2010 September - Better World Books Blog - Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Community Outreach & more

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Better World Books Podcast: Gin Phillips

Posted by Dana on 09.30.2010 at 2:30 pm

THE WELL AND THE MINE is the story of a family living in an Alabama coal mining town in the 1930s. The story begins when nine-year-old Tess watches from the darkness of her back porch as an unknown woman lifts the cover off the family well and tosses a baby in without a word.

As Tess struggles at first to be believed and then later to find the “Well Woman” the family and the town struggle to survive the difficult and complex time they live in.

The book tackles the racism and sexism of the time period as well as the immensely difficult lives of coal miners and their families. It does all this with a grace and fluidity that make it feel like more of a classic than a debut novel.

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Author Podcast, dana barrett, Gin Phillips, The Well and the Mine

This Weekend: The Great American Book Drive – Brooklyn!

Posted by admin on 09.30.2010 at 11:24 am

Come be a part of The Great American Book Drive Brooklyn this Saturday, October 2nd at the Central Library!

The Brooklyn Public Library and Better World Books are joining forces for the third year in a row to make it easier than ever for used books to benefit others by presenting The Great American Book Drive. Simply drop off your used books at Central Library’s Plaza. Better World Books will then sell them to people all over the world, and Brooklyn Public Library will benefit from every sale.

While there, stop by the buck-a-book sale and restock your personal library. You can also enjoy live music by Lost in the Stacks from 11 AM to 2 PM, as well as crafts for kids throughout the day.

Find out more about the program at http://brooklynpubliclibrary.org/events/bookdrive.jsp

Have your say » | Tagged Company News, The Great American Book Drive

Fighting to Bring Literacy to the World

Posted by Xavier on 09.24.2010 at 3:58 pm

If you are reading this post, there is more than a fighting chance (groan) that you saw our recent feature on national television during the Notre Dame game. If not, you can check out the video below. Notre Dame is highlighting the research, scholarly achievements, and social initiatives of Notre Dame faculty, students and alumni with its “What Would You Fight For” campaign. We couldn’t be prouder to have been featured.

We’re fighting to bring books to those who need them and to end illiteracy in the world. And now we’d like to invite you to join the movement to build a better world together. What can you do to help? First, help spread the word by ‘liking’ us on Facebook. And second, next time you’re shopping for books, please shop BetterWorldBooks.com – you get excellent selection, amazing service, free shipping and best of all, every purchase helps fund literacy initiatives worldwide. Give us a try — we appreciate the opportunity to earn your trust and make you a customer for life!

Of course there’s way more to the story than we could squeeze into a two minute video. As two of the original co-founders, we are thrilled to tell the story but we didn’t do this alone. It’s important for us to to acknowledge everyone who was a part of building Better World Books and we want to share the bigger story with you. Read more…

15 Comments » | Tagged Uncategorized

BWB hearts BBW

Posted by admin on 09.24.2010 at 1:52 pm

I know what it sounds like, but no, Better World Books is not actually creating profiles on dating sites looking for Big, Beautiful Women (though we do advertise on a few dating sites… not that I would know… I’m sure I just heard it through a friend…).

Rather, I’m inviting you to join Better World Books in celebrating Banned Books Week!

Banned Books Week is a time to celebrate and practice intellectual freedom by reading books that various groups have banned for all kinds of ridiculous reasons – usually related to sexual explicitness, vulgarity, or religious or political views. Here are a few that might surprise you:

Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Judy Blume’s Blubber
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Read more…

5 Comments » | Tagged Book & Author News

Truck Pull for Literacy… What will they think of next?

Posted by admin on 09.23.2010 at 11:10 am

Last Saturday twenty Better World Books employees participated in the 2nd Annual South Bend Truck Pull for Literacy at the South Bend College Football Hall of Fame. Yup. A Truck Pull for Literacy.

The Truck Pull is a Michiana area event that helps the Public Education Foundation to maintain the momentum gained by students participating in reading programs. Better World Books first got involved last year when employee Tim Chapman learned about the Pull and it’s mission and mentioned to others here at our warehouse. Tim worked with Abbey Frick coordinating our involvement last year where we had an overwhelming response from our employees and a lot fun pulling trucks for literacy!

This year, the $157,000 in proceeds from the Truck Pull will fund reading programs for South Bend, Indiana schools. Materials and training for principals, teachers, tutors and aides are all part of the plan.

