Adventures in Libraryland: Nothing wrong with reading what everybody else is reading

About a week ago, my husband pointed out a column in the Washington Post by Ron Charles. Mr. Charles is a book critic who was bemoaning the popularity of the Harry Potter books for two reasons. First, he believes the books don't rate as good literature and second, he thinks people are just reading them because lots of other people are reading them.

The first issue from Mr. Charles is an argument that has been around in this country since the opening of the first public library. Can books that are pleasurable to read be considered good literature? According to Mr. Charles, enjoyment of the Harry Potter books falls under the heading of "cultural infantalism." Apparently, the epic battle between good and evil and the themes of war and sacrifice are too childish for Mr. Charles.

But it's the second part of his argument that I see as problematic. Of course, people are reading them because everybody else is reading them. We're social animals. Most of our most cherished experiences are shared experiences (holidays, camping trips, rodeos, etc., etc.). That's the way social animals work. Going along with the crowd may not be justification, by itself, for doing something but it's also not by itself an indictment of something.

Who doesn't want to share a good book, to discuss the details and argue whether the characters made good choices? Last week, I read a wonderful book called "The Penny Tree," with a stillness in the prose that was greatly appealing against the jangling of my own thoughts. What did I do when I finished it? I suggested it to a friend as a good book.

The problem isn't the popularity of a title, it's the people who want to make us feel bad about enjoying the book. If everybody in the world was listening to Mozart would music critics moan about it? Probably. Not because Mozart is bad but because snobs distrust mass opinion enough that popularity can sully the reputation of the best works.

You can feel comfortable in checking out any books you enjoy at the Marshall Public Library. We promise not to sneer.

On beyond Google

I stumbled across a fantastic website the other day. This site is such an amazing source of information that one of the library staff commented that the site provides her with another reason to procrastinate on her housework. The site -- http://www.howstuffworks.com -- offers answers about everything from "can I get struck by lightening when I'm indoors?" to "how does the catalytic converter work on my car?" to "why is there less gravity in parts of Canada?" Be sure to set aside a good amount of time when you first explore this website -- the variety of topics will pull you in.

Check it out

Summer Reading 2007 wraps up next week with events on Tuesday, July 31. For the children, the library will be featuring a free movie: "Night at the Museum" at 6 p.m. in the meeting room.

New materials

Fiction

"The Tin Roof Blowdown" by James Lee Burke

"Up Close & Dangerous" by Linda Howard

"Someone To Love" by Jude Deveraux

"The Secret Servant" by Daniel Silva

Non-Fiction

"Anchored in Love" by June Carter Cash

"Mere Anarchy" by Woody Allen

Circle of days

Friday, July 27, from noon to 5 p.m., fiction book sale.

Tuesday, July 31, at 2 p.m., Classic Book Club.

Tuesday, July 31, 6 p.m., Summer Reading 2007 Finale: Free Movie "Night At the Museum."

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Library Board of Trustees has changed their meeting date in August. The next meeting takes place on Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. in the library meeting room.