sons) and his faith (in the depths of despair he found Christ and changed his life) are inspiring.
Pete died suddenly at age 40 in 1988.
Read the book and learn what true greatness is all about.


I also recommend another book by Marshall Terrill, see my review of Steve McQueen The Last Mile here: http://livelylibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/03/like-steve-mcqueen-all-we-needs-fast.html

Books Into Movies in 2009

Wondering what books are being adapted into films next year? Check out this blog to see if your favorite books will soon be on the big screen.
Part I is here:
http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2008/12/05/book-into-film-pairings-pt-1/
Part II is here:http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2008/12/10/book-into-film-pairings-part-2/
Part III is here: http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2008/12/16/book-into-film-pairings-part-3/

Flash Back Friday #20-My Kinda Christmas Entertainment

Little bit creepy, totally strange and a Christmas classic.
This is my favorite holiday movie, from A Year Without A Santa Claus.
Enjoy the Snow Miser and Heat Miser.

A Classic Christmas Story

Did you know that the classic story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was written by a department store employee in Chicago? Ya no kidding, how cool is that!
Check out Snopes for the story here: http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/rudolph.asp
This Christmas re-read the original story and enjoy it all over again!

Author Websites

One of my favorite things to do after immersing myself in a good book is to search the internet for the author's website. A few of my favorite authors have great websites that I have been known to spend many an hour losing time in. I enjoy uncovering new facts about favorite characters, reading the author's inspiration for the story or viewing pictures of real life locations that inspired the fantasy.
Here are a few of my favorite author's websites:
Anne Gracie's website is a gem. The site here http://www.annegracie.com/index.htm is full of great pages for each of her books with collages of pictures and items that inspired her characters and their stories, photographs of the locations where she sets her books and historical information on causes and issues of the historical period.

Elizabeth Boyle is a writer of historical romance and her fun website includes FAQs, her blog, family trees of the fictional families and tidbits on what inspired her to write her stories.
http://www.elizabethboyle.com/index.php

Tom Bullough author of The Claude Glass has a great website here http://www.tombullough.com/index.html Tom's site is so personal with information on his life, his writings and his passions. I especially enjoy his blog although I wish he would update it more often.

Julia Quinn's website here http://www.juliaquinn.com/ is full of information on her books, the characters, what she's working on next and includes deleted book scenes and her blog.

One of my favorite authors Anne Rice also has an interesting website which is beautifully designed and loaded with information. Years ago I used to love discovering new things on Rice's site such as pictures of her doll collection or the homes she owned in New Orleans...But since Rice found her religion, I've avoided her website and it's over emphasis on her return to Catholicism. Little creepy... and not in a good way.

Well what ever you are reading, take a look at the author's online home and you'll be delightfully surprised at what you may find.

Great article-What Librarians Wish Patrons Knew

Check out this very funny and oh so true article:
Top 20 things librarians in public libraries wish patrons knew or did (part 1 of 4)
Check the link throughout this week for parts 2-4.

Must Read Book: Remembering Sam

In this excellent book a son recounts the love story of his mother's first marriage to a soldier killed in World War II.
The author David Everitt does a beautiful job narrating the story of the man who loved his mother before his own father. Beautifully written, extremely moving and unforgettable.