Bookishness Around Town: Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading theme is Bookishness Around Town, hosted by Trish. My town is Indianapolis and there aren’t too many famous authors who originated here. The most famous, by far is Kurt Vonnegut and a couple years ago the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library was opened in his honor. It’s really more of a small museum than a library, but anyway that’s what my bookish post is about! Above you can see the front of the building and Vonnegut’s actual typewriter.

The famously sarcastic author was taken by the Germans as a prisoner of war during World War II and survived the Dresden bombing. His fictional alter ego, Kilgore Trout famously said the line “Life is no way to treat an animal,” and Vonnegut included it in his ever-optimistic style… on a tombstone.

  

My favorite section has a recreation of his workspace; a low coffee table that he would slump over and his tapped away to create his novels. They included every detail, from his rooster lamp, to his choice of chair. There is also a gallery containing artwork drawn by Vonnegut and inspired by him. It has an interactive TV with interviews regarding Vonnegut’s life.

There’s a long mural timeline along one wall noting important dates throughout history. A couple glass exhibit cases include his war medals and family letters, photos and memorabilia.

  

So thanks to Trish for hosting Where in the World are you Reading. If any of you make it to my corner of the world I hope you’ll make sure to visit the Hoosier state’s ode to Vonnegut.

Here are the details: Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library: 340 N Senate Ave Indianapolis, IN 46204

Photos of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library by moi. 

Where In the World Are You Reading: Comfy Spot

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading theme is Comfy Spot, hosted by Kelly. There are lots of comfy spots I like to read, my bed, the living room couch, etc., but there's one I love more than all the others... my library! One of the very posts I ever wrote for this blog was about my library. After living in apartments for years I finally got a house and the Huz suggested we use one of the main open rooms for a library instead of a dining room. Have I mentioned I love him a lot? So although he isn't a reader, I now have a beautiful library in my home, full to the brim of my favorite books and those I still have waiting to be read. 

Above you can see the entire library with two comfy chairs (one of which has a dog in it). I have a Paddington train station clock on the wall and a canvas print of Ollie (both lovely gifts from my BFF). I have a wreath on the coat closet door made with dictionary pages. And of course, I have tons of book cases filling every available space. I also have my Penguin clothbound classics collection on top of one of the bookcases. I add to it whenever I get a giftcard to a bookstore. 

Note the string of TARDIS twinkle lights and the stacked book tables. Every single bookcase is dedicated to a specific genre and is organized alphabetically within that category. There is nonfiction, ficiton, poetry, short story collections, YA, SciFi/Fantasy, audiobooks, graphic novels, travel, classics, etc. I also have separate areas for favorite books. 

In the bookcase on the left I keep all of my vinyl records and travel books. Then there's Ollie posing with the framed Penguin postcards and a close-up of those postcards! 

The final photo is of the bookcase that holds all my favorite books. I think it's suppose to hold dishes or something, but it makes a great bookcase! I also keep fun little souvenirs in here. I have a lobster bell from my Grandma's bell collection, a cable car from our trip to San Francisco, a red London phone booth, a tea cup from my Mom, a personalized Jones bottle with a photo of me and the Huz on the label, and other random stuff. 

So that's my favorite comfy reading spot. This is where I spend most of my time during read-a-thons and where I get away when I want some quiet reading time. It's my happy place. 

Photos by moi. 

Where In the World Are You Reading: Unusual Reading Places

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading theme is Unusual Reading Places. Trish, this month’s host, asks for some odd places where you find yourself reading. My strangest one is probably the dog park (see above). I usually read by listening to an audiobook while I play fetch with Ollie.

 

The above shot is of my view at work. I read outside at lunch every single day (unless the weather is bad). I suppose that's not too unusual, but it is beautiful!

I also read whenever I'm waiting for something. The above photo is of downtown Indianapolis. I was waiting for my tour of the City Market catacombs to start and it was just a gorgeous day. I also love to read in bars when I have an hour to kill. I'll grab a drink and sit at the bar while waiting to meet a friend or something. I get some odd looks, but I love it.

Photos by moi.

Where in the World Are You Reading: Holiday Reading Escape

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading theme is Holiday Reading Escape. Lisa, this month’s host, asks: "what does your Christmas Reading Escape look like? Do you enjoy Christmas themed books? Are you already sick of the Christmas spirit? Do you enjoy a nice glass of spiked eggnog with your books?

