Saturday, September 13, 2008

End of Summer Review!

At least once per week, when arriving early morning at The Book Nook & Java Shop there were summer signs of fun left over from the previous evening as patrons left the tavern next door! Bras, swimsuits, beer bottles and cans, shoes and one unfortunte incident left me wondering what the heck that person ate the night before!  Ughhh…I could have gone the rest of my life not seeing that! I for one had the best summer I can ever remember.  It was filled with great customers here at the shop; locals, summer, transient and concert goers!  Personally, I was able to be the waterbug that I am.  Jetski, kayaking, bon-fires, concerts, parades, biking, boys, beaches, boats and books! Not in that particlular order!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    White Lake was hopp’n with something always going on!  The 4th of July Parade along with the fireworks were awesome as was the weather.  Then, Maritime was as fun as ever - but come on - do we need to post two police officers next to the beer tent exit? Not!  The festival (Thanks to Lori Hesse) offered a Ventian Parade for the first time in many years and…once again…the weather was perfect and the boats with all their lights - a sight to see.  “Cruz’n” - always the last Friday in July - had record breaking attendance and here’s hoping we can get the commitee to make this a day -long event rather than just three hours.  With 3,000 people downtown, lining our streets - lets make a day of it; offering live music, beer tents, rides for the kids, etc..  After all, we have a beautiful park, right across the street that hasn’t been used for years.

Briley Lambers with Rebecca waiting for the cars.

2 miles of classic cars with the streets lined with more
than 3000 enthusiastic viewers.

Posted by Book Lady! at 14:43:49 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

KEEPING UP!

Wow!  Winter was late to leave, spring was forever getting here and summer was definelty late
and crazy busy since it arrived!

We had the Muskegon Summer Celebration, Rothbury Festival, and our very traditional and
 extra cool 4th of July Parade along with the fireworks.  Both arenas rocked.  I checked out the
Steve Miller Band with Joe Cocker on the opening day at Celebration and unfortunately could not
attend Rothbury.  All good things heard…including there were almost as many old hippies in
attendance as new hippies!  :)  I did appreciate the cool article in Rolling Stone Magazine regarding
our great state and our quaint -out of the way town - Rothbury!  Our local paper - The
Muskegon Chronicle did a splendid job of covering both events and putting it all into perspective
as well.  “Right on” to the Muskegon Chronicle for mostly, always gett’n er done right!  One fact
remains…we need to support our local businesses and local community.  Thanks to all who
did and kept it GREEN! 

I need to start jotting down thoughts regarding this blog…I think of a cool post and then get busy and
 forget what it was!!

Posted by Book Lady! at 16:18:33 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Garrison Keillor Visits The Book Nook & Java Shop!

Well, it was quite a month here at The Book Nook & Java Shop…May was very busy with the Wine Tasting/Book Signing on Saturday May, 3rd.  We had more than 50 people come and enjoy Michigan wines, learn more about the local vineyards and wineries and hear from the two authors who researched (all while wine tasting :)  to write the book…From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries.  Thank you to the White Lake Arts Council for the use of their wine glasses!
Then…this past Monday, May 19th we once again enjoyed the good humor and gracious Garrison Keillor of Prairie Home Companion.  Keillor has authored more than a dozen books, starred as himself in his big screen movie last year and has more than 30 million listeners every Saturday on NPR!

We raised $1,000.00 for adult literacy (Read Muskegon) and that will pay for a new assessment book to help determine their reading and writing skills along with tutoring them in basic reading and writing skills. 

I would like to take time to recognize those who volunteered their time to help with this event and very worthy cause.  It is a great amount of time and effort to not only bring to White Lake, someone such as Garrison Keillor but to utilize the event as a fundraiser.  I could not have done it and successfully without the help of the following:

Ann and Bob Erler

Alice Gamble
Judy Stojack
Linda Pyle
Laurie DeVries

Tommy Foster 
Susan Harrison - Wolffis
Bill Iddings                                                               PHOTO’S and VIDEO From Event!
Posted by Book Lady! at 15:59:41 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, April 28, 2008

Poetry Slam!

The Book Nook & Java Shop hosted its second Poetry Slam in honor of April being National Poetry month.  The first one was five years ago- just a few months after we opened our doors.

It was great fun!  I can speak for myself along with “Surfer Dude” (we judged the audience participation) that there was great poetry and all was diverse in its content.  Many people inquired as to how often The Book Nook & Java Shop will host Poetry Slams and we will definitely host a Poetry Slam more than the two times in five years that have been the standard!  Laughing   We hope to host a Poetry Slam quarterly and will keep you updated via email blast and our website. 

Special thanks to all who participated and to the audience.  Special thanks also to Richard Ballard for emceeing the event and to “Surfer Dude” for judging.

