Tidbits: One ring really could rule us all...

• Big news in the publishing world...Random House and Penguin may merge.  As in, they are going on some dates together and thinking about taking it further...  Still, there may be a ring in their future...woah!  One ring really could rule us all (more on that below)!
• I love little libraries.  I want a fancy little library, so bad.  But until such time as I frolick away into the mists of the Stars Hollow town of my Gilmore Girl dreams and have me a little library on my hobbitesque yard, I will travel the world to visit tiny libraries, using this handy map.  Pakistan, anyone?  (Also, check out these photos of said world o little libraries).
• Good to know that despite their not being able to fit inside libraries, kids are learning to read good.  Heartening news: Pew says kids use libraries, youth librarians both say duh and do a kickline across the interwebs.  
• Remember AIM away messages?  LOL guyzzzz.  Literary away messages.  (#4 made me snort in a very unladylike way)
• I only have one thing to say about this.  If I had to go into battle, I'd probably use a Christopher Paolini book as a weapon. Maybe the nice boxed set I bought in 2007 under the impression that there were only going to be three...
• Veronica Roth on Disney Princess Factions.  So true, so true.  
• Perhaps you've heard about a little movie coming out in December called the Hobbit?  No? Perhaps you've been too holed up in your local Denny's eating about it.  Yes, eating about it.  According to this article, and the rest of the internet, "Denny’s is hoping one onion ring will rule them all."  Well played.  Bonus points for Air New Zealand's new flight safety video.  
• OH MAN.  I wish I could sew, because Mo Willem's Pigeon inspired costumes are so great...
• This is it people.  I already expressed how this makes me giggle endlessly even thinking about it.  And now...THIS.  This is the cake I want for my birthday.  Bring. It. On.  

That One Time I High Fived Melina Marchetta

Books of Wonder event with Melina Marchetta, Kristin Cashore, and Gayle Forman (and an overzealous host).

GUYS.  Last week I was on vacation.  It was lovely, la la la, and more on that at the bottom, but I took a vacation from my vacation to go and high five Melina Marchetta, noted long-time authorcrush, in New York.  You know, as you do.  Luckily, I did not find myself suddenly struck mute, as happened when I met Anne M. Martin in approximately 1992, though I'm pretty sure I narrowly avoided blacking out, because I can remember telling myself not to quiver with excitement, and discussing bridesmaid dresses and the importance of occasionally Googling oneself (that never sounds right).  She was as gracious and lovely as I'd hoped (they all were), and I was so thrilled to meet her.

Author crush Melina Marchetta
in front of framed cover of
childhood favorite King Bidgood?
You done blown my mind.

I attended the book signing and conversation between Gayle Forman, Kristin Cashore, and Melina Marchetta at Books of Wonder.  It was pretty great, other than there being six chairs for fifty people.  I've seen a lot of author talks and the like, and this was definitely one of the best, probably because they were all so at ease with each other that conversation endearingly flowed.  It was a really lovely event, and the ladies all graciously signed things and were generally charming!  This is what I learned:

• Kristin has lots of pictures of babies on her phone that she can show you.
• Melina's idea for Froi came to her on a New York subway car. 
• Gayle reads her sexual tension scenes so well she made Ms. XB, who took a course on romance novels in college, make this "I feel like I just walked in on something private" face: 
  

1001% certain I was rocking this face at this juncture too.

In other vacation news, serendipitously, the Lics (formerly the Old Lyme Ice Cream Shoppe), the ice cream store in the town I was visiting, had a special issue ice cream flavor in honor of their neighbors: THE LIBRARY.  YES.  YES.  I was beyond excited to try Gooey Dewey, a chocolate ice cream with giant chunks of brownie and marshmallow swirls.  It did not taste like old books, or slightly misogynistic old men who nonetheless revolutionized the library world; instead it tasted delicious.  As all libraries do.  OBVI. 

A librarian, eating library themed ice cream,
outside a library, on Library Lane.
That's how it's done, son.