Thanks to the 20 Better World Books Truck Pullers and everyone that came out to support us in raising money for literacy! Thanks especially to our last-minute “ringers”: Michael Hamood, 3rd shift Facilities, and Kennedy Runyan (daughter of employee Tara Gilcrist), for stepping up to ensure we’d have our team of 20!!

For the 2nd pull we had a “surprise” in that the driver forgot to release the parking brake,. Oops. But it proved what a great team we have that we overcame that and pulled our best, 6.38 seconds!

Wanna get involved? Maybe pull a truck or two? Look for literacy events in your area… and of course keep shopping at BetterWorldBooks.com where every purchase benefits literacy!

– Kim Lucas, Warehouse Operations

2 Comments » | Tagged Company News

Oprah Announces New Book Club Pick

Posted by admin on 09.17.2010 at 11:50 am

There’s been a lot of pre-announcement leaks on this one, so it may come as no surprise that Oprah’s new book club pick is Jonathan Franzen’s FREEDOM.

This is one book that didn’t need Oprah to launch it to #1 on the NY Times bestseller list. It’s already there and it’s already being touted as one of the big books of the decade.

From the publisher:

In his first novel since THE CORRECTIONS, Jonathan Franzen has given us an epic of contemporary love and marriage. FREEDOM comically and tragically captures the temptations and burdens of liberty: the thrills of teenage lust, the shaken compromises of middle age, the wages of suburban sprawl, the heavy weight of empire. In charting the mistakes and joys of FREEDOM’S intensely realized characters as they struggle to learn how to live in an ever more confusing world, Franzen has produced an indelible and deeply moving portrait of our time.

3 Comments » | Tagged Uncategorized

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Posted by admin on 09.17.2010 at 8:51 am

At BWB we love our library partners and think you should too!

The ALA has proclaimed September as Library Card Sign-Up Month, so if you don’t have a card this is the time to go to your local library and get one. Better yet – grab a couple of your friends or your kids – or your nieces and nephews and head on down to the library and you can all get a card.

Wondering what the magical library card can do for you? Check it out — You get perpetual access to books, periodicals, movies, reference materials, internet, audios, key government information, and more…. and wait for it… it’s all FREE! In fact there are at least 52 ways you can use your library card!

For you the fabulous library services might just be fun or convenient to have – but for some they are necessities. The library is providing internet for people with no access, homework help for kids with limited resources and vital information for everyone who needs it.

So celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month. Support your local library and get your card today!

Check out the ALA’s website for more info on the campaign.

Have your say » | Tagged Book & Author News, ALA, Library Card Sign-Up Month

Celebrating the works of Roald Dahl

Posted by admin on 09.13.2010 at 7:05 pm

Where would the world be without CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, MATILDA and THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX? Somewhere a lot less sweet, I think.

Roald Dahl, author of the famous darkly humorous children’s books along with several screenplays (did you know he did a Bond film?) and many short stories, was born on this day in 1916.

Happy Birthday to him! What’s your most beloved Dahl book? Why not celebrate by re-reading you favorite?

7 Comments » | Tagged Uncategorized

International Literacy Day 2010

Posted by admin on 09.08.2010 at 2:57 pm

Happy International Literacy Day!

For those of you not familiar with this important day – here’s a brief history:

September 8th was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO back in November of 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. The aim of the day is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies worldwide. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally and encourages celebrations of all kinds around the world.

This year the theme of the day is “Literacy and Women’s Empowerment.

UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova says “Investing in women’s literacy carries very high returns: it improves livelihoods, leads to better child and maternal health, and favours girls’ access to education. In short newly literate women have a positive ripple effect on all development indicators. This international day aims to mobilize everyone’s attention to the urgent need for increased commitment to literacy, especially for girls and women.”

In order to celebrate, Better World Books has extended our Labor Day Sale and extra week! You can 4 great books for $10 from our sale selection and know that a percentage of every book purchase goes to help literacy non-profits across the globe!

2 Comments » | Tagged Company News, Impact, International Literacy Day 2010, Labor Day Sale Extended, Women's Empowerment

BWB @Lilith: Get to know Prison Book Program

Posted by admin on 09.02.2010 at 4:06 pm

Meet Pam Boiros from Prison Book Program. She joined us to help man the booth at the Lilith tour stop in Boston and took some time out to sit with Abbey to explain what Prison Book Program does and how we work together.