We have three winners:

1st Place Winner:    Nicole Birkett - $50.00 Gift Card to The Book Nook & Java Shop

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a Beautiful Day to Do a Neighbor: A poem beginning with a line from Charles Bukowski’s “we’ve got to communicate”

 

“he was a very sensitive man,” she told me, “and after he split with Andrea he kept her panties under his pillow and each night he kissed them and cried” (Bukowski).

 
I wondered if he kept a pair of his wife’s panties under the pillow too, and maybe dabbed them with his nose, a couple of times a week, just to be fair.  because he was fair, in fact, he was the King of Fair, and as far as the rest of the Dutch-Protestant community was concerned, Dave Rogers was no more the harassing-adulterer than the young Pole-Vaulter who had accused him was a decent Catholic, especially since there was no such thing.
and Dave Rogers’ humming knew this, and it also knew that he wasn’t a pedophile, not in this state anyway, and that was a good thing, pedophilia might have been the one thing that wouldn’t have been hard to make the Neighborhood believe in.  and his humming was as familiar with the state’s statutory law as it was with the “Oh Susannah” that it currently flung around his old office as he filled a cardboard box that now welcomed his counselor’s desk plaque and occasional poster motivation, after having done most of its work three weeks before, when all of its thought had been folding in on retirement.  and at the time he’d thought it’d crush itself under the weight of files, he refused to leave, names and figures he wished he’d explored further.

but now he’ll be able to relax in a shared fifth with his wife, pleasant memories carefully filed away under “escape,” with his I-care-more-about-you-than-me beard reclining on that sulfur cardigan above brown corduroys and tennis white shoes.

2nd Place Winner:   Jim Stewart - $25.00 Gift Card to The Book Nook & Java Shop
Still waiting for Jim’s Poetry

Third Place Winner: Julie George - $15.00 Gift Card to The Book Nook & Java Shop

Belly Button Lament                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Britney’s naughty buttoned tummy

created a sensation.

Innocence with sex combined

changed the thinking of a nation.
 
A symbol new of sex it seemed,
though why it was, there was no hint.
I thought this twisty-centered flesh,
was only good for catching lint.
 
Amid the would-be swain’s old paunch
 buried in distended pot,
observe the awesome button bounce,
looking anything— but hot!
 
I’ve seen it move with awesome grace,
the belly dancer’s sensuous pride. 
 It peeks from veils seductively,
with bells a-tingle on each side.
 
The belly button used to be
a simple remnant left from birth.
Decorating—  undercover,
my taut and flat, more slender girth.
 
My oldster’s button disappears
in folds and drapes of saggy skin.
I won’t be flat or taut again—
no matter how I suck it in.
 
My button pierced with ring of gold?
The wasted cost would be a shame.
Lost in all these belly folds,
it’s much too late bring me fame.
 
                                  Julie George

                               Muskegon, MI      

 

Posted by Book Lady! at 19:00:33 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Treasure at The Book Nook & Java Shop…View From a Patron

Treasure in the Book Nook

 

An artic evening.  Parking is surprisingly difficult with many cars already downtown taking choice spots.  A long black coat is drawn tightly around me as I tread carefully yet swiftly down the street, stepping over gutters that are wide with dirty snow and trash.  Lights and beautifully mural-ed burgundy walls welcome me through the book store’s big windows.  A glance in before entering.  The tables are full of people young and old engaged with rapt attention; focused as one. 

 

Heavy old door.  It swings in to invite my entrance.  I have interrupted a musical group playing by the door to my right.  No problem…I am greeted mid-song with an exuberant “How are ya?” from one of the musicians…a burly bearded lumberjack plucking a banjo.  Returning a grin and nod in greeting, I spot and achieve a chair.  Mingling aromas of freshly brewed coffee and soup in crock pots compliment the character of the store, enhancing the sense of welcome one feels upon entering.

 

An unusual mixture.  The men playing are graying lumberjack in plaid, and to his left a clean cut and trim school teacher, next to a larger, very young man with straight sweeping hair covering his eyes as he leans over his instrument.  Guy Clements , Mike Snell , Joey Artibee …this is a group?

 

A song begins.  Eyes closed, I am transported.  I hear and feel the blues of a jazz singer.  Eyes open and the blonde boy-man is singing with his heart on his sleeve.  Providing back-up, the others wear pleased smiles as the audience is astonished at the gift of the young singer; he moves in a jazzy style as he croons.

 

Outside, fading light.  People occasionally hustle past hunched against the weather.  They are going to the bar next door…their cigarettes and exhalations trailing a desolate smoke making it seem even colder and darker outside.  

 

Inside, bookstore paradise.  Books of every shape, size and topic line the walls and shelves.  Enough to make a schizophrenic reader collapse with pleasure.  The atmosphere is glowing with warmth … emanating not just from the heat vents, but from the friendship of the audience and delight beaming from the musicians.  As a few additional stragglers enter, the cold does not enter with them.