The Month of December seems to fly by so quickly and I never seem to have as much time for reading as I would like. One thing I’m trying to make time for this year is a re-read of A Christmas Carol. I don’t think I’ve read it in about 10 years. I’ve see an annual theatre performance of it every December for the past few years, but I’d love to dig back into the original book. I will definitely be enjoying a bit of eggnog or if I need a sugar rush, maybe some hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps!

I’m certainly not sick of Christmas spirit. I tend to be a big sucker for the holiday season. I can certainly get caught up in the madness, but I do love curling up with a good Christmas book or holiday movie. A few of my favorite films, just for fun: Elf, White Christmas, Love Actually and my favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life.

I also can’t remember a year when we haven’t read the passage from Luke 2 about the birth of Christ. It’s a beautiful reminder for me to stay focused on the real reason for the holiday.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Luke 2: The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Photo by moi, Where in the World from here. 

Where in the World Are You Reading: Reading Companion

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading, hosted by Kailana, Lisa, and Trish is "Reading Companions."  I have one obvious reading companion, my big dog Oliver. Ollie will be two years old in December, but it's hard to remember what reading was like before we got him.

 

Whether he's curled up on my lap (which he is way too big to do, but still attempts) or playing fetch while I read with him outside, my big 75 lb baby keeps me company when I read. Ollie is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and has a ton of energy, so I enjoy the moments when he's tired and ready to curl up for a nap.

 

I especially appreciate him in the winter when it's freezing cold. He's the equivalent of a giant space heater! I've had cats in the past and love curling up with them as well, but they never keep you quite as warm.

Photos by moi.

Where in the World Are You Reading: Waiting

(Waiting for my hair cut appointment)

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading is "Waiting Reading" hosted by Lisa.

I’m one of those people who always has a book (or two) with me. I keep an extra in my car, I have a kindle app on my iPhone, I keep books by my bed, etc. I always have a back up of two, just in case I run out of reading material. 

So “Waiting Reading” is something I’m very familiar with. I read while waiting to get my hair cut, in the waiting room at the doctor or dentist, on my lunch break at work, at a restaurant while waiting to meet a friend. There are not many places I won’t read.
 

(Waiting for Shakespeare in the Park to start and for an oil change)

I’ve found that one of the best ways to read while you’re waiting is with audiobooks. I put a book on my phone and read while I’m in line at the grocery store, waiting for the ATM at the bank, and while I’m stuck in traffic at rush hour. 

The picture on the left is from our trip to Montana last week. I was reading on a beach in Glacier Park while waiting on the Huz to finish fishing. The picture on the right is waiting in downtown Indy for my tour of the city's old catacombs to start.

If you find that you never have time to read, you might be surprised by how many pages you can fit into a few 10 minute waiting periods each day!

Photos by moi. 

Where in the World Are You Reading: Libraries

This month's Where in the World Are You Reading, hosted by Kailana, Lisa, and Trish is Libraries! The above photo was taken inside my favorite local library, the Central Library in downtown Indianapolis. It is a combination of an old library (completed in 1917) and a new addition (completed just a couple years ago). The result is glorious.

This is the view looking down on the main lobby from the fifth floor. There was actually a wedding reception set up (see the white tables) on the day I took this.

On the left you can see a great view of downtown Indy from the sixth (top) floor of the library.

On the right is a view of the escalators leading all the way up to the top of the library, which take you one floor above the Rivendell-style arches you see in the photo.

On the left you can see the outside of the library. The old half of the library is connected to the new half (on the left), which is six floors high with huge glass walls.

On the right you can see the beautiful older section. There are names of famous authors engraved in the walls.

This library is my happy place. It's my favorite place in the whole city!

Photos by moi.

Where in the World Are You Reading: Bookstores - Indy Reads Books

 

 On July 13, 2012 Indy Reads Books opened in Indianapolis. I could not be happier! We have almost no independent bookstores in our city and all of the proceeds for this one go to the adult literacy not-for-profit organization that runs it. It sells both new and used books at great prices and the selection was wonderful! The store is decorated with books, using pages glued to the walls and books stacked to create a checkout table.

 

I visited for the first time on July 14th and left with two beautiful classic editions; a 1925 copy of one of my favorites Twelfth Night and a 1901 copy of Tennyson's The Princess. I was thrilled! Also, local author and literary rock star John Green was there on Friday, July 13th to kick off the festivities and do a reading and signing. Two thumbs up for him supporting local businesses!

This post is for the Where in the World are you Reading event hosted by Trish this month. Join in if you want. Next month's category is libraries.
 
Photos by moi.