Was cleaning up stray bits of paper around my office today and came across this from an old issue of Vogue. I have an excellent book of Beatrix Potter's botanical drawings; she was really an amazing woman. Her life story would make a great movie, but I'm not sure that Renee Zellweger is the best choice for lead. I would have gone more with Emily Watson myself, but maybe I'll be surprised.

Just finished reading A Doryman's Reflection and if you have any interest in fishing or the natural world, then you're going to love this book. It's a great memoir of a guy who worked all over in the commercial fishing industry (Alaska, California, Maine, New England). But rather than just telling his story the author, who also became a journalist on the subject, tells the story of one particular fishing family from the time they moved to the US until the present day as well. He looks at all the rules and regulations governing the industry, at fish farming and factory boats and always comes back to the loss of the lone fishermen - the loss of tradition and culture and way of life. He doesn't make anyone out to be perfect (he admits that the fishermen were as guilty as national governments when it came to overfishing) but he does show that the loss of that tradition is wrong. And he keeps it personal, even though it's a global story. Just really well done and I enjoyed it a great deal. I'll keep ya posted on my formal review.

First Second books sent along a nice package the other day and they really do great graphic novels. I already had a copy of Deogratias and it will be in my November column of war stories. (Along with the wonderful From Baghdad, With Love.) Deogratias is an outstanding - and shattering - story about Rwanda. It shows how the genocide happened on a very personal level, how such insanity can so easily happen, and is really a wonder to read. I'm also looking forward to American Born Chinese and Journey Into Mohawk Country (and several other titles). If you like graphic novels, this is a publisher to check out.

I've gotten such a stack of great adult titles over the past few weeks - all unexpectedly - that I'm going to start something new both at Bookslut and Eclectica. I'm going to include a "cool reads" (shamelessly stolen from Diamond Previews) section at the end of my columns and mention an adult title that would work great for teens. I remember when I was in junior high and aimlessly wandering around the adult stacks in the library - not really knowing what authors to look for. Seems like a good idea to let teens know about some mysteries, sci fi, etc. that are marketed to adults but perfect choices for teens as well.

Blood on the Saddle came by surprise - but boy does it sound wicked cool. I'm hoping it's as good as it sounds. (And I love love love my 20th anniversary Serpent's Tail t-shirt "Books with Bite!")

Right now I'm enjoying the heck out of Here There Be Dragons. It's classic old fashioned adventure and so far is just first class. I love it when these kind of stories work so well (picture League of Extraordinary Gentleman without the sex...) On deck is The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl, something I am woefully behind in reading. (Gwenda and crew were all over this ages ago.) I'm hoping it works as a YA title, we'll see.