WHAM-O Super Book

Tim Walsh is a game inventor, documentary film maker, toy historian, consultant and author. His latest book is WHAM-O Super Book: Celebrating 60 Years Inside the Fun Factory. This book has lots of great stories behind Spud Melin and Rich Knerr's toy company WHAM-O and their "fun factory". You'll know this company for their famous inventions like the Hula-Hoop, Frisbee, Silly String, Super-Ball, Hacky Sack, Slip 'n Slide and my personal fav the Bubble Thing. Did you know that Play-Doh began as a wallpaper cleaner created by a soap company? WHAM-O once created a do-it-yourself bomb shelter? troops in Iraq might be using Silly String to detect trip wires? Thanks to this book, now you know. There are lots of interesting stories combined with tons of classic ads and pictures to inform you about all things WHAM-O. Walsh is witty and since he's reporting on a fun subject, he finds lots of exciting stories to tell. A section on the failed toys developed by the company over the years was particularly interesting. The WHAM-O company makes for fun stories and this book is a great showcase for some of the best and most fun toys lots of us played with when we were kids.

VOTE

Ok readers - if you haven't voted yet DO IT! Fulfilling your civic duty is important and chances are you'll get a fun little sticker you can wear when you're done.

Anxiously Awaiting Paper Towns

Hey there readers, remember me? Since moving to Missouri, I have been quite busy. I keep meaning to update... Today is a new day though. I had an extremely successful trip to Target this morning where I got purple dress shoes and a wine rack for $10 each, now I'm at work enjoying a day filled with interesting reference questions. Plus, it's fall and gorgeous outside. I've been overtaken by a particularly good mood.

Let's get to the reviews:

Breaking Dawn, as you know unless you're not a Twilight fangirl, is the last book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I've read the whole series and even though I'm Team Jacob, I have enjoyed it...sort of. If I were 15, I know that I'd love this series, be obsessed and wish that I too had a sexy vampire boyfriend. Since I'm past that idealistic age, I get rather offended by the way the "love" story is portrayed and think it's more than unrealistic. The finale is a great wrap up and pretty much gives the reader everything they want to see. A big battle at the end secures the characters' futures just as they want them and no one is left disappointed or dead, like in the finale to Harry Potter, a far superior series. It will be interesting to see how the Twilight series does as movies starting with the release of Twilight next month.

My love for the Green brothers has been documented on this blog before. Next week sees the release of John Green's new book, Paper Towns. I am super excited for it and also excited that I will be able to attend a stop on John's book tour. Check out Paper Towns if you get a chance.

Lately, I mention television shows on this blog that I like. Since moving, I have a Netflix membership and have been enjoying various shows. I tried to get into Sports Night again, but just couldn't for some reason. I love Josh Charles because his character Knox from Dead Poets Society is pretty much my dream man. I also love Peter Krause because of his work in Six Feet Under and Dirty Sexy Money. The show just didn't appeal to me now; it might be the out-of-place laugh track or the 90s feel, but I just couldn't get into it. Instead, I've moved to Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller's first show Wonderfalls. It's really kooky, but fun and interesting. A 24-year-old slacker with a philosophy degree from Brown is working at a souvenir shop next to Niagara Falls. Small figurines start talking to her and if she doesn't do what they say, bad things happen. Her eccentric family and friends make the show interesting and I'd definitely recommend it if you're a Pushing Daisies fan and a Lee Pace fan. And come on, who isn't?

As the presidential election looms closer, I feel compelled to urge you to vote. Check out Project Vote Smart for information on the candidates.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to keep up better than I have been, but with a trip to WI and a conference in Orlando on the horizon; that may not happen. Best Wishes!

Many Changes

Hello dear readers. I haven't updated in a while and I'm sorry. I'm in the process of a big change in my life - I've moved from Madison to Missouri for a new job as an academic librarian. I'm getting settled in and so far I'm very happy here. Unfortunately, the public library here is lacking in books about popular culture. That's putting it very mildly; if I wanted to read Nicholas Sparks' The Choice, I could pick from any of their five copies, but I certainly can't find excellent books like I normally discuss on here. While I figure out how to change that, I'll leave you with some books I wish I could review and other things you may find interesting.

Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions by Christian Lander. Based on the popular blog of the same name, this book details the taste of white people. Some of my favorite entries: Scarves, New Balance Shoes, Graduate School and the best one ever - Knowing What's Best For Poor People. Oh white people...

When I moved, I had to cancel my hold on I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max. Apparently he expects us to believe that's his real name and he didn't just change around his first and last name to sound more fratty. Anyways, this book mostly consists of stories where Max talks about what an asshole he is. Mission accomplished, buddy. His website is similar and can be found here.

Speaking of so bad it's good, I saw Mamma Mia! last night. As you can tell by the exclamation point at the end of the title, this is a musical. It was wonderfully cheesy and there were plenty of times where I actually laughed out loud; most of these times occurred when Pierce Brosnan was singing. He was unintentionally (or maybe intentionally...hmmm...interesting tactic, Brosnan) hilarious. I was also quite impressed with Amanda Seyfried. She has a great voice and it was nice to see her play a character with depth, much different from ditzy Karen in Mean Girls or reckless Lilly Kane in Veronica Mars. Her acting talent in this movie makes me think I should watch more Big Love.

Lastly, Veronica Mars. What an amazing show. People always tell me I'd like it and in the last month or so I've burned through the first two seasons like it's my job. I LOVE it. The writing is so smart and Veronica is hilarious. Having a season-long mystery is a great formula; it keeps you guessing while not dragging on and on (LOST, anyone?). I scored the third season at the used bookstore in my new town for cheap so I'm currently going through that one. I'll leave you with one of my favorite lines so far:

Logan: Guess who I saw on campus today?

Veronica: Some girl going wild? As I understand it, it happens all the time in college. I'm on the verge of it right now.

Candy Everybody Wants

Josh Kilmer-Purcell's first book, memoir I'm Not Myself These Days was a great read. This summer marks the arrival of Kilmer-Purcell's first novel Candy Everybody Wants. This book starts in my home state; main character Jayson Blocher is growing up gay in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in the 1980s. He describes himself not as gay, but instead as "a Phil Donohue guest". After filming his own soap opera, Dallasty!, Jayson's masterpiece is aired during a senior class party and his onscreen kiss with neighbor and friend Travis causes a major controversy. Jayson's mom sends him away to New York City to live with his father, a gay actor who has no idea Jayson exists. While there, the protaganist encounters a gay prostitution scandal, falls in love with a child TV star, gets involved in show business, escapes arrest, goes on the lamb and deals with homelessness. If that sounds like a lot, it is. This book packs in the drama and unlikely situations, but it's all fun. I did not enjoy this as much as Kilmer-Purcell's memoir, but it was a good summer read.