Gooey Dewey at Lics in Old Lyme, CT.
(With Toasted Coconut as a hat.)

To make you thoroughly jealous, I will end with this picture of a sunset:

#mylifeissohard

Tidbits

A few newsy items for your critical eyes, fair readers:

1. I dare you not to at least internally squeal at this heinously adorable video of a tiny penguin being tickled. I want one!
2. Curiouser and curiouser:  Neil Gaiman's American Gods adapted for an HBO series?  Not sure how I feel about this.  On the one hand, I loved how various world mythologies were the backbone of this book; it was truly a cool book.  On the other, I felt it kind of dragged a little and almost felt forced, perhaps because I didn't always like the protagonist.  On the other (yes, I have three hands), this is the exact kind of thing HBO would do a fantasticly magical job of adapting.  See why I am torn?
3. Remember the flash mob happening in support of National Library Week happening at the Holyoke, MA mall that I mentioned in my last Tidbits post?  It happened and it looked like fun in a sculpture garden o'booklovers!  Well done, Team Library.  I'm impressed by those that held their arms up to hold up books and banners for five minutes straight.   But then again, books weigh a lot.  No doubt, librarians have tickets to the gun show!
4. Are you in Boston or nearby?  Are you interested in YA lit?  Then save the date for this really cool event, punks:  (via the MASSYAC listserv)
   

   The Cambridge Public Library is proud to be Boston's only stop on the "Diversity in YA Fiction" national author tour!

   
   

   Don't miss this amazing opportunity to meet these best-selling, award-winning teen authors:

   
   

   Holly Black (Modern Faerie series; Good Neighbors series; White Cat; Red Glove)

   Sarah Rees Brennan (The Demon's Lexicon; The Demon's Covenant; The Demon's Surrender)

   Deva Fagan (Fortune's Folly; The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle)

   Malinda Lo (Ash; Huntress),

   Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix; Fury of the Phoenix)

   Francisco X. Stork (Marcelo in the Real World; The Last Summer of the Death Warriors).

   
   

   Come early to be sure to get a seat!  Porter Square Books will have books available for purchase and autographing.

   
   

   Thursday, May 12, 7:00 p.m.

   Cambridge Public Library

   Lecture Hall

   449 Broadway

   Cambridge, MA 02138

   For more information, call 617-349-4027.

   
   

   Created by Malinda Lo and Cindy Pon, Diversity in YA Fiction is a website (www.diversityinya.com) and book tour which celebrate diverse stories in YA.  DIYA is a positive, friendly gathering of readers and writers who want to see diversity in their fiction, encourage an attitude of openness and curiosity, and welcome questions and discussion.

Tidbits

Two tidbits for you today:

• Having spent a goodly amount of time in airports over the past month, I would really have appreciated the free library services Taiwan International Airport is offering!  How cool is that?
   
• I am as yet still undecided about flash mobs.  As in, whether or not I want to witness one or partake in one.  Sadly, this one is probably too far away, but sounds like it'll be really fun if you happen to be in Western MA this Sunday... (from an email via the MASSYAC list-serv):
  
   

  Listen up crazy librarians and library supporters -

  The time has come to commit to our unorthodox,  effective and fun PR event for

  National Library Week!

  
  

  FREEZE FLASH MOB – THIS SUNDAY, April 10th

  Holyoke Mall @ 4:15pm

  
  

  We will be meeting at 3:40pm in the parking lot next to Pier 1 (before you get to the mall parking)

  
  

  Bring your friends, neighbors, staff, kids, students and anyone else that can stand still for 5 minutes. Forward this to anyone you think might be interested

  Also bring:

  1. a library book

  2. a great idea for your frozen reading pose

  3. If you have one, a cell phone with an alarm

  
  

  Still wondering what it looks like? See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo and picture it with books

  
  

  If you are planning on joining us – reply to this email or email mafreezenread@gmail.com and let us know how many you are bringing.