Technoklutzia

About ten days ago I started this general introduction to my first-ever blog entry. I pretty much captured my feelings at the time, but in my haste to put it up on our website, the phantom of AOL whooshed by and in no time at all, my words were washed out to sea, or lost in the internet zone, and I sat here at my desk, dazzled by the total evaporation of my efforts, perhaps thinking to myself that I was too distracted to remember to save the file. So my first blogging experiences are centered around the fear that my technoklutzia has already been exposed. (That is if you have never seen me on a bad day at the register…)It’s true—I’m a hapless victim of my own dense behavior when writing or operating computers. And I promise that I have saved this first paragraph, because another wipeout would send me around the bend.

The Harry Potter farewell party on the night of July 20 was easily the most fun we at Cranesbill have ever had. Since the group of mourners was very multi-generational— from elementary schoolkids to highschoolers and college kids {the latter who were literally were the same age as Rowling’s character). Rounded out with notable grownups and a number of persons of interesting garb and goodwill, the party was not flashy, but the folks assembled had a great time, and most even took at least one quiz.

Thanks to Don Krause for the great photos and costume judging. Also thanks to Mary Onorato and Don Finkel for helping with the contest judging. Many thanks to Cleary’s for providing the Butter Beer. Downtown Chelsea was like a ritzy Detroit suburb that evening, as partying took place at our place and at the McKune Memorial Library. It was terrific to see a whole bunch of people so excited about a plain old book. The celebration brought to mind memories of every time I finished a series by a favorite author. The ones I liked most were The Borrowers by Mary Norton and Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright.

So there should be a clever review of the new book here, but I am not in league with any spoilers, and I think you can trust Ms. Rowling by now to tell you a tale that you will appreciate and remember. In any case, it’s a more complicated end than you may expect and I hope that we will be able to discuss at some point, but in deference to those who’ve not read it, I prefer to wait.

The store has two more visitors for Sounds and Sights on two Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30pm…on August 16, author Evelyn Johnson will talk and sign her book, Old Barns of Mission Peninsula and Their Stories. On August 30, after the Chelsea Fair and before the start of school, author Joe Borri will be signing Eight Dogs Named Jack, a set of stories that would rival the Sopranos, set in Michigan.

Take care, and please send us any comments or questions to: contact@cranesbillbooks.com