 

A joyous trio.  Banjo, guitar, and fiddle make a treasure of “City of New Orleans ” in a cheering folksong style that would make Guthrie proud.  Next, the lumberjack, unlikely with a small mandolin strummed like velvet in his fingers, joins the others with their guitars…all three intoning melodically and  deeply the western ballad “Ghost Riders in the Sky” with each Yippie-I-ay done with grins a mile wide and mirth; reminding one instantly of Elvis’ laughing version of “Are you Lonesome Tonight?”

 

Laughter now fades. A low, slow, heart wrenching “Long Black Veil” by young Artibee takes flight.  Weaving lyrics as a net he pulled the audience into the emotion of the story…we were spellbound, captured by the very air that held his sad words.

 

Instruments changed often. With each song a switch, as a woman who cannot decide which dress to wear.  Sometimes a banjo, sometimes a guitar or mandolin.  Often an electric guitar or fiddle purred in expert hands.  Even a harmonica showed up at the party.

 

It’s after 8 o’clock.  The place should have closed by now…no one is willing to leave.  Finally, a last song, warm words to the audience and we were done.  A fast exodus as all, dreading the cold, hasten to get cars warmed up to escape it.  Music not fading, but carried out as joy by the audience, to be resurrected later, time and again, in conversation and spurred memories of a favorite song.  The lights of the Book Nook dim. 

 

By: Valerie K. Rabe ,

Posted by Book Lady! at 15:20:27 | Permalink | Comments (5)

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Take Five Book Club!

Hello Everyone!

We kicked off our Take Five Book Club in January with “The Best American Short Stories” and met the first Tuesday in February for wine - cheese and let us not forget…we even discussed the book!  We had great fun, stimulating conversation and the next discussion is this Tuesday from 6-7pm.  I will also be discussing February’s selection, ”Their Eyes Were Watching God” on WZZM TV 13 at 4:30 next Monday.  There has been so many interesting perspectives surrounding Their Eyes Were Watching God!  I can’t wait to meet!  I will announce the March Pick on Monday and Tuesday.

Okay, there has been some discussion as to whether we will do a BYOW (bring your own wine) or if I should just collect $10.00 per person.  Please leave a comment below and let’s get a forum going.  It’s easier than emailing back and forth!  I will decide via the comments by Monday at noon.  Also, does everyone want to continue having it here or do you want to move the club around?

Thanks and I’ll see all of you Tuesday!

P.S. If it looks like you’re not going to make it - kindly email!  I need an idea of how much wine and cheese to purchase!

Posted by Book Lady! at 18:51:42 | Permalink | Comments (4)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Women’s History Month & National Poetry Month

Women’s History Month

The public celebration of women’s history in this country began in 1978 as “Women’s History Week” in Sonoma County, California. The week including March 8, International Women’s Day, was selected. In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women’s History Month.

Click here for more information on Women’s History Month!

April Is National Poetry Month!

What is National Poetry Month? National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. The concept was to increase the attention paid-by individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our poetic heritage, and to poetry books and magazines. In the end, we hoped to achieve an increase in the visibility, presence, and accessibility of poetry in our culture. National Poetry Month has been successful beyond all anticipation and has grown over the years into the largest literary celebration in the world.

Below is a poem that I am particularliy fond of…

The Leap by Larry Colker

We stood in groups of twos and threes
on the sidewalk outside the bar,
talking, smoking, watching traffic and each other,
one quiet old guy by himself looking at the moon,

when a quick motion caught our eyes
as the girl pounced on her boyfriend,
shimmied up his tall torso,
squeezed her legs around his waist,
clasped her arms around his neck,
pressed her face into his hair.

If I were a prophet, I’d say
a burst of light surrounded them
like a glory.  Like revelation, like satori,
we were all converted on the spot:
for the rest of our lives we’d wait for such a rapture,
our bodies suddenly made heavy
with bone and flesh not our own.

I caught the old man looking, dumbstruck,
until he collected himself
and went back to staring at the stars.

At first the boyfriend took it like a puppy’s exuberance,
continued the conversation as though that leap,
still rebounding in our chests,
were nothing special.  But his girl did not unlatch.
She tightened her arms and legs around him
until who knows what was let loose inside,
and he hugged her back, with a shy smile at us,
as if embarrassed by his riches.

“Surfer Dude’s” Poem Selection for April!

One of my favorites.

The Little Vagabond by William Blake

Dear mother, dear mother, the Church is cold;
But the Alehouse is healthy, and pleasant, and warm.
Besides, I can tell where I am used well;
Such usage in heaven will never do well.

But, if at the Church they would give us some ale,
And a pleasant fire our souls to regale,
We’d sing and we’d pray all the livelong day,
Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray.

Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing,
And we’d be as happy as birds in the spring;
And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church,
Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch.

And God, like a father, rejoicing to see
His children as pleasant and happy as He,
Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the barrel,
But kiss him, and give him both drink and apparel.


Why was April chosen for National Poetry Month?

With input from booksellers, librarians, poets, and teachers, the Academy chose a month during the school year so that schools and students could participate fully. February is Black History Month and March is Women’s History Month, so April seemed a logical choice. Also, there are many wonderful poetic references to April:

T. S. Eliot wrote, “April is the cruelest month.” It is our hope that National Poetry Month lessens that effect.

On a lighter note, Chaucer wrote:

Whan that April with his showres soote
The droughte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veine in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flowr

Finally, Edna St. Vincent Millay asked, “To what purpose, April, do you return again?” For National Poetry Month, of course!


More on National Poetry Month

Posted by Book Lady! at 14:17:17 | Permalink | Comments (10)

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

What to read next!

I am currently reading two books.  The Best American Short Stories 2007 and Their Eyes Were Watching God!  I find it easier to have two books going if one is a short story or nonfiction.  The Best American Short Stories is our pick for January on the WZZM Take Five Book Club and it offers up a few zingers along with a few sleepers!  Definitely worth reading.  Currently, I am unable to put down or stop thinking about the other book that I am reading…Their Eyes were Watching God.  This book is narrated in Creole and Southern Drawl so it is fun and the story line is superb.

For a slew of recommendations, visit our website, staff reviews or share a book that you liked!

Book Lady!

Posted by Book Lady! at 19:53:05 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Welcome!

Hello!  Debra here…

Welcome to The Book Nook’s first blog.  Although it is new for The Book Nook - we hosted a blog at our other location and it was very popular.  Here, you may post comments, recommend books, discourage a particular book (s) and stay current with what’s in the news, what’s new and what’s coming up. From time to time, you will find comments and post from one of the staff here at The Book Nook & Java Shop.  Currently our staff includes; Me, (Book Lady) Ann Nelson, (Annibel) Josh Pickard (Surfer Dude) and Lisa Bush (Lisa:). On occasion we will post comments regarding titles we are currently reading, have read and want to read.  We encourage you to post your comments as well! To view the books we have reviewed click on our names.  (We are still waiting for current reviews from Surfer Dude and Annible! (They’re new employees:)

Here’s a little history for you regarding The Book Nook & Java Shop! I opened the doors to The Book Nook & Java Shop in December of 2002.  Prior to that I worked as a food broker for Van Eerden Distribution, a family run company located in Grand Rapids, MI .  My grandmother taught school in Montague in the late 1930 circa and as a youngster we would spend time with them here in the summer. In the 90’s, I purchased a sailboat named Whispurr and kept her on White Lake .  Later on, I transferred my job up this way, all while realizing there was not a bookstore or coffee shop (both staples in my life at the time).  That’s the short story!


Two of my three children have worked here, however all are grown and are happily pursuing their own careers, so this opportunity has worked well for me.

In five short years there have been so many changes.  The year we opened was phenomenal…then the following year, the Lakes Mall opened and it hurt our book sales nearly 25%.  The following year, we gained back most of that business and then the economy took a turn for the worst… Today the Book Nook & Java Shop is stable and we have the loyalty of the White Lake community and surrounding areas such as North Muskegon, Muskegon, Shelby, New Era, Hart etc., to thank for this. All have been very supportive of one of the very few independent bookstores left!

The Book Nook has been very fortunate to have a number of outstanding authors visit.  From Garrison Keillor to Judith Guest, along with Diane Rehm and local authors such as Jeff Alexander from the Muskegon Chronicle and Laurie Keller - Children’s author and illustrator from Muskegon and Kathy-jo Wargin of the Legend series (Legend of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald etc..  This is just to name a few.  Additional authors are listed on our website if you’re interested!

The Book Nook & Java Shop recently partnered with WZZM TV 13’s “Take Five” to host a book club that will air the first Monday of each month beginning Monday, February 1st at 4:30pm.  The Book Club will meet to discuss the title at The Book Nook on the first Tuesday of each month from 5-6pm!  The book that I selected for January is The Best American Short Stories 2007.  I have now read more than half the stories but I won’t share the details - you can watch it on Take Five on Monday, February 4th or see the video shortly there after.  I will also review it on this blog after that date!

Okay…here is the deal - this blog is new so we want activity and comments.  For every comment posted this week and next, The Book Nook & Java Shop will give you a complimentary latte, cappuccino or fresh brewed coffee!  Post a comment!!!
Need a topic?!?

How do you feel about all of the political titles on the market these days?  Example; Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, GW Bush, Alan Greenspan etc., etc., etc.  Do you purchase these titles?  Would you?

Peace!
Posted by Book Lady! at 16:46:14 | Permalink | Comments (25)