Staff Reading Resolutions: Deena Hastings - Candy Department

Deena Hastings, one of our pros over in the candy department, shared with us what she plans on reading this year.

"I usually read by author and love a good series," Deena said. Deena stated that there is nothing better than reading the next book in a series to see how the characters develop.


She claimed that she has grown attached to reading new books from her favorite authors, and she is currently reading the young adult book The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

"An old favorite I usually read every year or two is the Jan Karon Mitford series," Deena said.

"For 2012, I ‘m looking forward to V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton and later in the year I will read A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters."   

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, a bestseller, is currently 25% off in The BYU Bookstore. The BYU Bookstore also has A River in the Sky and the Jan Karon Mitford series in stock. 

Year of the Dragon: Flames, Fire, and Fantasy in Dragon Books

On Monday people living in the Eastern hemisphere crowded the streets to celebrate the Chinese New Year with fireworks, family reunions, dinners, prayers, and dances. This year marks the Year of the Dragon, regarded by Asian culture to be the most important of the twelve signs in the zodiac.

If you take a moment to think about why the Year of the Dragon is so popular, you might realize that out of the 12 years, it is the only fantasy creature in the Chinese zodiac, which furthers the mystical nature of the dragon.

Dragon lore enamors people. As a kid and teenager I remember feeling similar sentiments. I watched shows with them on TV, I drew pictures of them, but more importantly I can remember that literature inspired my love for dragons.

It started when I fell in love with Eric Carle’s Dragons, Dragons. Later I read many books about dragons such as Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

Before Harry Potter tried his hand in taming a dragon or two, author Bruce Coville let his character Jeremy Thatcher raise a dragon. As one of my favorite childhood books, Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher can be a enjoyable read for anyone wanting to enter a fun world of fantasy.

Cornelia Funke, fantasy writer said, “I always wanted to ride a dragon myself, so I decided to do this for a year in my imagination.” 

Over in the BYU Bookstore we have joined in the dragon festivities. We have shared our favorite dragon books and talked about great reads for this year. Anita in Children’s Books said that she is a fan of the recent How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. 

As a symbol of good luck, strength, and power in the Chinese zodiac, perhaps reading a dragon book this year might be a good idea. 

What is your favorite dragon book?

-Hillary

Caldecott and Newbery Awards Predictions

Forty-eight hours and counting!  I love the Caldecott and Newbery announcements.  Last year I didn’t see the medal winners on any of the watch lists. I was alerted to A Sick Day for Amos McGee by a professor on campus whose family loved it and wanted several copies to share, that was the only pre-award buzz I was aware of.

I have had the experience of predicting the winner; sometimes I am disappointed, more often than not I am surprised.  This year I could name two titles that I think might, but hope won’t, win.  But why be negative.  I would love for Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan get some attention.  Naamah and the Ark by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and illustrated by Holly Meade is a favorite of mine.  Leo and Diane Dillon’s illustrations for The Secret River by Marjorie K Rawlings are stunning.

Basically the thing I most look forward to is the awareness of fine books that would have slipped by me were it not for the awards attention.  I can’t wait!

Any last minute predictions?

-Anita

Staff Reading Resolutions - Anita Charles, Children's Books Buyer

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Our high respect for a well-read person is praise enough for literature."


Anita Charles, the BYU Bookstore's expert in Children's Literature, as well as the primary contributor to Y-Read. She serves as a great example and advocate to children and adults to make reading a life-time habit. To set this example, she has made a goal to read many books from various genres this year.

Anita plans to read the following during 2012:

• Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
• Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
• Blood Red Road by Moira Young
• The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
• The Gift of Rest by Joseph Lieberman
• Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott
• Flunking Sainthood by Jana Reiss
• Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle  ("AGAIN to commemorate the 50^th anniversary" - Anita)
• Stuff by Terry Pratchett
• Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke

Anita continues to praise literature by seeking out new books and actively reading.

What books will you read this year? 

Find Heart of the Samurai at the BYU Bookstore.

Staff Reading Resolutions - Yulee Smith, Marketing

Yulee Smith joined the BYU Bookstore staff last month and contributes to Y-Read.

I have always been a really big book worm! One of the things I collect is Agatha Christie books (namely the Hercule Poirot series) so I usually have some book in hand. 

This year some of the books I plan on reading include:

•  The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
•  Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
•  Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
•  The  Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
•  A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
•  A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

There will probably be other books that I’ll pick up (and of course I’ll read more of Poirot). But overall, it should be a pretty great reading year. 

-Yulee

Find Life of Pi at the BYU Bookstore. 

Staff Reading Resolutions - Emily Fife, Records Management in Accounting

Emily Fife, a student who works in Records Management for the BYU Bookstore's Accounting department, shared with us what books she hopes to read when she doesn't have her head in textbooks.

She plans to read the following:

• Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage
• Catching Fire (2^nd book in the Hunger Games series) by Suzanne Collins
• Persuasion by Jane Austen 

"With school in full force it is hard to squeeze in 'pleasurable' reading but I took the time to read a fiction novel over Christmas break, and I am now resolved to get more leisure reading time this coming year," Emily said.

Students on campus often find ways to take break from their studies, and reading something for their enjoyment often serves as an outlet. 

Find Jesus the Christ, Catching Fire, and Persuasion at the BYU Bookstore.

Staff Reading Resolutions - Thomas Reyes-Cairo, Cougar Tech Merchandiser

As 2012 begins, BYU Bookstore employees reflect and share the books they plan to read this year. 

Tom Reyes-Cairo, one of our computer experts in Cougar Tech, shared with us what books he intends to read for 2012.

"My 2012 reading plans contain a lot of Brandon Sanderson," Tom stated.

Which included the following:

• The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan, finished by Brandon Sanderson
• The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
• The Stormlight Archives Series by Brandon Sanderson

"All other reading plans have been put on hold until I get through these books, and I have many things waiting in queue," Tom said. 

What BYU authors are you wanting to read this year?

Find  The Gathering Storm: The Wheel of Time, Book 12  and The Way of Kings: A Stormlight Archives Series Book 1 at the BYU Bookstore